Chapter 11: Chapter 11

*Palak Pov*

“Are you okay, Palak?” I opened my eyes only to meet two pairs of worried eyes staring at me and I can guess a hint of curiosity added to it.

“It’s been four days and you look worse everyday day. Why don’t you have a check up right now?” Tina added to Veer’s question.

“I am fine! I just need to sleep.” I mumbled, rubbing my eyes and started eating the lunch they both brought for me.

I just closed my eyes for a few seconds while waiting for them to return with our lunch, but I don’t know when I drifted off into sleep. I can understand their worry, but there is nothing much wrong except me being deprived of sleep.

“Your fan is causing trouble again?” Veer asked, frowning and I gave him a nod without saying anything else.

I can’t explain what is happening during these four days properly. It’s been three days since I heard that confession from him and I don’t know whether to call it a confession in the first place.

Anyway, his words added to that stupid mattress caused me as much trouble as they can. To top of that I am trying to cook him meals and also do all the housework which I used to postpone most of the time feeling lazy.

In the end, I am completely tired, but there is no where to get good sleep to overcome that tiredness. Now, how can I explain all this to these two?

“Why don’t you let me check it?” Veer’s question brought me out of my worries.

“No! I mean, my landlord doesn’t like it, let others touch the electrical problems except for the person she wishes to.” I covered my immediate reaction with that explanation which is not a lie because she is really like that.

“And the person who can take my problem away will return by the end of next week.” I added thinking about Satish.

“And she wants you to get troubled in this way until then?” Tina asked in a shock tone and I gave her a simple nod.

Maybe I will make him sleep on the mattress today as the bruises I saw on his body seems to reduce. Even the ones on his face are getting better. But what if it causes discomfort when I am feeling such by myself? And I still have the problem with the way he has been recently.

Whenever I am trying to show him concern, he immediately launches his evergreen words that I shouldn’t treat him as a patient. On top of that we are even talking about my work everyday I return home and when I try not to, he just simply says that he is bored staying alone for the whole day even with the laptop present.

Sometimes I actually feel guilty that I don’t have a television in my room which I shouldn’t feel, but the way he expresses his difficulty is like too much for me to handle in a normal way and it just gets too personal no matter how much I try.

“Why don’t you sleep in one of the dorms until it gets checked? There should be some empty bed in one of those.” Veer commented and I immediately stared at him pushing away all my thoughts.

“What if it troubles someone?” I asked him frowning.

“Come on! They all will not sleep at a time, right?” he asked back and I gave him a nod realizing he is absolutely right.

“And you can try for some overtime so that it will be comfortable for you to stay here for a long time.” Tina added.

“You don’t want to go and freshen up at home and come here only during sleeping hours?” Veer asked frowning.

“She is about to fall down with exhaustion and how can she travel twice today? You have spare clothes, Dr. Palak? Why don’t you do like he says from tomorrow and just get a long sleep today.” She adviced staring at me.

“You are right! And it won’t be good if I come here just during the night to sleep and leave after waking up. I will just stay here for two or three days.” I mumbled finally deciding on that part.

****

“We will take our leave, Dr. Palak. You already took another patient, right? Go and have a good sleep finishing that.” Tina whispered after walking towards my chair.

“Yeah! And thanks to both of you for giving me this advice.” I whispered back, smiling and waved at both of them when they walked off.

“Thanks for helping me today, Dr. Palak. I really need to go home early.” My co-worker repeated again after introducing the patient to me.

I just waved her off and finished the therapy without any trouble. Now, I can finally go and have a good sleep. I couldn’t help but smile reaching my locker and that slipped after taking out my bag.

Wait! I need to inform him that I will not be coming home, right? Well, with the type of food items he made Satish buy can make him manage by himself for the next three days without any trouble.

I will go home tomorrow when I get a chance to help him with anything he needs, but today I really don’t have the energy to return home.

Damn! I don’t even have his number. What was I doing these days without taking his number? But he is not touching his mobile too so it never entered my mind.

I sighed, taking out my phone and immediately called Satish while walking towards the dorm rooms. I just hope there is an empty and clean bed for now and I don’t someone to question me right now for using the room too.

“Ms. Palak! Is he ready to return to Mumbai with me?” I rolled my eyes at the way he just received my call.

