Happy Reding...!

Veer Keeping His Distance

For the past few days, Veer Malhotra had disappeared.

He stayed away from the hospital, from the corridors where she walked, from the places where their paths could cross.

It was the only way.

Or so he kept telling himself.

Distance was necessary—because whenever he was near her, something in him shifted, something dangerous, something that made him forget the walls he had built over the years.

He needed control.

But no matter how much he tried to push her out of his mind, she lingered.

Every time he closed his eyes, he was back in that damn club.

He could still feel the warmth of her body, the way she had trembled under his touch, the way her eyes had flickered between fear and trust, as if torn between running from him and letting herself fall.

The memory had rooted itself deep inside him, refusing to fade.

He should have left her to deal with those men herself. She was a grown woman, not his responsibility.

But the second he had seen her in trouble, something visceral had snapped inside him.

He had claimed her in that moment—not in words, not in any logical way, but in a way that his instincts understood before his mind did.

And now, no matter how much he tried to fight it, his body betrayed him.

Every little thing reminded him of her.

The faint scent of vanilla and jasmine drifting through his thoughts. The sound of laughter in the distance, making him think of the way her lips had curled up that one time when she was lost in conversation.

But then the words which he overheard "..I could never be involved with a man like him.." echoed in his mind.

Veer clenched his jaw, gripping the crystal glass of whiskey in his hand as he sat alone in his penthouse, the city lights flickering outside his window.

This was ridiculous.

He was Veer Malhotra. A man feared and respected in every room he walked into.

And yet, here he was, seething in anger from the words of a woman who had no idea what she was doing to him.

His frustration built, his grip tightening on the glass until the cool surface pressed harshly against his palm.

This needed to stop.

He had no place in her world.

And she...

She had no place in his world.

Naina's Perspective

Naina knew she shouldn't notice it.

But she did.

It had been days since she had last seen him.

The hospital corridors felt the same—the same patients, the same schedules, the same scent of antiseptic and coffee lingering in the air.

And yet, something was different.

Something was missing.

It was ridiculous.

Veer Malhotra had no business being in a hospital unless it concerned his mother or some business deal that brought him here.

And yet, his presence had become so familiar that now, in his absence, a strange void had settled in.

Not that she cared.

Why would she?

She shook her head, forcing herself to focus on her work, diving into patient files, drowning in case studies, anything to keep her mind occupied.

But the problem was... her mind wasn't cooperating.

She would walk down the hall, and for a fraction of a second, she would expect to see him—leaning against a wall, his hands shoved in his pockets, watching her with that unreadable expression.

Every time she heard the sound of heavy footsteps, her heart would leap just for a second, expecting—no, anticipating—to see him appear around the corner.

And when he didn't, when reality set in... she hated the way it left her disappointed.

That wasn't how it was supposed to be.

His absence shouldn't matter.

It didn't matter.

And yet...

As she stood outside her next patient's room, her fingers gripping the clipboard a little too tightly, she found herself wondering—

Where was he?

And more importantly...

Why did she care?

The next day

The hospital was alive with its usual morning rhythm—the hum of conversations, the rhythmic beeping of monitors, the hurried footsteps of doctors and nurses moving from one ward to another.

Naina and Priya walked side by side, their conversation light, filled with small exchanges about their schedules for the day.

"...I swear, if Dr. Verma assigns me one more double shift this week, I'll—"

The blaring emergency alert cut through the air, stopping them mid-step.

Both women stiffened, instincts kicking in as they exchanged a quick glance.

"Emergency room. Let's go!" Naina said, already moving before Priya could respond.

The hospital corridors blurred around them as they rushed forward, their footsteps echoing against the sterile white tiles.

But nothing could have prepared them for what they saw the moment they reached the emergency room.

Their world seemed to freeze.

Veer Malhotra stood there, his powerful frame tense, his breath ragged, his arms wrapped around a lifeless body—Aditya Khanna.

Blood.

So much blood.

Aditya's usually sharp, cocky face was now pale, his shirt soaked with crimson, his body slumped against Veer's chest.

Priya stumbled at the sight.

Her knees nearly buckled.

A strangled gasp left her lips, and before she could fall, Naina's hands shot out, gripping her firmly.

"Priya!" Naina's voice was urgent, her fingers tightening around her friend's trembling arms.

But Priya wasn't listening. Her wide, horrified eyes were locked onto Aditya.

"Aadi..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Naina felt the violent shudder running through Priya's body.

This wasn't just a shock. This was fear. Pain. Something deeper.

