The scene was heart breaking.

"Mom! SHE IS IN BLOOD!!"
"MUMMA! DADDA! PLEASE COME . ."

Red. BLOOD. Everywhere blood was flowing in streams. The water was no more colourless. The plain white tiles were painted artistically in red with all lighter and darker shades perfectly as she lay lifelessly in the bath tub. Aryan ran without slipping in the blood and pulled her out of the tub splashing both blood and water on the walls. Helping her with the arms he made the bleeding body sleep on the floor rushing for dettol. Pouring almost half the bottle of dettol in haste on her left hand he tied the cut palm with a cloth to stop the blood and went to look for the cut on the right hand. With shivering hands he poured the dettol dabbling it with a cotton. But the blood seemed impossible to stop. No amount of dettol could stop the blood. It seemed to be a lost case. And cause. Suddenly the air started smelling like nasty blood and everything tasted metallic. And it wasnt clichè or cinematic like all the memories flashing in his brain and stuff in fact it was like everything was blank. No words can explain the feeling of how empty the world suddenly started appearing. Hollowness claimed Aryans body as he felt his knees becoming weaker and weaker. She was dead. And Aryan couldn't save her. The world was ending. The room was spinning and darkness was consuming.

She committed suicide.

She harmed herself again .

She. Is. Dead.

"Who is Dead?"
Darshans question revived Aryan from the painful memory.

"No..thing."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Voina zoomed into view with her Apple and the best smile plastered on her face. Darshan gave her a smile and waited for Aryan to exchange greetings with her expecting at least today there may be a change and Aryan will finally admit his undying love for his secretary.
What could you expect more from Darshan? Except his quotes and weird behaviours.

"Good morning sir."
Voina said placing Aryans wallet on the table. A sudden emotion of disappointment washed Aryans face for a millisecond then he abruptly checked the wallets contents. Darshan watched in him shock not believing his friend was doubting that Voina had stolen something.

"Dr Seghal had given this in the reception." Voina said checking the schedule of the day for Aryan.

This lighted a bulb on Darshans head as he realised Aryan was doubting Sejal that she might steal something.

"Shitty you were doubting Dr Sejal?"
Aryan spared a quizzical glance at Darshan then continued paying attention to Voina who was explaining the schedule.

"Have a good day Voina. " Aryan said dismissing her.

"You were doubting Dr Sejal?" Darshan posed again.

"I heard it the first time only."

"Then what are you waiting for? Shall I ask the hub to announce it in the mic?" Darshan spoke already removing his phone to call the hub.

Aryan knew well that Darshan could definitely do such a thing so being the wise one he replied.

"She checked my wallet and found Mahimas photo so I was checking did she find the family pic also or not."
Darshan shot his eyebrows up and his pupils expanded like saucers. Taking a moment to sink in the information he collected himself.

"What the hell? Did she see? And how were you so cool all this time? Moreover why would you give your wallet to her? Did you go to her house? Why aren't you answering?"

Darshan took a sip from the glass and suddenly Aryan laughed realizing that Darshan was acting so weird like they were discussing their parents sexual life and not a photo.

"What is so funny?" Darshan asked pointedly.

"Haha - it's ha just that she didn't find that photo and you --- hahaa and yeah its all because you called her from my number."

"Thank God. And yeah don't blame me she disappeared from the auction without informing so I was worried for her." Darshan said defending himself.

"I am still wondering why she didn't inform you in fact she was in the hospital yesterday for an emergency. Did you ask her about it?"
Darshan watched his phone sadly as Aryan spoke.

"I'm not talking to her. She called many times. I am angry. Okay not angry I am just .. just upset." The sadness was quite evident in his tone. Genuine tone. Dramatic Darshan was on a leave right now.

"Drop it. And yeah I am cancelling my plans for today's evening." Aryan said scrolling his phone.

"You BASTARD son of a bit.... " Darshan started and stopped abruptly suddenly his demour changed from angrier to devilish. Gosh. Darshan sucks with emotions he can't freaking carry a single emotion for even the time span of thirty seconds. May God bless him.

"Meet you at lunch. By the way you are going to pay back for last minute plan cancelling."

"Ok but ..."
Before Aryan could complete his word in a flash Darshan was out of the cabin. Like child out for his new toy. Typical Darshan.

* * * * *

"Heads." Aryan spoke staring squarely at Sejal.

"Tails then."

The referee tossed the coin who was none other than Dr Sarah. All the interns were breathing silence mentally praying for the outcome of a tail or else this seemed to be a lost game.

No. This is not any anticipated cricket match between the new interns versus old employees. This is just a panipuri shots competition. It's like a every week tradition here after working hours. Interested people come to play this dumb game is what Aryan thought always but today his perspective changed for some reasons .