“No! But can you inform him that I will not be returning home today? Tell him that I will try to visit my place tomorrow if I can.” I asked not greeting him myself.

“But why? Was it a huge trouble for you to share the house?” he asked in a confused tone.

“No! I am just going to stay at the hospital. If possible message me his number and don’t forget to get this message to him no matter what. I don’t want him to wait for my sake.” I replied, checking the time when I realized it is already past the time I generally reach home.

“But…” I just cut off the call entering the dorm and found it completely empty.

There are like two bunk beds and one seems too empty without any clothes or bags on it. Well, this will be my bed for tonight. After putting my phone in vibrate mode, I placed my bed beside the pillow before sitting on the bed.

I lay down on it with a smile, but realized it was still not as comfortable as my own bed. But it is better than staying with him while thinking too much about him. Today I will have a peaceful sleep without thinking about anything else.

Will Satish be able to convey the message without failing? With that thought I drifted off into sleep and I didn’t feel my phone vibrating beside me.

****

“Did you get a good sleep yesterday, Dr.Palak?” I glanced away from my phone hearing Tina’s voice and placed it away smiling.

“Yeah! I had to rush to get ready in the morning. I don’t think I have ever slept like that without any idea about what is going on around me.” I replied and she smiled before walking towards her chair.

I unlocked my phone again before frowning at the screen. What should I do right now? What could be the best way to solve this matter without causing any misunderstanding?

“Is something wrong, Dr. Palak?” I cleared my throat, hearing her question and shook my head in the negative with a smile.

I guess it is better to think about it later and respond to all these missed calls after getting a clear idea on how to respond. And I will be going home during lunch hour or in the evening if possible, which could be the best solution too. If Satish hadn’t send me his number, I wouldn’t have known that all these calls were from him.

“You will be taking care of my patient again, right?” I turned to see my co-worker from whom I got the overtime standing along with another doctor.

“It may not be possible.” I replied with an apologetic look.

“Oh! But even she has some work to do today and came here to ask you regarding her last patient. I told her you will definitely help her.” She mumbled frowning.

“Tina said you are ready to take other patients for the next three days.” She added before I can think bad about her for promising others like that without my permission.

I immediately glanced at Tina, who is looking at me confused and then I remember that it was her idea that I need to do some overtime to not feel wrong about staying back to sleep.

Why did she have to say such things to them in the first place? If she hadn’t then they wouldn’t be asking me for this, right?

But I kind of informed them that I will go home today, right? I sighed, looking at her before glancing at the two ladies standing while waiting for my decision.

“Sure! Tina will also help me with those two patients.” I replied, nodding at them and they walked away after thanking me.

“I shouldn’t have said that to her, right?” Tina asked from her place.

“Yes! I need to go home and freshen up, remember? Now, how can I go?” I asked her frowning.

“And you need not help me. I was being petty while involving you like that.” I immediately added, smiling at her when she continued to look worried.

“No! I will stay back to help as I don’t have much thing to do today. I was just thinking about your clothes.” She mumbled still frowning.

“Wait! I have the clothes you gave me last time when I had to change mine but I forgot to return them to you. Now, you don’t have to worry about them, right?” she asked, looking at me with a smile.

“Sure! But you really need not help me.” I replied, but she just waved me off and I sighed realizing she will not back out for sure.

****

“You can go right now, Tina. I am completely fine here.” I assured her once again, but she just stood beside me without moving.

“Let her help you, Palak. You can help her later when she asks you to.” Veer commented, looking at us while holding his bag to leave.

“Then why don’t you stay back and help us too?” I asked smiling at him.

“No way! I am already too tired otherwise I would have stayed back without you mentioning about it.” He replied before walking away.

“He still likes you, doesn’t he?” Tina asked, staring at his back.

“I hope not!” I mumbled, staring at her.

“But why? He is kind of sweet if you ignore some part of his attitude.” She asked frowning at me.

“Maybe that some part of his attitude is what I don’t want to deal with. I am done with men who thinks we need to just act and think like they wish us to. And to top of that I don’t have any plans to like someone this soon. I want to spend some more time with no thoughts about anything else except for my work and my own life.” I explained to which she gave a nod but she doesn’t look like she understood me.

We both immediately started the therapy of the patient I met yesterday after he arrived and waited for the other one while drinking coffee near the canteen.

