Priyank continued eating without a pause, which made Alok chuckle softly. It was a usual scene; whenever Priyanka cooked something, Priyank always behaved this way, savoring every bite with delight. Sitting nearby, Taksh kept watching him quietly but didn’t react much, true to his nature. As Priyank spotted a sweet dish in his bowl, his eyes sparkled. Taksh narrowed his eyes slightly, but Priyank just laughed more and continued eating the dessert with exaggerated enjoyment, appreciating Priyanka’s effort with every bite.

Just then, Priyanka walked over to the dining table, took a quick glance to ensure everything was in order, and then turned toward the stairs, saying,

"I’ll go and tell the nurse to eat first. After she finishes, I’ll sit down and have my meal. I’ll stay with Swara for a while longer."

But Taksh immediately stood up, gently caught Priyanka by the arm, and brought her back to the dining table. He made her sit down firmly in her seat, served her food with care, and said in a stern yet affectionate voice,

“Please sit down and eat peacefully. You don’t have any other responsibilities right now. I’ve told you before, you need to take care of yourself first. There’s no need to worry about everyone else all the time.”

“You are absolutely crazy,” Priyanka replied, shaking her head. “The day Swara regains consciousness, what do you think will happen? She’s not going to spare you at all. She loves you too much. First, she’ll be mad at me for not taking care of her husband properly, nor her children. I’m honestly scared of her temper, so let me take care of everything while I can.”

As she tried to get up again, Taksh held her by the shoulders and gently seated her. This time, he started feeding her with his hands and softly said,

“Why do you always take everything so seriously and get anxious about it all? Anyway, I’ve been meaning to talk to you all about something. You all already know that ever since the last caretaker left, things have become really difficult.”

“She had to leave… that poor woman. Her health deteriorated so badly. How could she look after herself, let alone Swara?”

Priyanka said, clearly concerned. Listening to her, Alok nodded in agreement. But after hearing Taksh’s words, he added thoughtfully,

“Priyanka, you’re absolutely right, but Taksh is right too. I’ve noticed it myself ever since she left, you’ve taken all the responsibilities upon yourself. Just look at you, these past six months have taken a visible toll…. That’s why I want to find a new caretaker as soon as possible. Even if we need to replace her midway, we must push this search more actively now.”

“Exactly,” Taksh said, supporting his father’s statement. “Actually, I’ve come across a girl.”

Everyone looked at him with interest. He understood from their expressions that explaining the full matter here might not be easy, but he also knew he had to be transparent. So, he continued,

“You all know how Ma used to be willing to do anything for students who studied well. Since I’ve taken over the college, I’ve tried to carry that legacy forward. There’s a new girl, Jheel Maheshwari, a very bright student.”

Priyank, who was busy enjoying the dessert, suddenly stopped and looked straight at Taksh. He then glanced toward his father, who seemed to be listening very intently. Taksh continued:

“She’s on a full education scholarship but doesn’t have a place to stay. Also, she told me that she has significant experience in patient care. I checked with the clinic where she used to work, and the doctor there even gave me contact details of two or three patients she cared for. They confirmed that she’s extremely capable and professional.”

Listening attentively, Priyanka raised a question: “If she’s a student at our college, how will she manage Swara? Will she attend college or take care of Swara?”

“I’m only putting forward the idea,” Taksh responded calmly. “The decision is entirely up to you all. But she’s exceptionally bright. I’ve observed her myself, she’s on a full scholarship, which speaks volumes about her academic performance. And now, all we need is a caretaker, and she needs a job. Ma requires the best care we can arrange. This girl could attend her classes in the morning and then spend the rest of the day helping Ma, taking care of her medication, and supporting the nurse. When she spoke to me about it, I felt compelled to bring this to your attention because she really is in need.”

After sharing his thoughts, Taksh paused for a moment. He knew how deeply Alok loved Swara. He also knew that Swara always had a special place for children who were diligent in their studies and hardworking in their lives. That’s why he was confident that it wouldn’t take long to convince Alok. His eyes then turned toward Priyanka, who didn’t seem fully convinced yet. So, Taksh decided to play his next card.

“Look, all I’m saying is that whenever Ma regains consciousness, we want to have good news to tell her, something that will make her genuinely happy. This girl will be studying here for the next two years, which means we can keep an eye on her at college as well. And since she’ll be staying with us, she’ll always be around in case something urgent comes up.”

This time, Priyanka looked more agreeable to the idea. Seeing that, Taksh quickly added,

“She’s an orphan who manages all her expenses on her own. That means if we ever scold her or give her feedback, she won’t just pack up and leave. Plus, she’s in real need of money, so she’ll be serious about doing her job properly. And being young, we don’t need to worry much about her health deteriorating like the last caretaker. Of course, minor illnesses can occur, but it is unlikely that she will fall seriously ill in the same way our last caretaker did. So, all I’m saying is that she seems like a good option.”

Priyanka, now clearly convinced, nodded and said,

“You’re right. Since she handles her own expenses, she’ll be more likely to listen and follow instructions. And anyway, none of us are harsh, this entire household revolves around Swara’s well-being. But from time to time, we really do need someone good for her care. Alright, go ahead and inform her. And I’d like to meet the girl myself. I’ll explain everything to her in person.”

“Of course, Bua. As you wish…”

Taksh replied warmly, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, as he finally felt a sense of relief. After tactfully handling the situation at the dining table, Taksh walked over to his mother with a soft smile. Seeing the nurse beside her, he gently said,

“You can go down and have your meal now. I’ll stay here with her.”

