The air was thick with the weight of choices Rhea never imagined she’d have to make. The day started with more heated whispers in the halls, more tension than ever between Rajat and Varun’s factions, and Rhea had felt the noose tightening around all of them. But she couldn’t have foreseen how quickly everything would unravel.
That evening, as she sat in her clinic reviewing patient files, her phone rang—an unknown number. She hesitated, then answered.
"Dr. Rhea Malhotra?" the voice on the other end was cold, unfamiliar.
"Yes, who is this?" she asked, her heart starting to race.
"Your husband has been injured in an attack. If you want to save him, you’ll need to come to 24th Street now. Alone." The line went dead before she could respond.
Her body went numb, and for a moment, all the strength she had been clinging to wavered. "Rajat…"
Without wasting a second, she grabbed her medical bag and bolted for the door. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and determination as she raced through the city streets. She wasn’t going to lose him. She couldn’t.
When she arrived at the location, a dimly lit warehouse on the outskirts of the city, her heart dropped. Rajat was there, slumped against a wall, blood soaking through his shirt. A few of Varun’s henchmen lingered nearby, their expressions indifferent. Her medical training kicked in instantly.
"Rajat!" Rhea shouted, rushing to his side. His face was pale, his breathing shallow. She quickly knelt down, assessing the damage—he’d been shot, and the wound was deep.
"Rhea..." Rajat’s voice was weak, but his hand found hers. "You shouldn’t have come."
Tears stung her eyes as she frantically began working to stop the bleeding. "I’m not going to let you die, Rajat. Not like this."
But as she worked, another figure stepped forward—Varun. His face was twisted with smug satisfaction. "It’s a shame, really," he said, looking down at his brother with a sick smile. "I warned you, Rajat. Power belongs to those who are willing to take it."
Rhea looked up at him, fury burning in her chest. "You did this. You tried to kill your own brother!"
Varun shrugged, unbothered. "The family business is no place for weakness. Rajat’s had his time, but it’s over now."
Rhea’s blood boiled. "He’s your family! How can you be so heartless?"
"Family?" Varun sneered. "Family is just a word. Power is everything."
Just then, one of Varun’s men approached, handing him a phone. Varun glanced at the screen, his expression turning serious. "Looks like we’re out of time. Make your choice, Doctor."
Rhea froze, her heart-stopping as Varun explained the ultimatum. "You can save him," Varun said, his tone icy. "But if you do, you’ll be putting your own family at risk. I have people watching them, ready to strike. You can save Rajat, or you can protect your parents. But you can’t do both."
The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet. Her family…her parents. They were innocent in all of this. If she chose Rajat, her family could be destroyed. But if she let him die...
Tears blurred her vision as she looked down at Rajat, his blood staining her hands. His eyes were half-closed, but he reached out to touch her face, his voice barely above a whisper. "Rhea…don’t. Don’t choose me."
She shook her head, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "I can’t lose you, Rajat. I won’t."
He gave her a weak smile, his voice trembling with pain. "I can’t…let you sacrifice your family. You’ve already given so much. Don’t lose them for me."
Rhea’s heart shattered at his words. How could he ask her to let him go? She was a doctor—saving lives was what she did. But this choice, this impossible decision, was tearing her apart. She felt like she was drowning, caught between her love for Rajat and her loyalty to her family.
"Rhea," Rajat rasped, his grip on her hand tightening. "I love you. But I can’t live with myself if your family suffers because of me."
She sobbed, shaking her head. "You don’t understand… I can’t live without you."
He cupped her cheek, his touch so gentle despite the pain. "You’re stronger than you know. And no matter what happens, I’ll always love you."
Varun watched the scene unfold with cold detachment. "Time’s running out, Doctor. What will it be?"
Rhea clenched her teeth, her heart splintering into pieces. She had to make a decision. She had to choose.
Taking a deep breath, she made her choice. She couldn’t save them both. She couldn’t be in two places at once. But she could act. "Call them off, Varun," she said, her voice trembling. "I’ll do it. I’ll leave Rajat…just don’t touch my family."
Varun raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Interesting. But how do I know you’ll hold up your end of the bargain?"
Rhea’s hands trembled as she stood. "Because I have no other choice."
Varun gave a slow, satisfied nod. "Good. You made the right decision." He turned to leave, but not before throwing a final glance at Rajat. "Looks like this is goodbye, brother."
With that, Varun and his men disappeared into the night, leaving Rhea alone with Rajat.
She sank to her knees beside him, sobbing uncontrollably. "I’m so sorry, Rajat," she whispered, her hands shaking as she worked to save him, even though she knew it might be too late.
Rajat’s hand found hers, squeezing weakly. "I love you… don’t blame yourself."
"I love you, too," she whispered, tears falling freely as she fought to keep him alive. She couldn’t let him die—not now, not like this.
As the night wore on, Rhea worked tirelessly, refusing to give up. She had made her choice, but that didn’t mean she would let Rajat slip away without a fight.
In the end, love was the only thing stronger than betrayal.
