Words Count- 3710
Attached Song - Sanam Re
__________

[Surfraaz Mehta]

The sudden blaring of my phone caught my attention as I discarded the rubber gloves into the garbage bin, dedicated to gloves and syringes. Checking the time, I realised it was past the noon break.

Fridays are tiring!

I cringed at the rattling rats in my stomach, who kept brewing noises inside. I knew, how much of a mess, my eating habit had already become so, the heart burn was predictable. I sipped an energy drink to last two more hours without food.

I had to take rounds of the post operated patients of both first and second floor of the cardiology ward. Setting my spirits up, I continued to do my job with a smile.

"Shay, How're you, buddy?" I chanced upon my fellow colleague, Dr.Snigdha.

"As awesome as always. What about you, Snigdha?" I have rarely communicated with her from a long time. She being a radiologist, rarely visits the opds, where we loiter around all the day.

"Just trapped in a chair. Came here to wander around and interact with some patients of mine." I laughed at her whining face. She still had a baby voice and that adorable pout.

"How's Disha?" I asked her, as she walked with me to my cabin, after my patient rounds got over.

"Amazing. Yesterday was her first day at pre-school. She seems to enjoy going to school so much and blabber all her activities while I feed her. Nitin and I are blessed to have her." She smiled fondly, explaining about her 3-year old daughter.

"How's been the journey of parenting till now?" I asked her, though my own question surprised me.

"Overwhelming. It feels like yesterday, I held her for the first time in my arms and now, she is all set to go to school." She smiled again, shaking her head lightly as we saw Nitin, walking over to us.

"Must be surreal?!" I found myself complimenting, just imagining the journey. She nodded.

"Welcome to the married men club." I laughed at Nitin's statement as he proceeded to hug me.

"Gladly!" I winked at him and my eyes fell on a little girl, peeping behind of his knees.

"Disha, come on, greet Shay uncle." Snigdha called out to her toddler, who just sneaked behind her father's back.

"Come, baby." Nitin held onto her little pink and pale fingers as he dragged her to me.

"Hello" I glanced down to sight a chubby little baby, opening her arms for me. I crouched to let her engulf me in her tiny arms. Soon enough, she kissed my cheeks. Her fluffiness was so adorable.

I picked her up in my arms as I saw her playing with my breast pocket and then, put a bloomed lily in it. I took out a choco bar out of my pocket and handed her.

I conversed with Nitin about his new project, while Snigdha was talking with a patient. As the minutes passed, I felt tingles in my neck as I felt little Disha's nose rubbing against my nape.
I smiled at her cute sleepy countenance as her plump pink lips were layered with chocolate.

"She slept?" Snigdha approached us and asked as soon as her eyes fell on her daughter.

"Yes. Maybe, she got bored and slept." I replied, handing the sleepy Disha to her mother. I patted her hair and bid her bye, as she dispersed with her parents.

............

Pressing the bell, I waited patiently for anyone to open the main door, which was locked. I pressed the door bell again to hear a rapid footsteps.

"Hey" Bhabhi unlocked the main door with a bright smile.

"Surfraaz?" She looked astonished. Perhaps, she was waiting for Viraj bhai.

"Yes, Bhabhi. So, where's everyone else?"

"Mom went to have lunch with Mrs. Mehra and your brother is yet to come back." She explained. Her weak voice put to light, how tired she was.

"What did you have for breakfast?" I inquired and as expected, she chose not to answer.

"Come with me." I forwarded my hand for her as she hesitatantly placed hers in mine.

"I can walk on my-" She retorted, gently and that very moment, her feet wobbled.

"I know, you can walk on your own." I replied sarcastically, shaking my head at her.

Stepping slowly upwards, we reached my bedroom. I entered inside the room and ushered her in.

"Please be seated."

I brought out the blood pressure monitor out of the drawers and measured her blood pressure.

"It's high. 180/100 mmHg." I spoke, alarmed.

"Any chest pain or headache?" I inquired, to which she nodded.

"From when have you been feeling so weak?"

"Five days" She replied. Seriously?

I searched through my first aid box, handed her two strips of tablets and took out a tablet.

"Gulp it down." I poured a glass of water for her as her eyes were busy admiring the colour coordination of the room.

"Eat something after 20 minutes. You will feel better. Alright?" She nodded.

"You can rest here." I smiled at her as she sat cross-legged on the sofa, thinking something.

"What's up?" I tried to gain her attention as she was still in the same position as I returned back, changing my attire.

"I don't know how to cook." She mused, sadly.

"So?"

"I want to cook Masala paneer for your brother." She stated.

"Okay, let's start cooking." I prompted.

"But how?" She again questioned, puzzled.

"I will teach you." I assured her, as we walked down the stairs to reach the kitchen.

"But, before that you need to eat something." I murmured.

I took out boiled chickpeas, rajma, black peas from the refrigerator. Switching on the stove, I kept a pan and poured mustard oil, when it was heated enough.

"What are you making?" Bhabhi questioned.

"Try to guess." I playfully teased her, taking advantage of her poor knowledge on food styles and cuisines.

