autthorsahiba POV

A month ago

In the big hospital corridor, a doctor was walking. He just performed a critical surgery and saved that patient. He is the biggest neurosurgeon in the beautiful city of Chandigarh. Dr. Veer Singh. All the people around him are thanking him for saving their family member. 

Moving ahead, the staff wished him a morning, and in reply, he was only with a little nod and a small smile. He was two steps away from his office when a girl in a blue kurti with her long hair tied in a long braid reaching below her hips came. 

“Dr. Veer, Nina ko kuch ho gaya hai. Wo uth nhi rahi thi, isliye mein Maali kaka ke sath unko hospital layi hu,” her voice was trembling.

(Dr. Veer, something happened to Nina; she was not walking up, so I brought her with the help of the gardener.)

He sees the staff rushing towards them, “Ma'am, He is a neurosurgeon, He can’t help you. Your grandmother had a stroke. We admitted her to the emergency department, and our best cardiologist is treating her. Please come.” The nurse was going to grab her wrist, but before she could touch, he stared at her. The nurse froze there, “Leave, she is with me.” 

Her name is Heer, and he has known her for the last six months. Her grandmother is a seller of flowers, and he was a regular customer. He buys flowers from them and give back to her. That’s their daily ritual. 

Looking at that trembling woman, his eyes turned soft, he stretched his palm, “Heriye, apna hath dijiye.”

(Heriye, give me your hand)

He asked because Heer’s grandmother taught her to maintain a distance from men, at least one arm's distance. Without wasting a single second, she placed her fingers on his palm. He curled his fingers around her. Because he is the only man who came near her. 

Her grandmother also taught her about good touches and bad touches. Also, she knew he was a good man, only he could come near her; he would never touch her in a bad way. Her grandmother wants her to trust him because, after her, only he can take her responsibility. 

Veer already asked for her hand from her grandmother, and she told her everything related to her condition. She is not a normal woman; she is a slow-developing person; her brain development speed is just half as compare to a normal person. 

But she is not dumb, she is exceptionaly smary women, but her grandmother raised her in a safe environment for her safety. She always sat in the room that was in her shop, and her grandmother sat on the counter. 

Veer knows that married life with her is not normal; it will be the surrender of all the expectations you had from married life. Will Veer be able to make that sacrifice and take her responsibility? 

He moved with her and entered his cabin. The cabin was neat and clean. There was a single bed for the patient. He made Heer sit on the bed, took the water bottle, and before she could drink, a sob left her lips. 

He immediately wrapped her hands around her; she was sobbing badly. Heer also comfortable with his touch because he never touches her in a bad manner. 

“Dr. Veer, hume dar lag raha hai. Nina ke alawa koi nhi hai humare. Agar Nina ko kuch ho gaya toh hum bhi mar jayege, she said between her sobs.

(Dr. Veer, I am scared. I have no one except Nina. If something happened to her, I’ll also die.)

Her words hit him like a bullet, and he felt his chest tighten with pain. “Shh, Bachee, who told you you are alone. I’m with you.” 

She tightened her grip around him, “aap toh humse alag rahte hai. Hume akele nhi rahena. Hum bhi mar..” before she could complete her words, his hand on her lips stopped her from speaking. 

(You live separately. I can’t live alone. I’ll also do…)

“Galat baat bachee, asa nhi bolte. Hum aapke sath rahege, aap akeli thodi na hai.” Veer said this, caressing her head. 

(Wrong words, Child. I’ll live with you; you are not alone.)

Heer was thinking he was lying because a man and woman can not live together, that’s what Nina taught her. She broke the hug, “Zhute, Nina told me a man and woman can not live together.”

Yes, that’s what her grandmother taught her because she never found a man who could take care of her; she is not weird, she is different. She needs an attentive man who has patience and gives all the answers to her questions. 

She always thought about who would take care of her after her, but then she met Veer, who had everything that a man should have to be her husband. He is a calm man who answers all her questions without making her feel small. 

Veer looked at her red cheeks; her eyes were filled with tears. “Ek married couple sath mein rah skta hai, Heriye, Hum dono shadi kar lege.” 

(One married couple can live together. Heriye, we both will marry.)

