Naina stared at the report in her hand, the information confirming her suspicion. When Maya had simply mentioned their father died of a heartache, Naina's medical intuition screamed foul. Normal heart patients, especially those under a doctor's care, don't just suddenly die-they follow a specific medicine chart. Why would their father, a man who must have been receiving treatment, die so abruptly?
The report provided the piece of the puzzle she was missing, yet it only created a deeper mystery: If their father was undergoing this treatment, why didn't Maya, Kavya, or their mother know about it? If they had known, surely Maya would have told her everything that day. If they truly didn't know, it meant their father was hiding something from them, but for what reason?
Her thoughts were interrupted by her mobile phone ringing. The Caller ID showed Manik.
"Did you reach the hospital safely?" Manik's voice was instantly concerned.
"Yes," she replied, her voice flat and low.
"What happened?" he asked, picking up on her tone.
"Nothing. Just a little bit tired."
Manik immediately began to tease her. "Are you tired because of me? Because of what we did a few hours ago?"
"Manik, stop teasing me," she said, cutting him off sharply.
He realized his mistake. She wasn't playing; she was genuinely tired or preoccupied. "Sorry," he instantly apologized. "Take a rest. I can send the guards with a car so you can go to your dormitory or back to the hotel where I'm staying."
"No," Naina said, her professional tone returning. "I have some work."
"Alright," he replied, and hung up.
Seeking Evidence
Naina now had a theory and the medicine details, but she needed irrefutable evidence regarding the circumstances of her father's death. She instructed her secretary, "I want all information on which hospital Father was taking treatment in, and an appointment with his doctor."
Her work schedule was immediately packed: managing the hospital route, checking up on Sahil, and juggling her investigation. She couldn't avoid running into Kavya, who tried repeatedly to speak with her. Naina, however, remained hesitant, unsure how to talk to the woman who was both her newly discovered sister and the cause of her twin's suffering. Things were too different now for easy friendship.
She continued to prioritize calls with her Mother, Maya, and her three kids, ignoring Manik's calls despite the mounting tension between them.
The Public Claim
Today was Sahil's discharge day. The ward was full of his family: Kabir, the younger brother, his grandparents, his daughter, and Kavya.
Naina walked in for the final checkup and immediately saw Manik. He was staring at her, his face a mask of anger and hurt from being ignored. She avoided his gaze, checked Sahil quickly, and turned to leave.
"Naina, wait," Sahil called out.
Naina paused, confused. She silently stared at him.
"I need to thank you for saving my life," Sahil said earnestly. "And please... can you forgive my wife and my brother?"
Naina remained silent.
Sahil pushed on. "This is my fault. I caused this."
Naina finally spoke, her voice distant. "Sahil, you need to rest. You're the patient. As for my sister Maya, I don't make decisions for her. And if I were in her place, I would have done the exact same thing you are asking her not to."
Sahil, Kavya, and Kabir looked crestfallen. It was then that Sahil's grandparents walked towards Naina.
"My dear," the grandmother said softly, "can you please try, for our sake?"
Naina sighed. "I'll speak with her," she conceded, and turned to leave.
Just as she reached the door, she heard Manik's voice. He was still upset with her, but seeing the genuine sadness of his family took precedence.
"Naina, you have to help them."
"I told you," Naina insisted, "I will speak with her, but it is her decision. I won't force her."
Manik walked quickly over to her and took her hand. "Please, speak with my sister-in-law."
As Manik publicly took Naina's hand, everyone in the ward-Sahil, Kavya, Kabir, the younger brother, and the grandparents-looked on in complete shock.