8;💫//Encounter//💫

Hey Daisies!🌼💖

I'm back with a new chapter, as I promised. Chalo, now, do vote and comment💖.

~ Happy reading❤️

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The alarm screamed, and Saanvi groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow.

Every inch of her body ached-proof of yesterday's madness.

Her arms felt sore from all the running, her legs were stiff from dodging gulaal attacks, and her hair still carried a faint hint of colors, despite scrubbing it three times in the shower last night.

Holi enjoy karni thi na? Ab bhugto, she thought, exhaling heavily before forcing herself to sit up.

Her legs stiff, and her hair still carrying the faint scent of gulaal despite the three washes.

She forced herself to sit up, rubbing her eyes before shuffling toward the bathroom.

By the time she came down, dressed in a simple pastel pink kurti and white leggings, the dining table was already filled with the usual morning chaos.

She stepped out of her room and made her way towards the dining table.

Her father was flipping through the newspaper, her mother was bringing tea, and Siddharth sat comfortably, munching toast.

Still sluggish, she grabbed the first thing in sight-a shiny red apple.

Siddharth, spotting this, smirked. "Tujhe pata hai na? An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

(You know right? An apple a day keeps the doctor away.)

Mid-bite, Saanvi stopped and narrowed her eyes. Slowly chewing and swallowing, she smirked back.

"Tu bhi kha, mujhse door rahega!"

(You also eat, you'll stay away from me!)

Their father chuckled. "Saanu, hospital jaane ki itni jaldi kya hai aaj?"

(Saanu, what's the hurry to go to the hospital today?)

Siddharth leaned back. "Mujhe lagta hai, hospital ke baad, Kahin jaane ka plan hai."

(I think, she have some plans after hospital.)

Saanvi grabbed her bag and glared. "Mujhe late ho raha hai, or zyada mat soch warna tujhe hi admit karwa dungi!"

(I'm getting late, and don't think too much or else I'll admit you only!)

Ignoring his laughter, she rushed out to the hospital.

🤍

At the Raghuvanshi mansion, Aniruddh woke up feeling unusually heavy. His body screamed at him to stay in bed, but his mind refused.

The golden sunlight filtering through the curtains hit his face, making him blink in irritation. Holi khelna zaroori tha kya?

(playing holi was necessary?)

With a sigh, he threw off the blanket and sat up, rubbing his face.

The faint scent of color still lingered on his skin despite the long shower he had taken the night before.

Dragging himself to the bathroom, he turned on the cold water, hoping it would jolt him awake.

By the time he stepped out, dressed in a crisp black suit, he was back to his usual self-composed, cold, and unreadable.

Downstairs, the dining table was filled with breakfast-parathas, fruits, toast, and fresh juice. But Aniruddh didn't have time for all that.

He grabbed a piece of toast from a plate, about to walk out when Aadarsh smirked.

"Itni jaldi nikal raha hai? Koi special kaam hai ya kuch aur?"

(You're going early today? You have some special work or what?)

"Kaam hai," Aniruddh replied flatly, taking a bite.

(I have work)

Ekash, leaning on the chair lazily, wiggled his eyebrows. "Ya kisi special insaan se milne ka plan hai?"

(Or have someone special waiting?)

Aniruddh shot him a blank stare before walking out without a word. His black Rolls-Royce Phantom was already waiting, and he slid into the backseat, rubbing his temples.

His driver asked, "Office ya warehouse, sir?"

(Office or warehouse, sir?)

Aniruddh's jaw tensed. "Pehle office. Phir warehouse."

(First office. Then warehouse)

🤍

Saanvi's day had been nothing short of chaotic.

She barely had time to breathe between patients-one case after another, emergency calls, back-to-back rounds, and her seniors throwing difficult cases at her.

"Dr. Oberoi," a nurse called. "The accident case in Room 12 is stable now."

Saanvi nodded, writing notes on the clipboard. "Make sure his IV is running. If his vitals drop, call me immediately."

Her H.O.D., Dr. Prakash, passed by, glancing at her with approval. "Good work today, Dr. Saanvi."

She smiled, but exhaustion was kicking in. She glanced at the clock-it was almost noon, and she only had an apple for her breakfast.

Saanvi had already handled more patients than she cared to count. The hospital had been chaotic since morning, and she hadn't even had a proper break.

Bas. Ab aur nahi.

(Enough. Now no more.)

Needing some fresh air, she stepped out of the hospital, stretching her arms as she inhaled deeply. The cool breeze felt refreshing against her skin.

Her stomach grumbled, reminding her that she hadn't eaten anything except that apple.

Kya doctor hoon main, jo khud time pe khana nahi kha sakti?

(What kind of doctor I am, I can't take meals on time?)

She decided to stop by a nearby café, ordering an iced coffee and a grilled sandwich. Sitting by the window, she scrolled through her phone, finally feeling at peace.

And that was it.

At first, she didn't even notice, too focused on sipping her coffee.

But when he casually pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down, she froze mid-sip.

She slowly lowered the cup, staring at him. "Maine aapko bulaya?"

(Did I call you?)

Aniruddh smirked, leaning back with his arms crossed. "Nahi bulaya, par main aagaya. Mujhe laga tum akele bore ho rahi hogi."

(No, but I came anyways. I thought you are getting bored alone.)

He grinned, enjoying her frustration. He can't help himself from teasing her once and for all before leaving.

He tilted his head slightly, observing her. Then, in a lazy drawl, he said, "Ajeeb hai na? Main hi tumhari zindagi ka sabse bada problem hoon, aur main hi solution."

