Chapter 17: Chapter 17

*Palak Pov*

“Are we going to wait at the theatre itself?” I glanced up hearing Tina’s voice and found her talking to Veer trying to lower her voice as much as she can but with their seats closer to me, it was not that difficult.

“We can wait at the café if you wish to.” To my surprise even Veer is whispering back.

“Is it a date or am I being abandoned?” I asked, raising my voice and they immediately glanced at me in surprise before looking around to see who heard me.

“Well?” I stressed, but still there was no response from them.

“Today is Saturday, Dr. Palak.” Tina stated making me frown at her.

“I am aware of that fact. Are you trying to dodge my question? Then you both have definitely abandoned me.” I mumbled sighing with a depressed look before standing up to leave the room as it is time for us go home.

“Wait! I need to have a word with you.” Saying that Tina took hold of my hand and we both walked into the locker room.

After checking to make sure no one else is there, she turned to stare at me with a frown. Now, did I say something wrong or crossed the line for her to stare me in this way.

“Is something wrong, Palak?” she asked, frowning and I chuckled hearing her question.

“I think I should be the one to ask that. But to your question, there is nothing wrong.” I replied, shaking my head but she didn’t look convinced.

“When there was no contact from him, then you became a crazy woman but I thought you would be like before after you were finally able to meet him last week. But you are still the same.” She mumbled frowning.

“I am not getting your point.” I frowned, still not understanding what she is trying to say.

“You used to be really excited about Saturday evening to reach home as early as possible because of his return during that time. You never joined us no matter how many times we asked you even during Sunday’s. But that changed when he didn’t contact you. Now, it should be back to previous behavior right. Why are you still behaving like there is not a person in your life?” she asked explaining each word slowly.

“I can’t ignore my friends because of my boyfriend right?” I asked, hoping she doesn’t think too much about this matter.

“You already did that before and continuously.” She replied shaking her head.

Damn! I really thought I can escape from her questions, but I should have known without my conscious I already expressed myself too much near her and she is now able to understand me which is shocking me too much.

“Fine! He is very busy with his work. And I don’t want my work to become my second priority again.” I explained honestly.

“You mean you don’t want him to be your first priority again? So, you are taking a few steps back?” she asked and I gave her a nod without any other way.

“I don’t know, but I don’t want to feel the same like I did during those few weeks.” I mumbled sighing and sighed along with me.

“You can’t be this conscious in a relationship, Dr.Palak. You already love him and you will just hurt yourself more than him by being this hesitant the moment there is a block.” She advised while I just stared at her in amazement hearing such words from her.

“And I am going out with Veer.” She added with a shy smile and I couldn’t help but laugh at her expression.

“And I already know that fact.” I teased her, but she immediately gave me a serious look.

“Don’t get scared easily like this. You are like the most ferocious colleague for all of us here while handling the most difficult patients and everyone is amazed by you. How can you be this scared with the matters regarding your personal life?” she asked, frowning and at that moment I felt like I am getting scolded by my teachers.

“Fine! I will take the first step today to bridge the gap.” I replied and she gave a satisfied nod before we both took out our bags and walked out of the room to find Veer waiting for her patiently.

“Is she okay now?” he asked, looking at Tina making me roll my eyes.

“You should thank me that you are being able to date this sweet person instead of getting tortured by me. I did a favor to you by rejecting.” I stated and they both stared at me in shock while I just chuckled waving to them and walked off ignoring laugh escaped from them.

I sighed entering my empty house realizing I really let myself down by not expressing myself to him properly and also by taking steps away from our relation.

After freshening up, I took out my phone and gave him a call while pacing in the living room hoping I can talk to him freely.

“Palak? I forgot to send a message that I will not be coming there this weekend too, right?” he sighed and I can still feel the awkwardness hat appeared between us after meeting that day two weeks back.

“Are you busy with your work?” I asked calmly before settling on the couch.

“Yes! You didn’t go out with your friends today?” he asked after a slight pause.

“No! I didn’t want to be a third wheel today and actually thought you would be here today.” I replied, biting my lip wishing all this awkwardness to just disappear.

