Content of the story :
''Giving up on him was no longer an option.
Protecting her—at any cost—was his only purpose''.
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It was 8:00 p.m. Talia and I had almost completed our shift and were having coffee in the cafeteria.
"You're kidding me," she said, sipping her coffee and biting into her sandwich.
I told her that I was planning to quit my job and apply to the NYPD as a counselling psychologist.
"No," I corrected her quickly. "I'm not interested in counselling. I want to work in the crime department—you know that." I took a sip of my black coffee.
She raised one eyebrow and gave me a sharp look.
"Honey, please reconsider," she said "You've already completed a year here, and your performance is outstanding in both the counselling and PA departments."
My gaze locked with hers. I squeezed her hand gently and said,
"I've thought about this a lot."
Suddenly, we both heard a long horn blaring outside..
Hi, I'm Madhu Krishnan, a 27-year-old woman living in New York with my beautiful family.
My father, Mr. Krishnan, is a retired manager from a private company in India. My mother, Mrs. Malathy Krishnan, is a homemaker. After my father's retirement, we moved to New York to live with my elder brother.
My brother, Mr. Karan Krishnan, works as a sergeant in the NYPD. He lives here with his wife, my sister-in-law, Mrs. Priya Karan Krishnan. After my father retired, my brother and sister-in-law insisted that we move to New York with them.
Six months after relocating, I got a part-time job at a private hospital as a Physician Assistant and Counselling Psychologist in the ER department of General New York City Hospital.
I'm not interested in a full-time position because I want to spend as much time as possible with my family until my marriage.
I'm not a beauty queen. I'm not slim with perfect curves or straight hair.
But I love myself.
And I believe in myself.
"Girls! Come on—get in. It's already 8:15 p.m., before Mother calls one of you," my brother yelled from the car.
Talia and I usually take a cab or the metro to get home, but today my brother had called to check whether we had reached safely. I told him that we were running late due to an emergency at the hospital, and that Talia was delayed as well.
"I'll come and pick you both up," he said.
Talia and I turned our heads toward my brother, who was sitting in the driver's seat. Beside him was his friend, Mr. Vasu—my brother's best friend and closest buddy.
I looked at him and smiled.
"We're coming," I said. "Come on. He's right—before my mother calls, we'd better head home."
Talia is from India and stays with us. She works as a training manager at the same hospital. After I joined, Talia and I grew close and soon became best friends.
Talia and I gathered our bags and laptops and started moving toward the car, just as I took the last sip of my coffee.
Talia opened the back door of the car and got in. I followed her. She sat behind Karan's seat, while I took the seat behind Vasu.
The car was silent at first. Suddenly, Talia broke the silence.
"Karan, do you know about your sister's plan?" she asked.
I squeezed her hand gently and shook my head.
"No, I don't. What happened?" Karan asked, looking at Talia through the rear-view mirror with a smirk. "Did my sister get fired because she kicked someone's ass at work?"
Talia rolled her eyes and turned to look at me. I smiled back, raising one eyebrow.
"No," she said.
I pulled her closer and whispered into her ear, "Don't say anything now. No one knows yet."
"T, what happened? Tell me. You know her very well—she won't tell anyone until she makes up her mind," Karan said.
Talia pulled away from me, straightened her back, and folded her arms across her chest.
"You're right," she said, then looked at me.
I closed my eyes and sighed. I knew exactly what was going to happen—my brother was about to freak out.
"Your sweet sister is quitting her job and planning to apply to the NYPD as a counselling psychologist," she said.
He suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Luckily, Talia managed to steady herself by gripping the seat. I, however, hit my forehead against the back of Vasu's seat.
The sudden jerk left everyone in shock as the car came to an abrupt halt.
I was massaging my forehead.
"What? What are you saying, Talia?" Karan asked, then turned to face me. "She's joking, right? Say something," he said.
I continued rubbing my forehead.
Then I heard a voice from the front seat—the one directly in front of me.
