Second Chance: A Dark Tale of Urban India

Akansha had been given one simple role: lure Dr. Anil Kulkarni away to the far side of the garage where her car was parked.

Dressed in her favorite red designer one-piece that hugged her figure perfectly, she was confident she could charm any man, and from Rohit’s briefing, the doctor would be easy prey.

But the hospital compound was a maze of corridors and wings. In her haste, she forgot which room she was supposed to check. The only clue she had was the doctor’s name, so she began asking around.

A ward boy directed her to the first floor, saying he had seen Dr. Anil there fifteen minutes ago. It turned out to be a complete waste of time. Frustration cracked her patience as she hurried back down the stairs.

On the landing, she spotted two medical staff in deep conversation — a senior warden in her mid-forties scolding a young nurse. Akansha interrupted with elegant poise.

Artwork.

"Excuse me... could you please guide me to Dr. Anil Kulkarni’s chamber? I have an appointment, but he wasn’t in his room."

The warden, clearly frustrated, barely glanced at her. "He’s right there," she said, gesturing vaguely toward the corridor.

Akansha thanked her and turned the corner — only to freeze.

Dr. Anil Kulkarni was holding a nurse’s shoulder, trying to stop a patient being wheeled out on a stretcher. At the same moment, the junior nurse called out loudly, "Ma’am, it was her who told me to find you! I swear it wasn’t me!"

Akansha didn’t need long to connect the dots. Stretcher. Patient. Nurse. This had to be Namrata — the girl Rohit had briefed her about. She had never met her, but she knew enough.

Two choices flashed in her mind: stop the woman in front of her, or go after the doctor who was farther away but dangerously close to escaping.

Without missing a beat, Akansha raised her hand and called out in a clear, charming voice, "Dr. Anil Kulkarni! Wait a minute, please!"

Dr. Anil paused and turned. His expression immediately brightened at the sight of a beautiful woman in her thirties waving at him by name in public. Nearby, Warden Gayatri and Nurse Seema also turned, their gestures suddenly confused as they rushed toward him.

Namrata, watching the chaos unfold, panicked but kept her voice polite. "Sir, the patient needs discharge. The ambulance is waiting. If you please—"

"No... wait," Dr. Anil said, refusing to let go. "It seems something needs your presence."

Then came the perfect distraction.

"Aah... Doctor! Help!"

Akansha, moving slower in her high heels, deliberately stumbled and fell. Her face flushed with feigned embarrassment as she let out a convincing sob, clutching her twisted ankle.

" My leg... ouch... it hurts so much!"

Warden Gayatri and Nurse Seema immediately turned back to help her. Dr. Anil looked conflicted — a beautiful woman calling his name versus the nurse and patient — but his ego won. He warned Namrata sternly, "Stay right there," before hurrying over to assist.

The moment he turned away, Namrata seized the chance. She instructed the ward boy in a firm whisper, "Move fast unless you want to face Gayatri’s wrath."

The ward boy nodded quickly and helped push the stretcher down the corridor.

In the garage, Robin was already waiting with the ambulance doors open. The ward boy helped lift the patient inside. Namrata slipped him a 200-rupee note and patted his shoulder.

"Good job. Take the rest of the day off and avoid Gayatri. I’ll handle the rest."

The ward boy’s eyes widened in gratitude. In six months of service, no one had ever tipped him so generously or given him half a day off. He folded his hands in a respectful namaste and hurried away.

Robin started the engine and drove toward the gate. The paperwork cleared without suspicion, and they slipped out of the compound safely.

Only then did Namrata let out a long sigh of relief. She turned to Robin.

"Where is Rohit? When will he join us?"

Robin kept his eyes on the road and replied shortly, "He stayed behind to pick up something leftover."

***

Back near the staircase, the warden and the junior nurse helped stabilize Akansha. They gently massaged her ankle, trying to ease the pain so she could move more comfortably.

Artwork.

Dr. Anil stood a few steps away, visibly frustrated. He had wanted to get his hands on the rich, beautiful woman, but with other female staff present, he had to maintain appearances. Even though he held higher rank, certain boundaries were still enforced in matters of gender.

But fate seemed merciful.

The junior nurse suddenly blurted out, "Ma’am, that nurse fled with the patient!"

Dr. Anil’s expression sharpened. "Wait... what’s the matter?"

Warden Gayatri replied quickly, "Sir, that nurse gave a false alarm. I was on patrol when this idiot came asking if I needed her for the audit. Now we saw a suspicious-looking nurse wheeling a patient out on a stretcher. At the same time, this madam appeared looking for you and slipped in the distraction. I suspect she was trying to use the patient as an excuse to flee and take a half-day mid-shift."