Whoever wins the toss gets the advantage of having less chilli powder in their shots. Every week the winner gets different opportunities as a prize and this time it was that the winner gets to ask five questions to the loser.

"Aaandd it's tail."
Sarah announced dramatically.

There was a slight glint of happiness on Sejals face as she nodded I-have-got-this to Stephen. The interns almost squealed in excitement of winning the toss. As Sejals eyes met Darshan he quickly averted them to the opposite side making Sejal realise he is still mad at her. But for what?

"I would love to win now." Aryan spoke softly enough thay only Sejal could hear.

"But I want to lose for you muñeca."

Sejal controlled her eyes which were threatening to turn into saucers at the shock that Aryan spoke this loud enough for an audience to hear.

"Okay once again I would love to repeat if you are having the quality of a true sportsmanship then only participate. You still have time to back off because this game is just for fun no personal grudges later. Am I clear?" Sarah spoke in a high pitch for both the parties to understand.

Both Sejal and Aryan showed their thumbs up nodding that they will continue.

"Okay. That's great. Now that Sejal has won the toss she may decide the disadvantage she would give to Aryan." Sarah instructed.

"Double the chilli for him."Sejal said staring at Aryan.

"Too low. If I were you I would do it ten times." Aryan said smirking.

"That's why you aren't me." Sejal said playing along. Childish right? But now it had become a challenge of who would have the last word.

Yeah a last word challenge.

As Darshan understood quite well that these both could continue this battle all life so he jumped in turning to become the peacemaker by giving them their plates.

First round of puris were served and everything was at ease as the competition was just sinking in for both of them. After every serve the audience were leaving their upholded like their next month's salary was depending on whoever the winner is.

After ten puris Sejal was confident that she has got this because slowly the extra chillies effect was starting to become visible as Aryans eyes turned glassy with the slightest amount of tears blurring his perfectly chocolate eyes.

The servings continued for the next round of puris and Sejals tummy was already starting to be feel filled making her wonder how was Aryan even still eating without any complaints.Like seriously?

Who can take more amount of shots in five minutes was the competition and Aryan even with the disadvantage of extra chilli was leading the chart. Sejal started weighing her options of what if she loses. Anything worse could be is they may make her as his slave for a day. What can be more worst than that?

A kiss?
'Next time I can't stop myself muñeca. I want to kiss you.'
Those were Aryans words the last time they were together in a lift. He wanted a kiss. But why?

Now Sejal suddenly felt alive and she wanted to win this competition because it's better to die of constipation or food poisoning instead of kissing that bastard. The same bipolar who left her to die of hypothermia in the rain. He doesn't deserves to live!

"More."
Sejal looked at Aryan as they both have mirrored the word. And there Sejals sanity goes straight into the drainage with his half loop smile and the sexy dimple appearing on his left chin and those glassy eyes couldn't let her think for a moment. Those chocolate eyes weren't empty. They held a warmth of emotions. They held curiosity. And that did it.

"I am done."

There were gasps from the interns section of audience.
"Shit." Stephen groaned.

"Congratulations! And my friend is on a quest to claim absolute victory on every front." Darshan said pulling Aryans hand in the air like a refree does when a boxer wins in a ring. Don't blame Darshan that was the most thinkable thing he could do in the excitement of Aryans win.

"This isn't boxing Dr Vyas and not even a place for your quotes. So cheers to our unbeatable winner and one of my very good friends the one and only one Aryan Shetty."
Sarah said with a very cheerful voice earning claps for Aryans victory.

Sejal couldn't believe that she let Aryan win just seeing some emotions in his eyes. Like seriously? A complete idiot only would do that.

Kiate handed Sejal her phone telling that there were series of calls from someone feeded as 'dumbass'.
Now why the hell was Raghav calling her. Did he find out that she lost a damn competition for her sexy boss.

"And the winner gets to ask five questions to my dearest loser. And if she doesn't answer Aryan should make Sejal as his spot for the next twenty three hours." Sarah read out the prize in monotone with all the cheerfulness gone.

"This isn't a news report oldie." Darshan remarked at Sarah earning a hit on the head from her.

"This isn't exciting at all. My friend won a competition and he just gets to ask five freaking questions. This is insane. Who the hell even put up this prize? Arjun you-"
Sarah cried like a baby making everybody smile with her act.

"Arjun I won't spare you!" Sarah shouted leaving the canteen all agitated.

"Actually this is interesting." Aryan said leaning slightly into Sejal which made her flinch because of the sudden action.

"I'm waiting Dr Shetty."
Sejal said just not because she wanted to have a say but instead because she is really excited to know what Aryan had in store for her.

'Love me like you do..'

