Update before time enjoy!❤️
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Hospital Room - Shivani
The ceiling above her was stark white, sterile, empty-just like the hollow feeling in her chest. Shivani's fingers twitched against the blanket, a restless movement she couldn't seem to control. The faint beeping of the heart monitor filled the silence, each pulse a mocking reminder-she was still here.Fate had a cruel sense of humor
"Is it really necessary to talk about it?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, fragile, but laced with quiet defiance. "I don't want to."
Dr. Leo watched her carefully. She was composed, but only on the surface. Her eyes-empty yet burdened-held secrets she refused to acknowledge. But her fingers, the way they curled into the fabric, how her breath occasionally hitched-those betrayed her.
"I understand," he said gently. "But if you ever feel comfortable sharing, I'm here. We also have a psychologist you can speak with."
Shivani let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "No, I don't." Her throat felt raw, like she had swallowed glass shards. She swallowed, hesitated, then asked, "Can I have some water?"
Leo nodded, pouring water into a glass and handing it to her.
She took it, but her fingers trembled around the cool surface. As she lifted it to her lips, the rim tapped against her teeth. A single drop escaped, trailing down her chin. She wiped it away-fast, almost aggressively-as if embarrassed by the slip. Then, she placed the empty glass down with more force than necessary.
"Thank you."
Leo nodded. "Just letting you know-since this is a suicide case, the police will be visiting you soon. I thought it would be better if you were prepared."
Her fingers clenched the blanket so tightly her knuckles turned white. She didn't blink, didn't react immediately-but the stiffness in her shoulders spoke volumes.
"I'm not scared".The police. Great. More questions I don't want to answer. More eyes judging me. As if I haven't been dissected enough already
But her body betrayed her, her grip tightening, her nails digging into the fabric.
Leo observed her for a moment. Then, he shifted. "I tried contacting your guardian, but he didn't pick up. Can I have another family member's number?"
Something flickered across her face-fear, guilt, or something far more complicated.
She looked away. "No. My family is out of the country, and... I don't want them to know about this. I don't have anyone else's number."
Leo's lips pressed into a thin line, but he didn't push.
"Alright. I'll figure something out."
Silence stretched between them. The air conditioning hummed, a dull, constant noise that did nothing to fill the weight in the room. Shivani shifted, winced, and exhaled sharply.
She hated this.
The crisp white sheets. The quiet pity in their eyes. The dull ache in her body, reminding her that she had failed.
"When can I be discharged?"
Leo sighed. "If everything goes well, maybe in two days."
Her face twisted. "Two days? I'm fine now, aren't I?"
"You're physically stable, but your body is weak. You need rest."
Shivani let out a bitter laugh. "Fine."
Leo gave her one last glance before stepping out.
As soon as the door clicked shut, the mask cracked.
She exhaled, a shaky, uneven breath. Her hands came up to press against her forehead, fingers tangling in her hair. Her chest felt tight, suffocating.
The silence pressed in.
She hated it.
She hated that she was still here.
---
Agnihotri Haveli - Breakfast Table
The Agnihotri haveli was alive with the morning rush. The grand teakwood dining table gleamed under the soft glow of the chandelier. Silver cutlery clinked against fine china, and the air carried the tempting scent of ghee-soaked parathas and fresh cardamom chai. and the occasional bickering of the Agnihotri brothers.
At the head of the table, Vasundhara Agnihotri watched over her sons, her gaze both exasperated and fond.
And then there was Kabir.
Completely unbothered, he was on a mission-to devour as much food as humanly possible. As he tore into his paratha, butter dripping onto his plate like it was his life's greatest treasure, he sighed dramatically.
"Yeh makkhan aur paratha ka rishta... pichle janam ka hai."
Veer rolled his eyes. "Bhai, tu zindagi mein aur kuch sochega bhi ya bas khane se shaadi kar chuka hai?"
Ayaan smirked. "Iska pyaar unconditional hai. Breakfast, lunch, dinner-aur beech mein chhoti snacks love stories."
