Chapter 10 :

5 July, Tuesday, 2025

10:15 a.m.

Anvaya's POV

Keeping down the pen on the table, I leaned back against the swivel chair I was seated on, in my cabin.

I was doing some research on heart surgeries and all the medicines required for heart patients. The laptop screen showed various articles and research papers, making my head ache.

There was too much work left to complete because my exams are approaching.

But at the same time, it was exciting because that'll be the last exam before I'll be an independent doctor.

I sighed, taking off my glasses and placing them on the table.

Just then a knock fell on the door, making me crane up my neck and look at it.

Sitting up straight, I voiced out, "Come in."

The door opened, revealing Mr Jake Dawson, Mr Oberoi's secretary. He stood there in a black suit and black shirt with a red tie, looking at me stoically through his rectangular glasses.

"Please come in, Mr Dawson," I welcomed him, standing up from my seat.

Nodding at me, he walked inside, followed by a bodyguard at the back. The bodyguard closed the door, before Jake took a seat on the chair opposite to mine.

I too sat down, before my hands clasped on the table, as I looked up at him, "Good morning to you, Mr Dawson."

"Morning, Ms Shaurya," he replied like a robot. I wonder if he knew what emotions were because he'd been like that from the day I saw him.

But the main thing was that him being here early in the morning, wasn't a good news. Nothing or no-one related to Kaaryaksh Oberoi was a good news.

"So why are you here so early in the morning?" I asked directly, since both of us knew that I wasn't so content with his boss and his behaviour.

"Mr Oberoi has sent something for you," saying, he motioned the bodyguard to come forward.

The guard stepped forward, placing a big black shopping bag on the table and stepped back.

"Ms Shaurya, it's been requested to you that you abide by Mr Oberoi's wish. He wants you to behave according to the rules and regulations printed on the document you read that day. So this time, it's been specially pointed out to you that you don't disobey him like the last time," he said flatly, looking at me with his hollow eyes.

I wanted to ask why he was like that, why not him and his boss but the whole group of people working under Mr Oberoi was so full of dark aura and all emotionless. They moved like robots under command.

But I couldn't.

I wasn't allowed to question.

I stared at the black bag silently, before my gaze dragged back to him, "Mr Dawson, if it's inappropriate this time too, I won't hesitate to throw it away, again. Just remember that."

He nodded, "Your choices and preferences were kept in mind this time."

I nodded, glancing at the black bag again.

"So, I'll take my leave now. Have a good day ahead, Ms. Shaurya," saying, he stood up from his seat and left the room with the bodyguard.

Once the door closed, I decided to see what was given this time. I don't understand why he wanted me to wear something else. It was so frustrating.

Not a day went by peacefully after his entry in my life. Somehow, he'd be brought up and that's it—my day's fvcked up.

The black box inside was just like the one I had received last month. Taking off the lid, I took out a red silk shirt. It had full sleeves, its material looked quite expensive.

Then I took out a knee length black pencil skirt, which had a slit on the back. In a red fabric pouch, there was a pair of Cesare Paciotti heels. The heels were extremely beautiful, because of the red base and the golden design from the counter to the heel cap.

I sighed, reading the note that came along.

It was the same as the last note I had received last month—wear red lipstick.

It was so weird and unexplainable to receive such things because the sole purpose to look after his health was because I was a doctor and I've been hired for that.

Then why change my outfit?

Shaking my head, I kept them back and put them inside the lower cabinet of my table, so that I can take them later with me and no one finds it before that.

Later on I went on with the day, meeting and checking up on patients, going for rounds of looking after admitted patients until it was the time to call it a day. I've been getting morning shift these days, so it was a good thing.

At least I got my sleep because night shifts were like nightmares for me in the initial days of my career.

We saviours, don't have time for ourselves.

•

3:30 p.m.

Putting my purse inside my bag, I stood up to leave when my phone rang up.

