2. A Day That Looked Ordinary
The examination continued quietly.
Anushka sat on the edge of the medical bed, answering the doctor’s questions whenever she was asked something.
There was nothing frightening about the process.
Everything was calm.
Professional.
Almost routine.
Dr. Meera Sharma checked the notes once more before looking at her.
“Have you been feeling stressed lately?”
Anushka gave a small laugh.
“College?”
The doctor smiled.
“College.”
“Then yes.”
“How bad?”
“Depends on the deadline.”
The nurse smiled faintly.
The doctor shook her head.
“Fair enough.”
She made a note.
“Try to get enough sleep.”
“I’ll try.”
“Don’t say ‘I’ll try’ like you’re negotiating with yourself.”
Anushka smiled.
“Okay. I will.”
The doctor continued with the examination.
After checking the necessary readings, she asked a few more routine questions and reviewed the information already recorded.
“Alright. We’re almost done with this part.”
Anushka nodded.
She glanced at the clock.
She had expected the appointment to take much longer.
“Will I get the certificate today?”
“Once the required reports are completed and reviewed, the hospital will process the certificate.”
“Okay.”
“Do you have somewhere you need to be?”
“College later.”
The doctor nodded.
“Then don’t worry. We’ll try to keep things moving.”
“Thank you.”
The nurse handed Anushka a glass of water.
“Have some.”
“Thanks.”
She took it.
For the first time since entering the hospital, she allowed herself to relax completely.
Her phone buzzed inside her handbag.
She ignored it.
A few seconds later, it buzzed again.
Anushka sighed.
“Sorry.”
The doctor smiled.
“You can check it.”
Anushka pulled out her phone.
Aarav: Alive?
She typed back.
Anushka: Unfortunately for you.
Aarav: Good. Maa asked when you’re coming.
Anushka: Soon.
She put the phone away.
The doctor finished writing something.
“You can wait outside for a little while. We’ll call you when the next part is ready.”
Anushka nodded.
“Okay.”
She stepped out of the room.
The corridor was quiet.
A nurse directed her toward the waiting area.
Anushka sat down near the window.
She looked at the city below.
From this height, everything seemed strangely peaceful.
Cars moved like tiny dots.
People crossed roads.
Buildings stood one after another.
She rested her head lightly against the chair.
One certificate.
That was all she needed.
One document that could help her move one step closer to the future she wanted.
She opened her phone again.
There were several messages from college.
One professor had changed an assignment deadline.
Another message was from a classmate asking for notes.
Normal problems.
Normal day.
Normal life.
At least, that’s what she believed.
Across the city
The atmosphere was completely different.
A black luxury car stopped outside a private office building.
The security personnel immediately straightened.
The rear door opened.
A man stepped out.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Composed.
He adjusted the cuff of his shirt before walking toward the entrance.
Nobody stopped him.
Nobody needed to.
The people around him already knew who he was.
Kairav Agnihotri.
Twenty-seven.
Businessman.
Billionaire.
Owner of one of the country’s fastest-growing luxury hotel and resort groups.
At least, that was the version of him the public knew.
The elevator doors opened.
Kairav stepped inside.
His phone rang.
He answered without looking at the screen.
“Yes?”
A man’s voice spoke from the other end.
“We have a problem.”
Kairav’s expression didn’t change.
“What kind?”
“A shipment is delayed.”
“By how long?”
“Three hours.”
“Fix it.”
“We’re trying.”
Kairav’s eyes hardened slightly.
“I didn’t ask whether you’re trying.”
Silence.
“I asked you to fix it.”
“Yes, sir.”
The call ended.
The elevator doors opened.
Kairav walked into his office.
Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city.
His desk was almost unnaturally neat.
Two files sat on one side.
A laptop rested in the centre.
His coffee was untouched.
He sat down.
Another call came in.
This time, he answered immediately.
“Eshaan.”
His younger brother’s voice came through.
“Good morning to you too.”
“Why are you calling?”
“Because I wanted to hear my beloved brother’s voice.”
“You’ve heard it before.”
“True. Still impressive.”
Kairav leaned back in his chair.
“What do you want?”
“Mother wants everyone home tonight.”
“No.”
There was a pause.
“You didn’t even ask why.”
“I don’t need to.”
“Family dinner.”
“No.”
“Kairav.”
“No.”
“She’ll be angry.”
“She’ll survive.”
Eshaan laughed.
“You know, one day someone is going to tell you that you’re difficult.”
“They already have.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
“That sounds accurate.”
A second voice suddenly joined the call.
“Kairav!”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Ishita.”
“Dinner tonight.”
“No.”
“You didn’t even think.”
“I thought.”
“For how long?”
“Two seconds.”
“That isn’t thinking.”
“It was enough.”
Eshaan laughed loudly in the background.
Ishita continued.
“Grandmother will be there.”
Kairav paused.
That changed things.
“Everyone?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the file on his desk.
Then at the clock.
“What time?”
Ishita immediately sounded victorious.
“Eight.”
“I’ll come.”
“See? You do love us.”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The call ended.
Kairav placed his phone on the desk.
For a moment, his expression softened.
Only slightly.
Family was complicated.
Loud.
Annoying.
Impossible to escape.
But it was his.
And despite everything else in his life, he protected it fiercely.
A knock came at the door.
His assistant entered.
“Sir, the hotel board meeting has been moved to three.”
“Fine.”
“And there’s another matter.”
Kairav looked up.
“What?”
The assistant hesitated.
“It’s regarding one of the private accounts.”
Kairav’s expression immediately became colder.
“Come in.”
The door closed behind them.
Back at the hospital
Anushka was still waiting.
She checked the time.
Then checked her phone.
Then the time again.
“Why does five minutes feel like twenty?”
A nurse walked past.
“Ms. Anushka?”
She looked up.
“Yes?”
“The doctor will see you again shortly.”
“Okay.”
The nurse smiled and continued down the corridor.
Anushka looked back toward the window.
Anushka was simply a twenty-year-old college student waiting for her medical certificate.
She looked at the clock again.
“Hopefully, this won’t take much longer.”
She settled back into her chair and opened her phone, completely unaware of how much longer the day still had to go.
