When I was in school, I felt very lonely. I didn't have many friends, and hardly anyone ever noticed me. But there was a girl named Isha. She was perfect—brilliant in academics, an amazing dancer, a beautiful singer, and a great listener. She spoke so well that everyone loved to hear her talk.

I never imagined that someone like her would ever talk to me. But to my surprise, she did. Not only that, she appreciated my work. I knew I wasn’t a good singer, yet she encouraged me. She told me I could improve if I kept trying, and for the first time, I felt a spark of confidence.

On Sports Day, I was feeling especially down. I wasn’t good at my studies, and because of that, my parents were often disappointed in me. They scolded me all the time, which only made things worse. I had no real friends, and school felt more like a burden than a place of learning. That day, I didn’t even want to go. But I had no choice.

As usual, I sat alone, isolated from everyone. Then, out of nowhere, Isha came and sat beside me. Her presence alone was enough to brighten my day. We talked, and for the first time in a long while, I felt truly happy. I wished time would stop so that I could stay in that moment forever.

I really liked her, but I never had the courage to tell her. I was afraid. Maybe I wasn’t good enough for her. Maybe she deserved someone better. And so, time passed, and we grew older. Our paths started to drift apart—she wanted to become an actress, while I dreamed of becoming a doctor.

And just like that, our ways separated…

Ten years had passed. I was no longer the lonely boy lost in his own world—I had become Dr. Aarav Mehta, a successful neurologist. My life was everything I had dreamed of. The long nights of studying, the endless shifts at the hospital, and the sacrifices I made had all led me to this point. I had earned respect, wealth, and a life of purpose. Yet, despite everything, there was an emptiness that lurked in the quiet corners of my heart.

I had no time for love or marriage. Work was my only companion, my passion, my escape. While others longed for companionship, I found solace in the silent corridors of my hospital, in the rhythmic beeping of machines, and in the lives I saved. I convinced myself that this was enough—that love was a distraction, something I had outgrown. But my parents thought otherwise.

"When will you get married?" my mother would ask every morning at breakfast, her voice laced with impatience. "You're 27 now, Aarav. Every girl in this city would kill to be with you, but you keep rejecting them. Do you want us to leave this world without seeing our grandchild?"

I had lost count of how many times I had heard those words. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand their feelings. I did. But how could I explain to them that marriage wasn’t something I could decide in a matter of minutes? That I wasn’t willing to settle for just anyone? That deep down, a part of me was still searching for something—someone?

I had thought that once I became a doctor, my parents would finally be proud of me, that they would stop forcing their expectations on me. But I had been wrong. No matter how much I achieved, they always wanted more.

Despite my success, something was missing. I had everything I once wished for, but happiness remained elusive. There was a void, an invisible weight pressing down on me, a feeling that something—someone—was absent from my life. And then, just as that thought crossed my mind, the news changed everything.

I was sitting in my office, exhausted from back-to-back surgeries, when the TV in the waiting area caught my attention. The headline flashed across the screen in bold letters:

"BREAKING NEWS: Top Actress Isha Kapoor Quits the Industry Due to a Mysterious Illness!"

My heart stopped.

Isha Kapoor.

It had been years since I had last heard that name, but it still held power over me. The girl who had once been my best friend. The girl who had seen something in me when no one else did. The girl I had loved in silence.

I watched as reporters speculated about her condition. The queen of Bollywood, the shining star, was walking away from fame, vanishing from the world she had conquered. And I knew—something was terribly wrong.

Before I could process it, my phone rang. The hospital’s reception.

"Dr. Aarav, there's an urgent appointment scheduled for this evening. The patient requested you personally."

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Who is it?"

There was a pause before the receptionist hesitantly said, "Miss Isha Kapoor."

For a moment, the world around me blurred. My grip on the phone tightened.

Isha.

After all these years… she was coming back into my life. But this time, not as the girl I once knew—this time, as my patient.

The moment I heard her name from the hospital receptionist, my mind spiraled into chaos. Isha Kapoor. The girl who had once been my best friend. The girl who had unknowingly taught me the meaning of confidence. The girl I had loved in silence.

For a moment, I sat frozen, gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. Was it really her? Could fate truly be this cruel yet kind at the same time? I had spent years burying my past, convincing myself that my childhood feelings were just that—childish. And yet, here she was, resurfacing like a forgotten melody, tugging at my heartstrings once more.

I couldn't wait until evening. My mind refused to stay still, and my heart felt as if it would burst from anticipation. Without wasting another second, I grabbed my coat and rushed to the hospital. The hours dragged on painfully slow, each second stretching into eternity. Then, finally, she arrived.

She walked through the hospital doors, accompanied by her mother. My breath hitched.

She was still the Isha I had known—but at the same time, she wasn’t.

Time had sculpted her into a breathtaking woman. Her long, flowing hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her eyes—those same mesmerizing eyes that once held warmth and laughter—now carried something else. Something distant. Something broken.

And then, she walked past me.

She didn’t recognize me.

A lump formed in my throat. Had I truly been so insignificant in her life that she had forgotten me completely? Or was it something more?

Before I could say a word, her mother approached me, her eyes filled with desperation and sorrow. "Dr. Aarav," she began, her voice trembling. "Isha has a rare neurological disorder. She hallucinates constantly, living in a world that exists only in her mind. Her condition is getting worse. She’s losing touch with reality."

I felt the air leave my lungs.

Hallucinations. A world of illusions.

The Isha I had known—the vibrant, confident girl who had once encouraged me—was now trapped inside her own mind. And to make matters worse, she had lost the one person who should have stood by her side.

Her mother hesitated before continuing, "She was engaged… but her fiancé broke it off after learning about her illness. He said he couldn't handle it. That she was too much for him to bear."

A wave of anger surged through me. How could anyone leave her? How could he turn his back on such a perfect woman just because she was unwell?

I forced myself to take a deep breath, pushing aside my emotions. This wasn’t about me. It was about Isha.

Her mother wiped her tears and looked at me with hope. "We've seen every doctor we could, but nothing has helped. You're our last hope. Please, Dr. Aarav… will you take her case? Will you help her?"

Had it been anyone else, I might have hesitated. I might have weighed my options, thought about the challenges, and even considered refusing. But this was her.

If this was fate’s way of bringing her back into my life, I would not turn my back on it.

"Yes," I said without hesitation. "But on one condition."

Her mother looked at me anxiously. "What is it?"

"I will not take any payment," I said firmly. "And no one will interfere in her treatment."

There was silence as she considered my words. Then, after what felt like an eternity, she nodded. "If that is what it takes to save my daughter, then I agree."

At that moment, I knew my life was about to change forever. I had spent years convincing myself that I didn't need love, that I was content with my career, that the emptiness in my heart was simply a side effect of success. But now, with Isha standing before me, lost in a world of illusions, I realized the truth.

She had always been the missing piece in my life.

And now, I would do everything in my power to bring her back to reality.

Even if it meant risking my own heart in the process.

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