Not My Little Sister

Chapter 50: What people think

Vinaya's heart shattered as he desperately pleaded with her. "Stay with me."

A maelstrom of emotions swirled inside her, but she was conflicted. She had worked really hard in building her career. To abandon it all for him felt like betraying herself. Blinking back tears, she could still feel the warmth of his body pressed against hers, the gentleness of his kisses, the strength of his thrusts. His words that had made her feel extraordinary.

But what would the world think of her? A doctor who disregarded her patients, or worse, administered the wrong treatment and sent someone into a coma.

"Please, Yaya," he implored, his voice a raw whisper. "I can't live without you. I love you. I need you."

If his company were disintegrating because of her, would he still stand by her side? She doubted it. Yet here she was, expected to anchor him while her own career hung on a balance.

"I'll talk to Jordan some more," Nithin continued, his tone a soothing her. "You only have to be as involved as you want to be. If you want her to run her spin by you, she will. If you want to stay out of it, that's fine too."

The cadence of his words offered a brief comfort. She breathed in, allowing the calm to seep in.

"I'm going to make this right. They won't get away with this," Nithin assured her, a fierce determination underlying his calm. "Vinaya, please say something."

"I'll give you the weekend to fix it," she conceded, her voice tinged with reluctant resolve. "If this is going to explode, I'm out. I've sacrificed too much to let some media frenzy derail my career."

Vinaya had always found comfort in her work, the steady rhythm of her duties anchoring her amidst the chaos of life. But a heavy cloud of dread loomed over her with the thought of returning to the hospital.

She wished she could call her brother. But the complicated relationship between the two men weighed on her, and she didn't want to stir the pot further. Confiding in her friends felt impossible; this was a matter that struck at the very core of her medical expertise. She felt utterly alone.

With tears streaming down her cheeks, she buried her face into the softness of her pillow, frustration and confusion swirling within her.

When dawn broke the next morning, a sense of unexpected comfort wrapped around her like a warm blanket. It wasn't until she slowly opened her eyes that she realized why. There, nestled against her, was Nithin, his strong arms enveloping her, his breath warm against the nape of her neck. A smile tugged at her lips, despite her earlier desire to separate from him.

"Nittu," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. He stirred slightly, a low grunt escaping his lips, but he didn't wake.

"When did you get here? How?" she asked softly, her heart swelling with tenderness as she watched him sleep, his features softened in slumber.

"Last night. Jet," he mumbled, a sleepy smile breaking across his face.

Her heart fluttered at the thought of him being there for her. "You'll be here when I get back?" she asked, her voice laced with hope. He nodded, and her heart felt lighter.

She should really start locking her bedroom door, she thought. But she never did, she left her door slightly ajar when she slept; to give her an escape route. But there was nothing in her room she needed to escape from—except perhaps the shadows in her own head.

"Dr. Nambiar, the PD wants to meet you again," her attending said, her tone grave. She had finished reviewing charts and has just begun rounding.

Knocking on the door of the Program Director's office, she steeled herself for whatever news awaited her.