Shadow of redemption

Aaravi's Treatment plan for Rakshit

Rakshit sat up slightly in the hospital bed, his dark eyes narrowed as he watched Dr. Aaravi move about the room, checking his vitals and adjusting his IV. The arrogance that always dripped from his every word and action was evident even now, despite his weakened state.

His voice broke the silence, cold and direct. “How long have I been here?”

Aaravi paused, glancing at him with that same calm expression that had irked him since their first encounter. “Forty-eight hours,” she replied simply, her tone steady and unbothered by the sharpness in his voice.

Rakshit’s gaze remained fixed on her, his mind racing. Forty-eight hours. That meant two days of being out of control—of being vulnerable. He clenched his fists, not liking the feeling.

“My phone,” he said next, his tone demanding. “Did you get it? I need it now.”

Aaravi shook her head slightly as she finished her check-up. “Your phone was not with you when you were brought in. I’m afraid I can’t help with that.”

Rakshit’s lips curled into a scowl, his frustration growing. “So you didn’t think it was important? I need that phone—now.”

Her calmness in the face of his anger only irritated him more. But Aaravi didn’t respond to his growing tension; instead, she finished her tasks with an air of patience. Just as she was about to leave, Rakshit’s voice cut through the room again.

“Did you save me?”

Aaravi stopped mid-step, turning to face him. Her eyes met his, unwavering, as she gave a small nod. “Yes,” she said softly, her voice steady yet warm. “I did.”

Rakshit’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward slightly, ignoring the sting in his abdomen. He wasn’t used to this—to owing someone. “Why?” he demanded, his tone more cutting now. “Why would you save me? You don’t even know who I am.”

Aaravi regarded him with a quiet kindness that seemed to baffle Rakshit. There was no fear in her gaze, no hesitation. She stood firm, calm as ever. “Does it matter who you are?” she asked gently. “You were injured, and I’m a doctor. It’s my job to save lives.”

Her response was simple, but it struck something deep inside Rakshit. His jaw clenched as he tried to wrap his mind around her reasoning.   People don’t just help out of kindness, not in my world.   He scrutinized her, trying to find a hidden agenda. There had to be one.

“You expect me to believe that you saved me just because it’s your job?” His voice was laced with skepticism. “People like you…you always want something.”

Aaravi didn’t flinch. Instead, she stepped closer, her expression softening. “Not everyone wants something in return,” she replied quietly. “Not everyone sees the world that way.”

For the first time in a long while, Rakshit felt a flicker of confusion. Her words, her kindness—it was all so foreign to him. In his world, everyone had a price, and kindness was a tool to manipulate. Yet here she was, a woman who didn’t even know him, showing him warmth without asking for anything.

His arrogance flared up again, a defense mechanism. “You don’t know me,” he said harshly. “If you did, you wouldn’t have saved me.”

Aaravi’s gaze softened, her voice gentle but firm. “Maybe I don’t know who you are,” she admitted, “but I know you’re human. You were hurt, and I wasn’t going to just leave you to die on the street.”

Her words hit him harder than he expected. Rakshit’s chest tightened, a strange mix of emotions swirling inside him—disbelief, confusion, and something else he couldn’t quite name. He was used to people fearing him, respecting him, or using him for their own gain. But this?

His voice faltered for a moment. “You don’t understand... I’m dangerous.”

Aaravi gave him a small, understanding smile, but her eyes were unwavering. “Maybe. But that doesn’t change the fact that you needed help. And I’m not afraid of danger. I deal with it every day.”

Rakshit’s brow furrowed, his arrogance still clinging tightly to him. But there was something about her calmness, her quiet strength, that made it hard to maintain his usual facade. She wasn’t backing down, and she wasn’t afraid of him.

He stared at her, unable to shake the strange feeling her presence stirred in him.   Who is this woman?   How could she face him— him , Rakshit, the Phantom—without a trace of fear?

Finally, after a long pause, he spoke, his voice lower now, almost hesitant. “You don’t even know my name.”

Aaravi’s smile widened slightly, her eyes softening as she met his gaze. “I don’t need to know your name to care,” she said simply. “But if you want to tell me, I’m listening.”

For a moment, Rakshit was silent, battling with the walls he’d built around himself for years. But something about her presence—her unwavering kindness—made those walls feel just a little weaker.

“Rakshit,” he finally muttered, almost reluctantly.

Aaravi nodded, her eyes warm. “Nice to meet you, Rakshit,” she said softly. “I’m Dr. Aaravi Kapoor, and for the next few days, I’ll be making sure you get better.”

Rakshit clenched his jaw, feeling his old stubbornness rising again. He didn’t want to stay—couldn’t afford to. But something in him had shifted. Aaravi’s words, her calmness, had unsettled him in ways he couldn’t explain.

“I’ll stay,” he muttered, his tone begrudging. “But not because I want to.”

Aaravi smiled, a quiet victory in her eyes. “That’s fine,” she said. “You don’t have to want to. You just have to get better.”

As she turned to leave the room, Rakshit watched her, still grappling with the unfamiliar emotions swirling inside him. His arrogance hadn’t disappeared, but something had changed.   Who is this woman?   he thought again. And why did her kindness feel more powerful than anything he had ever faced before?

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