Chapter 4: The unnoticed silence

The sharp scent of antiseptic and lingering sterility filled the emergency ward as Aria moved quickly through the hallway, her clipboard tucked under her arm. The overhead lights buzzed faintly, casting a clinical glow over the room where chaos never truly settled—it only ebbed and flowed.

"Scalpel."

The senior resident's voice was firm, controlled. The assisting nurse handed it over without hesitation.

Aria stood across the table, eyes sharp as she observed the procedure. The patient on the bed—a middle-aged man—was barely conscious, his breathing shallow. The beep of the heart monitor was steady, but something felt… off.

Kyara, standing to her left, leaned in slightly. "Senior Dr. Malhotra isn't here yet," she whispered, just loud enough for Aria to hear. "He was supposed to oversee this case, right?"

Aria barely had time to process her words before another order was barked.

"Suction."

She reached forward instinctively, handing over the instrument. Across the room, the resident barely acknowledged her as he continued, his focus unwavering.

Kyara hesitated. "Should we—"

"He'll come," another doctor muttered, eyes fixed on the procedure. "Focus on the patient."

Aria flicked a glance at Kyara. Her junior's brow was furrowed, but she said nothing more.

Because there was no time.

Because in a room where every second counted, missing faces were the least of their concerns.

For now.

Aria stepped out of the surgery room, exhaling slowly as she stretched her neck from side to side, the tension in her shoulders refusing to fade.

Hours of standing under those glaring white lights, hands steady, mind sharp—it never got easier. She rolled her fingers, letting the satisfying crack echo softly in the empty corridor.

Her feet carried her forward, but then she caught sight of something at the far end of the hallway.

A group of doctors stood in a semi-circle, their voices low but edged with amusement. A little to the side, a group of interns stood rigid, nervous smiles barely masking their unease.

Ragging.

Aria's eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn't uncommon—it wasn't even particularly brutal, but still, she found herself slowing down. Among the interns, one stood out, her expression unreadable yet tense.

Anshika.

Aria's lips parted slightly, instinct pushing her to intervene, but then—

"Is it because of Sneha or Shaan?"

Anshika's words from the past echoed in her mind, sharp and deliberate.

Aria exhaled, shaking her head. Why did she even care?

She took a few more steps forward, forcing herself to walk away.

But by the time she reached the next corner, her feet stopped. Dammit.

Muttering under her breath, she turned back, walking straight towards the group. She approached one of her friends, leaning in just enough so only she could hear.

"Don't be too harsh on them," she murmured.

Her friend glanced at her, an eyebrow raised, but after a beat, she nodded. Fine.

Satisfied, Aria turned on her heel and left, whispering to herself as she walked, "Aah, you're too good for this world, Aria. No one deserves you."

The Elevator Encounter

As she reached the elevator, she pressed the button, tapping her fingers against her coat absentmindedly.

The doors slid open, and just as she stepped inside—

Shaan.

She didn't pause. Didn't greet him. Just walked inside as if he wasn't even there.

Shaan didn't say anything either, stepping in and standing beside her.

Aria, arms crossed, scoffed internally. Aah, so he has that much attitude, huh? Didn't even bother greeting me at the party, and now—

"Hi."

She blinked.

"Hi," she found herself saying automatically.

The elevator doors opened, and without another word, Shaan walked out.

Aria clenched her jaw. Aaah. Aaah. This jerk.

Anshika & Shaan – A Trophy Relationship

Shaan made his way to the patient's room, knocking lightly before stepping inside.

Anshika turned at the sound, her face immediately breaking into a smile. She stepped forward and, without hesitation, hugged him.

Shaan, however, barely reacted. His hands didn't move, his posture stiff.

Still, Anshika pretended not to notice. As they walked out of the hospital together, she looped her arm through his.

The car door shut with a soft click as they settled inside.

"I heard you lost two cases," Anshika said, turning to him, her tone light, but laced with something sharp.

Shaan stared out the window. "It sort of happened. I—I don't want to talk about it."

Anshika's perfectly shaped eyebrows arched.

"You?" she let out a small laugh. "Shaan Kapoor doesn't want to talk about his work?"

Silence.

She clicked her tongue, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "Hmm, well, let's just hope your reputation doesn't fall too much."

Shaan's jaw tightened slightly, but he still didn't respond.

"You know," Anshika continued, her voice laced with something more calculated, "people respect you because of your consistency. The moment you start losing, you're just another lawyer trying to survive. No one admires the ones who slip."

Shaan exhaled through his nose, his grip on the steering wheel tightening.

"Maybe I don't need admiration," he muttered.

Anshika let out a small, unimpressed chuckle. "That's what people say when they start falling behind."

The car drove off.

The Observers – Sneha & Aria

Across the street, sitting on the swings of a small outdoor café, Sneha and Aria sipped their juices, their eyes following the car as it disappeared down the road.

"So, that girl is Anshika?" Sneha asked, raising an eyebrow.

"And that boy was Shaan?"

Aria exhaled. "Yeah."

Sneha took a long sip of her juice, squinting at the now-empty street. "Hmm. Ugly."

"What?"

"The whole situation," Sneha muttered, waving her hand.

Aria just shook her head, watching as the ice in her drink slowly melted.

The Law Firm – Nishant's Never-Ending Scolding

Meanwhile, in a well-furnished law office, Nishant sat in a leather chair, legs stretched out, hands resting on his stomach—looking like a man who had accepted his fate.

Across the desk, his father was fuming.

"And why the hell is Shaan handling everything when I clearly told you to be more involved?"

"Because Shaan is better at it?" Nishant tried.

His father shot him a glare that could set papers on fire.

"That's not the point!"

The door swung open, and Shaan's father walked in, looking equally irritated.

"You know what's worse than one Kapoor disappointed in me?" Nishant muttered under his breath. "Two."

"Nishant, you're handling the new medical case," Shaan's father said, slamming a file onto the table. "This is urgent, and I don't want any excuses."

Nishant sighed, sitting up. "I feel like I should at least get a warning before you ruin my day."

Neither father looked amused.

The Drunken Hotel Talk – Aria & Sneha

Back at the hotel, Aria and Sneha sat at the bar, their drinks long forgotten as laughter bubbled between them.

"So, let me get this straight," Sneha slurred slightly, pointing at Aria with zero accuracy. "You saw Shaan. He saw you. You locked eyes. And then he just... what? Cut the cake?"

Aria sighed dramatically. "Exactly."

"That's so rude," Sneha huffed. "Cake before conversation? Trash."

Aria giggled, resting her chin on her palm. "And you know what's worse? Anshika was there."

Sneha gasped. "The audacity."

"I mean, obviously, she would be, but still."

Sneha shook her head. "I don't like her. I have a sixth sense about these things."

Aria snorted. "You've never met her."

"Irrelevant."

Just then, Aria's phone buzzed.

She squinted at the screen.

Unknown Number.

Shaan: Hey. It's Shaan. If you're free, meet me at this building.

Aria blinked. Then chuckled, tossing her phone onto the table.

Sneha leaned in, trying to read the message.

"Who's texting you this late?" she asked.

"Shaan."

Sneha gasped dramatically. "I heard in many stories on YouTube—when the childhood crush approaches you while he has a girlfriend, it means he's going to cheat on her with you."

Aria's jaw dropped. "Me? No. Nooo." She grabbed Sneha's cheeks. "I will break someone's nose. Someone's heart. But I will never break the sister code. Never."

Sneha nodded seriously. "Good. Good morals."

Aria stood up.

"I'm going to meet him."