Chapter 9 – Bloodline
Hospital basement se bahar aate waqt Rishi ka mind still shock me tha.
Logbook.
Mother ka note.
Aur woh line:
"The real mastermind… is inside our family."
Arjun ne silence todha.
"Rishi… tumhare family me kaun powerful hai?"
Rishi ne turant answer nahi diya.
Uska mind ek hi face par stuck tha.
But woh believe nahi karna chahta tha.
The Name
Apartment pahunchkar Rishi ne purani family files nikali.
Old photos.
Documents.
Certificates.
Ek photo table par gir gaya.
Family gathering ka.
Uski mother.
Young Rishi.
Aur unke saath ek aur aadmi.
Tall.
Sharp face.
Confident smile.
Uska uncle.
Dr. Karan Verma
Arjun ne photo uthaya.
"Doctor?"
Rishi slowly bola:
"Not just doctor."
Pause.
"He's one of the most respected surgeons in the country."
Arjun ka expression change ho gaya.
"Wait… Verma?"
He quickly phone par search karne laga.
Aur screen Rishi ko dikhayi.
Headline:
"Dr. Karan Verma Appointed Director of National Medical Research Institute."
Rishi ka blood cold ho gaya.
Powerful.
Untouchable.
Exactly the type of person jo Singhania ke saath kaam kar sakta tha.
Memory
Rishi suddenly flashback me chala gaya.
Childhood memory.
Hospital corridor.
Uski mother aur uncle argue kar rahe the.
Young Rishi door ke peeche khada tha.
Uski mother gusse me keh rahi thi:
"People are dying because of this!"
Uncle ka voice calm tha.
"You don't understand the bigger picture."
Flashback end.
Confirmation
Arjun ne serious tone me poocha:
"Last time tumne apne uncle se kab baat ki?"
Rishi quietly bola:
"Three weeks ago."
Arjun stunned ho gaya.
"After Khanna's arrest?"
Rishi nodded.
"He called me."
"Why?"
Rishi slowly bola:
"To warn me… to stop investigating."
Room silent ho gaya.
Arjun whispered:
"He wasn't warning you."
Pause.
"He was protecting himself."
Realization
Puzzle finally complete ho raha tha.
Singhania.
Hospital board.
Organ trafficking.
Aur mastermind…
Dr. Karan Verma.
Rishi ka anger control me tha.
But eyes me cold fire aa chuka tha.
"Twenty years…"
Pause.
"My own family."
Meanwhile
Glass office tower.
Singhania quietly whiskey pour kar raha tha.
Door open hua.
Dr. Karan Verma andar aaya.
Elegant.
Confident.
Dangerous.
Singhania ne poocha:
"Do you think he knows?"
Verma calmly bola:
"Soon."
Pause.
"But blood is emotional."
Singhania faint smile karta hai.
"And revenge is stronger."
Final Scene 👻
Late night.
Rishi mirror ke saamne khada tha.
Room dark tha.
Uska reflection suddenly blur hua.
Aur uske peeche Aryan ka ghost appear hua.
Aryan softly bola:
"You're finally close."
Rishi ne mirror me uski taraf dekha.
"Why didn't you tell me before?"
Aryan ki eyes sad ho gayi.
"Because the truth…"
Pause.
"…would break you."