The present situation is worse than the time when we met at the hospital. But is his schedule the only reason behind this or am I really too rigid because of my fear?

“I miss you, David.” I whispered before I can stop myself and immediately covered my mouth cringing by myself for saying such words when we are not even talking properly.

I cursed myself more when he didn’t say anything after hearing my words. And I know I should just cut the call before embarrassing myself more.

“Why don’t you shift to Mumbai, Palak?” I stilled hearing his words thinking I must have heard him wrong.

He was against it when I tried to do the same, but now he is wishing me to shift. Maybe I would have accepted this before but not now with the present situation.

When I am not even sure about the way our relationship is passing, how can I give up everything here to follow that unsteady path?

“I don’t want to do that now, David. I decided to stay here itself and learn more from my senior. Even he expressed to make me get more potential and become the best right here. So, I will just stay here and I am not keen on shifting to Mumbai.” I replied without giving myself a pause.

As expected, it must have shocked him as I was the one to suggest this idea before and now I am backing out myself. After a few seconds pause, he cleared his throat while I waited to hear his thoughts on my reply.

“Okay! I need to continue my work.” Hearing those words I calmly wished him Goodnight before cutting off the call.

Well, what did I expect? If I was in his place, even I would have behaved the same. Why am I changing my mind like this? Where was the determination I pulled out to finally go to Mumbai?

Anyway, now that I have assigned myself to be a good student to my senior, I will do that and also think of a way to remove this weird feeling too.

****

“I always thought Dr. Rohit favors you over us, but today I am confused.” I want to nod my head, accepting her words but I am tired to even do that.

“What has gotten into him? It’s like he is rushing all of us to learn everything within a few days instead of months.” Veer added after passing water to us.

“It could be my mistake.” I whispered before explaining to them how I gloated before him that I will be better than him after receiving his training.

“I don’t think so. I found something else from the gossip community.” Tina started and I immediately chuckled.

There used to be gossip circulated from the start, but after the days when David stayed at this hospital, it actually became a community. Tina even suggested to name it after him, but I had to stop her with a lot of pleading.

“So, what is it now?” I asked after which she started explaining about how he got a courier last week, which he immediately tore into pieces and he is getting them continuously every day.

“Are you sure? It doesn’t make sense. He is just a doctor and what can it be that made him this mad. Just blame me for this training.” I shook my head, sighing even though our training level got increased by him for the past past days.

“No! Someone said he is going to shift to another hospital.” Tina continued and just ignored my words completely.

“What?” I couldn’t help but raise my voice after hearing those words.

“Shh! It’s just gossip and it could be wrong.” She tried to control my reaction, but I am already taking steps to reach his cabin and clear out this gossip as soon as I can.

I entered his cabin after knocking on the door to see him just sitting there in silence with a frown which he cleared the moment he saw me.

“What is it? Am I training you all too hard? But you all need to be able to deal with all kinds of therapy without much effort.” He expressed before I could say anything.

“Are you going to leave this hospital, Senior?” I asked without making a mess while thinking about the way to approach the topic.

“Of course not! Where did you get that idea from?” he asked, frowning at me and the first thing I did was sighing in relief.

“Everyone is talking about that because of your training. It feels like you want to teach everything you know before going far away from us. Like in those movies.” I explained and he immediately laughed hearing my words.

“What we are training on is not something only I know or something which needs to be taught compulsorily by a person. You all can learn through books and the internet. So, why would I waste my energy if I was going far away?” he asked raising his eyebrow.

“Exactly! You are not like the only person on earth to know how to use these equipments and new techniques.” I shook my head but he just smiled at me.

“Then tell me the reason why you are so disturbed, Senior?” I added and his smile immediately slipped from his face.

“It’s nothing for you to worry about. But I am actually going to stop the training from now on.” he replied clearing his throat.

“But why? Because of what we just discussed? Don’t mind those rumors much, Senior.” I mumbled frowning, but he just shook his head.

“I am ending it because it’s done. You even did the technique perfectly just before the break and that was the last one.” He explained.

“But not everyone…” he cut me off saying, “Just pass this message and ask either Dr. Tina or Dr. Veer to continue their teachings for interns.”