"Are you okay, Madhu?"
I recognized the voice instantly. It was him—Vasu. He had been silent ever since Talia and I got into the car.
When Talia mentioned my resignation, I heard a soft laugh from him. I knew exactly what it meant. He knew, just as well as I did, how my brother was going to react.
Vasu is our neighbour, living in the house right next door with his mother. He lost his father in an accident while his father was on duty. I like his mother very much, and I often take care of her whenever Vasu has continuous shifts.
He admires my father deeply and considers him his best friend. My mother likes him just as much. Vasu was the one who helped my brother and sister-in-law move into the house we all live in now. They spend time together almost every weekend, and both families usually spend weekends together.
I didn't reply. I thought I must have hit my head very hard—maybe against something sharp.
"Are you okay, honey?" Talia asked.
I shook my head.
"Park the car on the side, Karan," Vasu said.
"She'll be fine. She's the second strongest woman I know," he added.
Now he was getting on my nerves.
"No, I'm not," I snapped.
Talia, who was sitting beside me, gently took my hand away from my forehead. As she looked closely, her eyes widened.
"What is it? Why are you looking so terrified?" I asked.
She shook her head and switched on the car's interior light.
"It's nothing, honey. Please pull over," she said softly.
Talia pressed a tissue against my forehead. I started feeling dizzy; I couldn't take it anymore.
"What is it, T?" I asked, half yelling, as I pulled her hand away.
When I saw the tissue, I gasped.
"It's blood!"
My head started spinning.
"Enough of the drama!" I heard a harsh voice, mixed with anger and fear.
"Pull over, Karan," Vasu said firmly.
I was leaning against Talia as she pressed a tissue to my forehead. My brother was clearly panicking. Finally, he pulled into a parking lot.
Suddenly, my side door was yanked open. A strong hand wrapped around my shoulder—it was Vasu.
"Hey… hey… look at me. Look at me," he whispered.
"I'm feeling dizzy," I groaned.
From my right, I faintly heard my brother's voice. "I'm sorry, Madhu. I… I didn't mean to hurt you. It was unexpected," Karan said.
I reached out for his hand. After a moment, I managed to grab it.
"It's okay," I said with a weak smile.
"Enough with the apologies, Sergeant. She's accepted it," Vasu said sharply. "If your drama is over, can you pass me the first-aid kit?"
Still holding my shoulder, he turned back to me. "Hey, look at me," he said gently.
"I'll hold the tissue, Talia."
My brother, completely flustered, began searching for the first-aid kit.
"Got it—here," he said, raising the box. His hands shook as he tried to open it.
"Talia, can you grab the box from him?" Vasu said calmly.
I knew my brother well—panic always made things worse for him.
"No… no… I'm fine. I'll do it…" Karan started, but Vasu cut him off.
"She's bleeding, for God's sake," Vasu snapped.
Finally, Karan handed the box to Talia.
"What can I do now?" he asked in a shaky voice.
"Can you flash some light over here?" Talia asked.
Karan nodded quickly.
Vasu was still holding my forehead as he helped me out of the car.
"Can you stand?" he asked.
I nodded.
Talia rushed over to where Vasu and I were standing, while my brother flashed the light over us. In the glow, I could clearly see Vasu's face—his lightly darkened skin, warm brown eyes, and silky black-and-brown hair, perfectly brushed. A thin silver chain rested against his neck.
He was wearing black jeans, a white full-sleeved round-neck T-shirt, and a black coat with an NYPD badge on it.
"It's not drama. Is that clear to you?" I said, raising one eyebrow.
He rolled his eyes and turned to Talia. "Give it to me," Vasu said.
My eyes widened. "What? It will burn! No… no… I'll do the dressing myself," I said in a shaky voice.
I tried to pull away, but Vasu was holding my forehead firmly with one hand.
"Sorry, sweetheart. You don't have an option right now," he said.
His other hand slid to my waist and pulled me closer. My body reacted instantly to the sudden warmth.
