Chapter 24

JENNIFER'S POV

The sun rays stretched out from the clouds like long, artistic fingers as they seeped into my room from
the window. It made the room warm and me, cozy. But that's not what woke me up.

My alarm clock placed on the side table had got one great job to do each day. It was of waking me up
at 5 am daily. Meditation and yoga was a must for half an hour in the morning, always round the year
without any exception for any day. All these years, it had never dissappointed me. But today, even that
wasn't the reason I got up at 9 in the morning.

"Who turned off the alarm clock?"

Was what I had been wondering.

What actually woke me up was the yelling taking place in the living room. Though the door of my room
was closed, still the shouts of father were prominent. I could hear them clearly.

For what is he shouting in this early hour of the day!?

I mentally groaned. By body was aching badly and my head seemed to be spinning, even after
sleeping for more in the morning. It felt as if I had been thrown into a juicer and I was helplessly
whirling in that machine.

Then, something struck me.

How did I get here? I was at the party.... in the ballroom... then, someone screamed about fire... then?

After that point, my mind was completely blank. I was clutching the bedsheet tightly as I tried to
remember how I ended up in my bedroom.



Maybe a considerate and caring person helped me get here? Was it Tara? I wondered.

But whoever it was, that person would really have been an angel.... a person with golden heart...

I thought mentally, with a genuine smile on my face.

I quickly got up from the bed and was about to proceed towards the bathroom when I halted on my
tracks. The sound of the T.V. grabbed my attention and the next moment, I was peeping out of my room
to hear what the distress was all about.

"Our sources inform that Mr. Mayank Prakash was found hanging from the ceiling of his villa located in
Bandra. Apparently, the cops have also found a confession letter near the corpse were Mr. Prakash
accepted his crimes including him being a pedophile."

The news reporter informed.

"No! No! No! It's a murder! I am damn sure! What the hell! How did this happen?!" Thundered father.
He had already become hysterical. He was relentlessly trying different numbers on his phone to see
whether the news was accurate or a bluff.

"The police informed that the handwriting in the confession letter matches with Mr. Prakash's. There
are no signs of any struggle in the body which confirm it to be a self-willed suicide."

"I am damn sure there's some or the other foul play... he was perfectly fine last night! How can he
possibly do this? What about the alliance now!?" To say that father was shocked would be an
understatement. He was shaken on this sudden development.

"Well... we'll ditch it! What more!?"

Screamed my overly thrilled mind. I was barely controlling myself from screaming out loud, giggle and
dance in the middle of the living room.



I wanted to rejoice, laugh and throw pillows here and there. I had to press my hand on my mouth to
prevent myself from squealing out of my uncontrollable happiness!

I quickly got in my room and locked my door. Leaning on my back on the closed door, I let out an
inaudible laugh and grinned. I kept grinning like an idiot for a long time and then finally, let out a sigh. I
was happy on someone's death. That fact itself was depressing but I simply couldn't ignore the fact that
the scoundrel deserved it! Whether it was a suicide or a murder, I didn't know and till a point, cared the
least. But I was beyond glad that now, I was free! Again.... like my older times! I couldn't contain my
happiness anymore and decided to make this day special.

It was second Saturday today which ment I had to go for a morning shift in the hospital and later to an
oldage home in the evening, close to HOPE itself.

I quickly did my daily chores of the day and selected a fine royal blue colored salwar kameez for today.
I wanted to make this day special by putting extra efforts on myself and enjoy the day as it came. That's
the reason why I decided to put on a little makeup and give myself a new, fresh avatar. I used the kohl
and put it beneath my eyes then applied some eyeliner. Unlike the other days, I decided to put on some
red lipstick and have a genuine, sweet smile on my face today. Lastly, by applying a small black bindi
between my eyes, I completed the look. To be true, I was looking pretty. I gave an ear-to-ear smile to
myself looking at the mirror and then collecting my phone and the other essentials, I made my way out
of the house. Luckily, by the time I got to the living room, father had already left somewhere while
Tristan had his school.

