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Chapter 1 here!!!

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Dr. Avatika Gupta stood in front of the hospital's entrance, taking a deep breath as the cool morning air filled her lungs. The city around her buzzed with the usual rhythm of life, but inside the walls of the hospital, a different world awaited. She had been a doctor for few years now, but each day felt like the first. The rush of adrenaline, the pressure to make quick decisions, and the responsibility of every patient's life-this was what she had trained for.

She adjusted her stethoscope around her neck, her white coat freshly pressed. Her scrubs were worn and comfortable, a small reminder of the countless hours spent on her feet, walking the hallways, listening to heartbeats, reading charts, and offering hope to the sick and their families. Today, like every day, was another chance to make a difference. As she stepped inside, the familiar sounds of the hospital filled her ears-the beeping of machines, the hurried footsteps of nurses, and the soft murmur of voices from patients and their families.

Avantika greeted a few staff members as she walked down the hallway. She had seen countless patients over the years, each with their own story, but today, something felt different. The weight of the day ahead pressed on her, but she was ready. The world of medicine was unpredictable, full of challenges, but it was where she felt most alive. She pushed open the door to the ER, stepping into a whirlwind of activity, ready to face whatever the day had in store.

As Avantika stepped into the ER, the chaotic scene unfolded around her. Nurses were rushing from one patient to the next, doctors were exchanging quick instructions, and the familiar hum of machines created a steady rhythm in the background. A young nurse approached her with a clipboard, her face strained but determined.

"Dr. Gupta, we've got a full house today. The trauma cases are coming in fast," the nurse said, her voice steady despite the urgency. "There's a car accident up on Highway 6. Multiple victims, serious injuries."

Avantika nodded, her mind already switching into gear. She grabbed her pen, scanning the list of patients. "Send me the details on the first two, then let's start prepping for the trauma cases. I'll be in the trauma bay."

She walked briskly toward the trauma bay, the fluorescent lights above casting a sterile glow on the room. It was a space she knew well-clinical, cold, but necessary. As the team started setting up, Avantika's mind flicked through her mental checklist. Was the blood supply ready? Did they have enough of the necessary equipment? The hospital staff worked like a well-oiled machine, each member performing their role with quiet efficiency.

The doors to the ER burst open, and a stretcher rolled in, the victim of the car accident. A young man, unconscious, his head wrapped in a bloodied bandage. Avantika immediately took charge. "Airway first. Stabilize him. Start the IV," she ordered, her voice calm but authoritative. She leaned in, her gloved hands expertly assessing the patient, her mind already calculating the next steps. Time was precious, and every decision counted.

As the team worked around her, Avantika couldn't help but feel a momentary pang of uncertainty-a fleeting doubt. Was she doing enough? Could she save him? But she quickly dismissed it. There was no time for doubt. Every life she touched was important, and it was her job to give everything she had.

While the chaos of the ER raged on, a quiet determination settled over Avantika. She was here for a reason. She was a doctor-and this was what she was meant to do. The day had just begun, but she was ready for whatever it would bring.

As the trauma team worked on the young man, Avantika focused on the details. His vital signs were unstable, and the blood loss was significant. She called for an emergency CT scan, hoping to rule out any internal bleeding. As the tech wheeled the patient out of the room, she turned to the nurse.

"Make sure to monitor his pressure closely. Let me know if there's any change."

The nurse nodded, quickly scribbling notes. Avantika glanced at the clock-it was already nearing 2 PM, and the ER was filling up fast with new cases. She wasn't surprised. It was a typical busy morning, but the unpredictability of emergency medicine always kept her on edge.

By the time Avantika finished her shift, the sun had already set, casting a soft orange glow across the parking lot. The ER had finally quieted down, the constant flurry of activity subsiding as the night shift took over. She stood in the hospital's dimly lit hallway for a moment, letting out a long, tired sigh. It had been a long day-one of those shifts that seemed to blur into an endless stream of faces, names, and decisions. There had been moments of relief, but many more of tension and uncertainty.

She removed her stethoscope from around her neck and tossed it into her bag, feeling the weight of the day in the ache of her shoulders and the weariness in her legs. She'd managed to stabilize her patients, but there had been close calls, moments where it felt like time was slipping away. It was part of the job, but it never got easier.

