.The next day
Aira went to the hospital with her mother.
Her leg was still hurting badly.
She couldn't walk properly.
Every step felt painful.
Still
somehow
she reached the hospital.
The hospital felt cold and quiet.
People sitting everywhere.
Doctors calling patients.
The smell of medicines in the air.
Aira sat quietly
trying not to move her leg too much.
After some time
the doctor checked her leg carefully.
The doctor was very sweet and calm.
He asked Aira where it hurt.
And after checking properly
he suggested an X-ray.
So after some time
Aira went for the X-ray.
The whole process felt tiring.
And painful.
The reports came after around thirty to forty five minutes.
The doctor looked at the X-ray carefully.
For a few seconds
Aira became nervous.
But then doctor smiled slightly.
Doctor,
"There's no fracture. But there is deep swelling in the leg."
Aira and her mother felt relieved hearing that.
But the doctor continued.
Doctor,
"She needs proper rest for at least one week. Complete rest."
Then he suggested getting plaster support for the leg.
Aira's mother agreed immediately.
And after some time
Aira got plaster on her leg.
She kept staring at it silently.
It felt strange.
Heavy.
And uncomfortable.
Aira took a picture of the plaster.
And sent it to Aarohi.
At evening
Aarohi replied.
Aarohi,
"Are you kidding with me? OMG, your leg hurt this much? Can't you take care of yourself properly? What were you doing that time?"
Aira smiled while reading the message.
Because hidden inside Aarohi's scolding
there was worry.
And Aira loved that.
Aira,
"I don't know what happened. I just slipped somehow."
Aarohi,
"Are you mad?Airu."
Aira smiled again.
Aira,
"Sorry na. It won't happen again."
Aarohi,
"It's okay. Just take good care of yourself."
Aira,
"Yes. Aarohi madam."
For a moment
everything felt lighter again.
Even the pain.
For the next one week
Aira had to stay at home completely.
No school.
No tuition.
No cricket.
Just rest.
At first
Aira found it boring.
Because she hated sitting in one place for too long.
But slowly
those quiet days became different.
She spent more time talking with Aarohi.
More late-night conversations.
More random talks.
More comfort.
And sometimes
while staring at the plaster on her leg
Aira thought quietly,
"Maybe getting hurt wasn't fully bad... because it made her care for me even more."
Then she immediately shook her head at her own thoughts
smiling slightly.
Because maybe
she really had become mad in love.
That night—
Aira was lying on her bed quietly.
Her plaster felt heavy.
And every small movement—
still hurt.
But somehow—
her mind wasn't focused on the pain anymore.
It was focused on Aarohi's messages.
The way she scolded her.
The way she worried.
The way she kept calling her Airu.
Aira smiled softly while looking at the chat.
Because no one had ever worried for her like this before.
Not in this way.
Not with this softness.
After some time—
another message came from Aarohi.
Aarohi,
"Did you take medicines on time?"
Aira immediately smiled again.
Aira,
"Yes, Aarohi madam."
Aarohi,
"Good. And sleep properly."
Aira,
"Okay."
Aarohi,
"And don't overthink too much while sitting alone at home."
Aira paused after reading that.
Because Aarohi knew her too well now.
Maybe too well.
Sometimes—
Aira wondered—
when did Aarohi become this important to her?
When did her care start affecting her this deeply?
When did simple messages—
begin feeling like comfort?
Aira didn't know.
But she knew one thing.
Whenever Aarohi worried for her—
her heart felt safe.
Even during pain.
That whole week—
Aira spent most of her time near the window.
Reading books.
Watching the sky.
Talking to Aarohi.
And sometimes—
while smiling at her phone—
she forgot about the plaster completely.
Because maybe—
some people have a strange way of healing others.
Without even touching them.