That irritating spark in her eyes, glowing, stubborn, victorious.
And the way everyone had reacted in the conference room: stunned, embarrassed and some offended that a mere intern or junior employee had outdone them. But she did.
She delivered numbers, strategies, and arguments that even senior executives had failed to defend against.
He should have been angry.
Instead, he was proud.
And that was the part he hated most.
"Sir?" Rishi said, looking at vikram.
Vikram blinked,"hmm"
"You are unusually silent" rishi chuckled." Did something at dinner traumatize you?"
"No. The company did," he muttered.
Rishi laughed," well, you insisted we--"
"I insisted because otherwise, you would have forced me to listen about your stories about your exes" vikram replied, sharply.
Rishi raised his hands in surrender," fair point."
They turned to the corner.
But the moment they stepped into the hallway, something was wrong.
Then they saw two mens walking fast. Their head was down and tense. Later vikram, saw their faces.
Ishaan and karan.
Vikram frown, get instantly alert.
"Where are you going?" He asked, cold voice.
Both men froze mid-step.
Ishaan slowly turned, karan did also.
Both swallowing hard.
"Medicine," ishaan answered, nervous.
Vikran said," for who?"
Karan didn't waste time, " Devika, her fever is high and she is not doing well."
Vikram chest tighten, from inside he panic.
But his face stayed calm, controlled and masked as always.
"What happened?" He said, extremly cold voice.
"Headache, shivering, high fever" ishaan replied." We didn't have any medicine, we are going to find pharmacy."
"You two go back." Vikram ordered
"But" karan started.
"I will arrange doctor" he said, extremly cold voice.
Ishaan knew that tone, the one that meant. Don't argue with me.
Ishaan noded and looked at karan. They both turned around and hurried back toward the room.
As soon as they left.
Vikram dialed number, not general doctor. Not local clinic. He called his family doctor. Dr. Mehta, a men who had treated oberoi family for decade.
The call connected on second ring.
"Vikram?" A sleepy voice."its past midnight."
"Pack your things," vikram said, serious voice."book flight. I want you in singapur tomorrow morning."
Silence.
Then
"What happened?" Dr. Mehta asked.
"Fever. Severe. Headache and shivering". Vikram replied. Walking towards elevator." Send a list of medicines now. I will buy them."
"Who is it?" Dr. Mehta asked.
Vikram didn't answer for two seconds
Then, he said." Devika".
There was a pause.
Then,
"I will text you in 2 minutes" Dr.Mehta said.
The call ended.
Vikram jaw tightened.
Rishit stared at him.
"I will go and get medicines" rishi said instantly.
"Yes" vikram noded."make it fast."
Rishi ran from there.
And vikram headed straight towards Devika's room.
Room.450.
Vikram knocked door.
Karan opened door, gasp escape when he saw who was standing there.
"Sir" karan said.
Vikram didn't wait and went inside room.
"where is she?" he asked.
The lights were dim, only bedside lamp was on. Arshi wast sitting beside devika, her eyes full of worry. Ishaan sat in chair pressed against wall, head down.
Devika was trembling under blanket.
Her breath came in shallow and uneven.
Her skin turned pale.
He hugged herself like she was freezing. Even though the AC was off.
Vikram jaw tightened
This..was not the girl who earlier had fire in her veins, who dared stand up to him, who smiled like she could conquer the world.
This is someone fragile. And he hated how it made him feel.
Arshi looked at him," she is not okay, she is burning with fever"
Devika opened her eyes weakly, half only.
When she saw him, she got bit confused then a bit of shame.
She whispered, voice crack,"i am fine."
A lie irriatated him instantly.
Vikram stepped closer, eyes darken." You are not."
Her lips parted but no words came out.she close her eyes.
Vikram sat on edge of the bed. He wasn't doctor, he didn't know how to fix it. But he could be near her.
His hand hovered for a moment, hesitatly then he pressed his palm gently to her forehead.
Her forehead was seriously burning.
He froze.
Rage in his chest, not at her, not the team but at the fact she was hurting.
"How long has she been like this?" He asked, serious voice.
Arshi's voice trembled." She came back from the presentation, lay down on bed and didn't speak. We thought that she was just tired but" her voice crack," then she started shivering and it got worse fast."
Ishaan added," she tried to pretend, she was okay until she couldn't stand up anymore"
Devika mumbled something.
Vikram leans closer "what?" Low voice.
"I didn't want to mess up the presentation" she whispered.
Vikram stared at angrily.
Your health is dying and you care about presentation?
His jaw tightened. He didn't say what he wanted to
You absolute idiot. You stubborn, self- sacrificing little bunny.
Instead,
He exhaled slowly, "you rest. That's an order"
She didn't have strength to argue. Her body shook.
A single strand of hair stuck to her cheek. He reached out and tucked it behind her ear. His hand rested there longer than it should have, warm against her burning skin. Then he forced himself to pull back.
"I have already called a doctor," he said, cold voice.
Arshi blinked, surprised." You already-"
"He will arrive after his flight" vikram explained, his eyes still fixed on devika." For now, medicines will come. Keep her hydeated."
Ishaan stood, guilt on his face," we should have noticed earlier"
Vikram didn't said anything and just looking at devika face.
They sat like that for few minutes.
Finally, the lock clicked. Rishi returned, breathing heavily with a small bag.
" Doctor sent dosage instructions" rishi said, while giving medicine bag to vikram.
Vikram opened the packet and scanned the labels and instructions. He memorized them.
Then, he handed the pills to Arshi."water"
Arshi hurried, poured a glass and guided devika upright. Ishaan helped support her back. Devika swallowed, trembling and eyes shutting tight after each sip.