Prescriptions Of Love

10~ The Tea Talks

"Akriti if it wasn't an emergency, I wouldn't have asked you to wait. Just fifteen minutes, please", Adrija pleaded as we stepped down from my car. As I promised her for shopping, I had to come with her but she out of blue got a call saying that she has a patient to see.

"Okay fine", I said with a sigh. She smiled gleefully and hugged me. "You can wait in my cabin, I'll ask someone to arrange tea for you".

"No need! You go and check your patient, I'll patiently wait", I said, quoting the word patiently.

She nodded and led me to her cabin inside the hospital.

The hospital was extremely huge and well renovated.

But despite being so large, I just could see people and doctors.

The waiting area was packed with patients.

Adrija smiled at the receptionist and went towards the lift. I followed her in and said, "Your hospital is extremely huge. Don't you get tired?"

She giggled and said, "Nope, we are used to it and thankyou for the compliment. The credit goes to Adhyay. That poor soul only got this hospital designed. He works even more harder than our fathers. No one would say he is a third generation doctor".

"Wait! How many hospitals do you have?" I shrieked remembering that last week when I met Adhyay he told me that he got injured at the hospital's construction site. If that hospital is being constructed then how many hospitals do this family own?

She giggled again with her chest held high out of proudness.

"Two for now, but third one is under construction.

We'll be starting it next year", she answered and my jaw fell wide open.

They must be so rich if they have the money and resources to construct another huge hospital.

But on second thought, the family is so down to earth that no one can even tell that these doctors are one of the most sought after in the city.

Who wasn't heard about Dr. Hriday and Dr. Aditya?

Adrija's father and uncle are one of the bests in the city and then her brother!

He is literally a sensation! A young and a handsome doctor, still unmarried and has three hospitals under his name.

"That's amazing! I can't even imagine how hard work you all have done", I commented and she nodded with a sigh.

"It was all my uncle and father. If they hadn't kept the beginning stone, nothing of this would have been true.

They started with a small piece of land, left well paying jobs because they had a dream to serve people selflessly.

They collected money, managed with the little resources they had.

Adhyay was born when they had started the hospital.

The hospital grew with him", Adrija narrated with a smile on her face.

The lift stopped at the third floor and we stepped out together. I followed Adrija to her chamber which was decorated with all types of teeth and charts. Even her pen stands were teeth, what else can one expect in a dentist's cabin?

"You can wait here, I'll be just two rooms away, it's a small procedure", Adrija explained, pointing at the couch kept on the corner of the room. I nodded and sat down. Looking around her cabin, I found myself staring at a cute paper weight which was in the shape of a molar and had a huge smile.

She smiled gently and went away while I sighed. If she had told me this before hand, I would have denied and instead have worked on my novel.

I kept waiting for five minutes when the door opened with a thud. I dropped the paper weight which I was examining, and clutched a pen stand for my own protection. However, I dropped it as well when I saw it was Dr. Adhyay. His eyes were widened and he looked astonished.

"You here?" He exclaimed like he was not expecting me here. Why would he? I shrugged and answered, "I'm waiting for Adrija".

"Where is she? How could she leave you alone?" He asked, adjusting his spectacles. I took in the opportunity to look at his right hand which still had the bandage but he was now able to move it.

I smiled gently and stood up, answering, "She had a patient so she asked me to wait for a few minutes.

We are going out today". He nodded and returned my smile.

Honestly, he looks so handsome when he smiles, very handsome.

I felt butterflies in my stomach when he asked, "Is there something you'd like to have.

Tea, coffee or anything?"

His voice was so soft and gentle like a flower. How he is so sweet?

"No, it's fine", I answered tucking a hair strand behind my ear. I was feeling something new, a weird feeling in my tummy. I could feel my ears getting hot.

He clicked his tongue and said, "You won't have to pay". I chuckled and shook my head. He seriously thinks that I am denying because I don't want to pay? He raised his eyebrows at me and asked, "So? Would you fancy a tea with me?"

"But Adrija? She'll be back in a few minutes", I said with a smile but I did wanted to go on a tea with him. Ever since I have met him, I yearn to listen his voice. Do I really like him? Maybe as a friend, yes. Not romantically of course.

He scrunched his eyebrows and said, "No worries, I'll ask someone to bring tea here.

"

I nodded with a smile. He smiled back and called someone.

When he was busy talking on his phone, I kept staring at him.

He is too handsome to be a doctor, seriously.

Why do I find myself getting attracted to him?

Why? I can't afford to fall in love with him or anyone else.

All men are the same. They use you and then discard you like worn out clothes.

"I have asked for tea, it will take just five minutes", he awkwardly said when he found me ogling with him. Embarrassed, I averted my gaze from him and nodded, not knowing what else to say.