But there was no time.

"Priya, focus," Naina commanded, her voice steady despite the dread pooling in her stomach.

She turned her gaze back to Veer.

And that's when she saw it.

The Veer Malhotra standing before her wasn't the man she had seen before.

His usual composure? Gone.

The arrogance, the untouchable, unshakable presence? Shattered.

His hair was disheveled, his chest rising and falling rapidly, his jaw clenched so tightly she could see the muscle ticking in his cheek.

His grip on Aditya was desperate—as if his sheer willpower alone could stop his best friend from slipping away.

But it was his eyes that made her stomach drop.

They were dark. Darker than she had ever seen.

Not with rage, but with something far more dangerous.

Raw, unfiltered fear.

And then, for a split second, his gaze flickered to hers.

Naina felt her breath hitch.

Because in that moment, in that single, fleeting second—he silently pleaded with her.

He didn't say a word. But his eyes spoke louder than anything else ever could.

Do something. Save him.

She had never seen Veer Malhotra look at anyone like that before.

Naina snapped into action.

"Get him on the stretcher!" she barked, stepping forward.

The nurses rushed in, their hands reaching for Aditya.

But Veer didn't let go.

His fingers were digging into his friend's arm, his stance rigid as if physically incapable of releasing him.

"Mr. Malhotra," Naina spoke firmly, He barely reacted.

"Mr. Malhotra" she tried again, softer this time. "Please, Let us take him."

His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard.

A breath. A moment.

And then, with extreme reluctance, his grip finally loosened.

Aditya was carefully lifted onto the stretcher, his head lolling to the side.

Veer took one step back, but his entire body was still taut, as if every fiber of his being was resisting the distance between him and Aditya.

"We'll take care of him," Naina reassured, meeting his burning gaze.

His jaw tightened.

Then, without another word, he stepped back, his hands curling into fists at his sides.

Veer stood outside the emergency room, his back pressed against the cold hospital wall. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides, his knuckles aching from the fresh wound he refused to acknowledge. The sterile air of the hospital did little to clear the chaos in his mind. His heart pounded, the sound of his own breath filling the silence around him.

Aditya's blood was still on his hands.

His jaw clenched, his shoulders tightened, and despite the warmth of the hospital, Veer felt ice in his veins. He exhaled sharply, his mind pulling him back—back to the moment it all went wrong.

Flashback

It had started like any other night—quiet, calculated. Veer had a meeting at one of their private properties on the outskirts of the city, a secluded place where no prying eyes could reach. He and Aditya had handled dozens of deals there before. It was supposed to be simple.

But then, things took a sharp, brutal turn.

Veer and Aditya had been inside, discussing final logistics for a new project, when they heard the unmistakable sound of tires screeching outside. A second later, the heavy thud of doors slamming shut followed—too many, too fast.

A setup.

Veer's instincts flared instantly. He exchanged a single glance with Aditya, their years of friendship making words unnecessary. They both knew—this wasn't just a coincidence.

"Stay close," Veer had murmured under his breath, his hand already slipping inside his jacket. He could hear footsteps, rapid and purposeful, closing in from all sides.

And then—

The first gunshot shattered the silence.

Aditya lunged forward, pushing Veer behind the thick wooden desk for cover as more shots fired. The air filled with the acrid scent of gunpowder, bullets slicing through furniture, splintering glass. Veer pulled out his own gun, calculated, precise—he never wasted a bullet. He took down two of them immediately.

But there were too many.

Aditya had been covering their backs, firing at the men trying to sneak up on them from the side. He was holding up well—until the moment Veer saw it.

A movement too fast, a shadow shifting in the corner of his eye.

Veer's breath hitched. "Adi, behind you—!"

Too late.

A brutal punch landed on Aditya's ribs, forcing him to stumble forward. Another man struck him from behind, and before Veer could intervene, a sharp, sickening sound echoed in the room—

The sound of metal slashing through flesh.

Veer saw red.

He fired without hesitation, taking down the man who had dared to lay a hand on his best friend. The room erupted into chaos. Someone lunged at Veer, and he caught the movement in time, twisting the attacker's wrist, making the knife drop from his hands before slamming his fist into his jaw with raw, unrestrained fury.

His knuckles split open with the impact, but he didn't feel the pain.

Aditya staggered, clutching his side, his face pale. "We need to—" He coughed, blood staining the corner of his lips.

Veer wasted no time. He pulled Aditya's arm over his shoulder and dragged him toward the exit. The moment they burst outside, the cold air hit them like a slap. The men who had attacked them were either unconscious or dead.