I reached the basement and got into Sweety, then I made my way to HOPE. Today, the traffic didn't
seem to annoy me. I had to wait in a jam for around 30 minutes but I enjoyed the wait while listening to
my favorite Kishore Kumar hits. Then finally, I reached the hospital within time. I parked my car in its
usual place behind the hospital and then punched my i-card at the security desk, marking my presence
for the day. I made my way to the cabin in the 10th floor, in the Cardio-department. There, Mandira
briefed me about the patients I had to operate on and a meeting I had to attend with the directors of the



hospital for suggestions on any development issues of the hospital. Once done, I straightaway went to
the canteen to have my breakfast. It had been a ritual now, all these years since mamma went away, I
never ate in the house neither did I cook for anyone. It was just some confectionery baking I did
whenever alone in the house, which was very rare. Otherwise, all the meals I had were all from the
canteen or some take-away point.

I took the elevator and reached the ground floor, today genuinely returning the smiles the passersby
were giving me. As I entered, I heard someone from the 'Amateur Flock' shout, "Absolutely no one has
got the guts of knocking me in a bout of arm wrestling!" He was possibly an intern from the pharmacy
department. The other guy joined him, " True! He is unbeatable!" The other guys present there hooted
and nodded in agreement.

Actually, the 'Amateur Flock' was a title given each year, to the new staff of the hospital, be it a doctor
or a nurse or even an accountant and they were considered to be the warm blooded group full of
energy. They had the responsibility of organizing the celebrations of different festivals in the hospital
while we the seniors, were there to organize the birthdays. It was a system created by the directors
which kept our monotonous, difficult time to have a twist, relax an enjoy! So, in a way Amateur Flock
could be termed as the freshers of the hospital.

On a normal sucking day, I would have rolled my eyes and shaking my head in annoyance, I would
have chosen the table farthest to them. But... as today was not a regular sucked up day, I went for a
change.....

"Seems like I am up for a bet then!" I said looking at them and tilting my head a little and folding my
hands, as if inviting that pharma-guy for a challenge. While the other guys checked me out from head
to toe in a quizzical manner, that guy smirked. He was sexy, too be true. Black curly hair covered his
forehead while his emerald eyes shone in the light.



"But still, you like the chocolate brown ones from the den more! Isn't it?" Whispered the most annoying
part of my brain! And I grit my teeth in response, still having the confident look on my face.

"Then, I guess I need to be a little soft... I promise I wont break your hand in the process" he drawled at
his jibe, the sexy smirk not leaving the corner of his lips. His fellow pals chuckled.

I shook my head in denial with a mischievous smile playing on my face, " Don't you worry! In case you
break yours, I shall talk to your head of the department and provide you with some day-offs!" That
caught him off-gaurd, but he seemed to be liking our banter.

Take that you... umm handsome colleague? I smiled.

"Alright then, miss... beautiful? Up fo a fight?" He asked.

"Always!" I quipped. Then walking ro him, I sat opposite to him, where his fallow pals stepped aside for
making way for me.

He opened his cufflink of his right hand and folded his sleeve. I saw the edge of his hand having tattoo
of a scorpion.

"Like what you see?" He asked with a wink.

"Not much actually" I replied mentally as a matter of fact but I settled with a flirty smile.

We intertwined our right palms with one-another and placed our elbows on the table. Soon, on a
whistle, the competition began and really, he was good. His muscles were flexing as he applied
pressure on my hand, gradually, and the war began.

None of us were ready to back off, while he wss grunting now and then, I was relaxed keeping my left
arm transfixed on the side of the table.



Some of the passersby got interested in match, possibly thinking how a girl agreed to such a
proposition given by a guy?

I scoffed and screamed mentally, " Narrow-minded jerks!"

But to my dismay, my palm began to bend towards my side of the table. I was alarmed. Just then....

"Dr. Jennifer! If you are done with your gimmicks, can we talk? Like it shall be after weeks I guess!"
Called out an exasperated voice too familiar to me.


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