He dragged Adrija's revolving chair and sat on that, waiting for me to say something or he was thinking how to continue the conversation. I felt awkward, I wanted to talk but I didn't know what about.

He cleared his throat and went, "So? Are you publishing any book this year?"

I looked up at him nervously and nodded. I don't know why but whenever he is around me, my throat runs dry and I get nervous. Is it okay for me to feel such things?

"What's it about?" He asked, trying to drag the conversation further. I smiled faintly and answered, "It's a science fiction, an experiment gone wrong. I am still working on the plot and the ending".

He nodded, not saying anything further. With his fingers laced together, he kept looking at me and I at him, urging each other to atleast say something.

Before either of us could say a word, the door opened revealing a slim man with two tea cups.

He smiled at Dr. Adhyay and Dr. Adhyay returned the favour.

He took the two cups and said, "Thankyou Prakash".

The man named Prakash nodded with a smile and went out of the chamber, closing the door with a thud.

Dr. Adhyay kept the two cups on the table in front of me and smiled. I smiled back and mumbled, "Thankyou". He didn't said anything but he kept looking at me with a raw emotion in his eyes. I cleared my throat and asked, "How's the construction going and did you hand heal?"

He nodded saying, "It's fine, not satisfactory and my hand is good. I can now move it without much strain".

I chuckled and said, "That's nice, you should take care of yourself. It almost seems that this hospital would stop if you don't work".

He too chuckled, his voice sending shivers to me. Why does he has this effect on me? Why do I like talking to him? I don't know but I love when he smiles.

"That's true as well, running a hospital isn't as simple as it sounds. You have to see patients and manage the hospital as well", he said and I nodded. I can understand how stressful it is for him. Looking at his face, I don't think he gets to sleep for eight hours. He works too hard.

"You don't go on vacations?" I asked, taking a sip of my tea. He chuckled shaking his head.

He answered, "Nope, I just got my degree and I have still have so much things to do and learn. I can't afford a vacation".

I pursed my lips at his answer. Everyone needs a vacation, be it doctors or someone else. We can't just work like robots, there is something called detox.

"You'll start getting tired and then it will turn into a vicious cycle", I commented. He smiled and nodded, not countering my statement.

"I would have taken a nice break but I have so many things for now. On top of that, my mother keeps on pestering me for marriage", he said with a chuckle. As soon as he mentioned marriage, I felt my chest getting constricted. Is he going to get married? But why do I care?

"T-then why don't you get married?" I asked, hoping he doesn't gets offended by my question. A handsome man like him won't find any problem in finding a wife, but why isn't he getting married?

His smile vanished as he kept the tea cup on the table. An uncomfortable silence surrounded us when he answered, "I-I love someone".

I shouldn't have gotten affected with his answer but my heart clenched painfully. I felt someone had crushed my heart with a hammer.

He loves someone.

I gazed in his brown orbs with uncertainty in my heart. Who is the lucky woman he loves so much that he has denied to get married? I have never seen a man waiting for someone so long, it's not in their genes.

"She must be so lucky", I said with a fake smile even though my heart hurt. He smiled sadly and replied, "She doesn't knows of it yet".

My jaw dropped as I exclaimed, "Why? You love her then why don't you tell her?"

He chuckled, the one showing how broken he was. Did she reject him? How could she! He is so perfect! I don't think anyone would reject him.

"I want to but I am scared that if I tell her about my feelings, she will stop talking to me for good", he said. I fisted my palm hearing him. Is that girl mad or what? She is getting a diamond and then she is thinking to reject him?

"How would you know if you don't tell her, maybe she likes you back", I said. I don't know why I even said that. I don't believe in love, I never did. My mother did the mistake of loving and now she is spending her life alone, without her love.

He smiled, his eyes saying more than he did. My stomach churned when he said, "I will, I have to tell her someday, rejection is better than saying nothing at all".

I nodded but before I could say anything, the door opened with a thud, revealing Adrina who shrieked, "Come on! Let's go to shopping". But she stopped midway when she saw Dr. Adhyay. She wriggled her eyebrows and asked, "What are you doing in my chamber?"

Dr. Adhyay stood up rolling his eyes and said, "Giving company to your best friend since you left her alone here."

Adrija gulped and explained, "I had a patient and if I had denied him then you would have fired me".

Dr. Adhyay rolled his eyes again as I suppressed the urge to laugh at the two siblings.

Adrija always blackmails everyone, including me.

She makes a cute face, says stupid things and then lures me to do whatever she says.

"Yeah yeah, keep crying. You and I both know what you'll do if I even joke about firing you", Dr. Adhyay said dismissing Adrija's allegations.

I literally stifled my laughter with my palm when Adrija boasted, "Yup, I'll call aunt Mishika and then she will drag you to the mandap and get you married.