A vein popped on Dr. Anil’s forehead. Not only had this straightforward warden messed up the situation, but she was also damaging his image in front of a potential rich client who now wore a frown of panic.

He cleared his throat and reprimanded sharply, "What kind of nonsense is this? Do you think it’s easy to break rules in this esteemed hospital? There are CCTV cameras everywhere. She must have been ordered to shift the patient to a different ward. Don’t utter baseless assumptions. Go check with reception."

The warden apologized and turned to the junior nurse, who was still supporting Akansha. She wanted her to accompany her, but Dr. Anil’s glare scared her off.

He called to the junior nurse instead, "Help her to my clinic."

Akansha grimaced slightly as she took a tentative step, then said politely, "I think I can manage. Please assist the warden if it’s urgent."

The junior nurse nodded and left.

Dr. Anil stepped closer, feeling giddy as he offered his hand to Akansha’s for support. "So, madam..."

Before he could finish, Akansha deliberately fumbled into him , trying to grab his hand and apologised with a sultry voice."ouch.. my leg."

He instinctively grabbed her by the waist, his hands brushing against her slim figure as he inhaled her perfume.

"Are you okay, madam?" he asked, arousal clear in his voice.

Akansha’s face flushed as she slowly pulled away, but she deliberately kept one arm wrapped around his, pressing her body close. "Doctor, my friend recommended your name for my brother’s stomach treatment. His condition is very serious. I tried asking the staff for help, but they’re citing formalities first. Please... help me."

Dr. Anil felt a thrill run through him as he took her hand. In his mind, he had already labeled her: a rich-looking woman whose elegant appearance was likely a facade. She was probably short on real money and willing to trade favors , most likely sex, to get her brother operated on big discount. He had seen similar situations before. His pants tightened noticeably.

"Don’t worry, madam," he reassured her. "I will arrange a ward boy."

Akansha sobbed softly, clinging tighter. "No... Doctor. I only trust you. Please come and take a look first. I don’t want to take any chances."

Dr. Anil felt conflicted, going like this seemed slightly embarrassing — but the deliberate press of her breasts against his arm made him agree. After all, if the client herself was offering, why refuse? He might even get a chance to touch her more privately.

"Don’t worry, madam," he said, maintaining a dignified look. "I will assist you personally. Show me the way."

Akansha led him all the way to the garage, clinging to his arm the entire time. When they reached her car, she stopped.

Dr. Anil, emboldened, deliberately slid his hand lower, trying to grab her breast. "Where is the car?"

Akansha instantly pulled away and shoved him back. "Hands off, beggar."

Before he could react, she delivered a sharp, stinging slap across his face.

"Even the servants at my home are paid five times your salary," she said with sheer arrogance. "Be grateful you got to touch this body at all."

Dr. Anil’s face twisted in rage. He raised his hand to strike back, but froze when he felt something cold and hard poke into his back.

He turned slowly.

Rohit stood there, gun pointed straight at him.

"R... Rohit?" Dr. Anil stammered.

Rohit pressed the barrel against his mouth, forcing him backward. "I told you, Doctor... don’t try to be extra smart. But you dared to put your hands on something your forefathers wouldn’t even dream of."

Dr. Anil tried to explain, but the barrel silenced him. Pure terror filled his eyes as Rohit pushed him backward until he stumbled and fell into the open car trunk.

Rohit called out calmly, "Akansha."

She already had the handkerchief soaked in anesthesia ready. She pressed it firmly over Dr. Anil’s panicked nose and mouth. His arms and legs thrashed wildly for a few seconds before going limp.

Rohit folded Dr. Anil’s legs into the trunk and slammed it shut with a heavy thud.

He turned to Akansha. She was standing there furious, fuming, folding her hands, lips pressed into a tight pout.

"Let’s go," he said.

But she didn’t move.

Rohit stepped closer, looking straight into her eyes. "Now what?"

Akansha didn’t move. Her gaze distant but her shoulders started shaking.

Rohit gently pulled her into his arms. The moment her face pressed against his chest, the dam broke completely.

A raw, choked sob escaped her.

"I felt so disgusting..." she whispered, her voice trembling. "Letting him touch me. Smiling at him like I wanted it. For a second... I actually believed I was enjoying it."

Her fingers dug into his shirt.

"My husband used to throw me to his friends like a piece of meat... and today I willingly did the same thing. Just to trap that pig."

She let out a bitter, broken laugh that quickly turned into crying.

"I’m so tired, Rohit... I don’t want to live like this anymore. I don’t want to be this kind of woman — the one who has to use her body every time she needs something. I was so naive before... but I can’t keep doing this."

She pulled back slightly, eyes swollen and desperate, looking straight at him.

"Please... help me get out of this life."

Rohit gently patted her back.

"I need time," he said quietly, "but I promise... the Mittals will pay for what they did to you."