Vaidehi’s pov!

The early morning breeze brushed against my face as I stepped out of the hostel, the remnants of exhaustion still clinging to my body. A week of night shifts had drained me, but I wasn’t complaining. Being a doctor meant adapting to odd hours and sleepless nights—it was part of the dream, wasn’t it?

Today marked the start of my morning shifts, and despite my weary state, I welcomed the change. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the sprawling Sanjeevini Medical College campus. A fresh start, I told myself, pushing back the fog of sleep deprivation.

I walked alongside Divya and Sandhya, two of my hostel mates who had become my regular companions during these walks to the hospital. Both were lively and talkative, their chatter often a welcome distraction from my own thoughts. But today, their giggling and whispering seemed unusually animated.

“What is it, girls?” I asked, curiosity piqued as I glanced at their grinning faces.

“The CEO of Khoda Trust is coming to the college today!” Divya turned to me, eyes wide with excitement. 

“So?” I frowned, not understanding the cause for their enthusiasm.

Divya gasped dramatically, as if I’d just insulted the Prime Minister.

“Vaidehi, he’s not just any CEO. He’s Vedant Khoda.”  Sandhya took it upon herself to explain. 

The name Vedant struck a cord in me.. I tried to ignore it and pasted a smile on my face.

“He is one of the most eligible bachelors in India! A total hotshot businessman. His cousin, Yug Khoda, is our MD, and he is also a hottie. But Yug Sir has been MIA for a few months now. No one knows where he went. Anyways, Ved Sir is… something else. I met him once at one of his boutiques. He is so drool-worthy, I swear!”

“Must be a family with good genes if both the brothers are drool-worthy.” I couldn’t help but chuckle at her dreamy expression. 

“Of course!” Divya said with a wistful sigh. “I have seen some of their family pictures. They all look like they belong to some Bollywood dynasty.”

I shook my head, smiling at their enthusiasm. It wasn’t uncommon for students to fawn over the trustees or senior staff, but the level of excitement over this man was amusing.

“By the way, you’ll probably get to see him up close today.” Sandhya suddenly nudged me, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Me? How?” I asked, caught off guard.

“He’s here to handle the drug abuse case,” Sandhya said, her tone turning serious. “I have heard he’s a cutthroat businessman. Very fair but super strict. Those seniors are done for. And since you were a witness, you’ll probably be called in for your statement.”

The words hit me like a jolt of electricity. My steps faltered, and my breath caught in my throat.

“What?” My voice came out as a whisper.

“Yeah, it’s a big deal. He’s not someone to mess with. If he’s stepping in, he’ll want every detail. And since you and Keerti were involved…” Sandhya nodded solemnly.

Panic gripped me, my mind racing back to the day I had given my initial statement. The seniors involved in the drug abuse case had looked at me with such anger and hatred that it sent shivers down my spine even now. Their piercing glares, the silent threat in their expressions—I could still feel the weight of it.

My heart pounded as fear clawed at my chest. I didn’t want to face them again. I’d done the right thing, hadn’t I? People’s lives were at stake. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier.

“What’s wrong?” Divya asked, noticing my silence.

“Nothing,” I muttered, forcing a weak smile. “Just… tired, I guess.”

It wasn’t something I could share with them. Or with anyone, for that matter. Viswa Anna already had enough to worry about with my future, and this was the last thing he needed to hear. If he knew the kind of hostility I was dealing with, he would drop everything to be here, and I couldn’t let that happen.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. Whatever happened, I’d have to face it.

“And Vaidehi, you have a chance to catch his eye if you try..” Sandhya teased.

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“You are so beautiful, Vaidehi. You have no idea how many senior boys have set their eyes on you. Just imagine, THE Vedant Khoda falling for a student from here?” Divya teased and I paled hearing her words.

More attention? No thank you!

As we reached the hospital gates, I could see the buzz of activity ahead. Students and staff were milling around, the air thick with anticipation. Vedant Khoda’s arrival had clearly stirred up excitement—and fear—in equal measure.

I straightened my shoulders, clutching my bag tighter. Whatever the day held, I’d have to deal with it on my own. It wasn’t like I had a choice.

Vedant’s pov!