Ayaan fixing his hair in a mirror while throwing witty comments.
Kabir pointed his spoon at Ayaan. "Tu mazaak uda raha hai? Mera pyaar kabhi mujhe hurt nahi karta!"
Kabir licking his fingers while eating because he doesn't care about manners.
Veer scoffed. "Haan, tabhi kal raat pet dukh raha tha over-eating ke chakkar mein."
Kabir gasped, offended. "Bhai, tu mujhe dukh mat de. Pyaar pe vishwas rakh."
Even Rudransh, the most serious one, let out a small amused breath. The breakfast table was lively, filled with their usual nonsense.Rudransh silently sipping tea.
But peace is never meant to last.
---
The Phone Call
The sudden ring of the landline shattered the laughter.
A servant entered, holding the receiver with hesitation. "Sir... urgent call aaya hai."
Ranvijay, who had been silent so far, wiped his hands on a napkin and stood up. His voice, calm yet commanding, carried through the room.
"Ranvijay Agnihotri speaking."
The moment the caller introduced themselves, his expression changed. A shift so small, yet so sharp, it sent a ripple of unease across the table.
"Shivani's hostel?"
A deadly silence fell over the room.
Kabir's hand, mid-reach for another paratha, froze.
Ayaan's playful smirk vanished in an instant.
Veer, who had been leaning back lazily, sat up straight, his jaw tightening.
Rudransh's fingers, previously relaxed around his cup, curled slightly. His sharp eyes locked onto Ranvijay.
Vasundhara's forehead creased. "vani?"
Kabir blinked. "Hostel se phone? Itne saalon mein toh kabhi nahi aaya."
Ayaan's voice was edged with suspicion. "Something's wrong."
Ranvijay's voice turned colder. "I instructed the hostel to contact her uncle, not me. Why are you calling?"
The warden hesitated. "Sir, we tried, but we couldn't reach him. His number is unavailable, and this was urgent."
Ranvijay exhaled sharply. "What happened?"
A pause. Then-
Warden: "Sir, I... I don't know how to say this."
Ranvijay (voice sharpens): "Say it
Warden: "Miss Shivani... she's been admitted to the hospital."
A heavy, suffocating silence.
Kabir's face lost all color. His usual liveliness drained away, replaced by something dark and hollow.
Ayaan clenched his fists. His lips parted, but no words came.
Veer's grip on his chair tightened, knuckles turning white.
Rudransh remained unnervingly still, but the subtle, repeated tap of his fingers against the table-a gesture he never did-revealed his inner turmoil.
Vasundhara whispered, "Hospital?" Her voice trembled.
Ranvijay's voice, dangerously calm, asked, "Why?"
The warden hesitated.
Then she said it.
"It's a suicide case, sir."
A sharp inhale.
Kabir visibly flinched, his shoulders tensing like someone had thrown ice water over him.
Ayaan's jaw clenched so hard it looked like he was physically holding himself together.
Veer, always controlled, suddenly stood up, his chair screeching against the floor.
Rudransh's hands curled into fists.
Vasundhara gripped the edge of the table. "Nahi... yeh nahi ho sakta."
Ranvijay closed his eyes briefly. Then, his voice, heavy yet firm, asked, "Is she stable?"
"Yes, sir. But she isn't saying anything."
Without another word, Ranvijay stood up.
"I'm going."
Kabir pushed his chair back violently. "Hum bhi ja rahe hain."
Ayaan was already on his feet. "Abhi."
Kabir practically shoving the servant aside in his haste to move.
Ayaan already reaching for the car keys.
Rudransh run ahead, the sharpness in his eyes saying everything.
The breakfast was forgotten.
The laughter was gone.
Maybe Vasundhara tries to stop them, panic in her voice: "Beta, ruko! Mujhe bhi chalna hai!"
But Ranvijay turns back and firmly says, "Nahi. Hum dekh lenge."
All that remained was a name-Shivani.
And the truth they were about to face