STEP BY STEP TO YOU

Chapter- 10

Sumedh's POV

When I arrived for my next therapy session, I knew something was up. Siri wasn't in the therapy room. Instead, one of the nurses directed me down the hallway toward a smaller office, saying, "Dr. Siri will meet you here today."

Curious, I followed the instructions and pushed open the door to find her sitting at a desk, her hair slightly more disheveled than usual. She was scribbling something furiously on a piece of paper, the lines of focus on her face sharper than ever.

"You look busy," I said, leaning against the door-frame.

Her head shot up, and for the first time, she looked genuinely startled to see me. "Sumedh. You're early."

"That's my thing now," I said with a grin. "Is this your secret lair?"

"Hardly," she said, setting her pen down. "The therapy room was booked, so we're improvising today."

I looked around the cramped space. "And by 'improvising,' you mean you're about to make me work out in a closet?"

She smirked. "You'll survive. Barely."

Siri's POV

If Sumedh was phased by the change of setting, he didn't show it. He dropped his bag in the corner and plopped down in the chair across from mine, lounging like he had all the time in the world.

"Shouldn't you be stretching or something?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"Not until you tell me what you're working on," he said, nodding toward the paper on my desk.

I hesitated, glancing at the unfinished forms. It was a grant proposal I'd been working on for months, something to help fund better equipment for the hospital. But explaining that to Sumedh felt... weird.

"Paperwork," I said vaguely.

"Looks intense," he said, tilting his head to get a better look.

"It's fine," I said quickly, shoving the paper into a folder. "Now, are we doing therapy, or are you just here to snoop?"

He grinned. "Why not both?"

Sumedh's POV

Siri looked flustered, which was rare and oddly satisfying to see.

"Alright," she said, standing up and grabbing her clipboard. "We're skipping the usual warm-up today. Straight to strength work."

"Sounds serious," I said, pretending to stretch dramatically. "You sure you're not mad at me for interrupting your paperwork?"

"Not yet," she said, smirking. "But there's still time."

She handed me a resistance band, her movements brisk and precise. "Start with this. Ten reps, both sides."

I took the band, giving her a mock salute. "Yes, ma'am."

Siri's POV

Watching Sumedh work through the exercises in the cramped office was... oddly amusing. The usual therapy room was big enough to give him space for his dramatics, but here, every exaggerated movement looked ten times more ridiculous.

"This is harder than it looks," he said, wincing as he adjusted the resistance band.

"Poor baby," I said, smirking. "Want me to call someone to hold your hand?"

"Tempting," he said, grinning despite the strain in his voice.

He pushed through the reps without too much complaining, which, for him, was an accomplishment. When he finished, he dropped the band dramatically onto the desk.

"I deserve a medal for that," he said, panting slightly.

"You deserve a lecture on proper form," I shot back, adjusting the band. "Your shoulder's too tense. Relax."

He arched an eyebrow. "Do I look like someone who knows how to relax?"

Sumedh's POV

She was right, of course. I'd been holding the tension in my shoulder the whole time, trying too hard to push through the pain.

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "Show me how it's done, Doctor Moonlight."

She hesitated, then took the resistance band from my hand. "Watch carefully," she said, demonstrating the movement with infuriating precision. "It's not about brute force. It's about control."

"Noted," I said, watching her closely.

"Now try again," she said, handing the band back to me.

This time, I focused on keeping my movements steady and controlled. To my surprise, it felt... better.

"Not bad," she said, nodding. "Maybe you're not a lost cause after all."

"I'll take that as a compliment," I said, grinning.

Siri's POV

Sumedh had a way of making even the simplest tasks feel like a competition. But as much as he joked and teased, I could see that he was taking this seriously. His movements were more deliberate, his focus sharper.

"Good," I said as he finished the last set. "That's enough for today."

He slumped back in his chair, pretending to be completely drained. "You're relentless, you know that?"

"And you're dramatic," I said, smirking. "We all have our strengths."

He laughed, his voice filling the small office. "Fair enough."

Sumedh's POV

As I grabbed my bag and got ready to leave, I glanced at the folder on her desk—the one she'd been so quick to hide earlier.

"Good luck with your paperwork," I said casually, watching her reaction.

She looked up, startled. "Thanks," she said, her tone softer than usual.

"See you tomorrow, Doctor Moonlight," I said, flashing her a grin as I walked out.

And for the first time, I thought I saw something shift in her expression. Not annoyance, not exasperation—something quieter.

But I didn't push it. Not yet.

Later that night, as I sat scrolling through my phone, I caught myself smiling.

It wasn't just the therapy that was working.

It was her.

And I couldn't wait to see where this went next.