Lavanya hated blood. She always felt strangely nauseated around blood. So, it didn't surprise her that she couldn't sleep for days after her first practical lesson. Cutting dead bodies, watching deformed dead bodies wasn't so her cup of tea.

She wasn't made of that stuff. The morgue gave her creeps and the skeleton called Mr. Bones just wouldn't let her sleep. She wasn't doctor material. She never wanted to be a doctor. She never wanted to saunter around in a white coat and spend her life around the ailing and critically ill. She hated blood. She hated death. She was too emotional to not get emotionally attached to the patients.

Yet she had no other options.

She had too.

For her parents said so.

The daughter of renowned, world-famous doctors and owners of the international Heartis hospital chain. Just can not — not be a doctor. It was a sin to think about being anything but a doctor.

She wasn't given a choice. They didn't care she hated watching the blood. She couldn't even deal with dead pigeons. Yeah, a dead pigeon had fallen in her house after breaking its neck somehow and she was scared of hurting a dead pigeon. She had buried that pigeon under her favorite mango tree. How'll she dead with critically injured humans?

They didn't care.

They said; she had too. So she did. She became a doctor. She was happy being a general physician but no, it wasn't acceptable enough for them. It wasn't worth bragging enough. So, she was told to become a cardiothoracic surgeon. She did that too.

She worked so hard. She worked herself to death. She wasn't a genius after all yet she needed to be one. So, she practiced day and night.

And she hated her parents for they never noticed how hard she worked? They never saw the efforts she put in. They only saw that she stood in seventh place. They hated she didn't make in in the top five or topped the college. They told her she could do better than that all she wanted to hear was single; "Beta, I'm proud of you. You worked really hard for this, "

But that never came. They wanted her to be more when she couldn't. She wasn't a genius medical prodigy. She was an average girl who worked herself to death to literally win in the race of a medical seat. She won a seat in one of the best medical colleges in India for which about fifteen lakh more students were competing for. But they never cared about the efforts she put it. She didn't mind the expectations but a little "I'm proud of you, " didn't kill anyone, did it? Yet those words never came from her parents.

She was just a puppet for them. An underperforming puppet.

She hated it and wished to flee away not once but many times. She wished to take her savings and enroll herself in a course she loved. Live a life she enjoyed. But every time, the thought of her shaggy-haired best friend stopped her from fleeing. Who'll help him if she ran away? Who'll look after him if she isn't around?

Following her parent's wish had only a single benefit for her. They didn't mind the amount of money she took. They didn't ask how or in what way she spent it all? She was free to spend more than several lakhs in a month. They never asked and just because of that she stayed the ideal puppet.

She might not have needed all the money, the almost surplus expenditure rights. Her bestie did. And she was more than happy to spend it on him. For he cared more about her efforts and intentions that the whole world combined. He was her home. Di was her home. They didn't mind that she wasn't genius enough. They didn't mind she wasn't perfect enough. They didn't care she didn't top the college. They didn't mind that she wasn't barbie reborn. They were more than happy to celebrate her small victories.

Nav celebrated the day she didn't vomit on the sight of blood with an unlimited panipuri party.

Anjali Di always took them for a faldua kulfi treat. After they cleared each year of their respective medicine and food technology colleges.

And they were the happiest moments of her life. She couldn't ditch them ever. She couldn't leave behind relations. She wasn't her parents. She didn't know how to not work for a relation? She didn't know how to not care. She didn't know the fine art of forsaking people.

So she sealed her lips. She became the perfect puppet. She became a machine. And cried her woes on her Nav's shoulders. For her parent's name had always given her an unwanted burden. Didn't Nakul break her up for the same reason?

"You are a princess not made for us commoner's world. I don't think it's working. We should just break up, " He had mentioned it all so casually back then.

Still, she has tried to work and salvage the bits and pieces of that broken relation. But those pieces had struck her heart like glass shards. Hurting more than she ever thought possible. It felt like her heart had walked past a shattering glass wall and all those shards stuck to her heart. And one by one she had pulled those shards out of her heart muscles.

The whole process was as painful as it sounded, felt even more agonizing. Healing didn't come naturally to her. Moving on seemed just impossible. There wasn't a single day, she didn't think of giving up. Giving up everything, letting the shards stay and let go. No one will even blink if she did. She'll be just another medical student who had given up.

No one will muse much, she wasn't able to handle the pressure and gave up. But every time that thought entered her mind. Nav's face made an impromptu appearance too. She could leave everything and everyone behind but not their friendship. Not him.

She can leave her whole fortune for him but she knows he won't even touch it. He was stubborn like that and she had to stay for him. She had to survive everything for he won't survive without her.

And all that led her to this. Standing like a fool in one corner of the operation theater staring at her shivering bloodstained gloved hands. Her best friend's blood-stained her gloved hands and she just couldn't discard them as quickly as she did after other surgeries.

She was strained both physically and emotionally. The four-hour surgery feeling like a twelve or more hours surgery to her. Her mind still reeling with the fact that she had just taken out her best friend's heart. Her best friend's heart and his blood were on her gloved hands. She had never cared before what happened to the damaged hearts? But today, she did.