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Veer Heer Singh POV

She turned mute after listening to my words. Her cheeks turned red due to crying. I already thought about that. I know what she is. But I’m ready to accept her; My heart already accepted her. She will become my wife. I can bury all my desires under the ground. I’ll surrender myself in front of her, I’ll take her responsibility. I know this will be the most difficult decision, but I can’t lose her. 

For me, she is more than special. I never wanted a wife, a relation that bound me with someone, because being a doctor has always been my goal, until I saw her. 

I know what responsibility I am taking, and I know how this will affect my life. But I’m ready, ready to leave all the other desires for her. 

But the question is, will she accept me?

I hold her hands in mine, “Heriye Kya aap hume apna pati banegi?”

(Heriye, will you accept me as your husband?)

Her eyes are digging a hole in my soul. She will take her time. When she says yes, she takes only five seconds for an answer, but when she has to deny, she hesitates because she never wants to hurt anyone. 

But if she took more than ten seconds, the answer would be no, whether she says it from her mouth or not, no means no.  My breath was stuck in my throat, I was holding my breath, and I started counting inside. 

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Before the ten seconds had completed, I heard her voice, and I exhaled the breath that I was holding, “Haan, par..” She stopped. 

But she said yes, I was so scared, what if she denied me? 

Leaning a little, I placed my lips on both hands. I know she is in a dilemma. “Par kya heriye” 

“Par meri Nina, Nina thik toh ho jayegi na?” she asked me with a hope in her eyes. (But my Nina, Nina will be alright, right?)

How should I tell her? That her only family is going to leave her. 

She is already 89 years old and has had a stroke; surgery will not work. At this age, our body can’t survive any bloodshed. I don’t want to break her heart with my words; real life is harsh for her to see, but I’ll stand beside her. She is going to say goodbye to Nina with a smile. 

I want her to go on an afterlife journey, knowing her granddaughter is in safe hands. She knows I’ll take care of her, maybe not like her, but definitely not less than her. She was her mother, father, sibling, and a friend. She never let her face this harsh word. She is too delicate to understand these people. 

“From now on, I’m her family. I’ll protect her like a father protects her daughter, and I’ll cherish and teach her like a mother. If she needs a friend with whom she can share her thoughts and fight like a sibling, I’ll be that person also. Lastly, I’ll love her like a man loves her woman. I’ll become all the relationships she needs, so she will never say she has no one.”

“Acha Heriye hume bataiye aap kon se rang ka suit pahnegi humari shadi mein,” I asked this question just to distract her. Without wasting a single second, “blue, hume sirf blue hi pasand hai,” she answered me.

(Blue, I only like blue.)

Blue, yes, she only wears that color. I have seen her for the past six months in all the different shades of blue. But all the blue colors are not her favorites, but it’s aqua blue, powder blue, and sky blue. She doesn’t like dark shades of blue. 

Picking up my phone, I dialed a number, “I’m going to get married in the next hour, so I want a light blue suit for my bride in size L and in a matching color, my suit in size XXL. Also, arrange everything with the priest. I want you here in the hospital temple with everything.”

She was looking down, not meeting my eyes. I opened the chips packet and started feeding her with my hands. I know she was hungry. She was lost in her thoughts. Eating chips one by one, and just before one piece ends in her mouth, I forward another one. After this time had passed, I got a call that everything was ready. A smile formed on my lips. I said one hour, and he arranged everything in just half the time.

VJ is always fast.

She changed and came. Her hair was still braided. In that heavy suit, she looks like an angel. She never needs any makeup. 

Meanwhile, I also changed. I forward my palm, and she holds my hand tightly. We made our way towards the hospital temple. I know she is scared. We both sat on our respective seats. 

The priest gave VJ a pink dupatta that he placed on my shoulder and tied one end with her blue dupatta. Chants started, but I never left her hand. Then, around that fire, we took phera. In the first four rounds, I was ahead, then for the last three rounds she was in front of me. 

Then the priest forwarded vermilion, and I filled in her hairline. Next was the nuptial chain. I looked for that, and VJ forwarded the box, sliding her braid I tied around her neck. The priest said, “From now on, you are husband and wife.” She was still lost, and I know the reason. 

Now it was time to say goodbye to her, Nina.

I felt my chest tighten when I was moving towards the room where Nina was lying. Her last moments on earth. 

