Kumkum: Ties of Love and Lies

Chapter 3

Sandhya adjusted her scarf as she made her way through the corridors of R-ogya Hospital. Despite the bustling activity around her, her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the image of Pugazh from her thoughts. His effortless charm, his piercing gaze, the way he carried himself—it was as if he existed in a world far removed from everyone else's.

Too perfect to trust, she thought.

Over the past few weeks, Sandhya had buried herself in her work, using her position to quietly probe into Shravani's time at the hospital. She'd scoured old emails, questioned staff members under the guise of casual conversations, and even trailed Pugazh whenever she could. Yet, nothing solid had surfaced.

But there was something about Pugazh that she couldn't put her finger on. His friendliness felt genuine, yet there was a guardedness about him, a depth in his eyes that hinted at unspoken burdens. She just couldn't be so sure since the diary entry never specifically had anything important. I'm sure she kept some kind of evidence but it must be hidden. The police may have found the evidence by now. Or maybe... just maybe they hid it and sold it to the murderer, Pugazh? Or it could have been that they took all her evidence after killing her. Then why did they leave that diary behind? it was out in the open. Maybe cause it didn't have the killer's name. But Pugazh... maybe that's a great start. Cause that's where Shravani started and somehow managed to collect all the evidence. But this time, she decided to bring both the evidence and the murderer to the public and bring justice to her best friend's death.  

Her suspicions about Pugazh lingered, but she couldn't deny the small moments when he surprised her. Like when he had noticed her skipping lunch one day and sent a tray of food to her desk with a simple note: Don't starve. You'll make my job harder.

It was gestures like these that made her second-guess herself. But she quickly shook those thoughts away. He could still be involved.

One late evening, Sandhya found herself alone in Pugazh's office, sorting through his upcoming schedules. The day had been long and Her eyes drifted to the glass walls that offered a panoramic view of the city, the lights twinkling like stars. She sighed. What am I even doing here?

"You're still here?"

She spun around, startled to see Pugazh standing at the door, his tie loosened and his jacket draped over one arm. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong, toned forearms that somehow made him look even more intimidating.

"I didn't realize it was so late," Sandhya said, quickly standing.

Pugazh smiled faintly and gestured for her to sit. "Relax. I'm not here to check up on you." He stepped inside, setting his jacket on a nearby chair. "You work too much, you know that?"

Sandhya raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that what you expect from your employees?"

Pugazh chuckled, leaning against his desk. "Fair point. But there's a difference between dedication and overworking. You're bordering on the latter."

Sandhya hesitated, unsure how to respond. The sincerity in his tone threw her off guard.

"I appreciate the effort you're putting in," he continued. "But don't forget to take care of yourself."

She nodded awkwardly, feeling uncomfortably seen under his gaze. Pugazh studied her for a moment before speaking again. 

"You're different, Sandhya. Most people in this position would try to impress me, to climb the ladder. But you... you keep your head down and get the job done. It's refreshing."

Sandhya's stomach tightened. His words felt genuine, but they also felt like a trap. Was he testing her?

"I'm just here to do my work," she said carefully.

"Fair enough," Pugazh said with a shrug, though his eyes lingered on her a second longer than she expected. "But if you ever need anything, my door's always open."

With that, he grabbed his jacket and left, leaving Sandhya alone with her thoughts.

Over the next few days, Sandhya began to notice subtle changes in Pugazh's behavior. He started seeking her opinion during meetings, asking her to join him on rounds, and occasionally sharing small anecdotes about his life. He was still enigmatic, but there was a warmth to him that hadn't been there before.

One evening, as they walked through the hospital after a late meeting, Pugazh suddenly turned to her.

"Can I ask you something?"

Sandhya glanced at him, wary. "Depends on what it is."

He smiled, though there was a flicker of something serious in his eyes. "Why did you choose to work here? You had a solid career before this, didn't you?"

Sandhya's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to ask this so directly. She scrambled for an answer. "I... I wanted a change. A challenge."

Pugazh nodded, but his expression suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "Interesting. Most people would've gone for something easier. But you chose this. It's admirable."

Sandhya forced a smile, but inside, her mind raced. Does he suspect me?

As they continued walking, Pugazh shared bits of his own journey—how he had reluctantly taken over the hospital after his father's retirement, the pressure of living up to the Rajashekar legacy, and the sacrifices he'd made along the way.

"People think my life is perfect," he said with a wry smile. "But perfection comes with a price. Sometimes, I wonder if it's worth it."

Sandhya glanced at him, surprised by his vulnerability. For a moment, she saw not the polished CEO but a man carrying the weight of immense responsibility.

"It must be hard," she said softly.

"It is," he admitted. "But I try to focus on the good. The lives we save, the people we help—that's what keeps me going."

Sandhya didn't know how to respond. This side of Pugazh was unexpected, and it chipped away at her suspicions.

One afternoon, as Sandhya sorted through patient records in the archives, Pugazh walked in, his presence commanding as always. He leaned against the doorframe, watching her with a curious expression.

"You're always buried in work," he remarked. "Don't you ever take a break?"

"Not when there's work to do," Sandhya replied without looking up.

Pugazh stepped closer, his tone turning playful. "You know, you're allowed to say no to your boss once in a while."

Sandhya smirked. "I'll keep that in mind."

For a moment, there was silence, and when Sandhya looked up, she found Pugazh watching her with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.

"You're different, Sandhya," he said quietly. "In a good way."

The sincerity in his voice caught her off guard. She didn't know what to say, so she simply nodded and returned to her work. But as Pugazh left, she couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted between them.

That night, as Sandhya sat in her apartment, flipping through Shravani's diary once again, she felt a wave of confusion wash over her. Pugazh was supposed to be the enemy, the man who might have had something to do with Shravani's death. But the more time she spent with him, the more she doubted her suspicions. The diary not having anything specific except some suspicions wasn't going to get her anywhere. 

Could she have been wrong about him? Was she letting his charm cloud her judgment?

Sandhya closed the diary with a sigh, her thoughts a tangled mess. One thing was clear: she was beginning to see Pugazh not as a villain, but as a man—flawed, complicated, and perhaps... good.

And that terrified her.