Location: Emergency Safehouse – Alliance Broadcast Room
Next Morning – 7:13 AM
Vashti was sipping bitter coffee, a bruise blooming on her jaw, while Shabd quietly adjusted the bandage on his shoulder.
Silence crackled between them—not uncomfortable, but thick with things unsaid.
Then Arya stormed in, flinging a tablet across the table. "Care to explain this?"
The screen showed a live news broadcast from Zenith Network.
Headline: "BREAKING: Dr. Shabd Heer and Dr. Vashti Dhiman, celebrated neurosurgeon duo and war-time heroes, announce their engagement at the medical summit!"
Vashti choked on her coffee.
Shabd blinked. "What the hell—?"
Arya tapped the video.
There it was.
A clip of their kiss. Their fake kiss.
Zoomed in. Romantic music. Confetti. And a voiceover added by the media:
"Dr. Heer was seen kissing his fiancée, Dr. Dhiman, confirming rumors of their secret relationship. The world celebrates the union of two prodigies."
Vashti shot to her feet. "We never announced anything!"
Arya crossed her arms. "Well, congratulations, fake fiancé and fiancée. The entire nation ships you now. You're trending with a hashtag: #VashDShines."
Shabd slowly smiled.
Vashti slapped his arm. "This isn't funny."
"I mean," he said, eyes twinkling, "it could be worse. I could be trending for getting shot again."
---
Later – Vashti's Room
Vashti stared at the ring on her finger. The cameras had caught it, magnified it, glorified it. The world believed it was real.
But why did she suddenly wish it was?
A knock.
She opened the door.
Shabd stood there, holding… a real engagement ring box.
"What is that?" she whispered.
He shrugged. "If the world believes we're engaged… maybe we should make it official."
Vashti's lips parted.
"Don't mess with me, Shabd."
"I'm not," he said softly. "I don't want the world to be the only one believing in us."
He opened the box.
A ring with a single sapphire, deep blue—like the first scrubs she ever wore.
"I don't want this to be fake anymore," he said. "But only if you want it."
Vashti's eyes filled.
And for once, the girl who never backed down, who fought wars and beat bullets—stood speechless.
She didn't say yes.
But she didn't say no.
She took the ring.
Wore it.
And whispered, "Let's finish the mission. Then we'll talk vows."
Shabd smiled.
"Deal."