We entered the room. She was on a ventilator, eyes still half-opened. I showed our intertwined hands, “Nina, from now on, she is my responsibility.” She blinked twice, telling me she understood. Then her lips moved, she smiled, then she tried to move her neck, and the monitor showed the plain line. 

She was gone, but she knows her granddaughter is with me. She will be safe with me, I will protect her as she did till her life. 

Heer screamed, “Nina, Dr. Veer, kuch hua hai, dekhiye na.” She started shaking, but I was holding her in my arms. 

(Nina, Dr. Veer, something happened. Please see.)

Words were stuck in my throat, but I gathered all my courage, “Apko hume dekar, woh chali gayi.” 

(After giving me you, she is gone)

Heer started hitting me with her hands, but I hugged her, stopping her. She was sobbing, screaming, but I held her against my chest. I know how it feels, as a doctor, I witness this numerous times in just a single day. 

Then everything was silent, and her head fell on my chest, her body went limp, and she fainted. She was slipping from my grip, “Heer, bachee,” I tried to tap on her cheeks, but she remained motionless. 

“Heriye, you are scaring me, bachee.” Again, I patted her red cheeks. I was not just speaking, I was begging. 

My eyes turned watery, my throat dried. I picked her up in my arms, her head was swaying in the air, so carefully I lifted her so her head could land on my shoulder, and pressed her against my chest. My lips automatically brushed against her forehead. 

I reached into my cabin and placed her on a single bed. “You should never lie on a patient's bed. It’s bad manners, Heriye, taking someone else's place. Are you listening to me?” 

I closed my eyes, and the tear I was holding slipped. I can’t see her crying; she is so pure for those tears, she doesn’t deserve a single tear. 

I sat near her, caressing her head. Now the hair strands are falling on her face. The perfect braid is turned into a messy one, her baby hair coming from that braid. I pulled the jacket off me and settled on her. It was long enough to reach her knees. 

I dialed the VJ number, “Handle the last ritual of Nina and bought a few blue indian suits for your Bhabhi. Suits must be soft and comfortable. Also, a few pairs of footwear, not high or pointed heels, comfortable ones.”

She was shivering, so I turned off the AC. I lay beside her, on that patient bed, that single bed was not enough for us, but I held her tightly against me. 

This is the only way to prevent her from catching a cold. “You will be fine, bachee, I’ll make sure of that.” I didn’t blink the whole time, just holding her tightly. I was in surgery for the last eighteen hours, and without realising, I also drifted off to sleep holding her in my arms. 

(Heer and Veer's wedding outfits)

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Janaat Viraj Singh POV

Present day

I’m standing outside the principal building, and I took two steps towards it. My hands were getting sweaty. It always gets sweaty when…

Heart: You get anxious.

Head: You should be, it’s the first meeting. Remember, First impression is last impression.

Heart: You are not anxious; it’s called nervousness.

Head: You are anxious, and see that your hands are also sweating.

Heart: He is going to propose to you.

Head: Haan, Haan, hoor pari kahi ki

Heart: What if he wants me to meet his child

Head: Move bitch, you are making both of us nervous now.

Just shut up, both of you. Yes, my two organs fight with each other as they belong to two different people. 

Why can’t you generate the same thought? I feel I’m two people in one body.

I open the door and enter the lift, not before pressing 2. With a ting sound, the lift opened up, and I saw a huge office with a gray theme. A modern office, circular ceiling,  wooden desk with a leather front, and a high-back chair behind it. Glass walls and an airy, revealing a secondary seating area with plush armchairs and a coffee table. A dark textured rug, while built-in shelves hold books and decor. 

Where is he? OOO, His personal office. 

Then, looking around just to find that door. Saw the Black door behind my back, ohh, find it.

My bag was still in my hand, I kept my bag carefully on one chair, and then I took small steps towards the door and tried to keep my breathing momentary. 

Should I enter the password or knock? 

Why am I getting nervous, maybe anxious? 

Getting out of my head, I entered the password 1110 and then lightly knocked on the door once. 

Why did I do both when one was enough? 

After a few seconds, I heard a voice, his deep voice. Manly just like him.

And then, the most awaited moment, I was in front of him. My eyes meet his jet-black eyes.