“Then what about me?” I asked him frowning.

“You just check the patients.” He replied before turning to stare at the system while I just stood there like an idiot for the next five minutes.

“Dr. Rohit! Chief is asking for you.” I glanced at the nurse who just entered his cabin after knocking on the door and he just gave her a nod before leaving the room without saying another word to me.

With another sigh to be counted for the day, I turned around to leave, but stopped when the receptionist entered the cabin with a courier.

“Why are you bringing it by yourself?” I asked her frowning because generally nurses bring them to us or we collect them from the desk.

“Dr. Rohit asked me to bring any courier immediately to his cabin when he receives one a few days back.” She explained, placing it on the table before leaving with a nod towards me.

He is acting even weirder now. He is not the person to ask such favor earlier and most of the time he goes to collect them whenever he has free time.

I turned to leave again, but stopped in my tracks this time realizing there is something else familiar about the courier. I stared at it with a clear view and it is definitely from my Dad’s company.

Why did Senior received this courier from that company? I thought moving my hand to hold it, but I immediately stepped back realizing what I was about to do.

With no other option, I calmly sat down in one of the chairs before starting to wait for Senior to return so that I can ask him directly about this matter.

“What are you still doing here? Is there any other problem?” I got startled hearing his voice and immediately sat properly on the chair while clearing my throat to break away from sleepiness.

“I need to talk to you about this.” I replied, gesturing the courier when he reached the table, passing me and immediately stopped in his tracks glancing at it.

“I want to know in what way my Dad’s company is related to you, Senior.” I added when he didn’t say anything and didn’t even shift from his place.

“I feel like you will believe anything I will say right now. Am I wrong?” he calmly asked after a few minutes of silence.

“I… yes! But…” I trailed off not knowing what else to say after hearing that from him.

“You know about my family situation, right? Somehow I managed to join our college by scholarship, but it didn’t last for long. I didn’t have any scholarship or any way to continue my studies during the second year. At that time some person sponsored me out of no where and he turned out to be your Dad.” He finished saying that before turning around to stare at my face but all I could was to just stare right back at him.

“He just had one condition and that is to take care of you. I started doing that even though I know I shouldn’t hide it from you, but I can’t even think of an alternative option. I started paying him back the moment I got the job in installments, but he asked me to continue to care for you. I already paid everything last week and everything is done.” He added, rubbing his forehead.

“So, everything was because of… my Dad?” I asked hesitantly wishing it not to be true.

“In the beginning, but then we became close and I really cared for you. He was not the main reason anymore.” He immediately replied, but I closed my eyes suddenly feeling dizzy even though I am sitting properly with complete support.

“What… what is this then?” I asked, still closing my eyes.

“For the past two days I have been getting the statements filled with the money he spent for me and the money I paid to him. It is being couriered in parts containing the information about it. I thought of calling your Dad, but he is out of India because of a business project. I tried contacting the company but no one is responding to my words.” He replied, but all I could hear was that my Dad is out of the country and I am getting to hear it from my Senior.

The same Senior I thought to be nearly my family to run away from my own. The one I thought will always have my back, but he is actually backed up by my Dad.

“Every time I see this proof, I am feeling immense guilt and every day I wished to just tell you everything but I know what your reaction would be.” He whispered and I finally opened my eyes to stare at him.

“What would be my reaction?” I asked and he immediately looked away.

“You will feel hurt and you will run away from this place. But I want you to be best in whichever place you will go.” He replied and I finally got the answer for vigorous training he gave us and the target was me all along.

“When I was walking towards your cabin, all I could think was to wish that the reason for your behavior was not you shifting from this place. But now… I wish it was the reason rather than what you are telling me.” I was finally able to say those words after trying to pull myself together taking a few minutes pause.

“Palak!” he whispered, shaking his head and I can see the guilt in his eyes.

“I will take my leave, Dr. Rohit. My patients must be waiting for me.” Saying that I stood up fisting my hands and left the room ignoring his flinch when I called him formally.

“Where were you? You haven’t even had lunch and it is already time for your patient.” Tina asked the moment I walked into the area.