Avantika walked through the staff exit, her footsteps echoing in the empty parking lot. The cold night air hit her face, and for the first time that day, she took a deep breath, letting the quiet settle around her. It felt good to leave the hospital behind, if only for a few hours.

Her car was just a few steps away, parked under a flickering streetlight. As she unlocked the door and slid into the driver's seat, she glanced at her phone-no messages, just the usual alerts from the hospital about patient updates. She turned the key, the engine rumbling to life.

The road home was familiar, the lights of the city blurring past as her thoughts drifted to her family waiting for her.

As she pulled into her driveway, she cut the engine and sat for a moment, staring out at the quiet night. She let out a sigh and dragged herself to the entrance of her house.

As she rang Avantika smiled faintly as the door swung open. Standing there was 'Sneha Rathi', her beloved bhabhi-her brother's wife, but more like a sister to her. Sneha had always been a calming presence in her life, even though they hadn't spent much time together since Avantika had become a full-time doctor.

Sneha stepped aside, her warm eyes scanning Avantika's face with a knowing look. "Long day?" she asked softly, the small smile on her lips deepening with sympathy.

"Same as always," Avantika replied, her voice carrying the exhaustion of the day. "Busy, unpredictable... but it's done for now."

Sneha nodded, stepping back to let her in. Avantika entered the house and dropped herself on the couch exhausted from days event. Sneha handed her a glass of water when the door bell rang again.

"Diksha. See who is at the door." Sneha said maid to open the door. As the door flew open Avantika's face light up on seeing her beloved brother 'Yug Rathi' the CEO of Rathi's and Co. and also a great Businessman who just returned from his business trip.

Avantika's tired eyes lit up as soon as she saw her brother, standing at the door. His tall figure, sharp suit, and confident demeanor were unmistakable. His presence, despite the weariness of his business trips, had always brought a sense of warmth and comfort to Avantika. She hadn't realized how much she missed him until that very moment.

Yug's face broke into a broad smile as he stepped inside, his eyes immediately finding Avantika on the couch. "Well, well, look at you," he said, his voice rich with affection. "I was starting to think I wouldn't see my favorite sister before you passed out from exhaustion."

Avantika stood up slowly, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "You're late, as always," she teased, but the weariness in her voice was evident. She moved to embrace him, and he wrapped his arms around her, lifting her off the ground for a moment, just as he used to when they were younger.

Sneha, standing by the kitchen counter, watched them with a fond smile. She could see the bond between the siblings was as strong as ever, despite the years that had passed and the distance that came with their busy lives.

"I take it your trip was successful?" Avantika asked, pulling back from the hug, her tired eyes softening as she looked at him.

Yug gave a small nod, his expression turning more serious as he ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, but it's always good to be home."

Yug next pulled Sneha into tight embrace where he always found his home. He always gave same attention to his wife and sister.

Avantika was not blood related to Yug but he always treated her like his own sister. His princess. Even Sneha never forget to pamper her. She is an apple of her Bhai-bhabhi's eye. Yug was the one who made her stand on her feet after her traumatic past.

"Bua! Papa!" a small voice from the stairs took everyone's attention as 7 year old daughter of Yug and Sneha Kiara Rathi came running down the stairs with a doll in her hand.

As Kiara ran towards Yug, he crouched down to catch her in his arms, spinning her around as she giggled with delight. “There’s my little princess! Did you miss me?” Yug asked, planting a kiss on her forehead.

Kiara nodded enthusiastically. “A lot, Papa! And Bua too!” she added, turning her bright eyes toward Avantika.

Avantika smiled warmly, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten as Kiara hugged her tightly. “I missed you too, Kiara,” Avantika said, brushing the little girl's hair away from her face.

Sneha joined them, her smile radiant as she watched the joyful reunion. “Kiara has been counting down the days until you returned, Yug,” Sneha said, her tone teasing but affectionate.

Just then Sayli and Digvijay entered the family room. Sayli was Avantika's bua/ paternal aunt and Digvijay was her husband. Both of them passed a disgusting look to Avantika and moved towards Yug and Sneha.

Sayli and Digvijay never liked the fact that Avantika was living with them. She was shifted to Mumbai in her bua's house when she was 13. Although Sayli and Digvijay never liked her but they let her stay in their house because of Yug.

Avantika's stomach twisted, the familiar feeling of being the outsider in her own family creeping back in. She had gotten used to their passive-aggressive behavior over the years, but it still stung. She lowered her gaze, not wanting to show any vulnerability, though the bitterness of their presence never quite faded. They didn't have to say anything for her to know what they were thinking-they resented her, and they tolerated her only because of Yug.

