six: call

Hey everyone! The beginning of this chapter might feel a bit slow and tense, but stick with it—it gets really interesting as the story unfolds Once all the siblings come together, the story will take on a fun and comedic tone.

Doctor's Cabin – Dr. Leo

Dr. Leo pushed open the door to his cabin, stepping inside with slow, measured movements. He shut it behind him, the faint click of the lock reverberating in the still air. The room was dimly lit, the single desk lamp casting shadows that flickered like ghosts along the walls.

He exhaled, rubbing his temple. The tension in his shoulders refused to ease, an invisible weight pressing against him.

Then, he looked down at the open file on his desk.

The name at the top felt heavier than ink.

Shivani Thakur Agnihotri.

He traced the letters with his thumb, as if the simple act of touching them would offer answers. It didn't. The white sheets were filled with clinical details—her vitals, the notes from the emergency response team, the formal documentation of what had happened.

Leo had seen many cases. Broken people, shattered minds, lost souls wandering through the corridors of his hospital. But something about this girl unsettled him in a way he couldn't explain.

She hadn't spoken much.

She hadn't resisted.

She hadn't cried.

She just existed.

And somehow, that silence was louder than any scream.

His fingers hovered over his phone before he finally dialed the number listed under 'warden.'

The call connected on the second ring.

"Rose speaking."

Her voice was sharp, devoid of warmth. The voice of someone who had spent years choosing words carefully, using them like weapons or shields—never wasting them.

Leo leaned back in his chair, resting his elbow on the desk. "Ms. Rose, this is Dr. Leo."

A pause.

"I assume you've been informed about Shivani's condition."

Another pause. Barely a breath, but enough for Leo to notice.

"I have."

That was it. No inquiry, no concern, no urgency. Just acknowledgment.

Leo's jaw tightened slightly. "I need to know if she has any history of self-harm, depression, anxiety. Anything I should be aware of?"

"There are no prior incidents."

Too quick.

Leo frowned. He had expected hesitation. Maybe even a reluctant confession. But this response? It was rehearsed.

"None at all?" he pressed.

"None," Rose repeated.

Lies.

His gut told him so. People don't just snap out of nowhere.

"She was admitted under serious circumstances, Ms. Rose," he continued, his tone cooling. "If there's any detail you're withholding, now would be a good time to share."

Rose's voice didn't waver. "Dr. Leo, I understand your concern. But I handle my students well. If there had been any issue before, I would have known."

Leo smirked, though there was no humor in it. "That's a bold assumption."

"She's one of our brightest."

"Bright students don't end up in emergency rooms."

Silence.

For the first time, something cracked in Rose's voice, just a little. "You don't know her."

Leo's fingers drummed against the desk. "Maybe. But I know people like her."

Rose inhaled slowly, as if choosing her next words carefully.

"Doctor, you need to understand something," she said, her voice lowering. "Shivani is… different."

Leo stiffened. "Different how?"

A pause.

Then—"You won't get an answer to that over the phone."

Leo's grip on the receiver tightened. He wasn't a man who enjoyed being kept in the dark. "I need to know if she's a danger to herself."

"She's not."

"That's not reassuring."

Rose sighed, and for the first time, there was something close to frustration in her voice. "She was dancing today."

Leo blinked. "Excuse me?"

"In the garden. Just hours before this happened," Rose said. "Laughing. Spinning. The picture of happiness."

A chill crawled down Leo's spine.

He could see it. A girl twirling under the sun, arms open, head tilted back, laughter spilling into the air. A girl who looked like she had everything.

And then, hours later—this.

"She was… happy?" he asked, voice quieter.

"She looked happy," Rose corrected, her tone unreadable. "There's a difference."

Leo nodded, even though she couldn't see him. He knew that difference better than anyone.

"She's scheduled for discharge in two days," he said, watching for a reaction.

A beat of silence. Then—"Good."

Leo's fingers tapped against the desk. "Ms. Rose, is there something I should know?"

A breath. Controlled. Measured. "Dr. Leo… do you even realize what you're dealing with?"

His pulse slowed. He didn't like that question.

"If there's something important—"

"No," she cut him off. "That's exactly the point. No one should know."

Leo's jaw clenched. "I don't work with half-truths, Ms. Rose."

"And I don't deal in full disclosures, Dr. Leo."

The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.

Then, Rose's voice dropped lower. Colder. "This case is not simple. Keep her away from visitors. And make sure no one finds out what Shivani Thakur Agnihotri has done."

