Dhwani groaned as she packed up the last of her patient files, her hair in a loose bun and her lab coat hanging from one shoulder. Her shift was finally over, and the only thing on her mind was collapsing onto her bed and not moving for the next decade.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and stepped out of her cabin, yawning so wide her jaw cracked. She didn't even get to walk five steps before-

"Zombie!"

She paused, blinked, and turned slowly.

Aarav stood behind her, arms wide and a huge grin on his face. "You look like one of those background characters from a horror movie-dead inside but still caffeinated."

"AARAV!" Dhwani screamed, eyes going wide. In less than a second, she launched herself at him.

He caught her mid-jump and twirled her once. "Still dramatic," he muttered into her hair, laughing.

"I thought you were in America eating sad burgers alone!" she yelled, hitting his shoulder.

"I was. Now I'm here to give you company while you eat sad hospital sandwiches."

"You idiot! You didn't tell me you were coming!"

"I wanted to see your natural zombie reaction. I was not disappointed."

She hit him again. "Shut up."

---

The two of them ended up in the hospital cafeteria, laughing so loud that a nurse gave them the stink-eye. Dhwani slurped her coffee while Aarav stacked sugar packets into a tiny tower.

"You know," he said, looking at her over his masterpiece, "You used to be cute. Now you look like a half-burnt toast."

Dhwani nearly choked. "Excuse me? I still AM cute. I'm just... toasted."

"You're crusty. There's a difference," he said seriously.

"I hate you."

"You love me."

"Barely."

He leaned closer. "Admit it. You missed me."

"Like I miss exam stress," she muttered, but her smile gave her away.

"Do you still draw on the back of patient reports?" he smirked.

"Sometimes," she shrugged. "They're tiny doodles now. Stick figures and sad suns."

Their laughter echoed again, teasing each other over their teenage disasters-her braces, his mushroom haircut, her obsession with Shahrukh Khan, his failed attempt at writing a poem that accidentally insulted their teacher.

---

A few feet away, unnoticed, Dharsh stood partially hidden near the corridor that led to the main wing. He wasn't eavesdropping exactly-but he wasn't not listening either.

His eyes were trained on her.

The way she laughed without caution. The way she looked so effortlessly herself-messy hair, tired eyes, oversized coat, and still glowing.

He didn't know who the guy was, but he hated that smile on her face. Not because it was fake. Because it wasn't.

Because she'd smiled like that with him... once. A long time ago. And then everything got too complicated.

Dharsh's jaw ticked, and his fingers flexed slightly at his side.

What irritated him more? That she hadn't smiled like that in front of him lately-or that she could still smile like that at all?

He turned away without a word, his expression unreadable.

---

Later, Aarav insisted on dropping her home. "Your legs look like they might fall off if you walk another step."

"I'm wearing heels," she whined.

"That's your fault, ma'am."

When they walked into her house, the smell of food hit them instantly.

"Araaaaav!" her mom's voice echoed before she even appeared. "Oh my god, look at you!"

He was pulled into a dramatic hug before he could react.

"Uncle!" Aarav grinned as Dhwani's dad gave him a bear clap on the back.

"I thought America would ruin you, but you look... well-fed."

Dhwani rolled her eyes. "Can we not do this today?"

Her mom grinned. "We're just happy to see someone normal in this house for once."

"EXCUSE ME?" Dhwani shouted.

Aarav turned to her with a smirk. "Confirmed: she's still the drama queen."

"She hasn't changed one bit," her dad added.

"Actually, she got worse," Aarav said, dodging a pillow she threw at his head.

"I raised wolves," Dhwani muttered, flopping onto the couch.

---

Dinner was chaos.

Her mom kept stuffing Aarav's plate while Dhwani tried to stop them from opening old embarrassing stories.

"Remember when she locked herself in the bathroom because of a lizard?" her dad offered.

"NO ONE NEEDS TO KNOW THAT!"

Aarav clapped like a seal. "Oh my god, I forgot that! You screamed like a banshee!"

"I HATE YOU ALL."

"You love us," her mom smiled sweetly.

Aarav held up his spoon. "To Dhwani, the bravest coward I know!"

She threw a napkin at his face.

By the time Aarav left that night, the house was filled with laughter, half-cleaned dishes, and Dhwani's fuming face.

"I hope you choke on a blueberry muffin!" she yelled as he walked out.

He blew her a kiss. "See you tomorrow, Dr. Toast!"

She slammed the door with a scowl... but smiled immediately after.

She flopped onto her bed like a ragdoll, her phone buzzing somewhere beside her pillow.

Too tired to move, she blindly reached out and checked the notification.

Diya: Don't forget, babe. Tomorrow = our day out. 10 AM sharp. I'll kill you if you ditch me.

Dhwani's eyes flew open. "Oh no... I totally forgot about that!"

Then came another notification.

Aarav: Cafeteria breakfast tomorrow? I'm bringing donuts. Don't ghost me.

She let out a muffled scream into her pillow. "Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with meeting me?!"

And yet... her lips curled into a soft smile. Her tomorrow was going to be chaos, but the good kind.

---