Page 20 of When Love Trespassed

City Hospital

Shaurya stood in the cool hospital lobby, his arms crossed as he listened to the doctor. The man spoke in a calm, professional tone, one Shaurya had heard far too many times over the years, usually in boardrooms, though never quite like this.

“There’s a clean fracture in the right ankle,” the doctor said. “Thankfully, it’s a minor one. No surgery required. Just a cast, plenty of rest, and regular check-ups. He’ll be discharged by the evening, but complete bed rest is a must for a few weeks.”

Shaurya nodded. “Thank you, Doctor.”

As the doctor walked away, Shaurya turned, only to be met by a flurry of motion advancing towards him. Varun, breathless and wide-eyed, came barrelling down the corridor, looking like he’d run across half the city.

“Tell me he’s fine,” Varun panted, skidding to a halt.

“He’s fine,” Shaurya replied. “It’s a minor ankle fracture. They are discharging him in the evening.”

Varun let out a dramatic sigh of relief and leaned against the wall just outside the private ward. “Oh, good. That means we have time till evening to hire you a solid legal team.”

Shaurya frowned. “What?”

Varun looked at him like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

“Come on, buddy. Think about it. Grandpa Raichand tumbles down the stairs the very next morning after you kissed his beloved granddaughter? You’re a prime suspect in every possible way.

Hell, I’d be surprised if the man doesn’t press charges for emotional trauma once he’s awake. ”

“Are you out of your mind?” Shaurya growled.

Varun grinned. “Mildly. But think about it. Nandini probably told him. And the poor man was so horrified, so shaken by the idea of your lips on her sweet little face that he just… lost all balance. One second, he’s standing, the next…

boom. He tumbles down the stairs. And here you are, pacing hospital floors like a worried son-in-law. ”

“Shut up,” Shaurya muttered. “I don’t think she told him.”

Varun narrowed his eyes. “You don’t think ? That’s what you’re going with?”

“She’s smarter than that,” Shaurya exhaled, his voice low. “Even if she wanted to throttle me last night, I don’t think she’d bring her grandfather into the mess. Not when he already despises me. She wouldn’t want to add fuel to that fire.”

Varun folded his arms across his chest. “And what makes you so sure? Did you talk to her? Like you were supposed to?”

Shaurya shook his head. “I was going to. I even waited in my garden this morning, watering my plans, hoping she’d come out like she usually does at that time. I thought… maybe if she did, I could talk to her. Say something, fix things.”

Varun lifted an eyebrow, curious to know more.

“But then, I heard her scream. And I dropped everything and ran straight to their villa.”

Varun placed a hand on his chest. “Shaurya Ahuja voluntarily barged into enemy territory. My heart can’t take this.”

Shaurya rolled his eyes. “It was instinct, okay? The panic in her voice. I didn’t think. I just ran. That’s when I saw him… lying there. And Nandini… she was a mess.”

Varun’s sarcasm flickered into a smile of genuine warmth. “So basically, enemy lines were erased the second she screamed?”

Shaurya rubbed the back of his neck. “She was so shaken. I’ve never seen her like that. I mean, I’ve never seen her crying before. But this… this was different.”

Varun smiled knowingly. “I’m glad you were there. In fact, I’ll give you this—despite all the mango wars and legal warnings, you still ran in and helped them. That says something.”

“I’m not a monster,” Shaurya replied. “That was just basic human courtesy.”

“Exactly,” Varun said, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Show them who Shaurya Ahuja really is. Someone who’s more than just a grumpy neighbour who argues about mango trees and fruits.”

“Rotten mangoes, to be precise,” Shaurya corrected. “Now come on. Let’s go check on Mr. Raichand.”

He started walking down the corridor toward the private ward. But Varun, never one to miss a chance, followed right on his heels and threw in a teasing jab, his voice light as ever.

“Check on Grandpa? Or the granddaughter?”

Shaurya didn’t respond. Because the truth was, Varun was right. As much as he was concerned about Grandpa’s fall and hoped the old man hadn’t fractured anything too serious, what had stayed in his mind all morning was Nandini.

Her panicked scream from earlier still echoed in his ears. The way she’d crumpled beside her grandfather, trembling, her eyes wide and wet and scared, shook him to his core.

The same girl who’d been glaring at him with fury the night before was suddenly this fragile woman, falling apart in front of him. And he hadn’t known what to do except hold her hand and stay, offering whatever comfort he could.