Sayli was always one who taunted Avantika and Digvijay, on the other hand, remained quiet, his gaze briefly flicking towards Avantika with a look that conveyed nothing but indifference. He had always been the silent partner in their relationship, content to let Sayli do the talking while he passively agreed with everything she said. Avantika had long given up on trying to change their perception of her.

Yug, ever perceptive to the dynamics in the room, noticed the tension immediately. He exchanged a glance with Sneha, who subtly shifted in her seat, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. He didn't want to make a scene, especially not when he had just returned from a long trip, but he knew this had to be addressed, even if it was unspoken.

Yug looked around the room, noticing the slight tension in the air, but chose to ignore it for now. He smiled at Kiara, who was still clinging to Avantika, and decided to break the ice with a lighthearted comment.

"Kiara, I think I need a crash course in how to play with dolls now," he said, raising an eyebrow at the doll still in his daughter's hand. "You've probably learned all the tricks by now, haven’t you?"

Kiara giggled and nodded. "I can show you, Papa!"

Yug chuckled, and for a moment, the room was filled with the soft sound of Kiara's laughter. He looked at Sneha, then at Avantika, and finally at Sayli and Digvijay, hoping for a smooth transition into conversation.

Sayli, never one to let a moment pass without a jab, adjusted her sari slightly and commented, "Well, it's nice to see that some people are still pampered like little children. Though I do wonder if some of us ever grow out of it."

The comment was subtle but sharp, aimed at Avantika without directly mentioning her. Sayli’s eyes flicked towards Avantika as she spoke, a pointed smile on her lips. "After all, it's always the younger ones who get all the attention, even when they’re well past the age of needing it."

Avantika held her ground, her expression calm, though the words stung. She didn’t respond, knowing better than to engage. Instead, she focused on Kiara, trying to keep the mood light.

Yug, sensing the shift in tone, chuckled and decided to steer the conversation back to safer territory. "I think we’ve all been a little spoiled by Kiara’s charm," he said with a wink. "She’s the true boss around here."

Sayli’s smile tightened for a moment before she glanced at Digvijay, who gave his usual indifferent nod. Sneha, catching the tension, subtly placed her hand on Yug’s arm, a silent plea for him to not let things escalate.

"Let's not talk about all this right now," Sneha said, her voice smooth and calm. "Yug's just home. We should focus on that."

Yug gave a grateful smile to Sneha, appreciating her ability to maintain peace. "Exactly," he said, flashing a bright smile at Avantika and Kiara. "I’ve missed you all, and I’m just happy to be home."

Sayli and Digvijay fell silent for a moment, the room falling back into a delicate calm. But the unspoken tension lingered, always hovering in the background of family gatherings like this.

Avantika's heart ached, but she kept her expression neutral. She was used to it. This wasn't new. Still, there was always a small part of her that hoped-just hoped-that things might be different. That one day, Sayli and Digvijay would stop looking at her with those cold, judging eyes.

Sneha, sensing the discomfort, quickly turned the conversation in a different direction. "Yug, you must be hungry. The dinner is ready so let's join the dinner."

"Yes, I'm really hungry." Yug said and all of them walked towards the dinning area. The dinner passed with some business things and Sayli's taunts. After the dinner Sayli and Digvijay left for their room.

As they left, Avantika felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She had never gotten used to their coldness, and every encounter with them reminded her of how different her life might have been if she hadn't ended up here with Yug and Sneha.

Yug, noticing the shift in her mood, stood up from the table, his voice soft but firm. "Don't mind them, Avantika. They're not worth your time or energy." He came over and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into a side hug. "You're family. My family. And no matter what they say, nothing changes that."

Sneha smiled warmly at her, adding, "Exactly. You've always been our princess, Avantika. Don't let their negativity get to you."

Avantika nodded, her heart swelling with the love and support that had always been her constant in this home. She leaned into Yug's embrace, her brother by choice, the one who had always had her back, who had pulled her out of the darkness of her past and helped her stand tall. In this moment, surrounded by the people who truly cared for her, she knew that she was more than enough-no matter what anyone though.

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I know it's somewhere boring but I think it's just start so....

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It was all I could write. So do vote and comment if you like it.

Bye...❤️❤️