The Calm before the Storm

Kashvi's POV

The alarm went off, and I almost jumped out of bed. 7 a.m. Great. Today was the day I had to meet my client-Mr. Rudransh. Yesterday, I finally decided to take his case after speaking with him on the phone. It was Mrs Joshi who had given me his contact. She always had this way of convincing me. Even though she's retired now, I still respect her too much to ignore her words. And honestly, meeting him yesterday hadn't felt like a waste of time at all.

Fifteen minutes later, I was ready and on my way to the café he had chosen. He texted me about it last night. It should've felt like any other meeting-another client, another case-but it didn't. There was something strange about him. Something I couldn't pin down.

It's funny... I meet so many men in my work. Judges, lawyers, clients, criminals-you name it. And never once have I felt safe around any of them. Not even for a second. But with him? This man I barely know, a famous cardiologist of all people, I felt... safe. Too safe. Almost like a quiet voice in my head kept telling me, You're fine, he won't hurt you. And that unsettled me more than anything.

"Ma'am, we've reached." My driver's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

I stepped inside the café and scanned the place. Empty of him. My jaw tightened. I hate waiting. Time is precious, and I don't hand mine out freely. Pulling out my phone, I was about to call him when a hand lightly tapped my shoulder.

I turned and froze.

Rudransh stood there, holding two cups of coffee like it was the most casual thing in the world.

"Morning, Ms Kashvi," he said, his voice calm, almost soothing.

I raised an eyebrow and replied, keeping my tone cool, "Morning, Mr Rudransh. I thought you were late."

That's how I always sound-cold, detached, professional. It's second nature by now. What I don't understand is why, for the first time, I caught myself wondering if he could see past it.

We both sat down, and I glanced around, unsure where to look. After a moment, Rudransh asked politely, "Do you need anything, Ms Kashvi?"

I replied, a little awkwardly, "I don't drink coffee, Mr Rudransh. I was hoping to order something else."

He nodded calmly. "Oh, I see. Thank you for letting me know. Please tell me what you'd like, and I'll have someone bring it right away."

I was a bit surprised. Most people might have just waved a waiter over without saying much, but he had responded thoughtfully, without any irritation.

"Thank you," I said, appreciating his attentiveness.

After a few minutes, my milkshake arrived. I set it aside and asked politely,

"Shall we begin now, Mr Rudransh?"

He nodded and replied, "Yeah, sure," before handing me the statements and medical reports I needed for the case. I took them and began reading carefully while he busied himself with his own work.

As I studied the details, questions began to form in my mind. I looked up at him and said with curiosity in my voice,

"Mr Rudransh, the more I go through this file, the more doubts I'm getting. Tell me, why do you think Mr Anil Mehra filed a case against you? I mean, he knows very well that you weren't the one who operated on his wife."

He paused, tapping his pen against the table, a faint trace of anger flickering across his face though he masked it with calmness.

"That's exactly what makes me curious, too, Ms Kashvi," he replied, clicking the pen continuously.

Just then, my phone rang, breaking the silence. It was my assistant. I answered,

"Yes, tell me."

His voice was low and hesitant.

"Ma'am... Mrs Nandini Agarwal has taken the journalist case."

End POV

Suddenly, Kashvi's expression transforms into a devilish smirk as she abruptly ends the call. She leans forward on the table and folds her hands. With a blank gaze and no discernible expression, a heavy silence settles between them, creating an intense and dangerous atmosphere.

Rudransh's POV:

For a second, I forgot how to breathe. That smirk-cold, deliberate didn't belong to the woman who had been calmly sipping a milkshake a moment ago. It belonged to someone who knew more than she should. Someone dangerous. I leaned back slightly, studying her face in silence. The way her fingers tapped the table, the stillness in her eyes-it wasn't random. She was thinking. Calculating. And for the first time since this whole case began, I wasn't sure who was sitting across from me.

After a few minutes, I received a call from the hospital. I answered, "What happened, Mr Charya?" Charya was one of our senior surgeons, and he only called in emergencies. "Rudransh, we have a patient who has suffered a cardiac arrest. We are short-staffed; other doctors are occupied, so we need you," he replied. Understanding the urgency, I told him, "I'm on my way. Handle it for a few minutes."

I quickly grabbed my coat and looked at Kashvi, telling her, "I'm sorry, but something urgent has come up. I need to be there. If you need any details regarding the case, feel free to ask my assistant; he will be with you."

I rushed out of the café and got into the car, informing Raman Uncle, "Uncle, let's go to the hospital, but drive faster, it's an emergency." He replied, "Okay, sir," and thankfully, within 15 minutes, we arrived, as the café was close to the hospital and there was no traffic. I hurried inside and went directly to the operating room.

After some time, I emerged from the operating room, relieved that the operation had been successful and we had saved a life. I looked at the clock and realised it was 5 in the evening-I had lost track of time, and three hours had passed. I felt guilty that I hadn't even bought Kashvi a meal.

I open my phone and text her

Rudransh: "I'm sorry,Vakeel Saabb. I didn't even get a proper meal with you. Next time, I promise a five-star treatment with food, not just my presence.

Kashvi: "It's fine doctor saab, I understand. Your doctors are probably busier than politicians during elections.

Rudransh: "Touché! Can't argue with that. By the way, did you get all the statements, medical reports and other documents for the case? Or do you still need anything?

Kashvi: "No, I've got everything I need. Your assistant was really helpful."

Rudransh: " Wow! That's a rare compliment. I'll tell him he was finally useful for something other than stealing my coffee."

Kashvi reacted to that text with a laughing emoji

Rudransh:

"So... court showdown in 48 hours?"

Kashvi:

"Yes, Doctor Saab. Be ready. That's where the real show begins."

Rudransh:

"Can't wait to see you in your element, Counsellor. Just go easy on me - I'm a man of science, not sarcasm."

Kashvi:

"No promises! See you in court.

Rudransh (smirking at the screen):