"Take your hands off me, Mr. Vasu!" I yelled, struggling to free myself—but his grip was almost impossible to escape.
"Once I finish the dressing, I'll let you go. You're bleeding. And I know how scared you are of doing dressings," he said, adding with a teasing edge, "Sometimes I wonder how you even treat your patients."
I was shocked—and confused. "How… did you know?" I asked. "Can you just leave me alone?"
The dizziness returned.
"Sweetheart, don't be stubborn. I'll stay with you until it's done. If he hurts you, I'll kick his ass," Talia said, taking my hand.
I felt a panic attack creeping in.
Vasu noticed immediately. His grip on my waist tightened, steady and grounding. The sudden movement made my hands clutch his arms. Our eyes locked.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine," he said softly. "I promise I won't hurt you."
Still holding my waist, he didn't let go. I knew he meant it—he wasn't leaving until he finished the dressing. Like he said, I didn't have a choice.
I finally gave up and nodded.
He released my wrist, and I lowered my hands from his arms.
"Why are you making such a big deal out of a simple dressing?" he asked, then added, "Now give it to me, Talia—before your friend changes her mind."
He cleaned my wound with an alcohol swab. The sting burned sharply.
"Ouch," I hissed.
"I'm sorry. It's almost done," he said.
Then he applied the ointment. The burning intensified—like molten lava.
"Ouch… ouch," I cried again.
A tear slipped down my cheek. Without thinking, he wiped it away gently with his thumb.
Finally, he covered the wound with a bandage.
"It's over. As I told you, I didn't hurt you," he said in a neutral tone.
"But it's burning! If you were human, you'd understand how it feels!" I said, half yelling.
His lips curved into a smile. Damn it—he looked handsome when he laughed. I heard my brother and Talia laugh too.
"Are you okay?" Karan asked.
"I'm fine. I'll be okay. Don't worry—I'll think of some cover story for the bandage," I said, pointing at it.
He opened his arms wide, and I ran into them for a hug.
"I'm sorry… I… I…" he struggled to find the words.
"It's okay. I'll be fine. Stop it," I said gently.
"Okay, everyone's fine now, and we need to go home before Mother calls us," Talia said.
We all nodded. Suddenly, my phone started ringing. I pulled it out of my coat pocket—the caller ID showed Mamma. My eyes widened.
"It's Mamma," I said.
Before I could answer, Vasu took the phone, picked up the call, and put it on speaker.
"Hello, Ma. This is Vasu."
"Hi… where is she? Why are you answering her phone?" my mother asked.
I closed my eyes and let out a slow sigh.
"Ma, me and vasu came to pick the girls ," Karan said quickly.
"Okay. Come home soon. I'll be waiting," she said and ended the call.
I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
Vasu handed my phone back to me, and I slipped it into my coat pocket.
"So, shall we go home? My mother is also at your place. I need to pick her up for her night physiotherapy session," Vasu said.
I shook my head. "No, it's my duty to give Ma the session. I'll do it once we reach home," I replied with a slight groan.
A smirk appeared on his face. "No. Not today. First, you need to take care of yourself. Tomorrow, you can do whatever you want—please," he said.
I was already feeling weak and exhausted from everything that had happened, and I didn't have the energy to argue with him. He always won anyway.
"Okay," I said.
Almost immediately, the dizziness returned.
"Hey… are you okay?" Talia asked.
"My head is spinning, again" I said weakly.
"Hey… look at me," Vasu said as he wrapped his arms around my shoulders. My head rested against his chest. I could hear his heartbeat—fast and unsteady.
"I don't know what's wrong with you. Why is your heart beating so fast?" I asked, my eyes half-closed.
He let out a soft groan and looked down at me, my head still resting on his chest.
"Let's worry about you right now, sweetheart," Talia said.
"I don't understand why she's feeling so dizzy. Should we take her to the hospital?" Karan asked anxiously.
"No… I'll be fine. Please take me home," I said, my eyes fluttering shut.
