Chapter 3 :

27 June, Wednesday, 2025

11:50 a.m.

Anvaya's POV

"Are you confident enough?" Nitya asked, looking at me with confidence, hoping the same from my side.

I nodded with a smile, even though I was slightly nervous. I'm going to examine someone so reputed, so if I made some mistake, I might be suspended or even thrown out of the hospital. My medical license would get cancelled.

So in the past two days, I did everything to make sure I was ready.

"Take a deep breath and tell me honestly", she said, for sure sensing my slight hesitation.

Taking a deep breath, I replied, "Yes I am. I'll do my best and score good. NEET SS won't be easier than this, so I should atleast do this to have myself prepared", I said, later on biting my lower lip while thinking about what'll happen.

My gaze was fixed on the black leather door at the far end of the hallway. The simple thought of getting behind those doors made my stomach twist. I was really nervous.

I was already on the twentieth floor, waiting to be called inside.

The CEO was inside, as per my information. And the way I dramatically got to know who the CEO was, had me go berserk.

Last night, when the HOD called me to ask if I had gone through the blue file, I bit on my tongue. I had completely forgotten about it due to the hustle and bustle because of the campaign.

So the whole night, I studied about him.

But the main part is that the moment I opened the file, I was perplexed to see the owner.

It was none other than the man I had collided with on the very first day, near the elevator. And then, the memories of talking back to him, not remaining silent and not apologizing despite not being at fault—came crashing down on me.

While studying about his health and preferences, I mentally prayed to God that he wouldn't provide me with some bad review. That's really going to affect my internal marks.

"Ms Shaurya, please come inside", a loud sudden voice of a male gained my attention.

I looked towards the black leather door, which was open, while a man stood there, expecting me.

He was the secretary.

I nodded, before looking at Nitya, who gave me a thumbs up and muttered an all the best. I'm going to give my best. And it's nothing much but just a simple health check-up, with some medicine suggestions and all.

Feeling positive, I made my way towards the door, before the door was opened by the secretary and I stepped inside.

The room had a different aura—something so chilly and different.

Maybe dark?

Yes the A/C was on, but the atmosphere inside the room was feeling really different. The wall at the other end of the cabin was of blue tinted glass, and the rest walls were in deep blue and had a white ceiling.

Everything was like any typical cabin of a CEO—in various shades of blue, white, golden and everything was clean.

Just then, my gaze landed on the man seated on the sofa, at a distance from me on my right.

It was him.

Kaaryaksh Oberoi—CEO of Nyx Solutions.

I slightly bowed down, "Good morning Mr Oberoi." My voice was respectful and calculated, making sure I didn't show my nervousness. Two tall men in a room with a 5'8 heighted woman, seemed a bit awkward. It's because I didn't personally know them.

"Morning, have your seat", came his reply, as he gestured me to take the seat infront of him.

The secretary took the medical box from my hand, before I made my way towards the sofa.

It was a deep blue sectional one.

Settling down, I straightened my posture, as I looked up at Mr Oberoi. He was wearing a white shirt and red tie, under a deep blue pinstriped tuxedo and pant. His side parted combed back hair had exposed his wide forehead, while a silver watch rested around his wrist.

His manly cologne was all over the air.

"I'm Anvaya Shaurya, a doctor from the cardiology department. Nice to meet you Mr Oberoi", I introduced myself, as I forwarded my hand for a handshake.

But he was just blankly staring at me, without moving a single muscle in his face and body.

"Sir, let's be politely professional and have a handshake?", I voiced out, feeling insulted at the way he wasn't shaking hands with me. I wasn't desperate to feel his skin, but I did need to show my basic manners.

He just nodded and shook hands with me, before I sat back on my seat.

"Mr Oberoi, to let you know that I've been through your information file. So we'll be keeping this short?"

"Twenty minutes. Cover up as much as you can in the twenty minutes", his reply came monotonous, as he sat still on his place.

My face muscles twitched at the way he was behaving like a mannerless. But I composed myself and smiled at him, without my eyes curving up.

"Then let's be on point. Your heart's structurally sound, so no immediate concerns. But you're starting to push at boundaries that don't bend forever", I said, clasping my hands on my lap.

