As the Shimla mist lifted, three black cars entered the AIIMS campus. Guards recognized the plates and stood at attention as Kashish Diwan (in emerald green), Jiya Panchal (in a grey pant suit), and Aryan Sinha (in navy and beige) emerged. Visionary Vista had arrived to execute, not pitch. They'd won the ₹200 crore contract to design and build AIIMS Shimla's Cancer and Palliative Care Wing. Inside, Darjeeling tea and porcelain cups filled the discussion room. The team exchanged nervous but confident banter, files and welcome packets already in place. "Back where it began," Aryan murmured. "Only this time, we belong," Kashish replied.

Soon, they entered the AIIMS Board Room. Dr. Ranvijay Shukla, the Director, and Dr. Rajeshwari Rathod, the CMO, sat ready. Other board members included Dr. Shruti Singh, Dr. Aditya Saxena,  and Dr. Kabir Singhania, composed in a royal blue suit. And other Top Surgeons and MD's were also present as  Board Members of AIIMS.

Kashish and Kabir's eyes met briefly, A professional acknowledgment, not a stumble. "Good morning," Kashish greeted. Dr. Shukla nodded "Welcome, team Visionary Vista. 

As the conference room settled into a comfortable silence, Dr. Ranvijay Shukla leaned back in his chair, glancing at the Visionary Vista team with a rare hint of warmth. "Before we get into blueprints and materials," he began, his tone both formal and appreciative, "I want to commend the three of you. Out of all the firms we met, your approach stood out, not just for design, but for empathy. You didn't just pitch a building, you pitched healing." Kashish, Jiya, and Aryan exchanged a small glance of gratitude. Just then, Dr. Rajeshwari Rathod joined in, a soft smile curving her lips as she looked directly at Kashish. "Especially your integration of open therapeutic gardens, sensory paths, and the non-clinical color palettes..." she said, nodding thoughtfully. "It was refreshing. Personally, I found it very progressive." She then turned slightly, her eyes landing on Dr. Kabir Singhania, who sat still, listening intently. "And I'll let it slip," Rajeshwari added, teasing just enough to draw subtle smiles from others in the room, "Dr. Kabir Singhania here, though he won't say it, but he was particularly impressed with your palliative care zoning model." Kashish's eyes instinctively went to Kabir. He didn't deny it. He didn't look away this time either. And for the first time, in that dignified conference room, amidst files, slides, and solemn doctors, they shared a smile. A real one, Brief, soft... but unmistakably real. Kashish, composed but sincere, gave a small nod and said with a warm tone: "Thank you, Dr. Singhania." Kabir simply replied, "Pleasure, Ms. Diwan." 

Shall we begin with your structural segmentation plan?" Dr. Ranvijay Shukla Said looking at kashish, Jiya and Aryan. "Of course, sir. We're ready." Jiya tapped her iPad, Aryan connected the HDMI, and the title slide appeared: "Cancer & Palliative Care Wing: Design Meets Dignity." The session ready to began, execution over introductions. Visionary Vista was there to build.

kahish Jiya Aryan started their pitch on structures and interiors. For nearly two hours, the presentation held the room in focused silence, punctuated only by questions, nods, and the occasional flipping of slides.

Kashish stood firm and articulate, commanding the space with calm assurance. Her hand gestures were measured, graceful, pointing to layouts, tracing curves of proposed structures on the projector, explaining how design could complement care. Her voice held clarity, even when a technical question from Dr. Pankaj, one of the Board Member arose, But her confidence never cracked.

She carried herself with elegance, A subtle, poised power. Her nervous smile when Aryan fumbled a word, the tuck of a loose curl behind her ear mid-pitch, the way she occasionally glanced down at her notepad before locking eyes again with the board, it wasn't just content that held attention, it was presence.

And someone had especially noticed.

Dr. Kabir Singhania, seated quietly in his Royal blue tailored suit, found himself watching her a little too intently. Not just listening but observing. The fine line of focus across her brow... the way she balanced nerves with confidence... the faint tremble of a smile when she caught her own breath mid-sentence. He hadn't realized how long his eyes had been on her, until a whisper next to him broke his trance. Dr. Shruti Singh leaned in just enough, murmuring under her breath, her tone half-teasing, half-genuine, "God, I'm going to ask her skincare routine after this. That's real Pahadi Beauty."

Kabir blinked. Caught. Completely unaware he'd been staring. He shifted slightly in his chair, gaze back to the slide. As if retreating.

Why had he been looking?
What was he looking for?

He didn't have an answer. But the question lingered. And just then, the final slide disappeared. The projector dimmed. The pitch had ended. Kashish closed her file with a polite smile and nodded once toward the board, Professional and Composed. But something had definitely shifted in the air.  As the presentation wrapped up, the projector dimmed and a moment of stillness followed, like everyone in the room was letting the ideas settle.

Kashish, Jiya, and Aryan took their seats again across the boardroom table. Murmurs of appreciation circled among the AIIMS board members. Dr. Shruti gave a small, impressed nod. Dr. Aditya whispered something to Kabir, who didn't respond but kept his gaze forward, calm and  unreadable.

Dr. Ranvijay Shukla leaned forward slightly, his fingers interlocked on the table. "Well done, Team Visionary Vista," he said, his voice warm but professional. "Your structural and interior vision aligns impressively with the medical and emotional needs we're aiming to address." Kashish gave a poised smile, "Thank you, sir." Dr. Rajeshwari added, looking at Jiya and Aryan, "Your synergy as a team is rare—and refreshing." Then Dr. Ranvijay looked back at the three of them. "So, Ms. Diwan, Ms. Panchal, and Mr. Sinha..." he said with a slight pause, "three days from now, we'll meet again to discuss the financial and legal structure of the project. Please have your documentation ready." "Absolutely, sir," Aryan responded with a confident nod. "Looking forward to it," Jiya added. With polite smiles and final handshakes, the three rose from their chairs. As they stepped out of the conference room into the corridor, there was no cheering, no loud celebration, just quiet glances among them that said everything. They'd done it. And this was only the beginning. As the others began to gather their files and exit the conference room, Kashish lingered just for a moment, adjusting the strap of her bag. She was about to turn when she heard a calm voice behind her. "Ms. Diwan." She turned. Dr. Kabir Singhania was standing a few steps away, his expression as composed as ever, but something in his gaze had softened. "Yes, Dr. Singhania?" she asked, her voice just as steady, though her fingers instinctively brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. He held her gaze for a second longer than necessary, then said, "Your approach to integrating emotional therapy into the structure... it's rare. Not many think like that. Especially outside the medical field." Kashish smiled, slow and sincere. "Maybe because healing doesn't always need a stethoscope." There was a small pause, comfortable and unhurried. Kabir gave a faint nod, something almost like a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Still being an Architect you seem to understand it quite well." Kashish's eyes didn't waver. "Maybe because I grew up around it. Or maybe because... some things, you just feel." Kabir said nothing, just watched her for a beat longer, something unreadable in his expression. Then, from behind them, Aryan called out, "Kashish, car's waiting." She gave a polite nod to Kabir saying "See you in three days, Dr. Singhania." And with that, she walked away, composed, confident and with  a soft smile playing on her lips. Kabir watched her go. Still not sure why he was still watching.

                                                                               *********************

Did you enjoy the quiet pull between them, the kind that doesn't need loud words, just shared glances and soft smiles?

VOTE AND COMMENT

- [Pristi Scrolls]