Chapter 116: chapter 116

SRUTHIMy initial shock at what happened slowly dissolves, and I start to feel things more clearly. I still can’t fully believe that Nisha is the culprit. But all circumstances point to her. She’s the one closest to both me and Vikram. If there’s anyone who would know all my movements, it’s her.Yet her helpless eyes keep recurring in my mind. If she’s truly the culprit, why didn’t my brother notice anything strange about her? The vial found in her bag feels too convenient, too easy. Why would she put it back in her own bag? Was it a careless mistake, or does she genuinely not know about it?“Madhav, what if Nisha isn’t the real culprit?” I ask quietly as he drives. He’s been oddly silent all evening, never interfering when Vikram took Nisha away. Vikram, out of all of us, must be the most shocked to believe Nisha could be guilty.“Then we’ll find the real one,” Madhav says, his tone steady. “You still don’t think it was Nisha?”“I know the evidence points to her. She’s the perfect person to be the perpetrator, but… why? Why didn’t we ever doubt her? How did my brother—who’s always so sharp and alert—not see this coming?”Madhav keeps his eyes on the road, but I can tell where his mind is wandering. “We all make mistakes in judgment, Sruthi. Just like I made a mistake with Vishnu. You asked why Nisha would hurt you, but maybe there doesn’t need to be a reason. She could just be a puppet to Raj, dancing to his manipulation.”“You think Nisha was manipulated into this?”“I think it’s possible,” Madhav replies. “Just like with Vishnu. He had no personal grudge against you, but he was brainwashed into believing he was the avenger of a fallen drug lord. That only by killing you could he find peace.”“But how could that be possible if Raj is in prison?” I ask, frowning.“That’s exactly what I’m trying to understand. Vishnu only seemed affected after Raj’s arrest. Either Nisha was manipulated before he went to jail, or Raj is somehow still pulling strings from the inside. If it’s the latter, then we have another mystery on our hands.”“Can you really brainwash someone that deeply?” I ask, unsure if such manipulation is even possible.“You have no idea of Raj’s skill. He was a master manipulator. If you don’t guard your mind, he’ll get in without you even realizing it. And if he’s using mind control drugs along with those skills…”“But why? What was Raj trying to accomplish before he was arrested? He must have had an end goal for creating those drugs, right?”“I’m not entirely sure, but I think he wanted to build a world where people obeyed him without question. A world where he could pull the strings, controlling people like puppets. Raj was obsessed with power—not just over territory or money, but over people’s minds, their choices. He didn’t want followers; he wanted slaves, people who would act on his will without even knowing it was his influence. His idea of control went far beyond anything material.”A shiver runs down my spine. “That’s sick.”“It is. The strangest part is that he managed to gather followers who worshipped him for those ideas.”“Were they arrested too?”“Unfortunately, no. Before Vikram could get to them, Raj destroyed any trace of information about his followers. I thought it was strange at the time, but now I understand. He wanted his followers to stay hidden, ready to act without risking exposure.”“What do you think he’s left for them to do?”“It could be anything, Sruthi. Continuing his research… or exacting revenge on Vikram.”We reach the hospital, and I get out of the car. Madhav’s words about Raj linger in my mind, heavy and dark.“Should we tell Gabe about Nisha?” I ask, my stomach twisting.Madhav’s phone rings, and he glances at the caller ID, frowning. “Sruthi, go ahead. It’s my employee, and it might be urgent.”“Oh, sure,” I say.As I turn to leave, Madhav calls out to me. His eyes meet mine, serious and concerned. “Just be careful. Stay alert. I’ll join you in a minute.”I nod and walk inside the hospital. The scent of disinfectant and medication fills the air, a grim reminder of where I am. A sense of gloom settles over me as I approach the reception desk. I ask the receptionist about Gabe, and she throws me a suspicious look.“What’s your relationship to her, ma’am?”“I’m her best friend. I need to see her,” I reply.“She’s on the third floor. There’s a police officer there who will verify you before allowing entry.”“Thank you,” I say, just as Madhav joins me. He looks tense, and I realize he must be worried about leaving the expo. He should be overseeing things, not driving me around.“I’m sorry you had to leave the expo because of me,” I say.Madhav frowns. “Don’t apologize. I’m here because you’re more important than the expo.”I squeeze his hand, grateful. “Thank you.”As we step into the elevator, Madhav answers the question I’d asked outside. “Sruthi, I think you should be honest with Gabriella about what’s happening. She deserves to know about the threats to your life. But don’t mention Raj. That’s confidential. The public doesn’t know he’s been arrested or that he’s serving his sentence in prison.”“Okay,” I agree, bracing myself as the elevator doors slide open on the third floor.The hallway stretches out in front of me, lined with patient rooms, but I can tell where Gabe is by the police officer stationed outside her door. Madhav approaches him, and it seems they know each other.“Hello, sir,” the officer greets him. “Nasty business, sir. Glad your wife escaped the poisoning.”“Did the doctors say anything about the poison found in her system?”“Yes, sir. The poison was mixed into her juice. It’s a slow-acting toxin—if untreated within two hours, it would’ve killed her in eight. It affects the muscular system first, then spreads slowly through the rest of the body.”“Thanks for the information,” Madhav says, and the officer gives me a nod, allowing us inside.Gabe is awake, but she looks pale, almost gaunt. Somehow, it seems she’s lost weight in just a few hours. But her face lights up when she sees me. “Seems like I just escaped death, Sruthi.”“That’s not something to joke about. I’m so sorry. This is all because of me.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“Oh my gosh!” Gabe gasps when I finish recounting the story.“So much has happened, and you’re only telling me now? Your life was threatened, and you didn’t think to let me know?”“I had to keep it a secret,” I say, shrugging. I haven’t told her everything—just that my life is being targeted by Vikram’s enemies. Anything about Raj has to stay under the carpet.“So… Nisha was behind this?” Gabe asks, her expression surprisingly calm.“You don’t seem too shocked,” I say.“When I woke up here, and the doctors told me what happened, I had my suspicions. I don’t know why she would do it, but I always got a strange feeling from her.”“What do you mean?”Gabe nods thoughtfully. “You know how easily I can connect with people. But with her it never felt natural. She seemed to have too many secrets.”What if Nisha really is the culprit? What if every piece of evidence we found is exactly what it seems? Why do I find it hard to believe the obvious?Am I just fooling myself? OrAm I being manipulated too?? ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