Sharp black suit.

Sharper gaze.

A cold and authoritative tone. 

Black, black. He is also wearing black like me. We are both matching. Shut up, woman, most men wear black these days. Stop being delusional. 

His beard was well-shaven, with dark black eyes, and light pink, full lips. There is not a single detail that screams not handsome; he is more than handsome. 

He is tall and Big, our height is the same; the difference is that he is sitting on a chair and I’m standing. 

Then I realized I was scanning him, ogling him, so I looked away for a second and then started looking at him again. 

I was seeing him for the first time. And yes, he is so handsome. I was checking him out like a perv. My eyes were frozen on his face. His eyes are black, jet black like a dark sky. Believe me, everything froze around us. I was standing in the same spot, and he was still in his spot. 

My breath hitches, and my heart starts racing. I never feel this. Why is my heart racing? Did something wrong with him? 

Noo, Naa, he should calm down. I can’t be trapped in that hospital room because of this heart again.

 I tried to look away, I really did, I promise, but he is so handsome to look away.  “Stop you, silly girl. Did you forget Mumma taught you staring is a bad habit, it makes other people awkward?”

But it’s not only me, but he is also looking at me. No, wait, I am looking at him, and he is staring at me. Like, full-on, not-blinking, laser-beam stare. His eyes were glued to my face. It was like he'd been waiting ages to see me. 

There's a big difference between looking and staring; looking is polite. We are allowed to look, especially when it comes to handsome men. 

But staring…

I am blinking, and just looking; he is not even blinking. Are we playing a gazing game without telling each other? If yes, then fine, I will win. 

I wasn't backing down. Why should I? I'm a strong, independent woman!   

I am not easily intimidated by perfect eyebrows, jawline, or beard. 

“He is the principal, not you.” My head reminded me of the reality.  I let out a very dramatic sigh and averted my gaze. 

I looked around. This is a more beautiful office; the other one is dark and scary, but this is warm.

A luxurious, modern office bathed in natural light, with windows that reveal a distant city skyline.

The space feels expansive, a large, minimalist desk sits at the center, paired with a comfortable leather chair, and a sleek laptop rests on the surface. A comfortable tan leather sofa sits along the wall, perfect for reading or an informal meeting.

Sitting on a long, blown Chair, I’m sure the chair is long enough to hide me. 

He is sitting with his back straight like a man. He is a man, silly. 

The atmosphere here screams MONEY. I passed a sheepish smile and moved my head here and there.

There was no chair, where should I sit?  There was a brown leather sofa. 

Should I sit on the sofa? 

What if he thinks me as mannerless, we are meeting for the first time. Also, not to forget, he is the principal of the college, and I’ll be a student here.

I was standing across the table when he rose and approached the window. 

Is he leaving already? But we didn’t exchange a single word.

It’s getting awkward. I should not come here. 

Two chairs tucked beside the expansive window create a perfect dating spot, or like a couple's cafe. 

Two potted plants bring a touch of greenery. He also has long legs. So, he wants us to sit there beside the big window. I also started following him. I was just staring at those legs, then he turned. He slid the chair, and I looked up. Why is he not sitting? Weird.

He gestured for me to sit on that chair. Oh, he slid the chair for me, gentlemanly behaviour. 

I nodded in acknowledgement and went near the chair. I sit in the chair after his gesture, trying to calm my beating heart. He is also seated now. 

It feels like we are on a date, with big windows and natural daylight. This is a perfect spot for a date. 

Maybe he is going to ask me out for a date. 

Why am I so delusional? He is the Principal, and I‘m just a student. I know he did me a favour in the past, but he and me doesn’t make any sense. All these thoughts made my throat dry, and then he slid a glass of water toward me. I drink a little, just to take away the dryness from my mouth. 

Why is he not speaking anything? He should start a conversation. 

What if he asks for money from me? 

Afterwards, there was just silence. 

Head: Speak, Speak. Where is all your strong, independent woman confidence gone?

Heart: You can do it. Yes, Yes, Yes.

To be continued…

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⬩➤ Up next ~ VIRAJ JANAAT SINGH POV is coming…

⬩➤ For spoiler and extra stuff, you can follow me on Instagram. ID is ~ autthorsahiba_