Hearing his words, the nurse quietly left. Taksh sat beside his mother, leaned down to kiss her forehead gently, and spoke softly with warmth in his voice.

“I’ve never hidden anything from you, Maa, and I don’t want to hide anything now either. I liked Jheel the very first time I saw her. And the moment she told me she had some experience in patient care, I had already decided that I’d appoint her to take care of you. You know, thanks to you, she’ll now be in front of me 24/7. I can’t even express how happy I am about that… Please, Maa, wake up soon. I want you to meet Jheel... I want to marry her as soon as possible. Ever since I met that girl, I’ve been dreaming endlessly about marrying her quickly and about how, once her college is complete, I’ll finally get to become a father. I’ve already planned so many things! And you just want to lie here like this?”

He smiled to himself as he continued talking to his mother, with his thoughts subtly swirling around Jheel.

The next day, Taksh was in the middle of conducting his class. Today, all the students were paying extra attention. Finally, they realized that Taksh was unaffected by beauty or distractions, focusing solely on his teaching. He wasn’t interested in anyone or anything beyond his work. As soon as the class ended, the peon arrived and, after getting Taksh’s permission, called out:

“Jheel Maheshwari…”

Hearing her name, Jheel instinctively looked at the peon and blinked rapidly in surprise. Taksh had a hard time controlling his laughter at her reaction. Since no one else responded, the entire class turned to look at Jheel, making her raise her hand hesitantly, like a guilty child admitting a mistake.

Noticing her awkward response, the peon interrupted her before she could fully raise her hand and said firmly,

“Principal Madam has called you to her office. Please go right now.”

Jheel nodded robotically and stood up. She glanced at Taksh, who subtly motioned for her to go ahead. He too stepped out of the class since his lecture had ended. As she slowly walked toward the principal's office, she mumbled to herself,

“But I haven’t even made any mistake yet… Why would they call me?… As far as I know, you’re only summoned when you do something wrong. Or do they call people here even without a reason?”

Unbeknownst to her, Taksh was walking behind on purpose, listening to her monologue with a smile tugging at his lips. Her innocence was steadily taking hold of his heart and mind. When Jheel reached the principal’s office, she paused and read the nameplate aloud.

“Priyanka Randhawa… Wow, the entire Randhawa family seems to have taken over this college, one brother studies here, the elder one runs the place, and now principal… Is she their mother?”

“Bua… (aunty)”

Taksh, who had been standing behind her, suddenly spoke up.

Startled, Jheel’s eyes widened in shock. She didn’t even have the courage to turn around, she already knew who it was. Taksh walked ahead, opened the office door, and said,

“My aunt wants to meet you. There’s something important to discuss.”

Jheel cautiously peeked inside. Priyanka was already looking at both of them. Jheel quickly stepped forward and, with a soft smile, asked,

“May I come in, Madam?”

Priyanka nodded, and the two of them walked in. Jheel was uncertain about what to do or say. Priyanka was looking directly at her, making Jheel feel self-conscious. She looked up once to meet Priyanka’s eyes, then dropped her gaze again. But out of reflex, she glanced sideways at Taksh, who was already watching her. She quickly lowered her eyes again. Looking at her keenly, Priyanka finally said,

“You’re such a thin, delicate-looking girl. If I keep you at my house as a caretaker for a patient, do you really think you’ll be able to manage everything?”

Jheel immediately looked up, trying to process what she had just heard. With disbelief and curiosity, she asked,

“Caretaker… for a patient?”

“Yes, you told Taksh that you have experience with patient care, right? That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

Hearing this, a smile slowly spread across Jheel’s face. That smile, for some reason, completely captivated Taksh’s attention. Her innocence seemed to pull him in more with each passing second. She quickly replied to Priyanka,

“Madam, I take care of patients quite well. You won’t get a chance to complain.”

“Alright, if that’s the case, then come to our house this evening. Meet the patient and see how you feel. If you're comfortable, you can start tomorrow. We’ll discuss your payment, accommodation, and everything else in the evening. The only reason I called you in the middle of your class today was because I wanted to see you once. Taksh spoke so highly of you, so I said yes. But to be honest, looking at you now, I’m not too sure you’ll be able to handle the job.”

“No, Ma’am. I promise I’ll take care of everything well. Please just give me a chance.”

“Alright, we’ll see. You can go back to your classes now.”

Jheel nodded and looked at Taksh with a subtle glance. She bowed her head slightly in gratitude and turned to leave. Taksh then said to his aunt,

“Okay, aunty. My lecture is over, and I’m heading to the office for a bit. I’ll try to come back later in the afternoon.”

Taksh stepped out of the cabin almost at the same time as Jheel. As soon as they were outside, Jheel turned to him with a wide, joyful smile and said,

“Thank you so much, sir, for finding this job for me.”

“It’s nothing big. It was my job to find something for bright students. Now it’s your job to prove yourself. They’ll only keep you if they like your work. So, make sure you reach Randhawa Mansion this evening.”

“Sir, where is this Randhawa Mansion?”

Standing firmly in front of her and looking into her eyes, Taksh replied with a smile,

“Just tell anyone that you want to go to Randhawa Mansion, and they’ll guide you. I’ll make sure someone brings you there.”

She nodded gently, and Taksh turned around and walked away, leaving her standing there with a strange new flutter in her heart.