"Define push"

"Resting heart rate's elevated for your age and blood pressure's edging up to not be termed normal. Stress hormone level is high, indicating the lack of sleep", I said, remembering each and every point from the file.

The fear of getting cancelled really had me last night. Mimi and Nitya thought I had gone crazy.

"I function fine, like I've been going for years", he replied two seconds later, not moving his gaze away from me.

It felt weird, making me shift on my place but my calm façade remained unwavered.

"Sir, functioning isn't growing prosperously. You're thirty-five and not fifty-five. Your baseline was supposed to be better—it should be better"

He remained silent for long this time, sitting with his legs crossed and hands clasped over his right knee. His posture hadn't at all moved from the initial position, making him look almost like a statue.

Just the thing that he was talking, blinking and breathing was making him different from a statue.

Then he replied, somehow in a way I was expecting now, "I'm not interested in wellness suggestions. Get to what actually matters here."

I sighed internally, already realizing that he was a tough task. I need to remain cool.

"If that's what you want, then let me tell you that your reports were showing early burnout related cardiac strain. They're small, yes, but the patterns won't reverse forever in your favour. You're calculationg risks and this one—won't let you hedge your way out of"

"If this was supposed to be an alarm, then it's useless. I don't go for hypotheticals", he replied in a cold tone, further irritating me.

I was asked to handle this man? The man who was believing that I was being hypothetical and was so willing to die early?

I thought I'd be nervous but he was making me feel like hitting him. Such patients weren't regular, or say I never met someone like him. So tolerating him was taking the best of me.

Remember, internal marks—my consciousness warned.

That's why I was silent.

"Let me find a better word for you, Mr Oberoi. That's statistical—not hypothetical. And if you demand for clear numbers, then you're two years away from hitting risk thresholds if you maintain your current habits."

My voice was clipped this time, indicating nothing but professionalism wrapped around my bubbling anger and frustration.

"And your suggestion?"

"Six hours of uninterrupted sleep and cut down on caffeine. Less smoking and drinking. Add thirty minutes of cardio daily to your gym routine—and real one, not the back and forth pacing around the room. And most importantly, breathe in and out every once in a while like a human being."

"The last part sounded dangerously close to a personal advice, is it Ms Shaurya?", he asked, now moving forward, before he placed his elbows on his knees and looked at me, as if through me.

I was slightly taken aback by the shift in his aura and the whole demeanour, making me feel goosebumps. He was a weird man.

He stared at me not lustfully, for his gaze was fixed to mine the whole time. But still, he gave off different vibes.

It'll be better if I wrapped up earlier.

"That's just a medical observation. You're someone who's used to managing outcomes, but remember—you're a human and your body will respond to your unmaintained behaviour like a machine"

"Machines are easier to control and less of a nuisance"

"Don't call your body a nuisance, for it's been with you the whole time you burnt out to get everything you have now. And exactly, that's why machines break before their time. They work more than they should."

He didn't reply. His stare remained the same, as if observing something in me but I remained calm. Taking his silence as a reminder of the conclusion of the check-up, I looked at my watch.

I had five more minutes, but I guess, I'll leave earlier because he was doing something to me with his stare. And it was of no good to me.

I stood up, fixing my white coat and stethoscope, before speaking to him, "You're not in trouble yet. The numbers counting are whispering now. Ignore them and be ready to face it when they scream."

"You're rather a composed messenger, Ms Shaurya."

"I'll take that as a compliment. And yes, someone has to be the one you mentioned, because your adrenaline has exhausted by now", saying, I turned around to leave.

I silently took the medical box from the hands of the secretary, before turning to face him for the one last time—hopefully.

"I'll take my leave, Mr Oberoi. Thank you for your patience and for letting us have the campaign with the least obstacles possible. We're grateful. Keep in mind what I said and you'll live longer and healthier", saying, I bowed once and exited the room.

The moment the door closed behind me, I took a heavy breath of relief, "Damn that man. So egoistic and weird."

My heart was shaking, previously in nervousness and then in frustration. But still, I was feeling slightly weird under his unwavering gaze. He was just staring at me silently, while replying at times.

I placed my hand over my heart, only to feel it beating wild.

I need to calm down.

Shaking my head, I walked away from there and took the elevator to the twelfth floor.

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