Then I'll fill your wife's ears against you and then she'll make your life a hell. I will enjoy the drama with popcorn".

Dr. Adhyay made a disgusted face mumbling, "It's a total time waste talking to you. Always thinking of mischiefs. I am going, bye". Adrija sweetly waved her hand and chirped, "Okay bye! I am also not interested in talking to you".

As soon as Dr. Adhyay left the chamber, she turned to me and asked, "He didn't trouble you right?"

I scrunched my eyebrows at her question. Why would he trouble me? Shaking my head, I answered, "Nope".

She grinned and exclaimed, "Chalo for, we have to do lots of shopping, don't waste any more time". I giggled and nodded.

───── ??☆?? ─────

Adrija and I roamed inside the mall, venturing through different shops and buying dresses. Shopping with her is always chaotic but I enjoy it as well. She has the best clothing choices.

"Waise Akriti, you didn't tell me about your crush", Adrija out of the blue asked, surprising me. My ears turned hotter and I scratched the back of my neck. Crush? I think I have a crush on her brother but how do I tell her?

"I-it's nothing like that, I don't have a crush", I said with a nervous smile. I do not like Dr. Adhyay romantically, we are just acquaintances and just because he is sweet and understanding, I like talking to him. Thats it, I do not have a crush on him.

She raised her eyebrows and teased, "Then why are you stammering and blushing? Tell me, I am your best friend!"

I glared at her but the sight of her pout melted me. I sighed and explained, "I don't know but why I like when he is around me, it's calming. But how can I like someone whom I don't even know?"

Adrija clapped her hand, her mouth opening wide. Squealing, she exclaimed, "Oh Akriti! I am so happy for you! You are in love! You like when he is around you, you like talking to him and then you get red when someone mentions him, you love him!"

I squeezed my eyebrows and scoffed, "I don't love him! It's just an infatuation I suppose".

Adrija rolled her eyes and said, "You are just giving explanations to yourself. You love him and you know that. But you are scared. You are scared because your mother had a horrible experience with love."

Holding my shoulders with her eyes turning softer, she softly explained, "But Akriti, not every man is like Mr. Chaudhary.

Some do believe in true love. Yash does, he always treats me as his equal even though we both have constant quarrels.

At the end of the day we both know that we can't stay away from each other. "

"But not everyone is like Yash bhaiya, right? How do I know that my so called crush won't crush my heart under his feet?" I sarcastically said, quoting the word crush with my fingers.

She sighed and said, "But what if you crush is a good man who'll treat you like his queen? What if he loves you truly?"

I shook my head with a faint smile. Dr. Adhyay already loves someone, even if I tell him that maybe I have a crush on him, he will dismiss me by saying that he loves someone. He doesn't has a place for me in his life. I am just his sister's friend.

"What if he likes someone else?" I asked and Adrija smiled. Keeping her elbow on my shoulder, she whispered, "Should I tell you secret?"

I nodded. She bit her lips to stop her smile but then said, "Back in Mumbai, Yash had a female friend, Ishika.

When I first saw them, I thought that they both love each other.

Well, Ishika did love him, but when I questioned Yash, he made a weird face and exclaimed that he thinks of her as a sister.

I asked what he thinks me of as and then he answered-

"Ewww! Don't tell me, I don't want to know", I shrieked, pushing her away from me.

I don't want to know their dirty talks. The two of them look so innocent from outside but in reality they are the nastiest people you will ever meet.

Adrija giggled and exclaimed, "He said he thinks me of his best friend's sister".

My jaw dropped as I exclaimed, "What! Seriously?"

Adrija nodded with a giggle. I rolled my eyes and asked, "Then? How did you two get together?"

Her giggles stopped as she said, "I won't tell that, it's kind of embarrassing." I glared at her and said, "You know my embrassing moments, tell me, pleaseeee". I made a similar pout that she makes when she wants to know something. She glared at me and exclaimed, "You are using my tactics!"

"Please Adrija? Do you not consider me as your best friend?" I pleaded making a fake sad face. Wiping away my imaginary tears, I gave her an unbelievable look. She sighed and answered, "I bought a Rakhi for him"

My eyes widened and I started laughing, imagining Yash bhaiya's condition. He would be astonished with her actions. Like I said, Adrija is unbelievable!

"And then?"

"And then? He grumbled and threw the Rakhi in the dustbin and we ended up making out", Adrija said with a laugh while I scrunched my nose in disgust.

"The moral of the story is, don't assume till he doesn't accepts it himself.

Just go and tell him about your feelings.

That's it", Adrija said like a wise guru.

I giggled and nodded. Maybe, I should tell Dr. Adhyay about my feelings.

The most he will do is say no. I'm fine with it.

Something is better than nothing, atleast.