And ever since, he hadn’t stopped thinking about her. Not just about her being okay, but hoping she wasn’t crying anymore. Because the truth was, he had no idea how much longer he could pretend not to care.

***************

Nandini had barely moved from her spot beside the hospital bed ever since the doctors informed her of the minor fracture in her grandfather’s ankle.

The moment she’d heard the words ‘he’ll recover in a few weeks’ , her knees had buckled with relief, and she’d collapsed into the chair beside him, her hand clutching his like it was her lifeline.

She had messaged her parents right after, informing them about Grandpa’s condition, though she knew they would still be sleeping.

It was still early morning in London, and she knew they’d been up late celebrating the New Year’s party.

Her fingers had hovered above the screen for a few extra seconds before she’d pressed send.

The image of her grandfather crumpled at the bottom of the stairs still haunted her.

If Shaurya hadn’t rushed into Raichand Villa the moment she screamed… if he hadn’t scooped up her grandfather and driven like a man possessed to get him to the hospital in time, then…

Nandini didn’t even want to finish that thought.

She knew he was still here. In the hallway. He chose to stay despite knowing her grandpa was okay. That simple act meant so much to her.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden movement beside her. Grandpa moved slightly, his fingers twitching, and then, his eyes fluttered open.

“Daadu!” Nandini gasped, her hand tightening around his. “You’re awake.”

He blinked groggily. “Nandu…? Where am I?”

“You fell down the stairs,” she whispered, pressing a glass of water to his lips as the nurse helped him sit up. “You have a minor fracture in your ankle. Nothing major. But you gave us all a heart attack by passing out in shock.”

He drank slowly, clearing his throat. “A fracture, hmm?” he murmured. “Figures. It does hurt like hell.”

She gave him a weak smile, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “The doctor’s advised complete bed rest for the next few weeks.”

He sighed, nodding, then turned his gaze on her, sharper now. “You must’ve been scared out of your wits. How did you… manage to get me here?”

Her fingers tightened slightly around the empty glass.

There it was—the question she’d been dreading.

She should’ve been prepared for it. Rehearsed a script. Come up with something half-believable that didn’t involve her stormy neighbour playing a hero and carrying her grandfather like in a scene straight from an action film.

Her lips parted, the word ‘ambulance’ nearly on the tip of her tongue.

But nothing came out.

Because honestly, she didn’t know whether to tell him the truth now or later, or maybe never at all. Would it make things worse? After everything that had already happened, the last thing she wanted was to send his blood pressure spiking again. So, she hesitated.

Just as she was about to open her mouth to speak, the door to the private ward opened.

And in walked Shaurya.

With him was his ever-grinning friend, Varun, whom she recalled meeting the other day.

The moment the older man’s eyes landed on Shaurya, whatever trace of softness had returned to his expression vanished. His mouth twisted into a hard scowl, his back stiffening despite the injury.

“What… what is he doing here?” he snapped, his voice rising loud enough that even the nurse passing by couldn’t help but peek in, her curiosity piqued.

Nandini’s heart stuttered. She opened her mouth again, hoping to divert him, to explain gently, but Varun stepped forward before she could.

“Grandpa,” he said cheerfully, “Shaurya was the one who brought you here.”

“ He what? ” Grandpa turned his furious gaze to Nandini, as if she had just committed an act of pure betrayal. “You let him touch me? You let him carry me?”

Shaurya inhaled sharply and took a step forward. Nandini could see it building in him—his jaw tightening, his hands curling into fists, that same tightly coiled temper he usually kept so perfectly in check.

But before he could explode, Varun beat him to it again.

“Grandpa, maybe you should lie back and not raise your blood pressure? You just came out of unconsciousness. Stress isn’t good for your… uh… fracture.”

Grandpa narrowed his eyes at him. “Who are you? A doctor?”

Varun chuckled. “Not exactly. But my mom is a physiologist, so I do know a thing or two about dealing with, uh, fiery patients. I’m Varun, Shaurya’s friend.”

Grandpa’s eyes narrowed further. “Shaurya’s friend?” he scoffed. “My enemy’s ally. And an enemy’s ally is still an enemy.”

Varun beamed. “Well, Grandpa, as they say—never judge a book by its cover. Or a man by the company he keeps. I’m much more fun than Shaurya, I promise.”

Grandpa blinked, thrown off just enough to look mildly confused by the wordplay. He then turned his searing gaze back to Shaurya.

“Why are you always around my family? Don’t you have work to do, deals to close, empires to build, people to annoy?”