I chopped onions and chillies finely and put them into the pan and stir fried till it turned reddish brown. In the meanwhile, I boiled rice in the other burner.

I grinded ginger and garlic, poured it into the pan and then, added crushed tomato into the same and mixed it after adding water.

"Add salt, and spices" I told her. She added them quickly.

"Tadka?" She pouted, trying to guess and I nodded at the success.

"Well done, you cracked it well, bhabhi." I complimented her, making her childishly shake her head, shyly.

"Now, its time for you to make rotis." I declared, clapping my hands as I covered the lid over the curry in the pan.

"Let's do it." She whispered, looking at me.

"Flour is in the last cabinet. A container with blue cap. Got it?" I inquired as she struggled, identifying and bring that container out.

"Four times of it" I directed her to take out the small bowl in the flour container and fill flour four times of it in the big glass bowl.

I continued to stir the curry, to prevent it from clumsily sticking to the surface of the pan. I glanced towards bhabhi to check on how she was doing.

"How to do?" I saw her pouting at the watery dough in the bowl. God!

"Surfraaz" She nudged me with her elbow at my lack of response, while I eyed her dripping fingers, as if watery batter trailing down.

"You could've told me before, you don't know how to do it. Huh?" I directed her hand under the running tap water and washed it off.

Pouring more flour to the dough, I kneaded it gently till it was ready.

"Done. Do you know now, how it's done?" I cocked my brows at her as she gave me a enthusiatic smile.

"Good" I complimented, knecking on her shaped skull.

"Thanks, Surfraaz."

"Nah. It's Shay for you." I smiled, pinching her cheeks.

"Stop treating me like an estranged brother in law. Treat me like a big brother, kiddo." I laughed at her gasp.

"You called me kiddo- Wait! I am not a kiddo." She murmured, whining.

"You are a big kiddo, a cute one. A kiddo, who doesn't know how to make rotis." I laughed, seeing her adorable red face.

"I am supposed to be your bhabhi. You can't call me kiddo. Show some respect, man." She scrunched her face.

"I don't intend to, kiddo." I teased her as my fingers curled around the roller, while rolling the balled doughs into circles.

"With due respect, Kiara bhabhi ji can you please help me out by bringing a plate for me?" I notoriously teased her, but she complied nonetheless, with a pout.

...............

"How many hours do we have?" I grumbled, stuffing another bite into my mouth.

"Max 3 hours."

"It would be enough." I murmured, trying to calm her anxious self down.

Filling our stomach, I asked her to do the dishes as I reached upstairs to fetch her after-meal medicines.

While she gulped down the tablets, I cleaned the kitchen space and chopped onions, capsicum, chillies for her.

I lit up the burner and I set the container up above it.

"Now, pour oil on it." I instructed as she worked, accordingly.

"Put cumin seeds, ajwain, chopped chillies, garlic and cashews when the oil is hot, you can do it, right?"

She shook her head with a pout again.

I dropped the vegetable peels in the garbage bin, still checking up on her. I saw her looking at the pan weirdly, but I was taken aback when I saw her about to dip her finger in the oil.

"Wait, there." Shit, this girl!

"What the hell were you about to do?" I yelled, setting the flame low.

"I was just checking if the oil is hot?" She answered. Damn, her innocence.

I wonder, from where bhai produced her?

"Put them now." I told her and she hurried to do as said.

"To know if the oil is hot, you need not dip your finger in it. You can just sprinkle a little amount of water and see if it creates bubbles. Got it?" I sighed, seeing her nodding like a naive, innocent kid.

Her bangles danced softly and giggled everytime, she sauted. Alongside she added onion, ginger, garlic paste. In the meanwhile, I smashed tomatoes through a crusher and put it in the same pan.

After it turned mushy, I added turmeric powder, chilli powder, cashews, coriander leaves, garam masala, salt, and I told her to stir it properly. Sauting the mushy texture mixture in low heat for few minutes, I added cubes of paneer along with lots of butter. She stirred it again and I sprinkled kasturi methi in it and covered the lid.

"Is it done?" I heard her whine, glancing at her watch.

"Yes. Just pour 3 spoons of creams and it's done."

I helped her to transfer it to a bowl and garnished it with cashews and corriander leaves.

I also helped her in making butter naan. She carried the dishes to the dinning table and I relished the rich butter smell, spread throughout the house.

"Will you taste it for me?" She forwarded me a bite to taste, which I refused.

"I am lactose intolerant." I mumbled.

"Lactose Intolerant?"

"I am allergenic to dairy products." I elaborated, seeing her clueless face.

"Oh. Sorry, I didn't know. But, what will you eat for dinner?" She questioned, concerned.

"I'll make poha for you." She offered.

"You know, how to make poha?" I asked, amused as I sat on the recliner, sprawled on the living room.

"That's one of the three things, I know how to cook." She laughed.

"First one must be noodle and second one must be tea, isn't it, kiddo?" I remarked, jesting her.