Sejals heart went skyrocketing to heaven when she heard those lines. Like for real was Aryan singing those lines. Maybe he was really someone like Christian Grey of Fifty...

"Lift your phone muñeca."

Shit.
Sejal finally realised that Aryan wasn't the one singing it was actually her phone which was ringing.

Between mumbling a yeah and yes Sejal picked up the call in haste without looking at the caller id.

"Hello -"

"Need Date Katu I Plaza And you hat cover following."

"Dude you are in serious need of English tutoring."
Sejal replied not understanding what Raghav was actually trying to say.

"Katyusha is going on a date with some dude and I don't like him already we need to go and spy. Get a cover like a hat." Raghav explained pronouncing each word accordingly.

"Ask her not to go. Why should we spy?" Sejal said the most logical thing.

Aryan was watching Sejal in amusement wondering when did she change her profession which was her life and so called religion also. Great. From a doctor to a spy.

"Rags but -"

"DR SEGHAL It's an emergency."

Without thinking twice Sejal cut the call and ran towards the main entrance. Raghav can wait with his stupid idea.

An unconcious girl was being pulled in a stretcher with her parents following behind. Sejal put on her stethoscope and checked the heartbeat while Aryan checked the pulse.

"Very low."
Both Aryan and Sejal said together nodding at each other.

"Do you have any old reports?"
Aryan asked to the girls father.

"Yes. Here take these."
Sejal took the reports and started referring them immediately.

"Stomach pain and gas it says."
Sejal said flipping the reports for any further information.

Aryan started checking the patients head which gained Sejals interest that what could be the relation between the head and the stomach. Aryan looked at Sejal and watched her observing the scalp having loss of hair.

Medical conditions that can cause hair loss include thyroid disease, alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hairfollicles), and scalp infections like ringworm.

"Does her reports tell anything about thyroid?"
Aryan asked Sejal.

"No."

"Okay then we will go with X ray then CT scan. Nurse."
Aryan ordered walking towards his cabin.

"No need of any X Ray. You people wants to just loot the patients. You tell us these many tests instead of giving medicines -" the patients father was cut off.

"What the hell is your problem? When you fucking don't want to cure your daughter why waste our time and make a scene here bringing the patient?" Aryan growled like a caveman scaring the shit out of everyone present there.

Sejal was shocked by his sudden outburst. He is the most composed person she had ever met who wouldn't simply make a scene but what happened now?

"Look at this doctor's attitude now -" again Aryan cut off the patients father.

"Follow the procedure or get the hell out of my hospital."
Aryan shouted.

"You need to calm down Dr Shetty." Sejal was surprised to find her own voice speaking.

"I don't need your advice Sejal." Aryan snapped back at her almost making her eyes well.

"Nurse get the X ray done immediately." Aryan said this time and the patients father kept mum due to the dominance.

After two hours....

"Wardboy get the OT ready in five." Sejal said.

"You can't take the call without the CT scan Dr Seghal. " Aryan said in a firm tone.

Sejal put the X rays on display again so that Aryan could observe them again.
"I'm sure it's trichophagia. And I don't think that man will even pay for the CT scans. Let's take this Dr Shetty."

Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from ingesting hair (trichophagia). The syndrome is named after the long-haired girlRapunzel in the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Trichophagia is sometimes associated with the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania.

"Okay then."
Aryan said analysing the X rays again.

"Tulsi inform us when the OT is ready." Sejal said to the Nurse who made an exit noddingly.

"Are you suffering from splits personality disorder?" Aryan asked Sejal out of the blue.

"What??!" Sejal almost shouted not believing what her ears were listening.

"That was my first question. And you just answered me." Aryan said pulling on his scrubs.

"When did I even answer?" Sejal asked almost whispering to herself.

"See you don't even remember you answered it. Funny right?"
Aryan mocked her.

"You know what I actually hate you." Sejal said annoyed.

"Look you just showed me all the symptoms muñeca. Love me like you do.."  Aryan sang the words teasing Sejal making her to search her phone.

Obviously it was Aryan who sang this time not her phone ringing.

Smiling as politely as he could Aryan left the room leaving Sejal with a mix of annoyance and embarrassment.

"I hate you." Sejal shouted to herself annoyed.

*      *      *       *      *

A/n:
Hello lovely readers.
That was one hell of a long chapter.
Hope you guys enjoy it.
I am actually struck with a serious writers block so help me out with ideas people.

Harry0717 my awesome friend made some lovely covers for Connecting dots. Let me know which one is your favourite.
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Tell me the number of the cover you like in the comments.
Thank you.

Don't forget to click the star on the right or left wherever you find because that will definitely help me.

Love,
Be strong Be happy.

Sana Afreen.

Don't forget to vote.

**
If you were Aryan and given a chance to ask Sejal a question what would you like to ask?