“Dr. Raman, my office. Now.” Srinith’s voice cut through the sterile air of the hospital corridor like a blade, sharp and unyielding. His eyes, cold and piercing, locked onto Supriya’s as she stood frozen in place, her clipboard clutched tightly to her chest. The nurses nearby exchanged uneasy glances, but no one dared to linger. When Srinith Nambiar spoke, people listened—or faced the consequences.
Supriya swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. She had never been summoned like this before, not by him. The CEO of Serenity University Hospital was a man of few words and even fewer emotions, and his presence alone was enough to make even the most seasoned doctors uneasy. But Supriya wasn’t one to back down, not even from someone as intimidating as Srinith. She straightened her shoulders, smoothed her white coat, and followed him into the elevator.
The ride up to his office was silent, the tension between them thick enough to cut with a scalpel. Srinith stood rigidly beside her, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze fixed on the elevator doors. Supriya could feel the heat radiating off him, a strange contrast to the icy demeanor he projected. She stole a glance at him, taking in the sharp lines of his jaw, the way his tailored suit hugged his broad shoulders, the faint scent of sandalwood and something darker, more primal, that clung to him. It was unnerving, how effortlessly he commanded attention without even trying.
When the elevator doors slid open, Srinith strode out without a word, leaving Supriya to hurry after him. His office was as imposing as the man himself—spacious, meticulously organized, and devoid of any personal touches. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city, but Supriya barely noticed. Her focus was entirely on Srinith as he turned to face her, his expression unreadable.
“Close the door,” he ordered, his voice low and commanding.
Supriya hesitated for a moment before doing as he said, the soft click of the door echoing in the silence. She turned back to him, her hands trembling slightly despite her best efforts to stay calm. “Mr. Nambiar, if this is about the—”
“Sit,” he interrupted, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.
She sat, her back straight, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Srinith didn’t sit. Instead, he leaned against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed over his chest as he studied her with an intensity that made her skin prickle. For a long moment, he said nothing, and the silence stretched between them like a taut wire.
“Do you know why you’re here?” he finally asked, his voice deceptively calm.
Supriya shook her head, her throat dry. “No, sir.”
He leaned in closer, his eyes narrowing. “You’ve been making waves, Dr. Raman. Your methods are… unconventional. Some might even say reckless.”
She blinked, caught off guard by the accusation. “I—I don’t understand. I’ve always followed protocol—”
“Protocol?” he interrupted again, his voice rising slightly. “Protocol doesn’t involve spending hours comforting a child when there are other patients waiting. Protocol doesn’t involve questioning the decisions of your superiors. Protocol doesn’t involve—” He stopped abruptly, his jaw tightening as if he were holding back something he didn’t want to say.
Supriya’s heart raced as she met his gaze, her own frustration bubbling to the surface. “With all due respect, Mr. Nambiar, I believe in treating my patients with compassion. If that means spending a little extra time with them, then so be it. I won’t apologize for caring.”
Srinith’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, she thought he might explode. But instead, he let out a low, humorless laugh. “Compassion,” he repeated, the word dripping with disdain. “Compassion doesn’t save lives, Dr. Raman. Efficiency does. Discipline does. And if you can’t understand that, then perhaps you’re not cut out for this hospital.”
Supriya’s breath caught in her throat, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and hurt. She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say anything, Srinith pushed off the desk and closed the distance between them in two long strides. He loomed over her, his presence overwhelming, his scent enveloping her like a storm.
“You think you’re special, don’t you?” he murmured, his voice dangerously soft. “With your soft words and your gentle touch, your endless patience. You think that makes you better than the rest of us? That it makes you irreplaceable?” His tone was low, almost a growl, but there was something beneath it—something raw and unspoken that sent a shiver down her spine.
Supriya’s breath hitched as he leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers. She could see the faint stubble along his jawline, the way his dark eyes burned with an intensity that made her pulse quicken. His presence was overwhelming, filling the room, filling her senses. She wanted to look away, to break the hold his gaze had on her, but she couldn’t. She was trapped, caught in the storm of his anger and something else she couldn’t quite name.
“You walk these halls like you own them,” he continued, his voice dropping even lower, “like you’re untouchable. But let me make one thing clear, Dr. Raman: you’re not. You’re just another doctor in this hospital, and if you can’t follow the rules, if you can’t fall in line, then you have no place here.” His words were harsh, cutting, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—doubt? Frustration?—that betrayed the coldness of his tone.
Supriya clenched her hands in her lap, her nails digging into her palms as she fought to keep her composure. “I never said I was special,” she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. “But I won’t apologize for caring about my patients. If that’s a crime in your eyes, then maybe this isn’t the place for me.”
