Part 1
Riya's eyes flutter open. The sterile scent of the ICU room mingles with the beeping sounds of monitors and the soft rustle of nurses moving in the background. Her vision is blurry, but as she blinks, she makes out a familiar figure standing by her bed — Arjun.
Her heart skips a beat. Her mind races to the moments before she collapsed, recalling the capsule she had swallowed to prevent contamination from the Xora 2 virus. She had barely managed to avoid the water dam's contact, but at what cost? Now, in the safety of a hospital bed, she felt her body slowly recovering, but a new fear surged in her chest — fear of confronting her feelings for Arjun.
Arjun notices her blinking at him and stands up a little straighter. His eyes are unreadable, but there’s a hint of something softer beneath his usual stoic demeanor.
"Arjun sir..." Riya murmurs, voice hoarse.
"Shh... don’t speak," Arjun says, his tone as cold as always, but there’s a gentleness in his command. "You’ve been through a lot."
Riya looks at him, her eyes searching. "I... I’m sorry, I never meant—"
"Don’t apologize," Arjun interrupts. "You did what you had to do. It's over now." He pauses, then smirks. "For the record, you looked quite determined while you were passing out."
Riya’s face flushes at the unexpected teasing. “W-what are you saying, sir?”
Arjun’s smirk deepens. “Nothing.” He steps back a little, his gaze softening. "The virus is gone. But you need rest. So, get some sleep."
Riya feels her pulse quicken. Arjun never behaved like this. She’s taken aback by the sudden change in his demeanor, but a part of her is grateful, even if she doesn't fully understand what’s going on. Her hand instinctively moves to adjust the bed's sheets, smoothing them out, trying to maintain some semblance of control. She notices, with a sense of satisfaction, that everything in the sterile room is in its proper place. No dust. No mess. Just the way she likes it.
Later that day, Riya is resting when the door opens, and she hears familiar voices. Rathod enters first, followed by Arjun. Both of them walk in with their usual air of authority, but there’s something different today — an unspoken truce between them, if only for her.
Riya looks at them, struggling to sit up, but her body is still weak. Arjun notices immediately and steps forward, placing a firm hand on her shoulder, gently pushing her back down.
"Relax. You’re not getting out of bed yet," Arjun says, his voice unexpectedly tender.
"Arjun sir, I can sit up," Riya protests weakly.
"You heard him," Rathod says, settling into a chair with a playful smirk. "You need to rest. We don’t want to carry you around like last time, do we?"
Riya looks between them, the tension between the two men palpable but somehow softened by her presence. She can’t help but smile faintly. "I’m not that weak," she says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Arjun’s expression is unreadable, but there’s a spark in his eyes. "We’ll see about that." He turns to Rathod. "You’re getting soft. What happened to the tough, unapproachable Rathod?"
Rathod chuckles. "And you’re still the brooding, mysterious Arjun. Some things never change."
Riya watches them interact, surprised by the calmness between them. There’s a peace in the air, and even though Arjun and Rathod are far from being best friends, the way they’re behaving now suggests they’re putting their differences aside for her sake. She’s touched, but also, a little overwhelmed.
Days later, as Riya’s condition improves, Arjun’s behavior becomes even more curious. He visits her daily, not in the cold, distant manner she’s used to, but with a strange protectiveness that catches her off guard.
One afternoon, she’s adjusting the pillows behind her, checking every corner of the bed, ensuring everything is pristine. Arjun watches her with a raised eyebrow, leaning against the doorframe.
“Obsessive much?” he says, his voice a mix of amusement and something else she can’t place.
Riya starts, her cheeks reddening. "I’m just making sure everything is... in order."
Arjun chuckles, walking closer to her. "You know, you’re really something else. I’ve never seen someone so obsessed with cleanliness... in a sterile room."
“I can’t help it,” Riya mutters, fidgeting with her hands. "I need things to be perfect."
Arjun raises an eyebrow, his voice dropping slightly. "You’re perfect just the way you are."
Riya freezes. Did he just say that? Her heart races, and she quickly looks away, trying to hide the intense blush creeping up her neck.
"I didn’t mean it like that," Arjun adds, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "Just... trying to get you to relax a bit."
"I am relaxed," she insists, but the way her voice shakes betrays her. She looks up at him, her emotions bubbling beneath the surface.
Arjun’s gaze softens, though he doesn’t entirely lose his stoic demeanor. "You’re too tense, Riya. Relax a little. You’re not in the field anymore."
"I’m fine," she insists again, but as she looks into his eyes, she knows she’s not. Not anymore. Not with him around.
Arjun stands up straight, his gaze lingering on her for a moment longer than usual. “Rest, okay? We still have a long way to go.”
A few days later, Riya feels a little better and tries to sit up more often, even attempting to read through the latest case files. Arjun and Rathod enter together, a brief silence hanging in the air.
"Still trying to work?" Arjun asks, his tone half-amused, half-worried.
Riya looks at him, biting her lip nervously. "I can’t sit here doing nothing."
"You need to rest," Arjun says firmly, though there’s a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Not everything can be fixed with your obsession for perfection."
"Arjun sir, please," Riya protests, trying to lift herself, but Arjun steps forward and gently holds her down.
"You’ll be fine." He turns to Rathod. "She doesn’t listen."
Rathod shrugs with a grin. "She’s always been stubborn."
Riya can’t help but smile at their banter, but Arjun’s unexpected kindness, even teasing her, sends her heart into overdrive.
As Arjun steps away, he leans down slightly, his voice low and teasing. "And don’t think I didn’t notice how you’re constantly checking everything. You’re a cleanliness freak."
"Arjun sir!" she exclaims, her face a deep shade of red. "Stop teasing me."
He grins, clearly enjoying the effect he’s having on her. "I’ll stop when you stop pretending like you don’t like it."
Riya’s eyes widen, but before she can respond, Arjun’s gone. Rathod, who’s watching the interaction with quiet amusement, stands up and pats her shoulder. "Relax, Riya. He’s just trying to make sure you’re okay."
She watches as Arjun leaves, a mix of frustration and longing building up inside her. Despite her nerves, despite her better judgment, one thing is certain — the man who once seemed so unreachable, so indifferent, was now slowly, but surely, becoming a part of her life in ways she never expected.
And as Arjun’s words echoed in her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder… maybe, just maybe, he was starting to feel something too.
End
Another intrusive thought of mine resulting into this 🙈, do read further to enjoy the beautiful ride 🥰. Please drop your creative criticism! Thank you & hope you enjoyed! 
Love,
Saraf
will definitely give more. I’ve planned a proper story for this but all depends on the readers 
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