Chapter 1 – The Wrong Man
Three weeks after Dr. Rajeev Khanna’s arrest.
The hospital had a new management team. Media vans were gone. The headlines had faded.
But peace?
That was an illusion.
Rishi stood alone inside Ward No. 7.
The room no longer felt cold.
No whispers.
No presence.
Aryan was gone.
And for the first time… Rishi felt completely alone.
That evening, as he returned to his apartment, he noticed something unusual.
The door was slightly open.
He was sure he had locked it.
Slowly, carefully, he stepped inside.
Nothing looked disturbed.
Until he saw it.
A brown envelope placed neatly on his table.
No sender name.
No address.
Just his name written in black ink:
Dr. Rishi Kushwaha.
His heartbeat slowed.
He opened it.
Inside was a photograph.
His fingers froze.
It was an old operation theatre picture.
On the table—
His mother.
Unconscious.
Surrounded by doctors.
And in the background…
Not Dr. Khanna.
But a tall man in a grey suit.
Watching.
Observing.
Not participating.
Just… supervising.
Rishi turned the photo over.
One sentence was written behind it:
“You stopped the wrong man.”
Silence filled the room.
His breathing became heavy.
Khanna was only a puppet.
Suddenly, his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A calm, mature voice spoke—
“You’re intelligent, Dr. Rishi. But not intelligent enough.”
Rishi’s jaw tightened.
“Who is this?”
A soft chuckle.
“Someone who built that hospital from the ground up.”
Pause.
“You removed an employee. Congratulations.”
Rishi’s eyes darkened.
“Devendra Singhania.”
The line stayed silent for two seconds.
Then—
“I was wondering when you’d say my name.”
Chairman of the Hospital Trust.
Political donor.
Untouchable.
“You think exposing Khanna ended this?” Singhania continued.
“You damaged my structure. Now I fix the damage.”
“By threatening me?” Rishi shot back.
“No,” the voice replied smoothly.
“By removing you.”
The call disconnected.
Rishi stood still.
This wasn’t rage like before.
This was different.
Calculated.
Cold.
He walked to the mirror slowly.
For a second—
Just one second—
He thought he saw someone standing behind him.
White coat.
Faint outline.
Then nothing.
He closed his eyes.
“Aryan…?” he whispered.
Silence.
No answer.
Next morning.
Breaking news headline flashed across every channel:
“Former Intern Under Investigation for Medical Misconduct.”
Rishi’s name was trending.
Allegations:
• Unethical procedures
• Patient endangerment
• Involvement in hidden operations
Fabricated.
Cleanly executed.
Chairman had made his move.
Inspector Arjun called immediately.
“This isn’t random,” Arjun said. “Political pressure. High level.”
Rishi looked at the photo again.
His mother.
And the man in the grey suit.
“This time,” Rishi said quietly,
“We don’t attack the hospital.”
Pause.
“We attack the empire.”
Outside, somewhere far above the city—
Inside a glass office tower—
Devendra Singhania stood by a window, watching the skyline.
“Let’s see,” he murmured.
“How long you survive without your ghost.”