Chapter 7: Unraveling Threads

Avni’s hands shook as she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. The memory of Reyaansh’s touch still lingered on her skin, electrifying her senses. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breath. He had crossed a line, but so had she. The tension between them was undeniable, and the more she tried to deny it, the more it consumed her.

The hospital was as chaotic as ever. But today, every corridor, every patient, every nurse seemed to blur into a hazy backdrop. Reyaansh’s words echoed in her mind, replaying over and over again. You’re not ready for what this could be.

What was it? A game? A challenge? Or something darker?

Avni pushed the thoughts away as she made her way to the pediatric ward. The children’s laughter should have brought her peace, but today, it only deepened the weight in her chest.

As she stepped into the ward, she was greeted by the familiar faces of her colleagues, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t focus. The sharp pain of Reyaansh’s presence lingered in the back of her mind, even though she knew he wasn’t anywhere near.

Suddenly, a voice broke through the fog in her head.

"Dr. Avni, there’s a situation with one of the young patients," a nurse said, her voice urgent.

Avni snapped to attention, immediately following the nurse down the hallway to one of the rooms. A young boy, no older than six, was having a seizure. The room was filled with medical staff, but Avni was the one who took control. She barked orders, her hands steady, her mind sharp.

But all she could think about was Reyaansh.

Get it together, she told herself, as she moved quickly, stabilizing the child. She didn’t have time to lose herself in thoughts about him. Not here, not now.

After the boy was stabilized, Avni leaned against the wall outside the room, breathing a sigh of relief. She had done it. But the weight of everything—her work, her past, her confusing feelings—felt too heavy to bear. She was slipping, and she didn’t know how to stop it.

She grabbed her phone, checking for any updates, and her heart skipped when she saw a message. From Reyaansh.

Meet me in the office in 30 minutes. There’s something important we need to discuss.

Her stomach churned. Another meeting? Or was this just another excuse for him to assert his control over her?

Despite everything, she found herself walking toward his office, each step feeling heavier than the last. She reached the door, her hand hovering over the handle. She could turn around and walk away. She could refuse to play his game. But something inside her urged her forward. A part of her wanted to face him, to confront whatever this was between them.

With a deep breath, she opened the door.

Reyaansh was already seated at his desk, his eyes focused on the papers in front of him. He didn’t look up as she entered, but the air between them crackled with tension.

"You wanted to talk?" Avni asked, her voice steady, though her heart was anything but calm.

Reyaansh slowly looked up, his gaze locking with hers. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then, in a voice that was almost too soft, too deliberate, he said, "You think you’re the only one with secrets, Dr. Avni? You’re not."

She frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

He stood up, his movements slow, measured. "You think I don’t see it? The way you try to hide everything. The way you bury yourself in work to avoid facing what’s really going on inside you."

Avni opened her mouth to respond, but Reyaansh cut her off.

"You’re not as invincible as you think," he continued, his tone darkening. "And neither am I."

The room fell into a heavy silence. The words hung between them, the unspoken weight of what was brewing between them growing with every passing second. Something inside Avni stirred—something raw, something dangerous.

But she wasn’t ready to admit it. Not yet.

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