He Proposed... Just Not to Me

The next day started like any other day for Muskan, but by the end of it, her entire world felt different.

That morning, before she left for her hospital duty, her mother had stopped her near the door.

"Muskan, beta, I wanted to tell you something," she said with a gentle smile.

Muskan looked at her curiously.

"What happened, Maa?"

Her mother took a deep breath.

"I gave your number to Ashutosh. He will text you and tell you where to meet in the afternoon."

Muskan wanted to say no.

She wanted to tell them that her heart was already occupied by someone else.

Someone who had never even looked at her the way she looked at him.

But she couldn't.

Because how could she explain a love that had existed only in her heart?

So she simply nodded.

"Okay, Maa. I'll meet him."

Her mother smiled and hugged her.

"That's my girl."

Before Muskan left, her mother stopped her again.

"One more thing."

"What?"

"Go with a free and relaxed mind"

Muskan forced a small smile.

"Okay, Maa."

She left for the hospital, unaware that the day would bring back the one memory she had spent years trying to hide.

After finishing her morning duties, Muskan received a message from Dr. Ashutosh.

Dr. Ashutosh: Hello, Dr. Muskan. I hope your day is going well. Can we meet around afternoon at the café near City Park?

She looked at the message for a few seconds before replying.

Sure. I'll be there.

In the afternoon, she reached the café earlier than him.

She sat alone at a corner table, waiting.

Around her, people laughed, talked, and enjoyed their time.

A few minutes later, her attention shifted toward a couple sitting nearby.

The girl was smiling brightly.

The man had brought flowers, chocolates, and a small gift for her.

Muskan watched them quietly.

She couldn't see the man's face because he was sitting with his back toward her.

The girl, whose name Muskan later heard was Suhani, looked extremely happy.

The man handed her the flowers.

"For you," he said.

Suhani smiled.

"You always do this."

"Because you always deserve it."

Muskan looked away, feeling a strange sadness.

She wondered what it would feel like to receive such love from someone she loved.

Then the man turned slightly.

And Muskan froze.

Her breath stopped.

Her hands became cold.

It was him.

Raghav.

The same Raghav she had loved since childhood.

The same Raghav whose smile had been her favorite sight for years.

The same Raghav she had secretly imagined spending her life with.

But today, he was sitting in front of another girl.

Suhani.

Her heart refused to accept what her eyes were seeing.

Then Raghav leaned closer to Suhani and kissed her gently.

For a moment, everything around Muskan disappeared.

The sounds of people talking.

The movement around her.

Everything.

She only saw Raghav.

But in her imagination, it wasn't Suhani sitting there.

It was her.

She imagined herself receiving those flowers.

Those chocolates.

That love.

She imagined Raghav looking at her the way he looked at Suhani.

A tear slipped down her cheek.

But reality brought her back.

It wasn't her.

It was never her.

"Dr. Muskan?"

The voice made her look up.

Dr. Ashutosh had arrived.

She quickly wiped her tears and composed herself.

"I'm sorry. I was just..."

"It's okay," he said politely.

They started talking.

Dr. Ashutosh was kind, respectful, and easy to talk to.

He asked about her work, her interests, and her family.

Muskan tried her best to focus.

But her mind kept returning to Raghav.

Every smile.

Every word.

Every moment.

She couldn't stop thinking about him.

After some time, she looked at Ashutosh apologetically.

"I'm really sorry, Dr. Ashutosh. I don't think I'm feeling well today. Can we continue this another time?"

He noticed the sadness in her eyes but didn't question her.

"Of course. Take care of yourself."

Muskan thanked him and left.

But instead of going home, she walked toward the nearby park.

She sat on a bench under a tree and finally allowed herself to break down.

Years of hidden feelings came rushing out.

She cried for the love she never confessed.

For the dreams that would never come true.

For the person who was so close to her heart but so far from her life.

She truly wanted Raghav.

She wanted him in her life.

But she knew she couldn't force someone to love her.

After a long time, she wiped her tears and took a deep breath.

he had to accept reality.

Slowly, she returned home.

That night, her mother noticed her silence.

"Muskan, have dinner, beta."

"I'm not hungry, Maa."

