After ten days of holidays, Reet and Abir returned to the hostel. Abir carried Reet's suitcase in one hand and his own in the other. As they reached the main entrance of the hostel building, Reet nervously looked around and whispered, “Give it to me now. Someone might see us together.”

Abir nodded, quickly handing her the suitcase. “Okay, okay. Here. But let me carry it till the stairs next time at least.”

Reet smiled softly, “Maybe.”

They walked in, their steps light and happy. The air between them had changed. The silence they once had was now replaced with comfort. They were still secretive around others, but in their private world, a new kind of warmth had bloomed.

A few days passed in calmness. They were more than classmates now—still figuring out what they were exactly, but something felt... right.

One afternoon during class, Reet sat quietly on the bench, holding her stomach tightly. Her face was pale, and she was clearly in discomfort. Abir, sitting two benches behind, noticed the unusual tension in her body language. As the bell rang and students filed out of the classroom, he hurried to her side.

“What happened? Are you okay?” he asked, slightly hesitating.

She looked up at him with a strained expression. “It’s... just my periods. The cramps are really bad this time.”

Abir’s face tensed with concern. He wasn’t entirely sure what to do, but he knew she needed help. “Come with me. The library will be quieter than this.”

He helped her up gently and walked her to the library, making sure no one noticed. She sat down with a wince, gripping the table.

“Do you want me to get you anything? A heating pad? Medicine?” he asked, worried.

“Just... stay here for a while. I don’t want to go back to class yet,” she said.

The bell rang again, and the classroom began filling with students. Reet looked up at Abir, tears pricking her eyes from the pain. “I can’t move like this. I really can’t.”

“Okay, listen. We’ll leave the hostel for a while. But not together. People will suspect,” he said.

“Then send Preet here. Ask her to get my bag. You also bring yours. We’ll leave together after that,” she said softly.

Abir nodded and rushed to the classroom. He informed Preet quietly and grabbed both their bags. Preet came to the library and helped Reet stand up.

Together, they made their way to the elevator where Abir was waiting. Preet handed Reet over to Abir, who gently supported her. As they exited the building, whispers began to stir among the students. Some noticed their closeness. Some guessed.

Abir didn’t care anymore. He helped her into a cab and took her to a nearby hotel where she could rest. He got her medicine and food and made sure she was comfortable. The room was warm, the curtains drawn, and Reet laid down with a grateful sigh.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Abir simply nodded. “You don’t have to thank me. Just rest.”

And in that moment, with quiet care and unspoken concern, something deeper began to grow between them. Not love, not yet—but a bond that neither of them could ignore anymore.

Thank you for reading Chapter 14!

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Stay with us for Chapter 15, where Reet and Abir’s journey continues as they take a new step toward becoming doctors—and face the changes that come with it.💫