“You had boyfriends before?” she suddenly asked, making me nearly burn my tongue after hearing that question.

“Why are you asking such question?” I asked her frowning.

“You talked about how you are done dealing with certain types of men when I was asking about Dr. Veer, right?” she pointed out.

“Oh! I was not talking about my dating life.” I explained, but she continued to frown.

“I was talking about my Dad and brother. And no need to think too much about whatever I said. Let’s go! We need to finish the next therapy fast so that you can go home sooner.” I added standing up while she gestured to the coffee cup.

“We didn’t finish drinking it.” She pointed out and I sighed before sitting back down before finishing it along with her.

Why do I always feel so uncomfortable to talk about my family? I can understand that reaction in the beginning, but now I am closer to her, right? Then why am I still so rigid about it? I need to work on it for sure because she is completely open about everything without any hesitation while I am hiding everything from her.

Hiding about David is reasonable, but about my personal life is not so much. Maybe I can share all that stuff soon with her who knows.

“Which room are you staying, Dr. Palak? I will get your clothes for you.” She asked when we finished with our work and she started walking towards the locker room.

“I will stay here itself.” I replied, but she shook her head.

“I need to go to the washroom first and it will take time. I will come to your room.” She insisted again before walking away.

I sighed, taking out my mobile and frowned, looking at new missed calls and this time there were a few messages too. I started walking towards the dorms while opening the messages and stopped in shock reading the most recent message.

‘I am waiting near the reception area for you’

“What? Like here?” I mumbled before rushing towards the reception area.

I frowned, looking at the people sitting in the reception area, but couldn’t find him. Did he leave? He sent this message ten minutes back and must have left when I didn’t respond.

I sighed, calling him back while turning to walk towards the dorm, but felt someone holding my wrist and turned to my side only to step back looking at the person wearing a cap and is also wearing a mask covering his face completely.

“Don’t tell me you are here wearing all this.” I whispered, coming out of my shock, but he just nodded while waving his phone that is ringing before my face and I immediately cut the call.

“Let’s go!” I mumbled holding his hand back and walked towards the dorms while trying to not let others see me clearly.

I opened the door and found it is empty again like yesterday. Dragging him inside, I closed the door before making him sit on the bed.

“Are you mad to wear this over your bruised face? Where did you get these in the first place?” I asked removing his mask and the cap before checking his face with my hands to see whether it got worse because of this.

“I always use these.” He mumbled pushing my hands away.

“Let me check! In what state of mind did you thought of wearing a silk mask over your face like this? Didn’t you feel irritated?” I asked while checking again and frowned at him when he pushed away my hands again.

“Didn’t I tell you that you shouldn’t…” I cut him off saying, “There is a personal space that I generally don’t step over of any of my patients or someone else. So, just let me check and you keep quiet.”

After that he didn’t say anything and I finally was able to check his wounds. Thank to god his skin didn’t get ruptured more because of this.

“Don’t use this again until you get healed. Do you understand?” I asked showing him the mask before sitting down beside him feeling relieved.

“Now, you are treating me like a child?” he asked in an amused tone.

“Now, you have another complaint with the way I treat you?” I asked back shaking my head.

“Why did you decide to stay here instead of coming home?” he asked, turning me to stare straight at him.

“Why are you here?” I asked, ignoring his question.

“I don’t want you to stay away from home just because you feel uncomfortable with me staying at your place. I will leave today itself and you return home instead of torturing yourself by staying here all the time. Isn’t it uncomfortable to freshen up and even sleep here?” he asked looking around.

I stared at him for a second and immediately pushed him down to make him lie down before covering him with the blanket and rushed towards the door after pressing my finger to my lips when he opened his mouth.

“Dr. Palak! Can I come in?” I heard Tina repeating the question and immediately opened the door.

“I thought it would be rude to just walk in. Here is the dress I told you about.” She added passing the cover to me.

“Thank you, Palak.” I mumbled smiling at her while standing right before her so that she can’t look past me.

“You will be fine to sleep here until your Fan gets better, right?” she asked looking around.

“Yeah! Let’s go out and talk. One of the interns is sleeping here.” I pointed out his sleeping form before stepping out of the room along with her.

“I will just go, Dr. Palak. You take a rest.” She mumbled smiling and I nodded at her before waving her off.

I sighed in relief before walking back into the room and found him sitting up while staring at me with a hint of a smile.