"You haven't eaten properly since morning."

"I'm just tired."

Her mother looked at her with concern.

"Are you sure everything is, okay?"

Muskan nodded, but her eyes betrayed her.

She went to her room without eating.

The moment she closed the door, the tears returned.

She cried silently until exhaustion finally took over.

And with Raghav's memories still filling her heart, Muskan fell asleep.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight slipped through Muskan's curtains, but they failed to wake her with their usual warmth.

She had barely slept.

Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the same scene.

Raghav.

Standing with a bouquet of red roses.

Smiling.

Looking at Suhani with the same tenderness Muskan had secretly wished for all these years.

And then...

That kiss.

Her chest tightened again.

She wiped the fresh tears from the corners of her eyes before anyone could see them.

Downstairs, her mother was preparing breakfast.

"Good morning, beta," she said gently.

Muskan forced a smile.

"Good morning, Maa."

Her father looked up from the newspaper.

"How was your meeting with Dr. Ashutosh?"

The question made Muskan freeze for a second.

"It was... okay," she replied quietly.

"Okay?" her mother asked hopefully. "He seemed like such a nice boy."

"He is nice, Maa."

"Then?"

Muskan looked down at her untouched toast.

"I just... wasn't feeling well."

Her parents exchanged worried glances.

Her father spoke softly.

"If you don't like him, tell us honestly. We are not forcing you."

Muskan's throat tightened.

How could she explain that the problem wasn't Dr. Ashutosh?

The problem was a man who had never even known she loved him.

"There is nothing wrong with him, Papa," she whispered. "He's a good person."

"Then why do you look so unhappy?"

She couldn't answer.

Instead, she stood up.

"I'll be late for duty."

Without finishing breakfast, she picked up her bag and left.

The hospital was as busy as ever.

Patients filled the waiting area.

Nurses hurried from one ward to another.

Monitors beeped.

Doctors discussed reports.

Normally, work helped Muskan forget everything.

Today, it didn't.

She was examining an elderly patient when her senior, Dr. Meera, noticed her distraction.

"Muskan."

She looked up immediately.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"You've checked the same ECG three times."

"I'm... sorry."

Dr. Meera placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You look exhausted."

"I didn't sleep."

"Family problem?"

Muskan hesitated before nodding.

"A little."

Dr. Meera smiled kindly.

"Whatever it is, don't carry it into the ICU. Our patients need your full attention."

"I know, ma'am."

"And if you need a break, tell me."

"Thank you."

Muskan took a deep breath.

She had spent years learning to save hearts.

But no medical textbook had ever taught her how to heal her own.

Around lunchtime, her phone vibrated.

It was a message from Dr. Ashutosh.

Dr. Ashutosh: Hope you're feeling better today. Please don't apologize for yesterday. I could tell something was bothering you. Take care of yourself.

Muskan stared at the screen.

There was no accusation.

No complaint.

Only concern.

She typed a reply.

Thank you, Dr. Ashutosh. I'm really sorry. You deserved a better first meeting.

His reply came almost instantly.

Everyone has difficult days. We don't have to decide anything immediately. Let's become friends first.

For the first time since yesterday, a faint smile appeared on Muskan's face.

Maybe he really was a good man.

But friendship was all her heart could offer right now.

That evening, as Muskan left the hospital, she stopped outside the gate.

Across the road stood a familiar tea stall.

A black SUV was parked nearby.

A man stepped out.

Tall.

Well-built.

Wearing a light blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves.

Muskan's heartbeat skipped.

Raghav.

He hadn't seen her.

He was laughing while talking on the phone.

A few seconds later, Suhani walked toward him.

He smiled the same smile Muskan had loved for years.

Without thinking, Muskan hid behind a tree.

She watched as Suhani slipped her hand into his.

The two walked away together.

Happy.

Complete.

As though the world belonged only to them.

Muskan felt another tear roll down her cheek.

This time, she didn't stop it.

She simply whispered to herself,

"Mahadev keeps him happy."

It was the closest thing to a goodbye she had ever spoken.

But somewhere deep inside her heart...

She knew she hadn't truly let him go.

Not yet.

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