A week later, Kishore was sitting up in bed, barking orders again. His voice was weaker, but his presence was enough to restore the family's confidence.
Randhir knew his work here was nearly done. That evening, as he was folding his clothes inside the small guest room, he sensed someone at the door. Looking up, he saw Sanyukta standing there, her posture confident as always, but her eyes unreadable.
S: "Doctor, ab tu apne dispensary mein wapas ja sakta hai. Lekin..."
Her tone sharpened.
S: "Jo tune dekha tha... woh agar Commissioner ya kisi aur ko bataya, toh yaad rakhna... na tu bachega, na thara parivar."
The smile slipped from Randhir's face. For the first time, he met her gaze without hesitation.
R: "Maine waada kiya tha maa ko... ki main logon ki madad karne aya hoon. Uske alawa kuch bhi main nahi karunga."
For a second, she was caught off guard. Was it courage? Or foolish innocence? She smirked to cover it.
S: "Bas wahi karna, doctor. Zyada hoshiyaari dikhane ki zaroorat na hai."
She turned and walked away, but her heart was beating faster than it should have.
Randhir sat down slowly, exhaling. He was finally free to return to his duty... but he couldn't shake off the memory of her eyes when she spoke. They weren't just ruthless—they were conflicted.
And somewhere deep inside, he feared this wasn't the end. It was only the beginning.
Later that Night, Sanyukta paced inside her room, the lamp flickering against the stone walls. Her brothers were celebrating their father's recovery, but she was restless.
"Kya baat hai mujhe? Ek choraya... sirf doctor... aur main itna soch rahi hoon uske baare mein? Har waqt."
She sat on the bed, pressing her palms against her forehead.
"Usne khud apne maa ke waade ka zikr kara. Bina dare, bina jhuke... aankhon mein aankhen daal kar. Aur ajeeb baat ye hai ke main gussa bhi na ho paayi. Uski baatein, uski muskaan... kyu bar bar dimaag mein ghoom rahi hai?"
Annoyed with herself, she blew out the lamp and lay down, but sleep didn't come. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw his face. That calm smile, those steady eyes.
"Sanyukta... tu pagal ho rahi se. Ye doctor tera dushman hai. Bas bapu ke liye rukya tha... bas." But deep down, she knew it wasn't just that. And that thought scared her more than anything else.
YOU ARE READING
Fight For Right
Short Story"Innocence versus brutality. Right versus wrong. Two souls from completely different worlds-one raised to protect, one trained to kill-find their fates bound together. What happens when a naive boy falls into the hands of a girl for whom mercy is a...