But Aditya was losing too much blood.

Veer didn't think—he simply acted. He threw Aditya into his car, barking orders to stay conscious, pressing a firm hand over the wound to slow the bleeding.

"I swear to God, Adi, if you pass out, I will kill you myself," Veer had growled through gritted teeth, but his voice held more fear than anger.

Aditya had only smirked weakly, his voice a hoarse whisper. "You're so bad at pep talks, man."

Veer had driven faster than he ever had in his life, breaking every traffic rule, his only thought being to get Aditya to the hospital.

Flashback ends

And now—

Now he was standing outside this goddamn room, his friend fighting to stay alive.

The flashback faded as Veer inhaled sharply, his eyes snapping back to the present.

His fists clenched. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from the pure, seething rage building inside him. Someone had planned this. Someone had dared to touch Aditya.

And Veer Malhotra would make them pay.

His dark thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a movement at the door.

His head snapped up.

Dr. Sharma.

She stepped out of the room, her expression composed but her eyes giving her away—calm, yet holding the weight of responsibility.

For the first time in the last hour, Veer allowed himself to breathe.

She met his gaze, and in that single moment, without a word spoken, she understood the question in his eyes.

"How is he?" Veer's voice was low, rough with restrained emotion.

Naina took a step closer. "We've stabilized him. He's unconscious, but his vitals are steady. He'll be shifted to another room soon."

Veer exhaled, a breath he didn't realize he had been holding.

And then her voice turned softer. "Mr. Malhotra... how did this happen?"

His jaw tightened. His fingers twitched at his sides. For a brief second, the images of that night flashed before his eyes again—blood, bullets, Aditya falling.

But he didn't answer.

He couldn't.

Instead, he simply asked, "When will he wake up?"

Naina studied him for a moment but didn't push. "Soon."

Veer ran a hand through his hair in frustration. That's when she saw it.

Blood.

"Oh my God," she gasped. "Mr. Malhotra, you're injured too."

Veer barely reacted.

"It's nothing," he muttered, already turning away.

But Naina wasn't having it.

Without thinking, she grabbed his wrist, pulling his hand towards her to examine it.

The wound was deep.

It must have hurt like hell.

But he hadn't even flinched.

Her fingers brushed against his skin, and for a moment, Veer froze.

His entire body went rigid, his breathing going a fraction deeper.

And then—

He yanked his hand back.

His voice was sharp, his eyes flashing.

"I said I'm fine," he snapped. "I'll handle it."

Naina's lips pressed into a thin line.

Her patience had officially run out.

"No," she stated firmly, crossing her arms. "You won't. You're coming with me."

Veer narrowed his eyes. "Excuse me?"

She reached for his arm.

Veer took a step back. "Dr. sharma—"

But she was faster.

Before he could resist, she grabbed his wrist again and dragged him forward.

Veer stiffened, caught completely off guard.

He didn't move at first, his feet planted stubbornly. But Naina didn't let go.

She tugged harder.

And for the first time since she had met him—Veer Malhotra let someone pull him along without a fight.

His eyes flickered with something unreadable as he let himself be led into the private treatment room.

And the whole time—he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The soft click of the door closing behind them echoed in the silent treatment room. The air between them was thick, charged with something unspoken. Veer sat on the edge of the hospital bed, his broad frame tense, his sharp gaze locked onto Naina as she moved around the room, gathering medical supplies.

Her movements were quick, precise—but Veer noticed the slight tremble in her fingers as she picked up the antiseptic wipes. He clenched his jaw, watching her every move. There was something unsettling about this moment. It wasn't the pain in his hand that bothered him—it was the look in her eyes.

Anger. Worry. Something deeper, something she probably didn't even realize she was showing.

Why did she care?

Why did it feel like she wasn't just a doctor treating a patient?

Naina inhaled deeply before turning toward him. Their eyes met for a second, and she quickly averted her gaze. Without a word, she sat down beside him, close enough that he could smell the faint, calming scent of lavender lingering on her skin.

Veer remained silent, watching as she carefully rolled up the sleeve of his crisp black shirt, exposing his forearm. Her touch was featherlight, yet it sent a strange sensation through him.

She finally saw the wound up close—a deep gash over his knuckles, the skin around it bruised and swollen. Blood had dried along the edges, but fresh crimson was still seeping through.

Her breath hitched.

"What were you thinking?" she muttered under her breath, her voice a mix of frustration and something softer.

Veer remained silent, his gaze fixed on her face as she reached for the antiseptic wipe.

