Chapter 8
1403 Words
Ekansh pushed people aside with a cold, indifferent demeanor.
"Who has the guts to come in front of my car?" he shouted, his voice dripping with disdain.
His car's headlights illuminated a figure sprawled on the road.
As he drew closer, ready to unleash his anger, he realized it was not a man but a woman, lying there fainted.
The murmurs of the crowd grew louder.
"He hit her with his car!!!" some shouted.
"Did you see the speed he was driving at?" others exclaimed.
"Rich people think they can do anything, run over anyone, and get away with it," a few whispered indignantly.
Ekansh's expression remained impassive. His day had already been terrible, and now this woman had appeared out of nowhere.
He silenced the crowd with a single, icy glare. Ignoring their accusations, he turned his attention back to the unconscious woman.
Her clothes, a wedding dress, suggested she might have run away from a wedding.
The sight of her, bathed in the glow of his headlights, was almost ethereal.
Her face was partially hidden by her dupatta.
Without a second thought, Ekansh approached her and slipped one hand under her neck and the other under her knees.
He lifted her effortlessly, carrying her to his car with a mix of urgency and indifference.
The crowd watched in silence, their earlier anger replaced with curiosity.
Ekansh opened the passenger door and placed her in the front seat. As he fastened her seatbelt, he caught a whiff of her perfume, sweet and refreshing.
He pushed aside any sense of attraction, stepping back and closing the door.
The people were still surrounding his car.
Another fierce glare from him made them step back.
He walked to the driver's side, got in, and started the engine.
He couldn't take her to his family hospital;
they would ask too many questions and create more problems for him.
His family was already pressing him on various matters, especially after the debacle at the meeting earlier that day.
Driving towards his friend's hospital, Ekansh glanced at the woman beside him.
She was still unconscious. Not wanting to take any chances, he connected his car's Bluetooth and called his friend.
"Karan, I'm on my way to your hospital. There's a woman-she's unconscious. I need your help, and I need you to keep this quiet."
"Okay, Fin....... WHAT!!!!" Karan shouted,
over dramatically.
"DON'T TELL ME, YOU HIT HER!!!!!?", Karan still shouting on the other side of phone.
"Just be ready," Ekansh said, cutting him off.
"No, wai-" before karna can finish.
He hung up, Ekansh couldn't shake the feeling that something is missing.
He glanced at the woman again, her face still partially hidden by her dupatta, and wondered what kind of trouble she was running from and how it had suddenly become his problem.
When Ekansh arrived at Rahul's hospital, Karan Brother Own the hospital.
Karan was already waiting outside, pacing nervously or so he thought.
His eyes widened as Ekansh carried the unconscious woman inside.
"WHAT ON EARTH HAVE DONE!!! EKANSH?" karan exclaimed dramatically.
"Did you hit her? Is she hurt badly? Are you going to get arrested?"
"Oh, no I have to prepare my speech, for how I don't know you and that I was just your associates or maybe I should just say that you forced me to be your friend!!," karan exclaimed, practicing his speech to give the reporter and paparazzi.
Looking at his friend shamelessly betraying him.
"karan, calm down," Ekansh snapped, his patience wearing thin.
"I didn't hit her. She was already on the road when I found her."Karan's eyes darted to the woman's wedding attire.
"Why is she dressed like a bride?
"Oh, know what, that means, you actually Bring someone bride, here!!!!" Karan again started.
"Stup up already!!!! And listen here", Ekansh Ordered.
Did she run away from her wedding? This is like a scene from a movie!", karan still continue ignoring his friend.
He is still ignoring, Ekansh Continue.
Ekansh sighed, exasperated. "I don't know,Karan. Just take care of her. We need to make sure, she's okay.
"Karan nodded, his dramatic flair momentarily subdued by the seriousness of the situation. He guided Ekansh to a private room, where Ekansh gently laid the woman on the bed. karan immediately started examining her, his previous theatrics replaced by professional focus.
As Karan worked, he continued to pepper Ekansh with questions.
"Are you sure you didn't hit her? What if she has a concussion?.
What if she wakes up and accuses you of something? This could be a legal nightmare!"
"Karan, focus," Ekansh said coldly.
"Just make sure she's okay. We'll deal with everything else later."
After what felt like an eternity, Karan finally looked up.
"She seems to be fine, just exhausted and possibly dehydrated. We'll run some tests to be sure, but she should wake up soon."
Ekansh let out a breath, his face still expressionless.
"Good, Karan. Keep this quiet, okay? I can't afford more problems right now."
Karan nodded, a serious expression replacing his earlier dramatics.
"Don't worry, Ekansh. Your secret is safe with me. But you owe me an explanation once this is over."
Ekansh agreed, looking at the woman one more time before leaving the room.
His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.
What had he gotten himself into?
And what would happen when she woke up?
Ekansh watched the woman intently as she lay unconscious in the hospital bed.
His patience was wearing thin, and the incessant questioning from Karan had done nothing to ease his frustration.
When it seemed like she was not about to wake up, Ekansh turned to his friend.
"Who does this hospital belong to, Karan?" he asked, his tone sharp.
Karan shrugged nonchalantly.
"I don't know." He said with a bored face.
Ekansh's anger flared.
He knew Karan was withholding the information on purpose.
"I don't have time for your games. I've already wasted enough time because of a woman. I have work tomorrow." He said.
"Also, this hospital belongs to you.So if any news about the incident reach to my ears, then you know, what I will do", He warned him for the last time, He may be his friend but he will not forgive him, if betray him.
After saying that, He turned to leave.
Karan's face reddened with anger.
"You're unbelievable, Ekansh! You're the reason she's laying there unconscious! And you still haven't explained what happened. I had to leave my date behind just because you asked for help, and this is how you repay me? You don't care about anyone but yourself!"Karan's dramatic outburst drew the attention of his apprentice, who struggled to stifle a laugh.
But Ekansh's expression only darkened.
"You already have enough girlfriends to date, Karan. And you're a doctor, it's your responsibility to take care of a patient, right!!!
Ekansh reply back.
Even I don't think I need to be here when I own enough hospitals to call a doctor to look after her." Ekansh reminding his friend, how he should not provoke him.
"Really?" Karan retorted, sarcasm dripping from his words. "
Then why did you bring her here, Ekansh?
Ha!!! Karan asked throwing glare at him with his eyes
"You know why!!!", Because If you take her to one of your hospitals, someone would inform your parents. Karan said.
No one has forgotten the last incident you caused. He remind him.
"Ekansh glared at Karan, the words hitting a nerve. Without another word, he stormed out, ignoring Karan's continued shouting.
He knew Karan would take care of the woman, even if he was being insufferable about it."
Getting out of the hospital, he takes a glance back and then back to his car to leave.
•••••••••••••••••••
Back home, Ekansh took a long, hot shower, trying to wash away the events of the night.
He couldn't stop thinking about the woman's perfume, the sweet and refreshing scent lingering in his mind.
Frustrated, he pushed the thought away and went to bed, his mind preoccupied with work and the problems awaiting him the next day.
As the night passed, Ekansh was unaware that the morning news and headlines were starting to raise a storm.
When he woke up, groggy and irritated, he had no idea his life was about to change dramatically.
- Writer