For it wasn't just another heart. It was her best friend's heart. What will happen to it? Will it be discarded like other medical wastes or will it be preserved for the demonstration process of medical students? She didn't know but neither scenario pleased her. It was her best friend's heart it shouldn't be discarded or made a showpiece yet she was helpless here. She couldn't do anything about that and what should matter right now is that Nav is fine. Shouldn't it? They didn't even have to give an electric shock to start the new heart. It started beating as soon as it was stitched in and the blood flow was restored. The surgery was successful and it's all that mattered.

But what if it hadn't? The sudden gloomy thought shook the foundation of her existence. What if it hadn't would she have survived with the burden then?

"Dr. Das Gupta, are you fine?" The concerned voice of Dr. Sid reminded her that she stood frozen in the OT.

"Yeah, I'm Dr. Sid, " She spoke not meeting his eyes as she quickly discarded her gloves in the trash.

"His family must be waiting and check on him when he gets shifted to the ICU, " Dr. Sid told her conversationally as they walked out of the OT together.

She just nodded.

And followed behind him. The smile of relief that lit up di's eyes was worth everything. It was worth every strain she went through and she wanted to hug di that moment. But she couldn't for she was still in her OT gear. Lavanya smiled informing di that she can see Nav as soon as they shift him to I.C.U and told Abhay to take di to the canteen. She knew di hadn't eaten anything since she got to know about Nav. Squeezing di's hand reassuringly. She left for the lounge to change.

She didn't know how tired she was until she slumped unceremoniously on one of the benches in the lounge. She was feeling dead on her feet. Yet, content her choices were right. Her decision to not take Nav to see another Doctor proved right.

Dr. Sid wasn't her first choice for Nav. He was young and not as experienced as the other senior doctors. She would have taken Nav to the best hospital in the whole country even if it meant she has to grovel in front of her parents. She would have done that for him. But her stupid bestie hadn't informed her about his weakening heart muscles and seizures until it was too late.

Think about the shock she got when one day they were playing chase because they were idiots and had nothing better to do. And Nav fell clutching his heart and her heart had also stopped with him. His first heart failure happened in front of her and it was she who felt she might die.

He was stupid.

And he wasn't a rich billionaire back then.

Every penny mattered and he didn't tell her anything.

So, he was getting treated in her hospital and she was totally unaware of it. She was feeling so shocked and helpless. She knew quite well that a new doctor won't help the situation at that moment.  It wasn't like she didn't trust Doctor Sid. She did he was her mentor after all but the fact was she didn't trust anyone with her besties life.

And she was feeling betrayed at that moment. Angry, hurt, and betrayed. How could he hide his condition from her? How could he? Didn't he trust her? He was going through so much and not once did he mention it to her.

She was hurt and angry and worried. It wasn't a good feeling. She didn't like it at all.

No doubt, he was being exceptionally rude to her before that. He wanted her to give up on him. But how could she ever give up on him when he was her anchor? When he was the one stopping her from giving up on the whole world?

She had screamed at him for hours after that. Not caring they were in the hospital. He had been extremely stupid. He needed to know that and then she had dug everything on Dr. Sid. She wasn't trusting even her mentor with her besties life.

She knew the medical world quite well and she was quite sure that no one will dare do something wrong with her bestie knowing he had a medical family background. But still, she needed to know more. She needed to know that the person treating her friend will give all his effort to save his bestie.

So, She dug about everything on Dr. Sid's life from his expulsion from Mumbai Sanjeevani to his connection with the govt. and why govt. helped him set a new Sanjeevani here? And what connection their college had with this new hospital?

And after reading and knowing everything about Dr. Sid. She trusted him with her besties life. She trusted him enough. She knew he'll give his all to save his patients.
But getting emotionally attached to her mentor wasn't in her to-do list. A

She didn't want to feel that crazy spark of love with anyone in her entire life again but when did life listen to her wishes? She knew it hurt when the spark diminished and people left. Many people had walked all over her and away from her.

But in the end, she couldn't help it.

In the end, the attraction of one broken soul to another was too much for her entire soul. She couldn't help but get attached to him. She couldn't help but try to make his eyes lit with genuine happiness. She couldn't help but be drawn to the way his melancholy filled eyes and smiling lips.

She is quite sure their expressions will match if they compared them in mirrors. Obviously, they didn't. He was still her mentor and totally unaware of her spying on him. He was totally unaware of her.

Unaware of her growing feelings. Unaware that she could read when hurt transforms in a smile and eyes betray the truth. She read eyes anyway. Unaware that his hurt was blooming in her heart. Totally unaware that his eyes were making her fall like never before.

He was broken like her.  And she was trying to heal him. Trying to see how will he look without the shadows of melancholy?

But he is unaware and in love with another.

He still freezes at the mere mention of Ishani. And her feelings are well hidden and unsaid. She didn't fancy another walk/through broken shards.

