Page 111 of Trapped By the Maharaja

“Where did the file go?” she whispered to herself, pressing her palm flat against the desk.

She closed her eyes, exhaling slowly, not allowing panic to take over. Then she recalled that she had made copies of the notes the previous week. She had kept them in the palace office room inside a desk. She didn’t use the office room much except to print and use the computer for research.

How do I get the copies?

She didn’t have the time to fly back to the palace and bring them back before the meeting. Biting her lip, she pulled her phone out of her coat pocket and called the head of Devara security.

“Mr. Hari. This is Sanjana. I need the notes I put inside the palace office desk. They are labeled Pediatric Wing Expansion. Can someone scan and send them to me? I need them for my meeting that starts in an hour.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” the security head replied in a polite command. “I’ll have the copies handed to you in a while.”

She crossed her fingers, hoping she would have the notes with her before the meeting.

Sanjana continued her shift, updating patient charts and speaking with nurses as she tried to keep her mind from worrying. The board meeting was in less than thirty minutes. Although she knew what updates to provide, without her notes, she wouldn’t be able to show the exact numbers.

She was at the bedside of a young patient when Mr. Hari, the Devara security head, entered the ward with his usual imposing presence. In his hands was a sleek black folder embossed with the Devara crest in gold. Another guard trailed behind him, careful not to disrupt the flow of the hospital.

“Your Highness,” he said quietly, his tone respectful but firm. He extended the file toward her.

Sanjana blinked, stunned. It had been less than thirty minutes since she had made the call to him.

Her chest tightened, a wave of relief rushing through her as she took the folder. She flipped it open and saw her notes, neatly tabbed and organized, every chart and line she had written ready for her.

She exhaled in relief. “Thank you so much,” she said.

Mr. Hari inclined his head in acknowledgement before he stepped back and left the ward as quietly as he had entered.

Sanjana clutched the file to her chest for a moment before tucking it under her arm.

Thank God.

???

It was late evening and Sanjana was almost done with her shift. She just had one patient to check on.

When she reached the young boy with pneumonia, the nurse on duty handed her a tray of medications.

“Amoxicillin, as prescribed,” the nurse said, placing the vial in Sanjana’s hand.

Sanjana nodded and was about to uncap the vial when something made her pause. The label looked slightly faded, the lettering seemed slightly different than usual.

She lifted the vial to the light, tilting it slightly. The liquid inside felt too thin, almost watery.

Her instincts screamed and she carefully peeled back a corner of the label. Underneath was another label.

Her heart jerked.

It was a sedative. A dangerous one, especially for a child with fragile lungs.

The nurse looked at her. “Doctor?”

Sanjana inhaled a deep breath. “This isn’t correct. Get me a replacement vial from the supply cabinet. And double-check every single medication given out today.”

“Yes, doctor,” the nurse said quickly, hurrying away.

Sanjana turned back to the boy’s parents, who were watching her with wide, anxious eyes. She forced a smile. “Don’t worry. Everything is under control.”

Inside, her heart was beating sickly.