UNEXPECTED VOWS

part-3(first meet)

Prakash Hospital – 11:45

Dr. Tejasswi Prakash stood in the operation theater, masked and gloved, her hands deep in a delicate open-heart procedure on a six-year-old child. The atmosphere in the OT was tense, but her voice was calm.

“Clamp,” she instructed.

“Pulse steady… BP stable,” the nurse announced.

Teju worked like an artist—precise, composed, completely immersed in the moment. Every move was calculated, every breath focused. By the time she completed the procedure and stitched the chest back with clean, practiced motions, it was nearly 1:00 PM.

“Send the child to ICU,” she instructed. “Monitor vitals every 30 minutes.”

Removing her gloves and scrubs, she washed up and headed straight for her afternoon rounds—checking in on post-op patients, conducting follow-up psych consults, and mentoring her interns.

Yuvi followed her closely, taking notes, assisting silently, but occasionally stealing glances, nervous about the evening.

---

3:00 PM – Staff Lounge

Teju finally sank onto a bench with a sigh, a steel cup of hospital tea in her hand. She looked exhausted but still graceful, her long hair tied in a bun, her posture neat and proud.

Adaa, her best friend and fellow doctor, joined her with a smirk. “You look like you fought a war in the OT.”

Teju chuckled softly. “Five cases, three psych consults, and a site inspection later. I’m alive… barely.”

Adaa nudged her shoulder. “Someday someone’s going to fall head-over-heels for your madness, Dr. Tejasswi.”

She smiled wryly. “Let them try. My walls are too high.”

Adaa grew quiet. She knew Teju's pain. Her guarded heart. Her own heartbreak years ago had made her emotionally distant. But she said nothing and let her friend drink her tea in peace.

---

Evening – 5:45 PM, Reception Desk

Karan Kundra walked into Prakash Hospital wearing a plain black hoodie, a black baseball cap pulled low, sunglasses, and a medical-grade mask. He looked nothing like the celebrity millions knew.

He didn’t want to be Karan Kundra today.

He wanted to be a man seeking help.

“Name?” Reema asked without looking up.

“Uh… my sister booked it. Yuvika. She said the name would be K,” he replied quietly.

Reema finally looked up, trying to catch a glimpse of his face. She couldn’t see much. But she nodded.

“Dr. Tejasswi. 6 PM slot. Please wait. She’s finishing her last round.”

He nodded, took the token, and moved to the farthest chair in the waiting area. His heart pounded. His hands were clammy. He kept checking the time, his knee bouncing up and down with nervous energy.

He was scared—not of doctors, but of being seen. Of being understood.

---

6:00 PM – Dr. Tejasswi’s Cabin

The elegant glass door read: Dr. Tejasswi Prakash – Cardiology & Psychiatry Specialist.

Teju walked in, adjusting her coat. She glanced at the file on her desk. No photo. Just a single alphabet: “K” and a brief referral note from Yuvi. Subject reporting emotional distress and breathlessness.

She pressed the intercom.

“Send the 6 PM patient in.”

Moments later, the door opened slowly.

Karan walked in.

Teju stood to greet him, offering a calm smile. “Good evening. I’m Dr. Tejasswi. Please… have a seat.”

He nodded and sat across from her, hesitating before pulling down his mask. His face was pale, tired, but still visibly tense. He kept his cap low, his eyes flickering between her desk and the floor.

Teju’s tone was warm but professional. “According to your file, you’ve been experiencing emotional heaviness and tightness in your chest. Difficulty breathing…?”

He nodded slowly. “Yeah… It’s been going on for some time. Months, maybe. But now it’s… suffocating.”

“When did it start?” she asked gently.

Karan opened his mouth to speak, but words didn’t come out. He looked away.

“Take your time,” she said softly. “No pressure.”

He finally spoke, voice low and cracked. “It started after my ex… Anushka. We were together for two years. My first ever relationship. I really thought… I thought she was it.”

Teju’s eyes remained gentle. She kept listening, scribbling notes.

“But she… she cheated. Lied. Then played victim. And even now… she’s still out there, painting me as the villain. I… I don’t love her anymore. I know that. But… I still feel broken. And blank. Like there’s a weight I can’t lift.”

As he spoke, his breathing changed. Memories overwhelmed him. His body tensed. He couldn’t speak further.

Teju leaned forward and gently held his hand.

“Shh… It’s okay. Don’t force yourself. Don’t go there. I’m here. Just breathe with me.”

She kept her hand on his gently until his panic passed.

After a long silence, Karan whispered, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

Teju smiled slightly. “You don’t need to be sorry. What you’re feeling… it’s valid. And it’s not weakness. It’s pain. You’ve been hurt and you’re carrying it all alone.”

He nodded slowly.

She paused, then asked gently, “Mr…?”

“Karan,” he answered.

She smiled warmly. “Karan.”

But what stunned Karan was that her eyes didn’t flicker with recognition. She didn’t know. She didn’t react.

No fanfare. No celebrity treatment.

He was just… Karan.

And for the first time in years, that felt like a blessing.