His silence,her question

By the fifth night…

Aarohi knew something was wrong.

Not just with Vivaan.

But with herself.

⸻

Because this wasn’t normal anymore.

⸻

She wasn’t just noticing him.

She was waiting for him.

⸻

Waiting to see if he was already there.

Waiting to hear his voice.

Waiting for those small, rare moments—

When he wasn’t completely closed off.

⸻

And that—

Was dangerous.

⸻

“Stop it,” she whispered to herself as she walked into the hospital.

⸻

But the moment she entered—

Her eyes searched for him.

Automatically.

⸻

He was there.

⸻

Same place.

Same files.

Same silence.

⸻

But today—

He didn’t look at her.

Not even once.

⸻

Aarohi slowed down.

Something felt off again.

⸻

“Good evening,” she said casually.

⸻

No response.

⸻

She frowned.

“Okay… rude.”

⸻

Still nothing.

⸻

Now she was irritated.

⸻

“Vivaan,” she said more directly.

⸻

He paused.

Just slightly.

But didn’t turn.

⸻

“What?” he said.

⸻

The tone—

Colder than usual.

⸻

Aarohi blinked.

That wasn’t normal.

⸻

“Nothing,” she said quietly.

⸻

And walked away.

⸻

But her chest felt tight.

⸻

What was that?

⸻

The night began.

But this time—

There was distance.

⸻

Not the usual kind.

⸻

This was deliberate.

⸻

Vivaan avoided her.

⸻

No direct instructions.

No eye contact.

No unnecessary words.

⸻

Like the last few nights—

Hadn’t happened.

⸻

And Aarohi felt it.

Every second.

⸻

Fine.

⸻

“If that’s how he wants it,” she thought.

“I don’t care.”

⸻

But she did.

⸻

Way more than she should.

⸻

At 12:30 AM—

She made a mistake.

⸻

A small one.

⸻

Wrong entry in a patient chart.

⸻

“Fix it.”

⸻

His voice.

Sharp.

Right behind her.

⸻

Aarohi stiffened.

⸻

“I will,” she said, correcting it quickly.

⸻

“This isn’t a classroom,” he added.

⸻

That hit harder than it should have.

⸻

“I know,” she replied, trying to stay calm.

⸻

“Then act like it.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

Aarohi turned to face him.

⸻

“What’s your problem?” she asked.

⸻

His expression didn’t change.

⸻

“Do your work properly,” he said.

⸻

“That’s not what I asked.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

For a second—

It felt like he might say something.

⸻

But then—

He walked away.

⸻

Just like that.

⸻

Aarohi stood there.

Fists clenched.

⸻

“Unbelievable…” she whispered.

⸻

But underneath the anger—

There was something else.

⸻

Hurt.

⸻

Why is he acting like this?

⸻

The question stayed.

⸻

And it refused to leave.

⸻

At 2:45 AM—

Aarohi went to the pantry.

⸻

Alone this time.

⸻

No extra cup.

⸻

No expectation.

⸻

She poured her coffee.

Took a sip.

⸻

It tasted worse today.

⸻

“Because you’re alone?”

⸻

She froze.

⸻

Vivaan.

⸻

Standing at the entrance.

⸻

She didn’t turn immediately.

⸻

“I was alone yesterday too,” she said.

⸻

“Not really.”

⸻

That made her look at him.

⸻

“What does that mean?”

⸻

He didn’t answer.

⸻

Of course.

⸻

“Why are you behaving like this?” she asked directly.

⸻

Silence.

⸻

“Did I do something?” she continued.

⸻

“No.”

⸻

“Then?”

⸻

Nothing.

⸻

Aarohi exhaled sharply.

⸻

“God, you’re impossible.”

⸻

He stepped inside.

Took a cup.

Poured coffee.

⸻

“Then stop trying,” he said.

⸻

That—

That crossed a line.

⸻

Aarohi laughed.

But there was no humor in it.

⸻

“Wow.”

⸻

He didn’t react.

⸻

“You know what?” she said, turning fully toward him,

“You’re right.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

“I shouldn’t have tried,” she continued.