Srinith’s jaw tightened, and for a moment, she thought he might snap. Instead, he straightened, his expression hardening into its usual mask of indifference. “Careful, Dr. Raman,” he said, his voice icy. “You’re treading on thin ice. One wrong move, and you’ll find yourself out of a job.”
The threat hung in the air between them, heavy and suffocating. Supriya stood, her legs trembling slightly, but her resolve unwavering. “If that’s all, Mr. Nambiar,” she said, her voice calm but firm, “I have patients to attend to.” Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked out of his office, her head held high despite the storm raging inside her.
After her few check ups, she made her way to the cafeteria, her mind raced. Why was he so harsh? So cold? It wasn’t just about the hospital’s efficiency—there was something else, something personal. She couldn’t shake the feeling that his anger was directed at her specifically, not just her methods.
The cafeteria was bustling with activity when she arrived, the hum of conversation and clatter of trays providing a welcome distraction. She spotted Samantha and Vincenzo sitting at their usual table near the window, deep in conversation. Samantha’s fiery red hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and Vincenzo’s dark curls were as unruly as ever. They looked up as she approached, their expressions shifting to concern when they saw the look on her face.
“What happened?” Samantha asked immediately, her sharp eyes narrowing. “You look like you’ve just been through a war.”
Supriya sank into the chair beside them, letting out a long breath. “I had a meeting with Mr. Nambiar,” she said, her voice heavy with frustration.
Vincenzo raised an eyebrow. “The CEO? What did he want?”
“To tell me I’m reckless and inefficient,” Supriya replied, her tone bitter. “He basically accused me of not being fit for this hospital because I care too much about my patients.”
Samantha let out a low whistle. “Ouch. That’s harsh, even for him.”
“Yeah,” Supriya agreed, picking at the edge of her napkin. “But it’s not just that. There’s something… personal about it. Like he’s got it out for me specifically.”
Vincenzo leaned forward, his dark eyes serious. “Did he say why?”
Supriya shook her head. “No. He just kept talking about efficiency and discipline like they’re the only things that matter. But it felt like there was more to it.”
Samantha snorted. “Sounds like he’s got a stick up his ass. Don’t let him get to you, Supriya. You’re one of the best doctors here, and everyone knows it.”
Vincenzo nodded in agreement. “She’s right. You’ve got nothing to prove to him.”
Supriya managed a small smile, grateful for their support. “Thanks, guys. I just… I don’t know. It’s frustrating.”
They talked for a while longer, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they ate. Vincenzo told a story about a particularly difficult case he’d handled recently, and Samantha chimed in with her usual witty commentary. For a moment, Supriya almost forgot about her encounter with Srinith.
But then the hospital intercom crackled to life, and a calm but urgent voice filled the room. “Code Blue, ICU. Code Blue, ICU.”
Supriya’s heart skipped a beat. She was on call for emergencies today. Without a word, she stood up, her food forgotten, and hurried toward the ICU, her friends close behind her.
The scene that greeted her was chaotic—nurses and doctors rushing around, monitors beeping frantically, and a young boy lying motionless on the bed. Supriya’s training kicked in immediately, and she began barking orders, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.
“Get me the defibrillator!” she called out, her hands moving quickly to check the boy’s pulse. “And someone page cardiology—now!”
As she worked, she could feel the weight of Srinith’s words pressing on her mind. Efficiency, he had said. Discipline. But as she looked down at the boy’s pale face, all she could think about was the life she was fighting to save. Compassion wasn’t a weakness—it was what drove her to be better, to do better.
The minutes stretched into what felt like hours as they worked tirelessly to stabilize the boy. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, his heartbeat steadied, and the tension in the room began to ease.
Supriya let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly as she stepped back from the bed. She turned to see Srinith standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and she thought she saw something flicker in his gaze—something that might have been respect, or maybe even admiration.
But before she could say anything, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there with a thousand unanswered questions swirling in her mind.
Next chapter will be uploaded tomorrow
Comment and let me know how you liked the chapter.
Oh, and one more important character you should know about
Dr. Vincenzo Shetty. Yep, you’re going to love him. I have added him to show some jealousy scenes.
Vincenzo is Supriya Raman’s close friend. They’re both the same age, started their careers around the same time, and bonded early on during medical school. He’s fun, supportive, always knows when something’s off with her.
you might be wondering about Dr Samantha Pillai — Samantha Pillai is still Supriya’s best girl. She’s older, more experienced, and kind of like the protective big sister Supriya never had. Supriya and Samantha share that deep, emotional connection, while Vincenzo is the comfort-zone buddy.
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