Vendetta Unveiled - Pursuit of Love, Justice and Retribution

Echoes in the Stillness - Chapter 1

Present

Location - Mumbai, 2014.

For half a decade now, Avantika has remained imprisoned within the confines of a government hospital in the bustling heart of Mumbai. Time has stood still for her, as she lies suspended in a coma, a mysterious enigma in a realm where her identity has slipped through the cracks of hospital bureaucracy.

The room encapsulates the essence of countless hospital narratives—a symphony of antiseptic scents that mingle with the passage of time. The walls, painted in a faded dance of half-white and ethereal blue, tell the tale of days turning into years. Faded pink curtains, tainted by dark marks, dance lazily in the embrace of the sun's rays, casting fleeting shadows upon Avantika's still form. An ancient wall clock, an observer of the silent dramas within, ticks on, its rhythmic heartbeat a testament to the continuity of life beyond these walls.

Nestled by the window, the bed stands as a sentinel to Avantika's suspended existence. The once-pale yellow sheets have transformed into a canvas of history, a tapestry woven from the threads of days untouched by change. The passage of time has imprinted its touch upon them,  a testament to the quiet endurance of inanimate witnesses.

Beside the bed, an old brown cupboard stands, bearing scars of years of use. Its handles, now fractured by time, hold the remnants of a life once lived—a steel water jug, a dented steel glass, and a scatter of files that whisper secrets of the past. Within these faded hospital walls, Avantika's story is a paradox—a silent symphony of unanswered questions and undiscovered truths, waiting for a conductor to breathe life into its haunting melody.

On the 15th of April, a Thursday morning at 10:30 AM, the hospital's corridors buzzed with routine. Amidst this cadence, Maria, the seasoned head nurse in her mid-fifties, conducted her daily rounds. Known for her stern discipline, her mere presence instilled both respect and trepidation. Her stout figure, adorned with large round spectacles perched upon her neck, carried an air of authority.

Yet, this day diverged from routine. As Maria stepped into Avantika's room, a subtle shift danced in the air—an anomaly after five static years. Avantika, dormant for so long, stirred; her eyes, the windows to her suspended soul, moved as if seeking to break free from the confines of her slumber.

A wave of panic washed over Maria. She hurriedly left the room, her stout legs creating a rhythmic "thump thump" that resonated through the corridor—a symphony of worry. Her call for Dr. Reddy cut through the air, igniting curiosity and fear across the hospital. Onlookers struggled to grasp the unexpected turn of events.

Maria's urgency quickly reached Dr. Reddy. She burst into his office, breathless yet determined. In no time, a shared purpose took over. Dr. Reddy and Maria rushed back to Avantika's room, drawn together by the mystery that had pierced the static realm of her coma.

Dr. Gopal Reddy, often referred to as Dr. Reddy, stood as a renowned Neurologist, a respected figure within his specialized realm. In the midst of his forties, he commanded attention with a tall, commanding presence and an appearance that effortlessly merged intelligence with handsomeness. His charismatic demeanor, an unmistakable trait, allowed him to effortlessly captivate junior lady doctors, nurses, and patients through both his eloquence and his striking looks.

Assigned to Avantika's case, he was entranced by her beauty even during their initial encounter—when her features were obscured by blood. Five years earlier, Avantika, in her early thirties, possessed an enchanting grace defined by rounded brown eyes, a warm wheatish complexion, and a well-proportioned physique. Though her current illness had rendered her fragile, her innate beauty remained untouched—an ethereal quality that continued to draw admiration.