The invitation arrived late in the afternoon.
Shivanya almost missed it.
It was a simple cream envelope left at the nurse's station, addressed neatly to Dr. Shivanya Verma – Cardiology Department.
She opened it while standing beside the window of the staff room.
Aaradhya Foundation Charity EveningFor the expansion of the Cardiac Research WingVenue: Rajpur Heritage Hotel7:30 PM
She frowned slightly.
Aditya leaned over her shoulder.
"Oh no," he said.
"What?"
"You've been summoned to a social event."
"That's not a summons."
"It's worse."
She folded the card.
"I'm not going."
Aditya laughed.
"You're the doctor everyone is talking about after yesterday's miracle diagnosis."
"That wasn't a miracle."
"Tell that to the hospital board."
Two hours later, she still wasn't planning to attend.
Until Dr. Sameer, the senior cardiologist who had mentored her since her residency, stepped into her office.
"You received the invitation?"
"Yes."
"You should go."
"I'm not good at these things."
"You're excellent at your work," he replied calmly.
"Let people see that."
There was no arguing with Dr. Sameer when he used that tone.
By evening, Rajpur Road had come alive.
The rain-washed streets glowed under strings of decorative lights outside the Rajpur Heritage Hotel. Cars pulled up one after another, dropping off guests dressed in formal attire.
Inside, the ballroom buzzed with quiet conversations and soft music.
Doctors, business leaders, hospital donors, and local officials moved between small groups, glasses of sparkling water or wine in their hands.
Near the center of the room, Rudraksh Kapoor stood speaking with several investors about the new cardiac research wing.
Kabir Mehta leaned beside him, swirling a glass lazily.
"You're not listening," Kabir said.
"I am."
"You're staring at the door."
"I'm observing the room."
Kabir followed his gaze.
The doors opened.
And for a moment the room seemed to pause.
Shivanya stepped inside.
She wore a simple deep-blue dress, nothing extravagant, but it suited her quiet elegance perfectly. Her hair was left loose, falling over her shoulders in soft waves.
She looked slightly uncomfortable with the attention the room gave her.
Kabir's eyebrows lifted slowly.
"Well," he murmured.
"That explains the hospital visits."
Rudraksh didn't reply.
But something about the way he watched her had changed.
Shivanya spotted a familiar face immediately.
"Naina!"
Her friend crossed the room quickly and hugged her.
"I can't believe you actually came."
"I was convinced."
"By Dr. Sameer?"
"Yes."
Naina grinned.
"You clean up nicely for someone who spends most of her life around ECG machines."
"Thank you."
Across the room, Rhea Malhotra noticed the interaction.
She had been speaking with the hospital director when her attention shifted.
Her eyes moved toward the woman who had just entered.
So that's her.
Rhea had heard the name earlier that afternoon.
The cardiologist Rudraksh keeps mentioning.
She studied Shivanya quietly.
There was something irritatingly effortless about her.
No heavy jewelry.
No obvious attempt to impress anyone.
And yet people kept glancing in her direction.
Rhea's smile remained perfectly composed.
But a flicker of irritation passed through her eyes.
Kabir nudged Rudraksh slightly.
"You should go say hello."
"I will."
"You're hesitating."
"I'm choosing the right moment."
"That's not something I've ever heard you say before."
Meanwhile, Shivanya had just taken a glass of juice from the refreshment table when someone approached.
"Doctor."
She turned.
Rudraksh stood beside her.
For a brief second she looked surprised again.
"You're here."
"I could say the same."
"I was persuaded."
"By Dr. Sameer?"
She blinked.
"You know him?"
"He mentioned you during the planning meeting."
That explained something.
She glanced around the ballroom.
"This is a very different environment from the hospital."
"You prefer the hospital."
"Yes."
He looked at her thoughtfully.
"You don't like attention."
"Attention doesn't help patients."
For a moment they simply stood there.
The music shifted softly in the background.
Across the room, Rhea watched the scene carefully.
The way Rudraksh leaned slightly closer when speaking.
The way Shivanya listened calmly.
The small smile that appeared on Rudraksh's face — a smile Rhea had rarely seen during business meetings.
Her fingers tightened around her glass.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Kabir eventually walked over.
"Doctor Shivanya, I presume."
She turned politely.
"Yes."
"Kabir Mehta. Rudraksh's partner in crime."
"Business partner," Rudraksh corrected.
Kabir waved that away.
"I've heard a lot about you."
"That's concerning."
Kabir laughed.
"Oh, you'll fit in nicely."
Across the room, Naina leaned toward Aditya.
"Something is happening there."
Aditya sighed.
"I noticed."
"You don't look happy."
"I'm observing."
"That sounds painful."
"Very."
Later in the evening, as the speeches ended and people began moving toward the terrace, Shivanya stepped outside for a moment of quiet.
The terrace overlooked the dark hills beyond the city.
Cool air drifted through the night.
A few minutes later, Rudraksh joined her.
"You escaped."
"So did you."
"Too many people."
"Yes."
They stood side by side near the railing.
The city lights spread below like scattered gold.
"You look different tonight," he said.
"How?"
"Less serious."
"That's because no one is asking about cholesterol levels."
He laughed quietly.
For a moment the silence between them felt comfortable.
Then Shivanya noticed someone watching from inside the ballroom.
Rhea.
Their eyes met briefly.
The woman's expression remained perfectly polite.
But something beneath it felt colder.
Shivanya turned back toward the terrace.
"Your colleague seems interested."
Rudraksh followed her gaze.
"That's Rhea."
"I assumed."
"She's part of the project."
"And more?"
He hesitated slightly.
"According to other people."
Shivanya nodded calmly.
"I see."
But something about the way she said it made the night feel slightly different.
Across the terrace doors, Rhea continued watching them.
Her smile remained flawless.
But inside, jealousy had already begun to grow.