"Okay, fine. Let's go," Vasu said with a groan, then lifted me into his arms.
He asked Talia to drive, knowing my brother wasn't in the right state of mind. Karan sat beside her, while I remained in Vasu's arms. He gently laid me across the back seat and climbed in from the other side. Carefully, he placed my head on his lap.
The world around me began to spin, and everything slowly faded into darkness.
I felt a hand on my head, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. I opened my eyes and found myself looking at a very familiar face—Vasu.
"Hi there. Finally, you're awake," he said, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Thank God. You're finally awake," Karan said.
Talia glanced at me through the rear-view mirror and let out a sigh of relief.
I slowly sat up from Vasu's lap and straightened myself on the seat.
"I'm fine, guys. Please stop worrying about me," I said in an irritated tone.
I heard a scoff.
"Kindly explain what you mean by 'I am fine,' Madhu," Vasu said, raising one eyebrow.
I was about to reply when I heard my brother's voice.
"Okay, enough, you two. Stop," he said. "You can continue this conversation later. Shall we go inside?" he added as the car entered the parking lot.
We all got out of the car. Karan and Talia stepped out first and started walking toward the house.
The door on my side opened, and Vasu offered me his hand.
"Come on, sweetheart. Let me help. You don't have the energy to argue with me," he said.
I took his hand, and he led me toward the front door. As it opened, I saw my mother standing there, her arms folded across her chest.
I gently pulled my hand away from Vasu's.
"Thank you," I said.
He leaned close to my ear and whispered, "Think of an excuse to tell your family about the bandage."
He was right. If they found out what had really happened, my brother would be dead.
"Is this the time to come home?" my mother asked in an angry tone.
Her voice snapped me out of my thoughts. My father, standing behind her, shook his head and silently signaled us not to reply.
"I want answers—now!" my mother yelled. Her eyes then fell on me, widening instantly. "What on earth happened to you, Madhu? You have a bandage on your forehead!"
She stepped closer to me, my father following behind her.
"I'm okay. I bumped into the elevator at the hospital. It's just a scratch," I said.
I heard a scoff from Vasu. I turned toward him, raising my eyebrows in warning.
Suddenly, an angelic voice reached my ears.
"Aunt Madhu!"
Giggling, my niece ran into my arms.
"Hi, princess! My baby! I missed you so much," I said as I scooped her up into a tight hug.
"Missed you too, Aunt," she said sweetly.
My niece—my world, my heart—Meenu, five years old.
"Aunt Madhu, what happened to your head?" she asked in her soft, innocent voice.
"It's nothing, princess. Aunt is fine," I said, kissing her cheek. She happily returned it.
"Are you okay, Madhu?" my sister-in-law finally asked.
"I'm fine, Priya sis," I replied, handing Meenu to her.
We were still standing outside.
"First, let them come inside. Later, you can ask all your questions," Sharadha Ma said firmly from her wheelchair.
She has been suffering from monoplegia in her left leg ever since her husband passed away. Sharadha Ma and I are very close. I usually give her physiotherapy sessions, and whenever her son, Mr. Vasu, is on night shift, I stay with her. I love her company deeply. I share all my secrets with her—things I can't even share with my mother or father. I love her very much.
"Thank you, Ma," I mouthed silently.
She nodded.
Everyone went inside the house, and I began removing my boots. Suddenly, a hand wrapped around my waist from behind and pulled me back sharply. My back rested against a firm chest. A familiar, masculine scent filled my senses—I knew it instantly. It was Vasu.
I gasped and placed my hands over his.
"For the sake of your family, please tell them," he whispered near my ear.
I was shocked—how could he hold me like this? I tried to pull his hand away, but I couldn't. His grip was strong, yet gentle.
"Take your hand off me, Mr. Vasu!" I whispered angrily.
He scoffed, but instead of letting go, he tightened his hold around my waist.
"First promise me you'll tell them. Then I'll let you go, sweetheart."