The roar of the engine faded as the car came to a halt in front of the grand entrance of Sanjeevini Medical College. My driver quickly stepped out, opening the door for me. Adjusting the cuffs of my shirt, I stepped out, taking in the sight of the sprawling campus. It looked pristine, as it always did, a facade of perfection hiding the chaos that had been brewing beneath the surface.

At the foot of the steps stood three men, each of them looking visibly nervous.

Dr. Arvind Nair, the principal, was a short, balding man in his early sixties, with a perpetually anxious expression that seemed to have deepened since my arrival was announced. Beside him was Dr. Rajendra Mehta, the vice principal, a wiry man with glasses perched on the edge of his nose, who was fidgeting with his pen. The third man, Mr. Harish Reddy, the administrator, was stout and sweating profusely despite the early morning coolness.

"Mr. Khoda," Dr. Nair greeted, his voice trembling slightly as he extended his hand. I shook it firmly but briefly. 

"Dr. Nair," I said curtly, nodding at the other two as well. "Dr. Mehta, Mr. Reddy."

"Welcome, Sir," Dr. Mehta said, forcing a smile. "We apologize for troubling you with this matter. It's—"

"—unacceptable," I cut him off sharply. "I trust you understand the severity of this situation."

All three of them nodded in unison, their faces pale.

"Let’s not waste time," I said, gesturing toward the main building. "Take me to the MD's cabin."

The men exchanged nervous glances before leading the way. The walk through the corridor was quiet, save for the faint chatter of students in the distance. I noticed a few heads turning to watch as I passed, but I didn’t slow down.

Once inside the MD's cabin, I took a seat behind the large desk, the chair familiar yet foreign. It had been Yug’s domain before he had to step away. Now, here I was, cleaning up a mess that should never have occurred.

Dr. Nair and the others took seats across from me, their unease palpable.

"Explain," I said, my voice cold. Dr. Nair cleared his throat. 

"Sir, we recently uncovered a case of drug abuse involving some of our senior students. There were reports of suspicious behavior, and upon investigation, we found evidence linking a group of students to the sale and use of illegal substances. We immediately suspended the students involved and contacted their parents. Two witnesses—a couple of UG house surgeons—have also come forward to give statements."

"How long has this been going on?" I asked, my tone sharp.

"We… we believe it has been happening for a few months, but we only became aware of it recently." Dr. Nair wiped his brow with a handkerchief, avoiding my gaze.

"When Yug was here, there was never an issue like this. And before that, Manish chachu handled it. Over these years, not once did we face something of this magnitude. What happened under your watch?" I leaned forward, my eyes narrowing.

"We Are deeply sorry, Mr. Khoda. We had no idea how this slipped through the cracks. We have always maintained strict discipline, I assure you." Dr. Nair swallowed hard, his face glistening with sweaT.

"I don’t want explanations." My voice was ice. "Call in the boys. Are their parents here?"

"Y-yes, Sir," Dr. Mehta stammered.

"And the witnesses?" I asked, already mentally preparing for what lay ahead.

"Two of them, Sir. They are UG house surgeons," Dr. Nair replied.

"Call all of them," I said firmly.

The three men scrambled to their feet, nodding frantically before hurrying out of the room.

As the door closed behind them, I leaned back in the chair, my jaw tightening. This was exactly the kind of mess I hated dealing with. But if I didn’t step in now, things would only spiral further out of control.

Dr. Nair returned moments later, accompanied by three senior boys. They shuffled in with their heads down, shoulders slouched. Each of them radiated defiance masked as guilt—an attitude that grated on my nerves.

Behind them came their parents, a mix of anger and embarrassment etched on their faces. Some whispered reprimands to their sons, others avoided looking at me altogether, their unease hanging in the air like a thick fog.

I remained silent, my gaze cold and unwavering as I watched them settle into their places along the wall. The tension in the room grew heavier with each passing second.

Finally, the door opened once more, and two girls stepped inside.

The first girl entered confidently, her gaze moving towards the boys and she shot a loathful look at them.

But it was the second girl who froze me in place.

She walked in, her face composed but her eyes betraying a hint of wariness. Her long braid swung gently over her shoulder as she moved, her white coat fitting her small frame perfectly.

It wasn’t her attire or her demeanor that caught my attention. It was her.

"Vaidehi..." I whispered, the name slipping out before I could stop myself.

A/N

Ah! Face to face once again!

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SF❤️