The thumb betrayal

I should've been asleep. I had one full night of rest in my hands after the fest, and what did I do? Instead of catching up on sleep like a normal human, I was on Dhruv's Instagram—scrolling like a certified stalker.

And honestly, it wasn't even my fault. He had posted enough "doctor with coffee" and "unbothered in scrubs" pictures to tempt even saints. And don't even get me started on his smile in those candid ones. Irritatingly photogenic.

"Look at you," I muttered, zooming into a picture from 2022. . "Who even looks this hot in fresher's party? And why am I— a respectable postgrad doctor, staring at this picture at 1:37 a.m.?"

And then it happened.

The universe betrayed me. Or maybe my clumsy thumb did. Either way— double tap.

The little heart turned red.

I froze. I literally heard my soul leave my body. "No. No. NO. This did not just happen."

2022-A post three years old. My thumb decided to betray me that too at post from 2022 Of all years! Why not 2023? Why not yesterday's post? No, I had to like the fossil post from three years ago!" Did I scroll that far back? Yes. Did I intend to announce it to him? Absolutely not. But now? Now it was immortalized in the notification bar of his phone.

I threw my phone on the bed like it was a bomb about to explode.

I started pacing, muttering under my breath- Brilliant, Aradhya. Perfect. You're a doctor-in-training but can't even control your own thumbs. Clap for yourself, Tomorrow's headline— Desperate doctor caught digging digital graves

I dramatically flopped onto the bed, pulled a pillow over my face, and groaned. "Forget medicine. I should get an honorary PhD in self-humiliation."

And of course, the devil had to see.

Phone buzzed. Heart dropped. I snatched it up like a thief caught red-handed.

( Chats are in italics)

Dhruv: 'Late night archaeological digging, Doctor?'

My life. Was. Over.

I buried my face in the pillow again and screamed into it till my throat hurt. "Yes, universe. Expose me. Please put up billboards tomorrow— Aradhya, doctor by day, stalker by night."

I typed and deleted ten replies— "haha lol no" ... "actually I was scrolling randomly" ... "Instagram glitched" ... "my cousin liked it, not me" ... nothing sounded convincing. Finally, I threw the phone aside and decided my best option was: Ignore like it never happened.

I stormed into Mihika's room like I was leading a protest march, eyes wild, phone clutched in hand.

"Mihikaaaa!" I wailed, collapsing dramatically on her bed. "I am ruined. Officially. Socially. Professionally. Romantically. RUINED."

She blinked at me over her coffee mug, completely unbothered. "Hello to you too, drama queen. What's new? Did Sharma sir yell at you again?"

I sat up, clutching her arm like I'd just survived a shipwreck. "Worse. Way worse, I was scrolling through Dhruv's Instagram last night, okay? Just innocent browsing. Innocent. And then—bam!—my traitor thumb went and LIKED a post from 2022."

There was a pause. Then Mihika choked on her coffee. "2022? Aru, that's like.....ancient history!"

"Exactly!" I threw my hands in the air. "Do you realize the level of desperation this screams? Stalking is one thing, okay? A little innocent scrolling never killed anybody. But liking? From three years ago? I might as well have sent him a blood oath saying, Yes sir, I've been investigating your life like a crime scene."

Mihika was now laughing, tears forming in her eyes. "Oh my god, you're unbelievable."

"Don't laugh! This is serious," I snapped, pacing her room like a trapped tiger. "He texted me, Mihika. He knows. He knows I was doing digital excavation. Do you understand? My reputation is gone. All those years of pretending to be the sarcastic, untouchable queen? Finished. One accidental double tap and my empire crumbled."

Mihika, still grinning, asked, "So... what did you reply?"

I froze. Then slumped against the wall, burying my face in my hands. "Nothing. I left him on seen. Which is even worse! Now he thinks I'm not only a stalker, but also a cowardly stalker."

Mihika's grin widened. "I swear, Aru, if he teases you about this, I am not saving you. In fact, I'll enjoy front-row seats."

I glared at her. "You're supposed to be my best friend, not his cheerleader."

She sipped her coffee smugly. "Oh, I am your best friend. Which is why I'm telling you—you're doomed. And it's hilarious."

I groaned, throwing myself face-first on her pillow. "Somebody admit me as a patient in my own hospital. I need sedation.

"Do you realize what this means, Mihika?" I sat up, gesturing wildly. "Now, every time I talk to him—I'll have a giant neon sign above my head screaming 2022 Post Liker. I can't even escape I know he'll bring it up. With that annoyingly calm smile of his."

Mihika was shaking with laughter now, her coffee long forgotten. "You make it sound like he's holding a blackmail file against you."

"He basically is!" I threw a pillow at her. "Do you know what he texted me? 'Late night archaeological digging, Doctor?'-"Archaeological"!! He made me sound like I was dusting off fossils in his feed!"

"And was he wrong?" Mihika asked sweetly.

I glared. "You're fired as my best friend."

She smirked. "Fine. Fire me. But Aru, let's be honest—you were digging. Don't look so scandalized."

I flopped back dramatically. "I swear, I can't show my face to him ever again."

Mihika pulled the blanket over me like I was a child. "Relax. If anything, this just gave him free pass to tease you forever. And knowing Dhruv, he will use it. So be prepared."

I groaned into the blanket. "Why is my life one long series of humiliations, narrated live to my best friend?"

"Because you're dramatic and the universe enjoys the entertainment," Mihika said smugly.

I peeked out from under the blanket and muttered, "I'm blocking him."

Mihika raised an eyebrow.

I shut my eyes and sighed. "Fine. I'll just... fake my death. That's the only way out now."