C45 The Cow That Chose a Soldier

The next morning began quietly.

Too quietly.

Aisha noticed it immediately.

Arjun had his laptop open on the small table near the window, his attention completely fixed on the screen. His fingers moved across the keyboard quickly while several maps and articles were open on the display.

Since yesterday evening, he had been like this.

Present.

But distant.

He still made sure she ate breakfast.

Still checked if she was feeling weak.

Still handed her medicines on time.

But the playful attention he usually gave her… was missing.

And Aisha noticed.

Very clearly.

She stood near the mirror drying her hair with a towel, occasionally glancing at him.

Nothing.

Not even one look in her direction.

She sighed dramatically.

“Wow,” she muttered under her breath.

“Yesterday someone carried me into the hospital like a dramatic hero.”

Arjun continued typing.

“And today that same hero is married to his laptop.”

Still nothing.

She wrapped the towel around her wet hair and walked out of the bathroom.

Her feet were still slightly wet from the shower.

“And now he doesn’t even look at me,” she continued mumbling to herself.

“Maybe the side chick is online.”

The next moment—

Her foot slipped.

“Whoa—!”

Before she could hit the floor, a strong hand grabbed her arm and pulled her forward.

She collided straight into Arjun.

His other hand instinctively steadied her waist.

For a second they both froze.

Then he looked down at her.

“You done with your morning acrobatics?”

Aisha glared at him.

“You scared me!”

“You slipped,” he corrected calmly.

“You weren’t looking.”

“My feet were wet!”

“And your brain was busy complaining about me.”

Her eyes widened.

“You heard that?!”

He smirked.

“Loud and clear.”

She immediately stepped back, embarrassed.

“Well maybe if someone wasn’t ignoring me since yesterday—”

“I’m not ignoring you.”

“You are.”

“I caught you before you hit the floor.”

“That’s basic human decency.”

He chuckled softly.

“Next time I’ll let gravity handle it.”

She narrowed her eyes at him.

“Don’t you dare.”

He returned to his laptop like nothing had happened.

Aisha stood there for a moment, annoyed.

Then she got dressed and prepared to leave for the clinic.

As she reached for the door—

Arjun spoke without looking up.

“Should I come with you?”

She turned slowly.

“Why?”

He lifted his eyes toward her.

“What do you mean why?”

“You’ve been ignoring me since yesterday.”

“I have not.”

“You clearly have.”

He leaned back slightly, folding his arms.

“You fainted yesterday.”

“And?”

“And now I’m making sure you don’t faint again.”

“That doesn’t explain the laptop marriage.”

He chuckled quietly.

“You ask too many questions.”

“So you’re not telling me where you disappear to all day?”

“No.”

She sighed dramatically.

“Fine. Come if you want.”

He grabbed his jacket and followed her outside.

—

At the hospital the morning rush had already begun.

Patients filled the waiting benches while nurses moved quickly between rooms.

Aisha immediately got busy checking reports and consulting patients.

Meanwhile Arjun found a quiet corner chair near the corridor.

Laptop open.

Eyes focused.

He spent hours reading through local maps, regional crime reports, and old news articles about the area.

Occasionally he glanced up to check where Aisha was.

Every time he saw her moving confidently through the ward, something in his chest relaxed.

Good. She’s okay.

By lunchtime the hospital quieted down.

Aisha finally stepped out of the ward holding a plastic cup filled with electrolyte juice.

She sipped it slowly through a straw while walking down the corridor.

Her eyes scanned the area.

Arjun’s chair was empty.

She frowned slightly.

“Where did he go now…”

She turned another corner of the corridor.

Still no sign of him.

She sighed and took another sip of the drink.

Suddenly—

“BOO.”

“OH HOLY LORD!”

The cup nearly slipped from her hand.

She spun around to see Arjun standing behind her, trying very hard not to laugh.

“You just scared me to death!”

He chuckled.

“That was the point.”

She pressed her hand against her chest.

“My heart literally stopped.”

“You’re dramatic.”

“You appeared out of nowhere!”

He leaned casually against the wall.

“How are you feeling?”

She took another sip of the drink.

“A little weak.”

“Then go home early.”

“Not happening.”

“You fainted yesterday.”

“And today I’m working.”

He studied her for a moment before nodding.

“Stubborn.”

“Dedicated.”

“Same thing.”

She rolled her eyes.

“Where did you disappear to?”

“Bathroom.”

“You were gone for twenty minutes.”

“Long bathroom.”

She gave him a suspicious look.

But before she could question further, a nurse called her from the ward.

“Doctor Aisha!”

She sighed.

“Duty calls.”

Arjun watched her disappear back into the ward before quietly closing his laptop.

—

Later that afternoon he slipped out of the hospital again.

This time he returned to the area near the parking lot where he had seen the suspicious exchanges yesterday.

But the SUV was gone.

No sign of the men either.

He walked through nearby streets casually, observing from a distance.

At one point he noticed two unfamiliar vehicles parked near a warehouse building on the edge of town.

He waited.

Watched.

But before he could move closer, the vehicles drove away.

Again.

Gone.

Arjun exhaled slowly.

They were careful.

Too careful.

Definitely something illegal.

But with no solid lead, he eventually returned to the hospital.

—

By evening Aisha finally finished her shift.

They walked back toward their place together as the sun began setting behind the mountains.

Halfway down the road a familiar brown cow stood near a small roadside stall.

Arjun stopped briefly and bought a small piece of jaggery from the vendor.

“Why?” Aisha asked.

“For her.”

He walked over and held the jaggery piece toward the cow.

The cow happily accepted it.

Aisha smiled.

“Well that’s adorable.”

They continued walking.

A few seconds later—

A soft clop clop clop sound followed behind them.

Aisha turned around.

The cow was walking after them.

She blinked.

“Arjun…”

He glanced back.

The cow stopped and stared at him expectantly.

He frowned.

“Why is she following us?”

Aisha burst out laughing.

“You fed her.”

“So?”

“She thinks you’re her friend now.”

Arjun shook his head.

“No.”

He waved his hand slightly.

“Go.”

The cow continued following.

They walked faster.

The cow walked faster.

Aisha was now laughing uncontrollably.

“Congratulations.”

“For what?”

“You adopted a cow.”

“I did not.”

The cow happily followed them all the way down the street like a loyal companion.

Arjun sighed heavily.

“I regret that jaggery.”

Aisha wiped tears of laughter from her eyes.

“I’m naming her.”

“Don’t.”

“Lakshmi.”

“Absolutely not.”

The cow mooed softly behind them.

Aisha grinned.

“See? She likes it.”

Arjun looked back at the cow walking proudly behind him.

Then shook his head.

“Great.”

“A soldier and his cow.”

Aisha laughed again.

And for the first time that day, Arjun found himself laughing with her.