For she knows pursuing this will end in another heartbreak.

As soon as Ishaani reenters his life. He will leave her. For that's how it always happens. For that's how everyone left her. People don't stay for her not even when they claim to love her. And she doesn't want to be the second left behind for the one true love.

She is fine alone.

She is fine in her little world.

She is fine like this.

Silent.

Always.

"Well, be a weed and grow in his heart bunny. Be a dandelion let your essence fly everywhere, " 

The sage-like advice of her bestie echoed in her mind. And she couldn't help but scoff. Why is he taking up the role of her snappy consciousness?

Why is he being the bad advice giving part of her soul? The one that ushers you to do insane things like pranking teachers. And at the same time, his impromptu voice in her mind reminded her to check on him. He should have been shifted to ICU by now, right.

Sighing tiredly, she got up and left for the ICU. Checking on him and assuring di everything was fine. She got engrossed in her duties again. The whole day was spent with the patients and in the evening after a lot of begging she convinced di to return back home. She will stay with Arnav in the hospital, after all, she was more familiar with the ghost roaming its corridors in the night.

And Arnav wasn't going to be discharged before 3 weeks anyway.

After saying adieu to di and finishing her shift. She took vigil by Arnav's side. Reminiscing their childhood.

"Umm... What's a soulmates di?"

She could clearly see a six-year-old Nav and her lying beside 12-year-old Anjali di during summer vacations. Confused by the mention of a soulmate in a fairytale. They didn't know what soulmate meant?

"Umm...its a well, it's like a best friend but more. It's the one person in the whole world who knew you better than anyone else. It's someone who makes you a better person well they don't make you a better
person. You make yourself a better person for them. They inspire you. It's the one person who knew you, accepted you, and believed in you before anyone else did or when no one else will. And no matter what happens you'll always love them, " 

They had giggled at Anjali's explanation then and asked her whether she was there soulmate or not? For she fit every single description of one. They knew she'll always love them. No matter how much trouble Nav and Lav caused.

But she never forgot the meaning of those words.

Never forgot the meaning of soulmate.

Not when Arnav and she were building their pillow fort and pretending to be the most powerful and rich rulers of the world.

Not when they were slaying imaginary dragons and evil wizards. Not when she was drunk on childish happiness and power and yelled happily.

"We're going to rule the world, Nav. You and me."

Nav smirked superiorly, mirroring Lav's own expression.

"You know why?" She paused for effect.

"Because we're the best of the best."

"We'll be powerful!" Nav made up his own prediction.

"We'll be famous!"

"We'll - wait a minute, the world can't have two rulers" She pouted suddenly gloomy with the sudden realization. The world can't have two rulers.

"We will rewrite the rules then for there will be two rulers, " Arnav promised.

"Two best friends, "

"Always, "

"Forever, "

Oh!! They were reckless...free... innocent.

But she hadn't forgotten.

Not when she was glaring at the pond because her father called her a weed.

"Why are you looking at the pond like you want to do terrible things with it? " Nav asked her teasingly elbowing her.

"Dad called me a weed said I'm useless because I got just ninety-three percent, " She had replied crestfallen still glaring at the pond.

"Then be a weed Lav. Be resilient like a weed. Survive anywhere like a weed. Grow like a weed. Trouble people like a weed. Well, trouble synonym with us anyway, " Nav shrugged carelessly and she grinned back him.

He could make the most insulting words thrown her way sound like a compliment. And she survived alright.

Survived to watch him crumble. And now, it feels just like yesterday when they were here in the hospital. He was looking so weak and worn out.

And she was feeling equally helpless.

"Are you scared of death, Nav?" She asked him softly eyes trained on the ECG machine.

"No, I'm not scared of dying but I'm scared of leaving my loved ones alone, "

She had smiled then. 

Her thoughts were the same.

Not afraid of death but afraid of leaving the loved ones behind.

"What did you two wish?" Nakul's suspicious voice echoed in her mind.

"I wished, I could watch friends for the first time again, " both of them had answered together in perfect sync with identical grins.

Nakul was displeased.

They not so much.

And from there childhood. They always have been best mates. They fit every single word di has told them about soul mates. They had always been soulmates. Platonic soulmates. Best Friends forever.

A smile graced her lips noticing the slightest movements beside her.

"You okay Naviee?"

"Yeah."

"Me too, "

~to be continued~

"You okay Freddie?"

Okay, who's cutting the onions?

I'm not crying.

Definitely not.

Okay, so again Arnav and Lavanya are just best friends. Don't panic or get angry by the soulmate part. I know usually soul mate is used for love interest. But if you read the explanation of soul mate Anjali gave Lav and Nav. It could have been anyone.

Arnav and Lavanya have just a super-strong bond here. Friendship one of course. They are inseparable. They consider each other twins. So, I hope you understand where Lav is coming from. And this was supposed to be both Lav and Khushi's chapter. But I kinda went with the flow. And thought Lav deserved her own chapter too. Khushi's chapter will be the next one.

So, till then.

Bye.