Shad entered the Cardiology ward and looked around. Everything seemed normal. There are patients lying on the bed, doctors attending to them, nurses helping them. But there is something missing, Rhea. Shad glanced at his wrist watch, 4 pm. She had left around 1 pm from the café; she should be here with her patients. He thought maybe she is in her cabin, he left the ward. Shad entered the intern's cabin. He frowned when he found the cabin empty. He began to worry little. He hurried back to the ward

'Have you seen Rhea?' he asked Imran. Imran looked at him and shrugged. Shad is worried. He took out his phone and dialed her number

"The number you are trying to reach is unavailable" a robotic voice answered from the other side. He left, maybe she is in Dr. Singhaniya's cabin. As he hurried to his cabin, he dashed into Eifad.

'Shad! Is everything alright?' She asked. He doesn't reply and ran. She frowned, he must be looking for Rhea. She can't let him get to her.

*************

Rhea is sitting leaning against the door and sobbing, her head buried to her knees. She has been trapped here since 1 pm. She called for help and struggled, but nothing seemed to work. She kept checking her phone and now, even her phone is dead. She is tired now.

**************

Shad knocked Dr. Singhaniya's cabin and entered when he was asked to.

'Sir, where is Rhea?' he asked. Dr. Singhaniya looked at him surprised and confused. Shad frowned seeing his confused expression. He asked Dr. Singhaniya that he had called Rhea. He shrugged and replied in negative. Shad is worried now. He turned to leave when he gets a call. Without bothering to see the caller he picked up the call

'Hello, Dr. Shad. Mrs. Desai's condition is worsening. Please come' a panicked nurse said from the other side. Shad cursed under his breath and left the cabin. Dr. Singhaniya looked on confused.

Eifad smiled watching Shad rush to Mrs. Desai.

After she had dashed into him, she knew that he must be looking for Rhea and so she asked Saxena to ask a nurse to administer wrong medicine to Mrs. Desai. She knew Shad will have to attend her and won't be able to look for Rhea.

'Are you blind! This is a case of overdose...' Shad scolded the nurse, who simply stood there with her head lowered. Shad shook his head. He is already tensed, and now the whole world is irritating him.

************

Rhea stood up and once again banged the door. 'Hel-Hello...'she called meekly. She leaned forward resting her head on the door. She sighed. She then realized that the door has glass, she smacked her forehead- why didn't she think of this earlier? Maybe in a moment of panic, she didn't notice. Rhea quickly composed herself. Being locked up in the room, she is feeling suffocated. She wiped sweat from her face and tugged her hair strands behind her ear and folded her sleeves. She looked around frantically, searching for something. Luckily, her gaze fell on a long iron rod at the edge of a cupboard. She hurried and picked it up. The rod was heavy, and this will definitely do. She rushed to the door. She lifted it up and smashed the glass of the door. She squeezed her eyes as the glass smashed and small pieces fell everywhere. She peeped and found the entire corridor deserted. It is like she is on some different planet with no sign of civilization. She extended her hand from the small opening and managed to unlock the door. Once out she took in a huge gush of air feeling alive. She leaned against the wall and placed her hand on her heaving chest trying to control her breathing.

************

'Eifad!' Eifad is startled when Shad entered her cabin unannounced. She raised her eyebrows.

'Have you seen Rhe...'

'Get out!' Eifad interrupted abruptly. Shad frowned

She leaned forward and glared at him 'This is my cabin, Dr. Shad. Not your home that you barge in unannounced.' She said.

Shad shook his head; he is super tensed and this woman is bothering about cabins and home. Rhea is missing, and this is not the time to follow manners. Nevertheless, Shad left the cabin- it is useless arguing with Eifad. It will only waste time. Shad knocked the door, no response. Shad knocked again, this time little irritably.

'Come in.'

He entered and looked at Eifad.

'Eifad! Rhea is missing' Shad said

'I am not her babysitter' Eifad replied dryly, her attention focused on a file that lay in front of her. Shad sighed

'Dude, she could be in trouble' Shad said placing his palm on the table, he wanted to get Eifad's attention. Eifad remained unresponsive.

'Fine, if you don't help me I will look for her on my own' he said and turned to leave

'You can't Shad. If you do anything other than what you are supposed to do, I will have no option but to fire you...' She said simply. Shad froze. He turned around. Eifad has her head lowered and her gaze fixed on the file. Shad can't believe that Eifad just said that. Will she actually fire him? Why is Eifad behaving so insensitively? There is an employee missing, and she is so relaxed. Shad shook his head and left. Eifad smirked and slowly looked up at the door.

**********

Rhea hurried through the corridor; she could hear sound coming downstairs. She quickly climbed down and found people. Nurses and doctors. She adjusted her coat and hurried towards the ladies bathroom. On the way, she saw Shad coming from the other direction. She is so relieved to see him.

'Shad!' she called

Shad looked up and is stunned to see Rhea. She looked disturbed and disheveled.

Rhea didn't think twice; she is just too relieved to see him. She rushed to him and hugged him tightly. Shad is taken aback. She clung to him like she is scared he might disappear if she lets go. Shad looked around; many people are looking at them. But for some reason, it didn't bother him. Slowly he wrapped his arms around Rhea. She relaxed into his embrace. Shad caressed her back trying to calm her down.

**********

Shad made Rhea sit on a chair in his cabin. He quickly went around the table and got a glass of water for her. Rhea doesn't meet his gaze; she is still shaken by the incident. For a minute, she thought she would never be able to come out from there. The dark room, the eerie silence; frightened her.

Shad kneeled beside her and placed his palm on hers 'Are you alright? Where were you?' Shad asked concerned. Rhea gulped water and looked at him. She narrated the entire incident. Shad frowned. Who could have done this? Who could have locked Rhea in a room? Rhea placed the glass back on the table and leaned forward and hugged Shad

'I was so scared, Shad! I thought I wouldn't survive' she said shaking her head. Shad wrapped his arms around her protectively.

"No! as long as I am alive nothing will happen to you." Shad thought to himself