I wondered why he was so concerned about my family. I didn't respond, and his grip tightened further. My heartbeat skipped.
"If you don't promise me now, the next move I make—you'll definitely regret it, sweetheart," he murmured against my hair.
My eyes widened. My heart pounded uncontrollably.
"O-okay… fine… I promise," I stammered.
I was shocked at how easily he had taken control over me—and it irritated me deeply.
Vasu released me and walked past with a satisfied smile.
"Beta, come inside," my father called.
"Yes, Papa, coming," I replied, removing my coat, hanging it on the rack, and walking into the living room.
Everyone had settled onto the sofa. Papa signaled for me to sit beside him. I hurried over, sat down, and rested my head on his shoulder.
"What happened?" he asked softly.
My eyes wandered around the room—everyone laughing, joking, enjoying each other's company. I didn't want to spoil the moment by talking about my resignation.
I knew my family would support me. But I also knew they wouldn't encourage me to work in the crime department. My brother already works there, and it makes my mother anxious because of the risks involved. Even after two years in the force, she's still unhappy about it.
If I tell them I want to work as a Counselling Psychologist in the NYPD, my mother will definitely freak out.
"Beta… you don't look well," my father's voice pulled me back to reality.
My eyes drifted to Vasu, and our gazes locked. He silently signaled me to tell everyone, but I shook my head.
I felt my father's eyes on me.
"I asked you something, beta," he said gently.
"Sorry, Papa. I'm fine," I replied. "Papa, can I talk to you alone for a moment?"
"Of course, beta. Let's go to the study room," he said, getting up from the sofa and walking toward it.
I followed him, but suddenly a voice stopped me.
"Uncle, may I speak with Madhu for a second? It won't take long," Vasu asked.
"Sure," my father said, tapping my shoulder. "I'll wait in the study room."
I nodded. He walked away.
I let out a sigh and turned to face Vasu.
"Now what, Mr. Vasu?" I said, half yelling as I pointed in my father's direction. "I already told you—I will talk to my family. But first, I need to speak to my father. That's exactly what I'm going to do now."
I turned to leave, but he caught my arm and gently turned me back to face him.
"Madhu, I want to be there when you talk to your father," he said.
"Why—" I started, but he cut me off.
"You know how your father might react. He could get a panic attack," he said.
I froze. I had completely forgotten about that.
"Please let me come with you—for your father's sake," he continued softly. "I don't want him to panic the way your brother did in the car. That's how you got hurt," he added, glancing
at the bandage on my forehead.
I didn't understand why he was so concerned—about me,
about my family. I wanted to ask him, to confront him about it.
But this wasn't the right time. My father was waiting.
I sighed and nodded. Maybe it was better to
have Vasu there. My father would listen to him more than he ever would to my
brother.
I gave him a small nod and a faint smile.
"Thank you," he murmured under his breath. "I don't
want to lose him too."
I gently knocked on the study-room door.
"Come in," my father said.
I sighed, closed my eyes for a moment, then pushed the
door open. I turned to see Vasu standing behind me.
"After you, sweetheart," he said with a smirk.
I rolled my eyes and stepped inside.
My father looked up. Surprise crossed his face when he
noticed Vasu beside me.
"What's going on? Why is Vasu coming with you? Is
there a problem?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.
"No, Uncle—just moral support," Vasu said as he
entered the room and sat beside my father.
I followed them in and closed the door behind me.
I swallowed the lump in my throat, unsure of how—or
where—to begin.
"What is it, beta?" my father asked gently. "Ever
since you came home, you haven't looked well. And what about the bandage on
your forehead?"
I stood there, silent, not knowing what to say.
"First, sit down," he said calmly.
I sat on the sofa, now facing both my father and Vasu.
Vasu glanced at me and subtly signaled for me to speak.
"Papa…" I began, my voice trembling. "I've been
thinking of quitting my job."
The look on his face made my heart skip a beat.
"Beta… what have you done?" my mind screamed.