The moment she pressed it against his wound, a sharp sting tore through his hand. He hissed, his fingers twitching instinctively.

Naina's hold tightened around his wrist, steadying him.

"Sorry... does it hurt?" she whispered, glancing up at him with those big, expressive eyes.

Veer didn't answer. He just stared at her, his throat tight.

She pursed her lips and did something unexpected—she blew softly against the wound, her warm breath soothing the sting.

Veer's body tensed. He wasn't expecting that.

It was such a small, insignificant gesture. But something about it made his chest tighten in a way he couldn't explain.

Naina kept her focus on his hand, carefully cleaning the wound with slow, gentle strokes. Silence filled the room, thick with something unspoken.

Then, without looking up, she asked softly, "Do you care about Aditya this much?"

Veer's gaze darkened. He swallowed before replying in a low voice, "He's the only one I trust."

Naina paused, absorbing his words. There was something heavy in the way he said them. Something deeper than friendship.

She finished cleaning the wound and reached for the bandage. "Then don't worry," she said just as softly. "Priya is with him."

A deep hum rumbled from Veer's chest, a sound of reluctant agreement.

He watched as she carefully wrapped the bandage around his knuckles, her fingers brushing against his skin. There was something so oddly intimate about this moment.

When she finished, she lifted her head to tell him it was done—

Only to realize his face was inches from hers.

Her breath caught in her throat.

The air shifted, charged with something neither of them could name.

Veer didn't move. He just stared at her, his dark eyes intense, searching. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but for the first time in years, he felt like he wanted to find it.

Naina's pulse roared in her ears. She should move. She should look away. But she didn't. She couldn't.

A single second stretched into eternity.

Then—

"Dr. Sharma!"

The voice from outside shattered the moment.

She sucked in a sharp breath, jerking back as reality slammed into her.

Veer's expression hardened instantly, the moment slipping through his fingers like sand.

Someone opened the door slightly. "Dr. Sharma, Mr. Khanna is awake."

Naina blinked, trying to gather her thoughts. She quickly turned away, her heart still racing.

"Right," she said, clearing her throat. "Let's go."

She turned toward the door, not daring to look at Veer again.

But as she stepped out, she could still feel his eyes on her, burning into her back

The moment Naina and Veer stepped into Aditya's room, they were met with an unexpected sight.

Priya was standing by Aditya's bed, her fingers gripping his hand tightly. Tears clung to the edges of her eyes, her expression torn between anger and relief.

"You idiot!" she scolded, her voice trembling. "Do you have any idea how scared I was?!"

Despite the clear pain in his body, Aditya chuckled. "Aww... sweetheart ! And I thought I was just another troublemaker in your life..I didn't know you cared for me this much.."

Priya's face turned crimson in an instant. She yanked her hand away as if she had touched fire. "Shut up, Aditya!"

Aditya smirked, looking far too pleased with himself despite his injuries.

Veer stood silently for a moment before stepping forward, his presence immediately sobering the atmosphere.

Aditya turned his head, and for the first time since waking up, he met Veer's gaze.

The teasing glint in his eyes faded slightly. He knew that look.

The look that said, I almost lost you.

"Veer—"

"What the hell were you thinking?" Veer's voice was quiet, but the weight behind it was impossible to miss.

Aditya exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "It wasn't exactly planned, you know."

Veer's jaw clenched. "You're reckless."

Aditya smirked, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "And you're overprotective."

Silence stretched between them.

Then, in a much softer voice, Veer muttered, "Next time, don't make me carry your half-dead body into the hospital."

Aditya chuckled. "Well, I'd prefer not to get stabbed next time, but you never know. Life is unpredictable."

Veer glared at him, but there was no real anger in his eyes anymore.

Meanwhile, across the room, Naina leaned toward Priya with a teasing grin.

"Holding hands and all, huh?" she whispered, raising an eyebrow.

Priya's face turned even redder. "Shut up, Naina!"

Naina giggled, shaking her head. It was the first lighthearted moment of the day, and she welcomed it.

Aditya, sensing the shift in the air, looked between the two women and smirked. "Wait... what did I miss? Was Priya getting all emotional over me?"

Priya shot him a glare. "You'll miss your teeth in a second if you don't shut up."

Veer exhaled, shaking his head at their antics.

Despite everything, despite the injuries, despite the chaos—at this moment, they were all here.

And that was enough.

Thank you for reading Lovely readers...! 

Are you guys ready to meet the Villain?..

let me know in the comments.