Chapter Thirty-Four: The Price of a Mistake

The hospital corridor in was cold.

Not just in temperature—

But in the way it stripped everything down to reality.

The moment Poornima was taken inside, the doors shut behind her with a finality that made everything else feel distant.

Doctors moved quickly.

Voices overlapped.

Machines were brought in.

“Any allergies?” the doctor asked urgently, turning to those outside.

Ravi stepped forward immediately, his voice tense but clear.

“Yes—she’s allergic to mushrooms and brinjal.”

Gayathri nodded, adding quickly,

“Once in college… she had it by mistake. She fainted… lost a lot of blood… it was serious. She almost…”

Her voice broke slightly.

“…she almost didn’t make it.”

The doctor’s expression hardened.

“Alright. That helps. We’re trying to stabilize her.”

Veeresh stepped closer, his voice low but edged with something sharp.

“What happened?”

The doctor didn’t sugarcoat it.

“She’s had mushrooms or brinjal. It triggered a severe reaction. There’s internal bleeding. We are trying to control it.”

A pause.

“We’ll do our best… but right now, it’s critical.”

The words didn’t echo.

They hit.

Hard.

“Hope she will survive,” the doctor added before rushing back inside.

Hope.

The word felt weak.

Ravi turned suddenly.

Before anyone could react—

He grabbed Veeresh by the collar.

His grip was tight.

Shaking.

Fueled by fear more than anger.

“Did you marry her to kill her?” he demanded, his voice breaking under the weight of panic.

Gayathri tried to pull him back, “Ravi—”

But he didn’t let go.

Veeresh didn’t react aggressively.

Didn’t push him away.

Didn’t raise his voice.

“I didn’t know,” he said.

Simple.

Direct.

And for once—

Not controlled.

Because it was the truth.

His mind was racing.

Replaying.

Reconstructing.

His parents arrived then, breathless, worry written all over their faces.

“Beta… how is Poornima?” his mother asked, her voice trembling.

Veeresh looked at them.

For a moment, words didn’t come.

Then he spoke.

Everything.

The collapse.
The blood.
The doctor’s words.

Silence followed.

His mother’s hands folded instantly.

His father closed his eyes briefly.

Prayer.

Not spoken loudly.

But deeply.

Because some moments left no room for anything else.

Gayathri stood still, her mind trying to piece it together.

“She’s always careful,” she whispered.

“Always. She never touches mushroom or brinjal… not even by mistake.”

Her voice grew firmer.

“Then how did she?”

Ravi’s eyes snapped back to Veeresh.

“Catering.”

The word landed heavily.

Veeresh’s jaw tightened.

“From Mewar catering.”

Silence.

Then—

Realization.

Ravi’s expression darkened instantly.

“Her family knows.”

His voice was no longer just emotional—

It was sharp.

Accusing.

“They know about her condition.”

The implication hung in the air.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Veeresh didn’t respond immediately.

But something inside him—

Shifted.

Anger rose.

Cold.

Controlled.

Deadly.

Not loud.

Not explosive.

But present.

Because this—

This wasn’t carelessness.

Not when they knew.

Not when it could cost her life.

His fists clenched slightly, his jaw tightening as his mind processed it all.

But even then—

Even with the anger building—

His eyes moved back to the ICU doors.

Because right now—

Nothing mattered more.

Not revenge.
Not answers.

Just her.

Safe.

Alive.

For the first time—

Veeresh Rathore didn’t want control.

He didn’t want power.

He didn’t want victory.

He wanted one thing.

Poornima to open her eyes.