ARZOO POV

It’s been two weeks here now.
I am finally settling in.

I was never very extroverted since childhood. Talking to new people still feels strange, but in a weird way, interesting too. Back in my city, I had very limited friends. Even my college was a girls-only college with a good reputation. Life was simple there.

Our neighbours were very nice people. After my father passed away, they were always there for us. They supported mumma emotionally and practically. When I was in my first year of bachelor’s, I made mumma stop giving tuitions. I didn’t want her to take so much stress anymore. She had already worked so hard to support me and was still paying the EMI of the house my father bought just one year before he passed away. She paid that EMI for fifteen years. Never gave up. Never complained.

They say this is the best time of life.
I am excited to experience everything.

Last weekend, I went to visit mumma. I stayed for two days and came back, travelling almost three hours. Today, I was returning from university. It’s just a five-minute walk from the main road to my PG.

I was walking on the side of the road. The street was quiet, only a few vehicles passing by. The evening air felt light.

And suddenly…

Something big struck my body from behind.

I fell hard on the ground, pushed by a vehicle. My body slid a little forward. For a few seconds, I couldn’t register anything. My legs were twisted awkwardly. My hands were on the road. A sharp pain shot through my foot and I screamed.

Tears filled my eyes.

People started gathering around me. I felt a hand on my shoulder. Someone held my arms from the front and tried to help me stand.

The pain was unbearable. I thought my bones were broken.

“Pakdiye zara. Main car Nazdeek lata hoon,” someone said, and I felt him leave my arm.

A lady made me sit on a chair they arranged from somewhere. I was dizzy. My head was spinning.

Then I saw an SUV stop nearby.

I looked up.

It was him.

The same man I had seen in the bakery.

He came quickly and held my hand to help me stand. The lady held my other arm.

“Beta, bas thoda wait karo,” she said softly.
“Tumhe hospital le jana padega.”

Somehow, I was made to sit in the car.

He started driving, completely focused on the road. I was in too much pain to understand what was happening around me.

I heard him make a call.

“Dr Sharma se keh dijiye, Sahir Sachdeva ka call aya tha. Emergency hai.”

Sahir.

That’s when I heard his name for the first time.

We reached the hospital. They took me inside on a wheelchair. Everything felt rushed. Nurses were moving fast.

“Good evening, sir. Dr Sharma paanch minute mein pahunch jayenge.”

They cleaned the wound on my hand, which I hadn’t even noticed earlier. I was given an injection and taken for an X-ray.

Later, a nurse took me to the doctor’s cabin. Sahir was already there, talking to the doctor.

The doctor checked the movement of my foot and saw the X-ray.

“Beta, fracture nahi hai,” he said.
“Bas ligament tear hai. Ice press karni hai do din. Main medicine likh deta hoon. Complete bed rest five days. Teen din baad aana, tab dekhenge bandage chahiye ya nahi.”

Before I could say anything, Sahir spoke,

“Thank you for coming back, doctor. I know you just left the hospital ten minutes ago. We’ll take care of all the instructions.”

We went back to the car. Sahir pushed my wheelchair. He collected all the medicines. I didn’t even have my purse with me.

The hospital staff was helping till Sahir thanked them and helped me sit inside the car.

“Are you comfortable?” he asked and started driving.

I finally spoke,
“Thank you for everything. And I’m sorry… aapko itni dikkat hui meri wajah se.”

“No need to say thank you, Arzoo,” he said calmly.
“By the way, my name is Sahir.”

I realised he knew my name, probably from the form I filled at the hospital.

“Aap ussi locality mein rehte ho?” he asked.

“Han ji. Green Avenue ke paas, park ke side PG hai mera.”

“So, you are a student?”

“Yes. I shifted a few days back. MBA kar rahi hoon Sera University se. Aap local ho yahan ke?”

“Nahi,” he smiled lightly.
“Main bhi yahan six months pehle shift hua hoon job ke liye.”

“Mujhe meri kit aur phone pakda denge aap?” I asked.

He forwarded everything to me.

I saw many missed calls from mumma. My heart sank. I called her immediately and lied that I got late at university and was returning home.

I couldn’t let her worry more. She was already stressed about me living alone. I looked at Sahir and said quietly,
“Can’t let mumma stress out.”

He nodded. His eyes focused on the road.

“No university for a few days,” he said softly.
“You need to take care of your foot.”

We reached home.

Tisha, aunty, and uncle were standing at the gate, waiting for me. I had already called Tisha and told her about the accident.

As I got down, Tisha rushed to me and held my arm.

“Arzoo!” she said, scared.

We slowly went inside and sat in the garden area.

Uncle and Sahir started talking about something. Sahir gave them all my medicines and explained everything.

“Beta, tu neeche hi reh kuch din,” aunty said.
“Yahan Roop ka room free hai. Upar seedhiya kaise chadegi?”

“Arzoo, tum neeche hi raho,” Tisha added.
“Main tumhara zaroori samaan neeche le aaungi. Infact, hum same room mein reh sakte hain. Agar kuch chahiye hoga, main yahin rahungi.”

I felt so relieved.
So grateful.

For the next three days, I was mostly on bed rest. I watched TV. I discovered this new serial, Kuch Rang Pyaar Ke Aise Bhi, and I am currently watching every episode religiously. Although I don’t watch serials much, this one seems heartwarming. I also tried to study, but my heart didn’t feel like studying much in this situation.

Tisha helped me go to the washroom on the first day because the pain was so severe. She gave me food and medicines and then went for her nursing shifts. She works very hard.

Aunty and uncle were also very sweet. They kept checking on me. We used to sit in the garden in the evening.

Yesterday, I cried a lot thinking about my situation. Missing university. Feeling stuck in the room.

I still haven’t told mumma about this.

I am feeling better today. The pain was terrible in the beginning. Now it only hurts when I move too much. It’s bearable, but I still can’t walk properly, so I limp everywhere. Hehe.

I was tying my ponytail, stopping in between because even small movements hurt. My phone rang. It was Tisha.

“Arzoo, meri half day approve nahi hui yaar. Staff kam hai aaj. I’m so sorry,” she said.

“Ek kaam karo, tum call karke kal ki appointment le lo. Kal main pakka aaungi. I’ll take a leave.”

“It’s okay,” I replied. “Main dekh leti hoon.”

After the call, the room felt quieter than before.

I slowly got up and walked to the dressing table where my hospital file was kept. I started searching for the number.

“Arzu beta…” aunty called from outside.

“Hanji, aunty.”

“Sahir aaya hai.”

Sahir?

For a second, everything paused.
Why would Sahir come here?

I was confused, yet something in me felt a small flutter.

Votes and thoughts are always appreciated 🤍

Grateful you’re here. See you in the next chapter 🤍