Leo's fingers pressed into the desk. Warning? Threat? Or something worse?

"Is that a warning?" he asked.

Rose exhaled, her voice distant. "It's a request."

Then—before he could push further—

Click.

The line went dead.

Leo lowered the phone slowly, his gaze shifting back to the open file.

Something wasn't right.

This wasn't just about Shivani.

It wasn't just about what had happened.

It was about who knew.

He flipped to a fresh page, picked up his pen, and wrote one sentence:

"Shivani Thakur Agnihotri is not the only secret in this case."

And for the first time in a long time—Dr. Leo felt afraid.

--------

The hospital corridor was dimly lit, the soft hum of medical equipment filling the quiet night. The faint scent of antiseptic lingered in the air, mingling with the sterility of fresh linen and the low murmurs of night-shift nurses.

Inside his office, Dr. Leo sat behind his desk, reviewing patient reports. His brows were slightly furrowed, exhaustion creeping into his features as he flipped through pages filled with numbers, observations, and medical jargon.

A sharp knock at the door pulled him out of his thoughts.

"Come in," he said, setting his pen down.

Emily Carter, one of the night-shift staff members, stepped inside. Her expression was neutral but her eyes held a hint of tension.

"Doctor, the police are here for Miss Shivani's case. They want to speak with you."

Leo exhaled, rubbing his temple before nodding. "Alright. Where are they?"

"They're waiting near the nurses' station."

Leo pushed back his chair and stood, adjusting his coat before walking out of the office. As he approached the station, he immediately noticed the two men standing there.

The older of the two had a commanding presence—tall, broad-shouldered, and likely in his mid-40s, with sharp, observant eyes that scanned everything around him like a hawk. His suit, though professional, looked slightly worn, as if it had been through long days and longer nights. The younger officer beside him, slightly shorter and leaner, was flipping through a notepad, his expression more neutral but equally focused.

"Dr. Leo?" the older man asked, his voice deep and controlled.

"Yes, that's me," Leo replied.

"Detective Harris, NYPD." He gestured toward his colleague. "This is Officer Blake. We're here regarding Miss Shivani's case."

Leo gave a short nod. "I understand. Follow me."

He led them down the long, quiet corridor until they reached Room 206. The air inside was thick with the steady rhythm of the heart monitor, the soft beeps filling the silence. Shivani lay motionless on the hospital bed, her face pale, her breathing steady. She looked fragile under the dim glow of the bedside lamp, her bandaged wrists a stark contrast against her skin.

Harris glanced at her before turning to the doctor. "What's her condition?"

"She's stable," Leo said. "No life-threatening injuries, but she lost a concerning amount of blood. She was admitted a few hours ago."

Harris pulled out his notepad, flipping to a blank page. "Can you confirm—was it an attempted suicide?"

Leo hesitated before answering. "It appears so. The wounds are self-inflicted, but we can't be certain until she gives a statement."

Blake, who had been silent so far, finally spoke up. "Who found her? And when?"

"A friend brought her in around 8 PM," Leo replied. "She was conscious but disoriented. Weak from blood loss, but responsive."

"Did she say anything?" Harris pressed.

Leo's gaze flickered toward Shivani before he shook his head slightly. "Not much. She was exhausted. We sedated her slightly to help her rest."

Blake frowned, jotting something down. "Any indication that she was under duress before the incident?"

Leo exhaled. "She seemed… hesitant, as if she was holding something back."

Harris's pen paused against his notepad. "Hesitant how?"

Leo glanced at Shivani again. "She wasn't reacting the way most patients in her condition do. No panic. No breakdown. Just… silence. As if she was waiting for something."

A quiet tension settled between them.

"Could be trauma," Blake muttered. "Or fear."

Just then—

A faint sound interrupted them.

A soft gasp.

Leo's eyes snapped toward the bed.

Shivani's fingers twitched against the sheets. Her lashes fluttered before her eyes slowly opened, unfocused at first. Her gaze drifted to the ceiling, confusion flickering in her dark eyes. Then, as if sensing the weight of the room, she turned her head—first toward Leo, then to the two officers standing near her bed.

Detective Harris took a step forward, his voice calm but firm.

"Miss Shivani, we need to ask you some questions."

For a moment, she just stared at him, her lips parting slightly as if to speak. But no words came out.

Leo could see the hesitation in her eyes, the wariness curling around the edges of her expression.

Then, in a whisper barely above a breath, she finally spoke.

Exciting news! From the next chapter onward, you'll get to see the story from Vani's perspective. Stay tuned!