MCN hospital

"Good!" Anshuman beamed as the screen of blood pressure monitor marked a normal reading. "You are all fit to go home now!"

Devdutta tried to smile a little. "Doctor, you are..."

"Dada!" Anshuman corrected, shaking his head. "Stop this formality from now."

"I don't know who you are, a human or some God in disguise!" Devdutta muttered. "This is a time when even uterine brothers don't care for their sisters! And you..." She bit her lips, "I'm...just an orphaned stranger!"

"Dutta!" Anshuman frowned. "As long as your five brothers are alive, don't even think that about yourself!" He then smiled, placing his palm on Devdutta's head. "Think that you have been reborn, and this is your new family!"

Devdutta's eyes were moist. Emotions chocked her voice as she held Anshuman's hands within hers.

"Anshu how long do we..." Shubhrodeep's busy voice interrupted the emotional heaviness. Anshuman turned to his bestie who had rushed into the cabin.

"Check up done." Anshuman said. "You arrange the rest of formalities for her release. I'll sign as her guardian."

Seeing Shubhrodeep nodding, Anshuman came out. His eyes first found Ananya who had just completed her first round of morning.

"Devdutta is fine?" Ananya came closer to Anshuman.

"Perfectly. Just the signing and other formalities left."

"Then what bothers you?" Ananya raised an eyebrow. "Why these dark circles? Didn't you sleep last night?"

Anshuman sighed. "Side effect of loving a doctor! What an observation power!"

"It doesn't need one to be a doctor to discover hidden worry in a loved one." Ananya grimaced. "What happened? Everything alright in home?"

"Hmm." Anshuman absent-mindedly replied, while checking a patient's file.

"What hmm?"

"Arre nothing serious. Mejda got injury on his legs yesterday. Have given medicine."

"What! How?" Ananya exclaimed.

"Some fights happened with eveteasers. But today also he went to college taking a painkiller." Anshuman's lips pursed. "Nobody simply listens to me! Neither Mejda, nor Dadabhai!"

"What did Dadabhai do again?" Ananya wondered, moving to the cafeteria together.

"Nothing new. The same problem that has been running since years!" Anshuman shrugged as he took a seat. "His Bhishma pratigyaa!"

"I see. What happened to that girl from New Town you all have liked?"

"Does our liking matter to him at all, Anu? You know Dadabhai. He has his own reasons to reject every alliance we bring!"

"Anshu, you need to understand that Dadabhai has a genuine concern for you four. Can he ever ignore his responsibility to you for his own happiness?"

"I know that, Anu!" Anshuman sighed again. "Especially for Priya and Dev. Dadabhai fears that someone will separate them from us and that's what will hurt him the most." His eyes betrayed pain as he looked at Ananya. "You know, they are dearer to him than us two!"

"I know, and that's normal." Ananya nodded. "His worries are not wrong at all."

"But you tell me, how many girls are there in this era who can have that large heart to love us like her own brothers? Isn't this an impossible demand?"

"Not at all. Keep faith, Anshu! I don't believe God has created such a golden heart only once! Dadabhai's perfect match definitely exists. We just have to find her out!"

Anshuman shook his head in despair. "I fear he will never get attracted to any girl in his life!"

Ananya laughed. "He definitely will, if he finds himself in her." She gently patted Anshuman's palms. "Worry not! My instinct says we'll find Didibhai really soon! Just wait a little more!"

***

Laketown crossing, Jessore road, 8.30 a.m

"Hello Sumi Di? Yes I'm almost there!"

A young woman in her late twenties casually glanced at her wrist watch while talking over phone. "I'll be there in school by five minutes! Tell me what you need."

From the other side, her colleague Sumita said, "I'll be a little late today. Could you please take the first period in XI humanities if you're free? I'll exchange with your class later."

"Ya sure, no problem!" She smiled. "Take care of your son. His check-up is more urgent. Let me know what the doctor says."

"Thank you so much, Deepika!" Sumita's sigh of relief was audible over the call.

"No need to thank me, Sumi Di. It's one's duty to help a colleague in crisis. See you in school. Bye!"

Cutting the call, Deepika turned her head to the signal, waiting for it to turn red.

"Leave my way! Get lost, you pervert!"

A shrill cry made Deepika look back at the bus stop. What she found there made her blood boil. A teenage girl in her school uniform was struggling to escape from three senior boys who blocked her way. The uniform told Deepika that she was a student of her school only.

"Let me go! Otherwise I'll..."

The girl could not finish. In a while a rough hand flew in the air, aiming her face. But the slap could not land on her. A shocked student saw her teacher holding the boy's arm in a tight grip, her eyes turned crimson.

"Will you leave her or..." Deepika's voice was cold as she twisted the boy's wrist, making him yell in pain. The other two boys stepped forward but before they could do anything, Deepika pushed them away with her elbow. Both fell on ground.

"Come with me!" Deepika pulled the frightened student closer to her.

"You didn't do this well, Madam!" One of the boys groaned as soon as Deepika turned towards the school lane along with the girl.

"Remember that you aren't going to be with her all the time!" They threatened.

Deepika turned around, smiling.

"You won't get that chance anymore, brothers! Look around you!" Her voice had a death-cold calmness. She had already noticed people gathering over the spot.

This particular area in front of the reputed New Town School knew the assistant teacher Dr. Deepika Roy very well. She was equally popular inside and outside her school premises. And at this particular time of morning when all school-going children and their guardians were crowded over here, it was not hard for Deepika to get huge public support.

"Deepika Ma'am, you take the child safely to the school." Said one guardian. "Leave them to us!"

"You don't worry, Ma'am! These people are threat to our daughters too and we'll see to it that they are handed over to the Laketown police." Another one assured her.

"You go Ma'am. Thank you for your help!" Deepika heard a chorus. She exhaled and nodded at them.

"Come!" She held the student girl's hand with much care, and stepped towards her school, the crowd leaving way to her with respect.

The wise, loving teacher's fearless and protective image had earned everyone's admiration once again.
___________________________________________

Glossary for Bengali terms:

Didibhai: Elder sister

So how was the new entry?

Did you like it?

Three more new characters are coming soon. Stay tuned!