7:00 PM — At the Hospital
Just like every other day, Rudra was on his hospital rounds.
Saaniya was with him, but today, she seemed lost in thought.
Rudra had worked with her for years — enough to understand every silence, every movement of hers.
After about half an hour, their rounds ended, and Saaniya went back to her cabin.
Rudra, like a sneaky thief, quietly followed her in.
Saaniya looked at him with an emotionless gaze and said, “What is it, Mr. Malhotra?”
Making a face, Rudra replied, “Wow! It’s been long time since I heard my surname from your mouth!”
Rolling her eyes, Saaniya walked to her chair and said, “Yeah… because you’re irritating me.”
Rudra pouted innocently.
“Irritating? You already looked irritated before I even said anything!”
Saaniya glanced at him. “Do I really look irritated?”
“You just asked to confirm — which means you weren’t sure! And if you weren’t sure, that means… yes, you were irritated!”
Rudra said everything in one breath with a teasing smile.
Saaniya narrowed her eyes — because as we all know, she hates it when someone understands her too well.
Especially when they read her mind like an open book.
Anamika understands Saaniya too, but she never says it out loud — she knows Saaniya hates being understood so easily.
But Rudra is different. He loves observing people. It’s nearly impossible to hide even the smallest thing from him.
And when something intrigues him, he can’t help but ask about it directly — especially with Saaniya, who despises indirect talk.
Narrowing her eyes, Saaniya muttered, “Not that I care about that jerk’s words but…”
She stopped mid-sentence.
Rudra smiled softly.
He stepped a little closer, leaned slightly, and said, “That jerk… wouldn’t happen to be Aniket, right?”
Saaniya immediately turned toward him, eyes wide. “Mr. Rudra… how do you know?!”
Rudra grinned. “I know everything! I’m omniscient!”
Saaniya glared at him. “Shut up! If you’re here to talk nonsense, the door’s right there!”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
Ignoring her threat, Rudra sat down on the chair in front of her and said, “Alright, alright! My apologies, Dr. Saaniya. Now tell me — what happened? What did that jerk Aniket do this time?”
Saaniya looked away and sighed deeply.
“I… can’t tell Anamika.”
“Then tell me! Maybe I can help.”
Ignoring him, she continued, “If I tell Anamika, she’ll take it the wrong way!”
“I won’t! I promise, cross my heart!”
Rudra made a cute little promise gesture, but Saaniya didn’t even look at him.
She went on, “I don’t even know whom to talk to anymore! I’m just… so angry at Aniket!”
Rudra grinned. “Then tell me! I’ll help you be angry! Come on, share it!”
Saaniya gave him a suspicious look. “You seem too interested!”
He nodded like a curious child.
Saaniya snapped, “You’re just like him — an idiot! How did someone like you become a director?!”
Rudra made a wounded face. “Hey! I didn’t even do anything! I just wanted to help!”
“Really?” she asked doubtfully.
“Really!” he nodded quickly.
Then Saaniya finally told him everything that had happened that morning with Aniket.
When she finished, Rudra let out a long breath. “That’s it?!”
“What do you mean ‘that’s it’?!” Saaniya frowned. “It’s not that simple!”
Rudra scratched his head awkwardly. “No, I mean… how do I explain this… It honestly sounds like something straight out of a romance novel — where Aniket’s the main lead and you’re the female lead!”
Saaniya shot him a deadly glare.
“I don’t want to hear your rotten romance novel theories!”
Rudra sighed. “Do you still want help?”
She hesitated for a second but nodded firmly.
“Then,” he said seriously, “listen to me quietly.”
Saaniya took a deep breath. “Looks like I’ve got no choice. Fine…”
Rudra continued, “Look, what Aniket did — it’s exactly the kind of thing that happens in romance novels!
When the male lead starts liking the female lead, he tries to understand her more deeply.
He gives her symbolic gifts.
The question he asked you wasn’t as simple as it looked — and the butterfly-shaped earrings he gave you? They have a meaning too.”
Saaniya blinked. “Really?”
“Of course!” Rudra said proudly.
“I’ve read tons of novels that use metaphors and symbolism like that.
My mom was obsessed with these things — I realized that when I found her diary later.
She picked up that habit from her friend, I think.
Anyway — these novels are fascinating because you have to notice every tiny detail — even the foreshadowing!”
And just like that, Rudra’s lecture drifted far away from Saaniya’s problem… and deep into story plots and writing theory.
Saaniya’s expression said it all.
She slammed her hand on the table, snapping him back to reality.
Looking him dead in the eye, she said, “I want the real answer to the question.
What does it mean? And what’s the meaning behind that gift Aniket gave me?”
Rudra cleared his throat, embarrassed.
“Yes, yes! I was just getting to that part! You’re so impatient sometimes!”
He stood up and explained, “See, butterflies symbolize change — or transformation.
And it also had purple shade diamonds with a hint of pink that Aniket chose… Those colors represent self-love.
If he really put that much thought into it, then maybe what he wanted to tell you through that gift was — ‘You need to love yourself… and to do that, you might need to change.’”
Saaniya went silent, lost in thought.
Rudra straightened and added, “As for that question… I think you should find that answer yourself.
Because the question isn’t really about your favorite element of nature — it’s deeper.
But if you want, I can bring you some of my silly romance novels — maybe you’ll find your answers there!”
Saaniya said nothing and turned her face away.
Rudra chuckled and walked toward the door.
“I’ll bring them tomorrow!” he said, waving as he left.
Saaniya looked out the window toward the sky and muttered to herself, “Did that idiot really think that deep?”
At the same time, under that same sky, Aniket stood on his office balcony.
He smiled faintly and whispered, “Is she even thinking about my gift right now?
Maybe not… but someday, she will.
And when she finally understands… I’ll give it back to her — and she’ll accept it.”
A soft smile lingered on his lips.
MeanwhileNow, he headed toward Anamika’s cabin.
But just before knocking, he paused — the door was already open.
Anamika was sitting backward on her chair, eyes closed, a pencil tucked behind her ear, her hands folded, lost deep in thought.
Seeing her like that, Aditya smiled.
“What are you thinking about today, my Miss Mangaka?” he whispered to himself.
He quietly stepped inside, pulled a chair, and sat right in front of her.
Then, gently placing a hand on her forehead, he said softly, “Wake up, little artist. Tell me — which riddle needs solving this time?”
Anamika slowly opened her eyes — and froze.
Aditya’s smiling face was right there… so close.
She was startled — completely still, words refusing to come out.
Aditya moved back a little and asked playfully, “Am I really that scary?”
His smile was like that of an angel.
Anamika snapped out of it and shook her head quickly.
“N-no! It’s just… you suddenly appeared, so I got startled!”
Her innocence made Aditya fall for her all over again.
