Kumkum: Ties of Love and Lies

Chapter 6

Sandhya was sitting in the hospital cafeteria, her mind clouded with conflicting emotions. Pugazh's proposal lingered in her thoughts, and she still hadn't decided what to do. Accepting his offer meant stepping into his world, possibly uncovering truths about Shravani's death. But it also meant treading on dangerous ground, where emotions and suspicions could easily blur.

She was jolted out of her thoughts by a familiar voice.

"Sandhya!"

She looked up to see Gautham striding toward her, his easy smile making her stomach tighten. She hadn't seen him in weeks, and the last time they'd spoken, he had seemed unusually withdrawn.

"Gautham," she said, forcing a smile. "What are you doing here?"

"I figured I'd drop by and see you," he said, sitting across from her. "You've been avoiding me, haven't you?"

"No, I've just been busy," she said quickly.

"Too busy for your oldest friend?" he teased, though there was a hint of hurt in his tone.

Sandhya sighed. "It's not like that, Gautham. Things have been... complicated."

"Well, let's uncomplicate them," he said with a grin. "Come out with me tonight. It's been ages since we spent time together."

Sandhya hesitated. She wasn't sure if this was a good idea, but Gautham's hopeful expression made it hard to say no.

"Okay," she said finally. "Just for a little while."

"Great!" he said, his smile widening. "Pick you up at seven?"

She nodded, and Gautham left, his mood visibly lifted.

But as she turned back to her coffee, her gaze caught someone else's—Pugazh, standing by the doorway. His eyes were fixed on her, and though his expression was unreadable, there was a tension in his stance that hadn't been there before.

Before she could react, he turned and walked away.

That evening, Gautham picked Sandhya up from her apartment, dressed in his usual casual but polished attire. They went to a cozy restaurant downtown, the kind of place they used to frequent back when life was simpler.

"This feels nice," Gautham said, raising his glass. "Like old times."

Sandhya smiled faintly, though her mind wasn't fully present. As Gautham talked about his work and shared funny anecdotes, she found herself thinking about Pugazh—his intensity, his proposal, and the way he had looked at her earlier.

"Earth to Sandhya," Gautham said, snapping his fingers playfully. "Where are you?"

"Sorry," she said, shaking her head. "I've just been... distracted lately."

"By what?" he asked, leaning forward.

Sandhya hesitated, but she decided it was time to tell him the truth. "I've been thinking about accepting Pugazh's proposal."

The smile vanished from Gautham's face. "What?"

"He asked me to marry him," she said softly. "And I'm considering it."

Gautham's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening. "You can't be serious."

"I am," she said firmly. "This isn't just about marriage, Gautham. Being with him could help me get closer to the truth about Shravani."

"And you're willing to use him for that?" Gautham asked, his tone sharp.

Sandhya flinched. "It's not like that. He genuinely cares about me, and... I think he might be a good man. But I need to know what's going on, and this could be my only chance."

"Sandhya, listen to yourself!" Gautham said, his voice rising. "You're walking into something you don't understand. What if he's the one responsible for Shravani's death? What if you're putting yourself in danger?"

"I don't believe that," Sandhya said, her voice trembling. "I've seen a side of him that's... different."

"You don't know him," Gautham snapped. "Not like you think you do."

"I know enough to trust my instincts," she shot back.

Gautham leaned back in his chair, his expression stormy. "You're making a mistake, Sandhya. And I can't stand by and watch you ruin your life."

Sandhya's chest tightened. "I'm sorry you feel that way, but this is my decision."

The rest of the dinner passed in uncomfortable silence. When Gautham dropped her off at her apartment, he didn't say goodbye, just drove away without looking back.

The next morning, Sandhya arrived at the hospital, still shaken from her argument with Gautham. She hoped work would distract her, but as soon as she walked into the office, she noticed something was wrong.

Pugazh was distant. He barely acknowledged her presence during meetings, and when she tried to speak to him, his responses were curt and formal.

At first, she thought it was her imagination, but as the day went on, it became clear that something had changed.

Finally, she found a moment to approach him in his office.

"Pugazh, can we talk?" she asked hesitantly.

He glanced up from his desk, his expression unreadable. "I'm busy, Sandhya. What is it?"

She hesitated, the coldness in his tone catching her off guard. "Have I done something to upset you?"

"No," he said flatly, returning to his work.

"Then why are you acting like this?" she pressed.

Pugazh sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I saw you with Gautham yesterday."

Sandhya blinked, confused. "And?"

"And it's clear you have other priorities," he said, his voice tight. "I shouldn't have expected anything different."

Her heart sank. "Pugazh, it's not what you think—"

"I don't need an explanation," he interrupted, his tone dismissive. "We're colleagues, Sandhya. Let's keep it that way."

She stared at him, stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor. "Is that really how you feel?"

"It doesn't matter how I feel," he said, his gaze hardening. "This conversation is over."

Sandhya left his office, her mind racing. She couldn't understand why Pugazh was acting this way, and it frustrated her more than she wanted to admit.

That night, as she sat in her apartment, replaying the events of the day, Sandhya found herself more confused than ever. She had thought accepting Pugazh's proposal might be the key to unlocking the truth about Shravani, but now she wasn't so sure.

Had she underestimated the complexity of the situation—and her own feelings?