Looking away from my bag, at the device lying on the table, I picked it up.

"Why'd David call now?" I muttered in confusion, nevertheless I picked it up.

"Yes David?"

"Where are you Anvaya?"

"I'm at the hospital, leaving now."

"Oh, that's great then. I'm near your hospital. I'll pick you up and then we can have a coffee at the café near to your hospital. Is that okay for you?" he asked from the other side, sounding quite enthusiastic despite his tough job.

A smile formed on my lips, feeling seen like I had never been. He cared for me in such a way that I had no heart to reject him. And the fact that it hadn't been even a month of knowing each other, he was already behaving like someone so caring.

He called me. That was really heart warming.

"Sure. I'll go. But what about your duty? Don't you have your shift going on?"

"I don't. I had the morning shift so I'm leaving now."

"Okay then. See you, I'll be waiting at the Gate 1 of the hospital."

"Sure, see you there," hearing his response, I hung up.

I looked at the phones screen, still smiling at it.

After so long, I've really found someone good. But still, I need to keep my guards up.

Just as I kept the phone inside my bag, a weird feeling gnawed at me. As if—someone was watching me from somewhere. The cold intensity on my neck made me feel goosebumps, making me turn around and look everywhere possible.

But who'd look at me like that?

My cabin was on the sixth floor so definitely no one can be looking at me from outside—then, was it from inside?

My mind was building up several different and weird thoughts but I couldn't help myself to stop them. They somewhere had a point.

My gaze roamed around the room, just when it fell on the CCTV at the upper left corner of the room.

It was obvious that it was recording me and it might be the guard watching everyone through the CCTVs, but still, the feeling I felt was weird.

Fixing the pink dupatta over my shoulders, I picked up my bag and decided to leave quickly.

I must be overthinking.

Shaking off the thoughts once I reached the ground floor, I dropped a text to Nitya that I'm leaving since she'd be staying tonight for the night shift.

I stood outside the hospital campus, at the Gate 1 for a while.

I was slightly nervous because it was so new for me to go out with a guy like that. None of my previous blind dates had lasted for more than an evening. But this one, it felt different.

He was putting efforts and it was clearly visible.

Smiling to myself, I tucked a hair strand behind my ear when the sound of car honking caught my attention. I looked up to find a white Mercedes standing in front of me, with its glass rolled down exposing the driver.

David had his arm rested over the window frame of his side, while he smiled at me.

He was wearing a light blue shirt with deep blue pants, with his stethoscope around his neck.

I was about to get inside when he stopped me, "Don't open the door."

I looked at him perplexed, but without giving any explanation, he got out and rushed over my side, before he opened the door and forwarded his hand towards the seat, with a smile on his face, "Let me take care of you. You must be tired after taking care of so many people."

Blush crept up my cheeks at his behaviour, finding it too good to be true.

I knew such men existed and today, I've met one.

Smiling at his gesture, I got inside and soon, he also joined me in the car.

"So, how was your day Dr.?" he asked, looking at me through his glasses.

I nodded, "It was as usual. What about you?"

"Hella boring but now that I'm with you, I know it'll end well," he replied with a wink, before starting the engine.

My eyes widened, "You flirt too comfortably."

"Only if you like it," his reply came in a flirtatious tone, as he glanced at me while wheeling the car on the road.

"The day feels better after coming out past working hours," I said, sitting comfortably on the seat, diverting away from the topic.

But I was still burning out of shyness.

"I can make it much better if you say yes to me," came his instant reply, making me look away with a bit-back smile.

I was finally starting to stay happy after so long. I'd finally found a man with whom I felt comfortable, whom I could trust even if not with my eyes closed and someone like a real friend.

It'd take me time to fall in love, but maybe, if things stay right, I might proceed.

But that weird feeling still gnawed at me. I don't know why it felt like that, as if I was being watched or something. But it did. And I couldn't get rid of it.

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