14~ The Professional Doctor
Mumma was awake after a long night. I lost count of how many hours I cried to be honest and then slept on mumma's stomach.
The night was rough, especially when I was alone.
I have no family except my mother and seeing her in this condition scares me.
From the very beginning, she has been my best friend, my mentor and my driving support and losing her is a nightmare.
I know eventually I will have to let go of her but not now. I am not ready to lose her yet.
I sighed and went near mumma who was staring at the ceiling with no expressions. She looked calm, without creases on her forehead.
"How are you feeling?" I asked, masking my face with a smile.
I don't want her to know that I cried. She'll take stress again and that is the last thing I want.
She looked at me with a serene smile and replied, "Better.
My head feels light, did they give me strong medications?
". I nodded and sat on the chair beside her.
She held my hands in hers and said with a laugh, "Don't cry beta, your mumma is not going anywhere.
I still need to play with my grandchildren".
My lips broke into a smile and then a small laugh.
I kissed her forehead and whispered, "I'm not letting you go anywhere mumma even if you want to". She sighed and nodded.
I heard someone knocking on the door and then a nurse entered. I stood up to ask if she was getting discharged anytime soon but heard her say, "Miss. Akriti Tiwari, is that you?"
I nodded in confirmation and replied, "Yes?"
"You have a visitor ma'am. Someone called Tushar Singh is here to meet you".
I nodded and asked, "Where?"
"In the waiting room ma'am. Also, Adhyay sir asked me to remind you about the daily medication of ma'am".
"Yes, I remember.", I replied and after giving my mother the dose, I went off to see Tushar. I was surprised that he came here this early morning. I entered the waiting area and saw it was almost vacant except for Tushar. It was 6 AM only.
He was sitting with his head buried in his hands.
I took steps towards him and he looked startled. He smiled when he saw me and wished me a good morning. I wished him back and asked, "You here?"
"Oh yes, I was worried about aunty and you." I sighed and taking a seat beside him said, "I don't know how to thank you enough. No neighbour has ever done that for me. Thank-you so much Tushar".
"Aree! You don't need to thank me, Akriti. A friend in need is a friend indeed right?", he said with a chuckle, making me smile. He is one of those people who helped me without passing judgemental comments. I am grateful to him. I don't know what I would have done if he hadn't helped me.
"So how is aunty? She's fine na?", he asked with concern in a laced voice. I shook my head, getting emotional and replied in a cracked voice, "She has a brain tumour".
He jumped off his seat and yelled, "WHAT!" I nodded and replied, "Doctor said that we can try curing it with medication but if it doesn't, he'll have to operate on her".
His eyes widened at the news and I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.
I sniffed and mumbled, "I-I am so scared Tushar".
I hid my face in my palms and started sobbing while he tried to console me by seeing a few comforting words.
I don't have control of my emotions. I am making a fool of myself by crying in front of my neighbour.
I wiped my tears and took a deep breath, looked up.
I can't break. My mother faced so much for me and I shouldn't disappoint her by crying.
The best doctor is treating my mumma and he will cure her, I know and I have full faith in him. We just need some time.
I saw Tushar taking out a handkerchief from his pocket and presenting it in front of me.
I took it and wiped my tears.
"I'll return it back after washing it", I mumbled to him but he shook his head and clicked his tongue and replied, "No need.
I have a lot of them. You can keep it". I preferred not to say anything.
I'll directly wash it and give it back to him.
I don't need any more favours from him. He already did enough for me last night.
"Ma'am? Dr. Adhyay needs to talk to you.", I heard the same nurse say who led me here. I nodded and stood up.
"Tushar, I need to go. Thankyou for coming here", I thanked him and followed the nurse.
From my peripheral view, I saw him smiling and waving me a bye.
I sighed as we passed the long corridors of the hospital.
God knows how many people cried here after losing their loved ones and how many doctors cheered as they saved the patients.