(Isn't it weird? I am your life's biggest problem and also the solution?)

She let out a sarcastic laugh. "Aap solution nahi hai, aap woh annoying background music hai jo main ignore karna chahti hoon."

(You aren't solution, you're the annoying background music that I want to ignore.)

Aniruddh's smirk widened at her sarcastic laugh,"Yet, here we are."

She clenched her jaw, finishing the last bite of her sandwich before standing up.

He followed.

She paid at the counter, still aware of him right behind her. As she walked toward the exit, he matched her pace, walking beside her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

She stopped abruptly, turning to glare at him. "Ab kya chahiye? Leave me alone!"

(What do you want now? Leave me alone!)

Aniruddh, unfazed, smiled lazily. "Tumhe akla nhi chhodna chahta. So, continue walking doc."

He winked at her playfully, only for her to grit her teeth, clearly annoyed.

Aniruddh looked at her when, she didn't start walking,"Problem, doc?"

"Haan, problem hai!" she snapped.

(Yes, I have problem!)

He let out a short chuckle. "Theek hai, theek hai. Ja raha hoon. Itna chillane ki zaroorat nahi."

(Okay, okay. I'm going. You don't have to yell at me.)

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head as she walked away, ignoring his smirk.

Aniruddh watched her disappear into the hospital, shaking his head with a quiet chuckle before heading back to his car.

🤍

Aniruddh went straight towards his car, where his driver was already ready.

His driver took a turn towards his office before pulling out in the driveway.

As soon as Aniruddh entered his lavish glass-walled office, his employees straightened in their seats.

He walked past them, his presence alone enough to command silence.

Inside his office cabin, Siddharth was already waiting, tapping his fingers impatiently.

Inside his private office, Siddharth was already waiting, tapping his fingers impatiently.

"You are late, Mr. Raghuvanshi," Siddharth said.

Aniruddh sat behind his desk, flipping through files. "Mein busy tha."

(I was busy.)

Siddharth didn't press further.

Siddharth smirked, tossing a file toward him. "Yeh deal final ho gayi hai. Ab sign kar de."

(This deal is finalized. Now sign it.)

Aniruddh scanned the papers, nodded, and signed without hesitation. "Kuch aur?"

(Anything else?)

"Nahi," Siddharth stretched. "You going anywhere?"

"Haan. Ek important meeting hai."

(Yeah. One important meeting.)

Siddharth frowned. "Kaunse client ke saath?"

(With which client?)

Aniruddh's lips barely twitched. "Client nahi...Purana dost."

(Not a client... old friend)

Siddharth stared at him for a second, then sighed. "Matlab, mafia ka kaam."

(Means mafia business.)

Aniruddh didn't reply-he didn't need to. Siddharth simply shook his head. "Dark king."

With that, Aniruddh left.

🤍

The Rolls-Royce took a sharp turn, moving away from the corporate district.

After a while, it stopped outside a seemingly abandoned warehouse-but inside, it was anything but.

Aniruddh walked in, and his right-hand man, Vidyut, was already waiting.

Vidyut, a tall, sharp-eyes and dresser in all black. He smirked as Aniruddh stepped forward. "Boss." He bowed.

"Report," Aniruddh ordered, his voice calm but deadly.

Vidyut's expression darkened. "Aryan Jaiswal is out of prison."

Silence.

Aniruddh's fingers clenched. "How?"

Vidyut exhaled. "He used all his connections, and..."

Aniruddh's jaw tightened. Aryan Jaiswal-the man he had personally sent to prison for illegal trafficking, arms dealing, and multiple murders.

And now, he was out.

Vidyut crossed his arms. "He is planning something against you. And i think he won't back down easily this time."

Aniruddh exhaled slowly.

"Anything else?"

Vidyut smirked,"Aryan hired workers to look at all your activities. But he forgot, we are always one step ahead."

A slow, dangerous smirk formed on Aniruddh's lips. "So, games already on?"

Vidyut chuckled. "Hamesha se shuru tha, boss."

(It was always on, Boss.)

Aniruddh nodded, his mind already calculating the next steps. "Let them think, I dont know about their plan."

Vidyut grinned. "As always."

"As always."

Aniruddh turned, heading out.

🤍

It was almost evening now.

By the time Saanvi reached home, her feet were aching.

She sighed in relief as she pushed open the door, only to be greeted by Siddharth's teasing grin.

"Kya?" she asked, frowning.

(What?)

"Kuch nahi," he smirked. "Bas soch raha hoon, hospital mein kaunse interesting patients mil rahe hain tujhe?"

(Nothing. Just thinking, which interesting patients are there in hospital?)

She narrowed her eyes. "Tujhe usse kya?!"

(Why do you care?!)

He laughed as she stormed to her room, exhausted.

🤍

At the Raghuvanshi mansion, Aniruddh walked in, rolling his neck to ease the tension.

Ekash, sprawled on the couch, grinned. "Aj toh bade ache mood mein lag rahe ho bhaiya?"

(Today you look in a good mood, Bhaiya?)

"Zyada bakwas mat kar," Aniruddh muttered, heading upstairs.

(Don't speak rubbish,)

Aadarsh called after him, "Ani, tum dinner toh kr lo."

(Ani, atleast have dinner.)

Aniruddh paused for a second, then shook his head. "Nahi, kaam hai."

(No, I have work.)

He entered his room, locking the door behind him. His lips twitched slightly before he shook off the thought and got back to work.