Scene: In the car...
Aditya sat quietly behind the wheel. As Anamika stepped out, shutting the door behind her, she slid into the backseat. The moment she sat down, Aditya turned the key and started the engine.
Anamika sat there silently, a gentle nervousness in her eyes. Aditya glanced at her through the rearview mirror and offered her a soft, knowing smile.
After a few seconds, she spoke hesitantly, “Umm… that thing you said earlier… was it true, or just an example?”
Aditya raised an eyebrow. “What? What are you talking about?”
Anamika avoided his gaze and murmured, “About your friend… the one going to Bhutan. Was that real?”
Aditya’s smile faded gently. His voice dropped to a calm, almost distant tone. “Yeah. He goes every year. He’ll be back in a couple of days.”
Anamika looked a little concerned. “Do you think that’s really okay? I mean… don’t you think he should—”
Aditya interrupted softly, “—celebrate his birthday here, with all of us? Of course I wish he would. But I can’t tell him that. And even if I did… I know he wouldn’t listen.”
Anamika tilted her head slightly. “But why? Is there someone in Bhutan? Someone special he wants to be with on his birthday?”
Aditya shook his head faintly. “No… not anymore. But once… the most important person in his life used to live there.”
Anamika’s voice dropped to a whisper, “Oh… who?”
Aditya gave her a small, secret smile. “Ask Aniket yourself someday.”
There was something about his smile that made her pause — like a secret hidden behind soft laughter. Anamika didn’t press him further. She understood some things weren’t meant to be asked… not yet, at least.
After all, she
Meanwhile, at the hospital…
Saaniya walked out of the meeting room with the other doctors. Her steps were steady, calm. She was about to head straight to her room when a familiar voice called out from behind.
The man who spoke looked nothing short of poetic — like someone who had stepped right out of a dream. Dark, slightly wavy hair. Deep black eyes that seemed to know too much. Soft, pale pink lips. He looked about 22, maybe 23… but in reality, he was 29.
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There was a smile on his lips when he saw Saaniya — gentle, genuine. But her face… as always, unreadable. Emotionless.
He said, “Suman told me you asked to take her night shift. Is that true?”
Saaniya glanced at him with her usual cold stare. “What do you think, Mr. Malhotra?”
He took a small step closer, the air between them warm and charged. “You can call me Rudra. And as for what I think… I think something’s definitely shaken your world. So… tell me, what caused the earthquake?”
Saaniya turned her face slightly, her tone sarcastic but not unkind. “You really don’t act like a hospital director. You’re more like… a director of some sappy romantic film.”
Rudra smiled, amused. “Hmm… I’ll take that as a compliment. But seriously… what’s going on? You keep working like this, you’re going to break down.”
Without meeting his eyes, Saaniya replied softly, “I know what I’m doing. You don’t have to worry about me.”
And with that, she turned and walked away.
Rudra watched her go, the smile fading just a little.
Quietly, to himself, he said, “You’re hiding something, Saaniya… but one day, you’ll trust me enough to share it. And when you do… I’ll be there.”
Lost in thoughts, Rudra slowly walked toward his cabin, but his mind lingered on Saaniya’s silence.
Back at the hospital, as Saaniya passed the reception, the receptionist gently stopped her.
“Ma’am, Aditya sir had called earlier… asked about you.”
Saaniya didn’t react much, just nodded and walked straight to her cabin. The moment she closed the door behind her, she pulled out her phone and dialed the only person her heart trusted.
Anamika.
Just then, Anamika had stepped into her office. She looked at her phone and smiled the moment she saw the name flash.
“Saaniya’s call,” she said softly to Aditya, a sparkle of relief in her eyes.
She quickly picked up, her voice full of concern and love, “Where are you?! You didn’t come home last night! And… and… have you even eaten anything?!”
Saaniya closed her eyes, and for a moment, her tightly guarded emotions trembled. A soft, almost invisible smile played on her lips — not out of joy, but from the warmth of being seen.
Her voice was gentle. “Had too much work here. But hey, Aditya brought you to office safely, right?”
Anamika glanced at him, her tone lighter, “Yes… we’re just about to take the lift.”
A brief silence.
Then Saaniya said softly, “Good. Work with all your heart today, okay? And… don’t wait up for me. I’m not coming home tonight either. Make sure you eat something.”
Anamika’s heart sank.
“But… why?! You were on the night shift yesterday too! You’re still at the hospital and now you want to stay tonight again?! Why are you doing this to yourself?!”
Saaniya inhaled deeply, trying to steady her voice. “It’s just work, Anu. You understand that, don’t you?”
Then, trying to lighten the moment, she added, “Fine… I promise I’ll take the entire day off tomorrow. Okay? Happy now?”
But Anamika was no longer convinced.
Her voice cracked like a child on the verge of tears, “No… I want you home tonight. I need you. I don’t want any more excuses!”
There was silence. A deep breath on the other side.
Then came Saaniya’s quiet, steady voice, “Anu… I’m not coming. I have to be here. Please… try to understand.”
Anamika’s voice was almost a whisper now, broken by helplessness, “Just… just don’t break your promise… please…”
And then Saaniya said something that pierced straight through Anamika’s heart: “The day Saaniya breaks a promise… is the day Saaniya stops living.”
And just like that… she hung up.
Anamika stood frozen — her hand still holding the phone, her heart trembling in silence.
This wasn’t like Saaniya.
Every time Anamika had ever worried, Saaniya would simply smile and say, “Have I ever broken a promise?”
But today… she spoke of death.
And that changed everything.
Aditya, noticing her expression, gently asked, “What happened?”
Anamika, still dazed, shook her head with a faint smile, “Nothing… I think I just misheard her.”
She stepped into the elevator. Aditya followed her quietly.
But he wasn’t convinced.
He could feel it — something had shifted.
Saaniya had said something… something that had shaken Anamika to the core.
And now, he needed to know what… and why.
As they reached their floor, Aditya gently placed his hand on Anamika’s forehead, like a quiet promise of protection.
“Everything will be okay. That’s a promise,” he said softly.
Then, smiling as he stepped out, he added, “And my promise… is as strong as Saaniya’s.”
Something about his words… his warmth… his eyes…
They gave Anamika a moment of peace.
She smiled.
But as soon as the elevator doors closed behind him, that smile dissolved like a paper boat in rain.
She whispered to herself, eyes downcast, “…But I’ve only ever trusted one person’s promises. And that’s Saaniya.”.
Does Aditya’s promise hold no place in her heart yet…?
Will there come a time when his quiet love… turns into unshakable truslpt?
And what storm is Saaniya standing in… all alone?