⸻

He looked at her now.

⸻

“Because clearly—” her voice dropped slightly,

“you don’t deserve it.”

⸻

That hit.

⸻

She saw it.

⸻

A flicker in his eyes.

⸻

But it disappeared fast.

⸻

“Good,” he said.

⸻

One word.

⸻

Cold.

⸻

Final.

⸻

Aarohi stared at him.

⸻

For a moment—

She didn’t recognize him.

⸻

This wasn’t the same person who shared coffee.

Who almost smiled.

Who spoke about people leaving.

⸻

This was someone else.

⸻

Or maybe—

This was the real him.

⸻

“Fine,” she said quietly.

⸻

She placed her cup down.

Hard.

⸻

“I won’t try again.”

⸻

And she walked out.

⸻

This time—

She didn’t look back.

⸻

But her chest felt heavy.

⸻

Tight.

⸻

Like something had gone wrong.

⸻

Something important.

⸻

Back in the ward—

Everything continued as usual.

⸻

But not for her.

⸻

Because now—

There was a wall.

⸻

And it wasn’t just his anymore.

⸻

At 3:30 AM—

Aarohi stepped out for some air.

⸻

The hospital corridor felt suffocating.

⸻

She leaned against the wall.

Closed her eyes.

⸻

“Why do I even care…” she whispered.

⸻

“You shouldn’t.”

⸻

Her eyes opened instantly.

⸻

Another voice.

⸻

Not his.

⸻

She turned.

⸻

A senior nurse stood there.

Watching her.

⸻

“You’re new,” the nurse said.

⸻

Aarohi nodded slightly.

⸻

“Stay away from him.”

⸻

Her heart skipped.

⸻

“What?” she asked.

⸻

The nurse sighed.

⸻

“Dr. Vivaan.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

“What about him?” Aarohi asked.

⸻

The nurse hesitated.

⸻

Then said—

⸻

“He wasn’t always like this.”

⸻

Aarohi’s breath slowed.

⸻

“What do you mean?”

⸻

The nurse looked around briefly.

Then stepped a little closer.

⸻

“He used to be different,” she said.

“Very different.”

⸻

“How?” Aarohi asked.

⸻

“Talkative. Focused. Alive.”

⸻

Alive.

⸻

The word hit harder than expected.

⸻

“And now?” Aarohi whispered.

⸻

The nurse’s expression changed.

⸻

“Now he just works.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

“What happened?” Aarohi asked.

⸻

The nurse paused.

⸻

For a second—

It looked like she might not answer.

⸻

But then—

She said quietly—

⸻

“Someone left.”

⸻

Aarohi felt her heart drop.

⸻

Left.

⸻

Just like he said.

⸻

“Who?” she asked.

⸻

But the nurse shook her head.

⸻

“That’s not my story to tell.”

⸻

Frustration.

⸻

“But you should understand something,” the nurse added.

⸻

Aarohi looked at her.

⸻

“People like him…” she said slowly,

“they don’t push others away for no reason.”

⸻

Silence.

⸻

“They do it because letting someone stay…”

she paused,

“…hurts more.”

⸻

Aarohi couldn’t speak.

⸻

Her mind replayed everything.

⸻

His words.

His silence.

His sudden change tonight.

⸻

“Stop trying.”

⸻

It wasn’t anger.

⸻

It was fear.

⸻

Realization hit her slowly.

⸻

“That’s why…” she whispered.

⸻

The nurse gave a small nod.

⸻

“And if you’re smart,” she said,

“you’ll stay away.”

⸻

And then—

She walked away.

⸻

Leaving Aarohi alone.

⸻

But now—

Nothing was the same.

⸻

Because now she knew—

⸻

There was a reason behind his silence.

A reason behind his distance.

A reason behind that broken smile.

⸻

And it had something to do with—

⸻

Someone who left.

⸻

Aarohi looked down.

⸻

Her hands clenched slightly.

⸻

“Too late…” she whispered.

⸻

Because she had already stepped in.

⸻

And now—

Walking away wouldn’t be easy.

⸻

Not at all.

⸻

End of chapter 5

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