Chapter 2: Conversations Under Fluorescent Lights

The cafeteria was nearly empty at this hour, save for a couple of nurses chatting quietly at a corner table and a lone security guard nursing his cup of coffee. The overhead fluorescent lights buzzed softly, casting a pale glow over the room. It wasn’t the most welcoming space, but for Meera, it was a distraction from the weight pressing on her chest.

She watched as Aarav stirred his tea absentmindedly, his fingers tapping lightly against the ceramic cup. There was something steady about him—an ease in the way he carried himself, a quiet confidence that suggested he had spent years navigating the unpredictable nature of life and death.

"Do you always stay late at the hospital?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Aarav looked up, as if surprised she had initiated the conversation. "More often than I should," he admitted with a small chuckle. "My shift ended hours ago, but I like to check on my patients before leaving."

Meera studied him for a moment. "That’s... rare. Most doctors I’ve met are in a hurry to leave."

He shrugged. "I guess I’ve never been good at switching off. Medicine isn’t just about diagnosing and treating—it’s about being there, especially when people need reassurance."

A flicker of something passed through Meera’s expression, but she quickly masked it. "And do you ever get tired of it? The responsibility, the pressure?"

"Of course," Aarav admitted. "There are days when it’s overwhelming. When you lose someone despite doing everything right. When you have to tell a family that their loved one didn’t make it. Those are the hardest moments."

Meera wrapped her hands around her cup, absorbing his words. "How do you deal with it?"

Aarav exhaled, leaning back in his chair. "You don’t. Not entirely. You just learn to carry it differently."

Meera nodded slowly, as if she understood exactly what he meant.

A comfortable silence stretched between them before Aarav spoke again. "What about you? What do you do when you’re not waiting in hospital corridors?"

A faint smile crossed her lips. "I’m a writer."

Aarav raised an eyebrow. "A writer?"

She nodded. "Freelance mostly. I write columns, short stories. Anything that helps me make sense of things."

"That explains the way you think," he mused.

Meera tilted her head. "And how do I think, doctor?"

Aarav’s lips curved into a knowing smile. "Like someone who pays attention to the details. Like someone who understands silence just as much as words."

Meera looked at him, surprised by his observation. She had met plenty of people who dismissed writing as a hobby, but Aarav spoke as if he understood the weight words carried.

Before she could respond, a nurse entered the cafeteria, glancing around. When her eyes landed on Meera, she hesitated for a second before walking over.

"Ms. Verma?"

Meera’s heart clenched. "Yes?"

"Your father’s surgery is over. The doctor will meet you in a few minutes."

Meera exhaled sharply, setting down her untouched tea. Her fingers trembled slightly as she stood up.

Aarav rose with her. "I’ll walk with you."

She hesitated for only a second before nodding. And just like that, in the quiet hours of the night, two strangers walked side by side, unaware of how this moment would shape the days to come.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***