"A day off?! On the very first day?", Kabir couldn't believe what he had heard.
"Kabir! One more time you ask this, I'll punch you for sure!". Nisha was back to her new hostel room and was on call with Kabir, simultaneously arranging her cupboard. She had told him about her day-off and he was stuck at it for the past 10 minutes.
"Ok! Ok! Calm down my kung-fu panda", said Kabir chuckling and Nisha rolled her eyes at his comic reference.
"But, on a serious note Nishu, you've got some cool seniors and colleagues. Look at my fate, my boss has put me to work right from the first day!", grumbled an unhappy Kabir.
"Cool or weird, yet to find out", Nisha muttered to herself recalling Dr.Shyam's weird behaviour. She had excluded this part from the briefing of the first day she had given to Kabir, as she knew how overprotective he could get.
"Huh? What?"
"Ya! Quite cool they are", she covered up.
"Ok Nishu, lunch time's up, will call you after work ok? Take care."
"You too Kabir. Bye.", and she cut the call, getting back to organising her room.
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*3 months later*
Nisha and Kirti were seated in the hospital canteen savouring their favourite chocolate mousse trifle. But, Nisha was not her usual self. Seeing her lost in thoughts,
"Mmm...thanks Nishu, that's so sweet of you", said Kirti taking a spoonful of Nisha's dessert. If in senses, Nisha would have killed anyone who dared touch her favourite trifle. But, when she did not react, Kirti shook her up, bringing her back to reality.
"huh? What?"
"You tell me what! What's wrong with you Nisha? I just ate from your trifle and you did not react? Something's bugging you since morning and you better tell me what. I've had enough of this now.", said an exasperated Kirti.
"Kirti, Please don't judge me but don't you think Dr.Shyam is a weird person?", asked Nisha doubtfully.
"Weird? Why? what did you find weird in him?", asked back a confused Kirti.
Nisha hesitated. She knew how much Kirti respected and admired Dr.Shyam for his achievements. Sensing her hesitation, "Go on Nishu, it's not like you can't express your doubts about him just because I idolise him.", said Kirti urging Nisha to voice her doubts.
"Kirti, I may sound crazy but, I feel very uncomfortable when he is around. I get all fidgety and nervous. He keeps staring at me and that really creeps me out. And..."
"And?"
"And from the past few days he gets too close while talking. I don't know what to comprehend of this!. I've tried to tell it directly but he is so senior to me! I don't know what to do", confessed Nisha. When she received no response from Kirti, she looked up to find her deep in thoughts.
"You know what Nisha? I have observed the same for sometime now. He isn't what he is with you. With us he's all friendly and jolly but when you're around he just...acts weird! And not just me, Umesh sir too has noticed this. But, we didn't know how to bring this up in front of you or Dr.Shyam.", said Kirti concerned.
"Kirti I feel we should...",
"Nisha? Dr.Shyam is asking for you", Nisha was cut off by Stephy, a nurse who was Nisha's next good friend after Kirti.
"Where?"
"In his cabin."
Nisha heaved a tired sigh and left for Dr.Shyam's cabin.
"May I come in Sir?", knocked Nisha.
No response.
Sighing, "May I come in Sir?" she knocked again. When she did not receive any response from the other side, irritated she went in but was welcomed to an empty cabin.
"Why does he have to test my patience every freaking time?!", she let out a low groan and pressed her temples, sensing a massive headache coming up.
Just when she was about to turn around and leave, someone pulled her from the back and pushed her on the doctor's chair, causing her to let out a shriek, eyes closed tight in fear. In reflex, someone covered her mouth preventing her from screaming further. When she felt a hot breath fan her face, she opened her eyes and they widened in shock seeing the intruder of her personal space. Dr.Shyam was bent over the chair she was pushed on, one hand covering her mouth and the other on the armrest, with a evil smirk on his face.
"Are you so irritated with me Nisha?", he whispered. Before she could do anything, the door burst open and,
"Nishu, why aren't you picking...?", Kirti stopped in her tracks, shocked at the scene in front of her. She marched towards Nisha, pushed off Shyam and pulled Nisha to her feet. "Stay away from her, doctor", she hissed at him and dragged a dazed Nisha out of his cabin. Shyam looked on, the smirk intact.
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*In Kirti's cubicle"
"What the hell was that?!", Kirti couldn't believe that the person she admired the most turned out to be a loser.
"Kirti please don't tell Kabir about this! Please! he will bring the entire hospital down if he gets to know!. I'll handle this my way but, please don't tell him."
"But Nisha he deserves to know"
"Kirti please?"
"Ok, but Nisha, stay away from Shyam sir. He is...", Kirti was interrupted by the sudden bustling in the corridor. They both rushed out to see a teenage girl, being pulled by the wardboys, while she kept yelling in a deep throaty voice.
"How did she escape her cell?", asked a surprised Kirti.
"She's a patient here? I haven't seen her before? What's she being treated for?"
"Yes, her name is Veronica. She was admitted six months back. Her parents claim that it's demonic possession but she's Schizophrenic." explained Kirti.
"Her parents are right Kirti. She indeed is possessed. She needs an exorcism asap", said Stephy, who had joined them.
"Oh please Stephy. Not again. Inform Dr.Shyam about this soon. It's difficult to control her for long.", said Kirti and off went Stephy to inform Shyam.
"Dr.Shyam?", asked Nisha surprised. She knew about almost all his recent and current cases but was unaware of this.
"Yes, he's treating her. Where did this Stephy go? I'll go find Umesh sir. Ok?". Nisha nodded and Kirti walked away to find Umesh.
Nisha kept staring at Veronica. All of a sudden the girl turned and gave a huge devilish toothy smile at Nisha, making her recoil in horror. She kept looking at Nisha with that same smile, while they dragged her back to her cell.
"Nisha? Dr.Shyam is on another case. Till then read her case history and sedate her with the help of wardboys if she gets out of control ok?", said Umesh coming from his cabin with Kirti on toe. When Nisha did not respond,
"Nisha? Did you even hear what I just told?", asked Umesh, snapping his fingers in front of her face.
"Huh? Yes sir, ok".
------------
*20 minutes later*
Dr.Shyam barged in Umesh's cabin with nurse Stephy tagging behind, startling Umesh and Kirti, who were busy discussing a case.
"Where's Veronica? How did she escape from her cell? Did you sedate her?", he asked at a go.
"One question at a time Doctor.", said Umesh shaking his head. "Veronica is back in her cell and Nisha is with her along with..."
"WHAT?!!! NISHA?!! You sent Nisha to her cell? Are you out of your mind Dr.Umesh? Did you ask me before sending her there?", barked Dr.Shyam, lines of tension forming on his forhead.
"But, she's the one who is incharged of your cases in your absence! So, I...", Umesh trailed off, bewildered at Shyam's sudden outburst.
"She doesn't know anything about Veronica's case Umesh, and you sent her there! Don't you know PGs aren't allowed in cells without the senior doctor accompanying them? How irresponsible can you get? What if...", Shyam was cut off by a piercing cry, scaring all the four.
They rushed towards Veronica's cell and found the wardboys standing outside with a scared expression.
"What are you both doing here? aren't you supposed to be with Nisha?", asked Kirti.
"Nisha mam asked us to wait outside and not to come in untill told to", they said in an helpless tone.
Without another word, Shyam pushed open the cell doors and stood rooted at spot seeing the sight in front of him.
An unconscious Nisha lay on the floor next to the bed. Near the wall opposite to her, lay Veronica, blood oozing from her head and a trail of blood marked the pristine white wall where, her head had been smashed.
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
CID
