Page 9 of Trapped By the Maharaja
Her coat was now stained, and her eyes were heavy with strain. The young mother leapt up with hope in her eyes.
Sanjana gave a slow nod with a small smile. “Your son is okay now.”
The young mother dropped to her knees, sobbing in relief. “You saved him. You are a God!”
Sanjana crouched down beside the young mother. “I’m not a God, it’s my job,” she replied softly. “And your son fought well. You can go see him now, but he will be awake after an hour.”
The woman nodded with tears.
As soon as the young mother rushed in, Sanjana walked down the corridor.
Despite the double shift, her mind felt energized. She always felt that way, each time she saved a life.
“Dr. Sanjana Shetty!” a familiar voice barked out.
Sanjana turned to see Dr. Rao approaching.
Dr. Rao was the senior consultant in surgery, an immaculate man with neatly parted silver hair, a tailored suit under his white coat, and a bitter gleam in his eyes.
As soon as he neared, his nostrils flared in anger.
“What the hell do you think you're doing? An unauthorized surgery? Off-protocol drugs? You used an OR without permission!”
Sanjana sucked in a breath to reply calmly. “I saved a child’s life, Dr. Rao.”
Dr. Rao’s eyes blazed. “You brokeevery rulewe have to do it. Do you think this hospital belongs to you to do as you wish!”
“I might not own the hospital, but I will do whatever it takes to save a life.” Her voice was steady, but fire crackled just beneath the surface. “That little boy would bedeadif I’d waitedfor the committee’s approval. And as always, I will pay for the surgery expenses for those who can’t afford it.”
Dr. Rao’s eyes darkened. “It doesn’t matter if you pay for the surgery, Sanjana. This isn’t your first offense. You’ve been warned several times about treating patients who can’t pay! Do you think your beauty or so-called nobleness will keep shielding you?”
“I don’t care about shielding myself,” she said, losing patience. “I care about doing what my job issupposedto do. It is to help and cure sick children.”
He glared, voice dropping to a venomous whisper. “You’ve broken the rules many times. And this time, I won’t let you get away.”
Sanjana watched him storm away.
With a deep sigh, she walked toward the staff lockers, removing her gloves and shoving them into a biohazard bin as she passed. The corners of her borrowed, oversized white coat flared slightly with each step.
Dr. Rajesh was waiting near the nurse’s station, holding a clipboard, fidgeting. The moment she approached, he adjusted his glasses and straightened, a shy, nervous smile covering his handsome face.
“Hey,” Sanjana greeted him with a smile. “Sorry about your coat, Rajesh.” She had borrowed it from him that morning because her coat had blood on it.
She tugged at the sleeve to show him the streaks of blood along the cuff. “There’s blood on this one,” she said. “I’ll buy you a new coat.”
Rajesh blushed and shook his head with a nervous laugh. “No, it’s okay, Sanjana. I—I don’t mind. It’s... my pleasure, actually.”
She raised an eyebrow. “A pleasure to have your coat ruined by arterial spray?” she teased.
Rajesh laughed nervously, glancing down. “I just mean... You saved that child’s life. That was incredible. But...”
His voice trailed off as he looked around and lowered it. “Sanjana, you know my father isn’t going to let this slide. He already thinks you’re reckless.”
Dr. Rao was Rajesh’s father. Although Rajesh was sweet and kindhearted, his father wasn’t. Dr. Rao hated her. He thought Rajesh was interested in her, and an orphan like her with no social worth might end up as his daughter-in-law.
Sanjana smiled. “Dr. Kolli will calm him down as always.”
Rajesh gave a small, worried smile.