“What?” I asked him frowning.

“So, I am your Fan now?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

“Uhmm… I guess! Now, leave before someone else comes here.” I replied, gesturing the door but he shook his head.

“Come with me! I will leave early morning itself.” He repeated the words, but I shook my head this time.

“I know you really want to stay away from everyone for some reason.” I mumbled fidgeting with my hands feeling confused regarding what I actually want to happen in the first place.

Do I want him to leave my place? But I am sure I will continually think about him whether he is emotionally fine right now to return. I realized something actually happened with the way he ignored his phone and didn’t even use his system much.

But I can’t ask him to stay back too. All I know is that he should just take all the rest, he wishes to take without others getting involved and return when he feel like. But why am I even thinking so much about him? Am I really treating as a patient or is it something else which I don’t want it to be?

“It doesn’t matter! It is your place and I already acted too childish by settling myself into your home. Just forget about everything else and come with me. I will definitely leave by tomorrow morning.” He promised holding my hands in his.

“No! I will return tomorrow and you need not leave.” I said, staring at him, but he just shook his head.

“I shouldn’t have made you feel so uncomfortable. Pack your stuff and come with me today itself.” He continued to insist and I finally sighed realizing I can’t win at this point.

“Fine! Let’s go, but you can stay back too. I will just make some changes so that I will be at ease with your stay too.” Saying that I started packing everything while he sat on the bed waiting for me.

“Are you going to wear that?” I asked him, frowning when he took it out and started placing it over his face.

“Just until we leave this place. You can check my face after we return.” He replied holding my hand and started walking towards the door.

“Wait! Let me check if someone is there.” I whispered, moving to open the door while standing before him.

“Why? No one will recognize me and if someone asks you about me then just tell them I am your boyfriend.” He whispered back.

“Then I have to answer all the questions they will be asking me about you. Why would I choose a path where I have to cook up so many lies?” I asked frowning at his suggestion.

“So, you are just worried about their questions but not about introducing me as your boyfriend?” I immediately turned around hearing that question and I can definitely sense him smiling right now even though his face is covered.

“Why not? You are definitely a boy as far as I can see and you are definitely kind of my friend.” I mumbled raising my eyebrow.

“Don’t try to escape using that common tactic.” He rolled his eyes and I just shrugged before turning around to open the door and we calmly escaped from the hospital without anyone finding us.

We both stayed silent while walking to my home and entered the room only to find it quite neat unlike the first day. Seems like he managed quite well these two days.

“Aren’t you going to check my face?” he asked when I walked towards the kitchen.

“You had your dinner?” I asked, opening the refrigerator while he followed me.

“I already got our dinner prepared.” He replied, gesturing the dishes on the stove.

“You were sure I will return?” I asked checking the dishes and it is nothing but an instant puliogare mix.

“I would have just kidnapped you.” He replied, shrugging and didn’t let me turn back to stare at the dishes.

“You need to first check my face.” saying that he dragged me towards the couch before pushing me to sit down.

“Why? You were fine before with it, remember?” I asked while he completely ignored, sitting beside me and removed my mask.

“Well, go on and you need to check it properly.” He just continued with what he wants to say and closed his eyes.

Is he serious right now? I thought, smiling at the way he is behaving right now. It’s not like I am not going to lose anything by not doing this.

I started checking his skin like before and there seems to be no problem at all. I brushed my fingers over his closed eye which was swollen, but now it feels normal, but there is still bruised around it.

“Is it paining?” I asked, brushing it again with my fingers.

“Not right now!” I paused my hand and immediately shifted to take it away, but he took hold of it before I can do that.

I stared at him wide eyed while realizing what I was doing until now. What the hell? This is no way a doctor or even a friend behaves for sure and I have definitely gone crazy.

“Don’t! Don’t think too much about it.” He whispered, moving my hand back to his face.

“Mr. David!” I whispered, not wishing to get lost like this again.

“Mr. David? Are you sure you still want to be that formal with me?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

“I…” I just can’t find any word to utter right now.

“Let’s have dinner for now.” saying that he shifted his head forward before pressing his lips to my cheek and stood up.

While he just walked towards the kitchen, I placed my hand on the cheek where his lips just touched. I should have stayed back at the hospital itself. Damn it! I covered my face groaning while wishing for a mask to covering my face right now.