I was always scared to come to hospitals, the white colour scared me.
I was terrified that one day my life will be devoid of colours like hospitals are but now I know that white symbolises peace.
The peace we get when the doctors save our loved ones, that's peace.
The nurse knocked the wooden door in which a bold name plate hanged which had his name.
I smile, an unknown feeling of being proud erupted in me.
Why am I feeling proud looking at his name?
"Dr. Adhyay Bansal
Director of Healthfit Hospital"
That's such a proud moment for him and his parents.
Earning a big name at such an age is really commendable.
I knew that he was the topper but I never knew that he was a genius.
He would have surely worked day and night to achieve all of this.
Surely he had been brought up in a well to do household with doctor parents but he worked for himself.
He worked hard and got here, an inspiration indeed.
As soon as we heard him saying 'come in', I went inside along with the nurse.
He was sitting on his posh leather chair, wearing his apron and stethoscope.
For a change, he had his spectacles on. In short, he looked handsome.
I have never seen him with a stethoscope and apron and now that I have, I can't erase the picture from my mind.
He makes it difficult for me. Everytime I commit not to fall in the trap of love, he enters my life, winning my heart with his deeds.
I heard him clearing his throat as he passed me the reports but there was one change.
He was not smiling nor his eyes were radiating the kindness they usually do.
He was looking cold and acting professional.
That's what I did not expect at least. A few days before we crossed that, we were friends right?
But he is looking at me with straight professionalism.
I felt disappointed and sad, never did I imagine that I would get hurt by his behaviour.
"Miss Akriti, I need your signatures before we start the treatment.
For now, I'll keep your mother under observation.
Regular weekly check ups. And try to avoid oily food, don't bring up things that can cause stress", he coldly said and my heart dropped.
I went from Akriti to Miss Akriti? Where was this when I was trying to prevent to catch any feelings for him?
I can't avoid it, I like him. There's this magnetic attraction between us which I can't avoid.
But, now he is breaking my heart after giving me fake hopes, just like Mr. Chaudhary did it with my mother. All men are like that!
"Can I take her home today?" I asked, trying not to cry in front of him.
My emotions are at bay today. First mumma and then him.
I know there was nothing between us, and it will be nothing in the future as well but why is he acting so distant?
Did I do something? Was all his care false?
Why did he stay back yesterday then? Why give these fake hopes?
"Ahh yes, I'll ask the staff to prepare the papers", he said and signalled the nurse to go. She nodded and went outside, leaving both of us alone in an eerie silence. I took a deep breath and asked, "Why are you doing this?".
He looked up from the report and raised his eyebrows.
"Doing what Miss. Akriti?"
"Acting rude and cold and as if you don't care about me.
Acting like a stupid egoistic jerk!", I yelled, angrily wiping my tears.
I shouldn't have yelled but I did, it was uncontrollable.
My heart was aching at his sudden cold behaviour.
He was so nice yesterday, what happened to him?
I don't want him to act professionally with me, I want him to smile at me, talk to me but now he is doing the opposite.
He amusingly looked at me and calmly asked, "Isn't that what it is supposed to be? We are supposed to be formal Miss Akriti."
My heart burned hearing Miss Akriti again. Did he forget that we are friends? Or he remembered that he loves someone and at the same time he is giving me hopes? Yes, he loves someone and that's why he is acting rude but then why he was acting so nicely till now? Why is he crushing my heart?
I glared at him and roared, "Oh really? Then great Dr. Adhyay.
Go to hell".
I angrily marched outside, banging the door close with a thud.
I went back to my mother in pure anger. I should have listened to her!
All these men are number one idiots. First they talk nicely and then they act as jerks.
Adrija was wrong! She doesn't knows her brother!
She said that I should take a chance and confess my feelings but like this?
Dr. Adhyay has sworn to talk rudely to me now!
He doesn't cares about me! All of this was fake, the tea talks, the care, he is fake!
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