“There will be no more training from Dr. Rohit and you will train the interns along with Veer from today.” I informed her before walking towards my desk to get the sheet prepared for the next patient and didn’t give her a chance to ask more.

By the end of the day, everyone thought he stopped the training because of my request and I didn’t feel conscious enough to correct them. All I know is that I need to escape to my home and just lock myself there to get any sense back.

****

I know I should eat something after skipping lunch and even dinner, but I don’t want to get up from this bed, even though it’s really late, I am still awake.

I don’t know whether I am really awake because I am lying on the bed without any moment. I got startled hearing my phone ringing and checked to see it is David.

I don’t want to talk to him because I know the will power I am holding on to will crumble right before my eyes the moment I hear his voice.

When he called for the third time, I sighed before picking up the phone and connected the call. He immediately started throwing questions like where was I and why was I not liftng his call.

“It’s late, David.” I whispered wishing he could stop with those questions.

“You are sleeping?” he asked after a brief pause.

“No! Is something wrong?” I asked before he can ask me that question.

“Will you come to Mumbai for this weekend? I don’t think I will be able to come this time too.” I sighed for the hundredth time today hearing that.

“I don’t think I will be travelling, David.” I replied closing my eyes.

“Is something wrong, Palak? What happened to your voice?” he asked calmly and I felt a tear escape from the control I put myself in.

“Was there some problem with your work?” he just continued asking all types of questions filled with concern and I let out a sob before I could stop myself.

“Palak!” he whispered and I can hear the shock in his tone.

“I… I don’t want to stay here.” I whispered after a few seconds and there was no reply from his side.

“What happened, Palak?” he asked in a soothing tone and I couldn’t help myself but tell him about my Senior.

“You don’t want to stay at that place for now or forever?” he asked after listening to everything in silence.

“I don’t know!” I whispered, feeling confused.

“Am I making a big deal out of nothing?” I asked sitting up.

“You don’t get affected by something which would cause others to freak out. So, if you are feeling like this then you must be really hurt. Who cares if it’s a big deal or not? What you feel is important, right? Don’t think about all such things and just think about the answer for my question.” I sniffed hearing his words before brushing my tears away.

“What is it?” I asked and he didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

“Do you want to shift to Mumbai? I will take care of everything including the hospital and your housing arrangements. I don’t want you to stay there alone feeling this hurt and I wish I can be there.” I closed my eyes realizing he is saying all the right things.

“I… I will shift, but let me take care of all those things.” I replied after staring at the wall for a few minutes.

Even I wish he is right now with me instead of at a far place. I wish I was able to get comfort from him more than what he is giving me now. And if I really want to shift, then why not that place itself when he is even there.

When did I start getting this fickle? I was against it from the start, then I planned to shift and I was against it again and now I am planning to shift.

What is happening in my life? I am still feeling maybe I am really thinking too much about this incident, but at present I really want his presence. Oh god! Will this roller coaster never stops or what?

*Third Person Pov*

He sighed when she once again barged into his cabin without even a proper knock before sitting on the chair before his desk.

“What now?” he asked with disinterest, but frowned when he saw a happy expression instead of any anger or resentment on her face.

“What did you do?” he asked, realizing she really did something.

“Seems like she is a weak woman like we all thought. Just one week plan and her support are already gone. We are going to have one of our enemies closer than before.” She replied, smirking feeling the satisfaction from her plan.

“Why are you even behind her?” he asked really curious to know this time and she felt a sense of triumph to finally have his interest in their plan.

“Because we are starting from the weaker part.” She replied, shrugging but he just frowned.

“To destroy the weaker part, it took you a year?” he asked, shaking his head and she immediately glared at him, letting go of the happy expression she wore from yesterday night.

“As you can see I am really busy, you can see yourself out.” Adding that he turned his attention back to the files.

She stood up calmly and started walking towards the door, but after opening it, she paused, saying, “At least I am not sitting idle in that wheelchair of yours forgetting everything. When you should have been the person to plan all this.”

After she walked off, he is staring at the files, but he knows that not a single word is entering his mind. Why did she tried so hard to taunt him with that when he can feel that part every second of his life for the past one year?