Short Story Collections 📚

N-1

The large lecture hall buzzed with the chatter of medical students as they settled in for their morning cardiology session. Noor Alam Shah adjusted her white coat, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, and flipped through her notes.

Noor is not very fond of studies she's doing medical because of her parents.

And then, the door opened.

A man in a crisp white coat walked in, carrying a file in one hand and a cup of black coffee in the other. His tall frame, composed expression, and calm yet commanding aura immediately silenced the entire hall.

Dr. Shahnawaz Shah

Shahnawaz set his coffee down and glanced at the students-his gaze sharp, observant, yet strangely gentle. He wasn't just looking. He was analyzing.

"Ya Allah ye yaha kaise, ~inhe bhi yahi class mili thi kya, Noor thought.

"Good morning," he said, his deep voice steady, unhurried. "I am Dr. Shahnawaz Shah, and I will be taking your lectures."

A pause.

Noor gasped "Ghar kam tha ki yaha bhi inhe sehna padega" she mentally cried.

"In this hospital, you are no longer students. You are future doctors. And in medicine, hesitation can cost lives." he said making every student nervous.

As he started with the lecture, explaining every topic smoothly in an understanding way but Noor being noor can't focus.

"Ms. Noor"

She paused.

Slowly, she looked up, only to see Shahnawaz standing at the front of the class, arms crossed, staring right at her.

Oh no.

"Yes, sir?" she said, trying to act innocent.

Shahnawaz's expression remained unreadable. "Since you seem so deeply focused, why don't you answer the question?"

Noor blinked. "K-Konsa question?"

The class snickered.

Shahnawaz raised an eyebrow. "I asked, 'What are the three layers of the meninges?'"

Layers of what now?

Noors brain scrambled for an answer. Meninges... men... managers?

She gulped. "Uh... the first layer is... skin?"

Shahnawaz just stared.

The entire class erupted into laughter.

Noor bit her lip. "I mean... technically skin is a layer on the body, right?"

Shahnawaz sighed, rubbing his temples. "Ms. Noor, you are not peeling an orange. Try again."

She panicked. "Uhh... tissue?"

Shahnawaz exhaled slowly, clearly trying not to lose his patience. "The correct answer is dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater." He looked directly at her. "Make sure you study them. There will be a quiz next week."

Noor groaned, dropping her head onto her desk. "Kya musibat hai..."

Shahnawaz turned back to the board, pretending not to hear, but the slight twitch of his lips betrayed his amusement.

_________________

The hospital parking lot was dimly lit, the evening air carrying a soft chill. Noor pulled her white coat tighter around herself as she walked toward the car, her steps slow, hesitant.

Dr. Shahnawaz Shah-her cousin, her Sh-, her biggest challenge-was already unlocking the car, his movements precise and unhurried, just like everything else he did.

She opened the passenger door and slipped in, setting her bag on her lap. Shahnawaz started the car, the soft hum of the engine filling the silence.

For the first few minutes, neither of them spoke.

The city lights blurred past the windows, the rhythmic clicking of the indicator the only sound between them. Noor stole a glance at him-his hands steady on the wheel, his jaw tight, his expression unreadable.

Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Apne achaa nhi kiya- she said.

"Kya kiya maine- he asked

"Apko pure class me Mai hi mili thi thoda to lihaz karna chahiye tha apko, sab kaise hass rahe the mujhpe" she said.

"You are the one who was not paying attention, it's your fault " he said.

She narrowed her eyes, scoffing.

"Mai taya jaan se complain karugi apki- she said clearly not accepting her fault.

"Acha jao jao, mai bhi chachi ko bataunga tumhari harkate" he said.

"Kya nhi nhi Amma to mera kachumbad (salad) bana dengi" she said.

"Acha hai mujhe kachumbad bahot pasand hai" he said smirking.

"Allah, khane ka naam sunkar bhook lag gayi" she pouted.

"Bas pahuch gaye" he said simply.

_____________

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