"Yeah, but the second one is coffee not tea." She pulled my hair, making me wince, just for merely laughing at her.

"Geez, leave my hair, bhabhi." I winced again as her grip tightened as she whispered, "Now, everytime you call me a kiddo, I will do the same."

"Ugh, you will make me bald." I shrieked, forcing her withdraw with an warning.

"I will not eat your poha." I pouted, throwing a tantrum. It's simply not everyday, I get a crime partner to play with and throw tantrums like a stubborn child.

"Then, starve yourself to sleep." She yelled from the kitchen as I heard the commotions of the crockeries and cabinets.

I was making a presentation for the upcoming 'National Heart Month', describing the importance of awareness of heart disease and stroke prevention, that could be caused by a simple imbalance in the blood pressure rate.

"No one's at home?" Bhai entered, and sat beside me as his eyes scanned the whole house.

"Kiara?"

I know, brother. I was expecting the same question.

"Your wife is in the kitchen, cooking for you." I replied, smugly as I saw his eyes as wide as saucers.

"What the fuck!" He shouted, before literally running to the kitchen. Laughing, I followed him to see how this hulk of a husband reacts.

"Khushi?" I saw her cutting the carrots and beans into squares as I saw him, launching towards her. The way he pounced upon her and swiftly switched off the stove was such a show to watch.

"Who told you to cook?" He whispered, exasperated, engulfing her in his arms.

Aww, my brother.

I leaned onto the kitchen door to witness the kitchen romance.

"You are fine, right?" He had tears in his eyes as he cupped her face, lovingly. Kiara pouted, showing her bleeding finger, which she accidently cut, when her husband dashed into the kitchen.

"Why were you cooking?" He asked her, but she pouted again, staring at my direction.

Shay, your brother'll hunt you with his bare hands today!

"He-?" Bhai pointed at me, while looking at her.

"You were cooking poha for him?" I could see red in bhai's eyes as he ran after me with a rolling pin in his hand.

"You douche. My wife isn't your servant. Tell your own wife to cook for you." I winced as he threw the rolling pin at me, that hit my poor bums.

"Stop it, bro." I ran down the stairs again and hid behind Kiara, holding onto her shoulder blades.

"Your husband will beat me to pulp. Damn woman, save me." I screamed as a spoon hit my cheek.

"Get away from my wife, Shay." He clenched his fist as I hugged her.

"I won't get off, my sister." I said, stubbornly, testing his patience.

"Shay, I said, get off her, now." He threatened me.

"I won't. I am your big bro, isn't it, kiddo?" I nudged her, whispering, "Hug me back, kiddo."

"You're inviting your own death, buddy." She nuzzled me, while I stared at my barely breathing brother.

"He is ready to eat you alive." I muffled my laugh as I felt my new found sister's arm tightening around me.

"I bet, he will eat you first. Then, the food you made." I chortled, seeing her blushing face.

"I bet, he won't." She argued, something bitter flashing over her face.

"Get ready to be defeated." I winked at her as I glanced at bhai walking towards us.

I could see his eyes paused on Kiara as he stared dead into her eyes.

"Now, you save me." She shadowed behind me, taking advantage of my height.

"Pain is pleasure, kiddo." I winked at her as bhai held her by her shoulder and dragged her to him, before he ferociously captured her lips and eyed me. His eyes directing me, 'the girl is only his'. I laughed at my jealous big brother.

Giving them their privacy, I strolled to the living room and waited.

"Guys, get over with your live porn. Continue it later in your bedroom. Food is getting cold." I called out as it was past 8 pm.

"What's for dinner?" Viraj mused, not meeting my eyes as I heard the commotion in the kitchen, continuing.

"Your wife made butter naan and paneer masala for you." I spoke, uninterested in his red lips.

"Let's sit." We nodded as she started serving.

"Bhabhi, don't serve for me." I said, checking my watch again.

She didn't come yet.

"Aye, let him wait for his wife. I am eating already." Bhai grumbled, feeding himself with a huge bite.

"It's so yummy, Khushi." He complimented, making both of us smile.

"You both have your dinner. I'll just check on Neha." I mumbled, leaving them alone. But, while walking up the stairs, I realised, I didn't have her phone number.

Shit!

"Bhai, can you text me Neha's number?"

"Yeah. Done" He mumbled, after a brief pause.

"I'll be back soon. Enjoy your dinner." I smiled, as they thumbs upped.

I was driving towards her hospital. It was just a mere thirty minutes drive, but it felt too long.

Dialing her, I put my phone on the phone holder as I busied myself in driving the car. I tried twice, it just said unreachable.

'Your wife is one heck of a trouble packet.' I grumbled at my inner conscience.

I dialled Kshiraj and he picked up the call in the first three rings. Maybe, he's brooding with no patients or the opposite.

"Hey, Shay." He sang and then, paused.

"Wow, that rhymed." He instantly said, as if he did something extraordinary. I tell you, this man is crazy.

"Is Neha there in the hospital?" I interfered his never-ending blabberings, by posing my question of concern.

"Neha- who?" Kshiraj and his short term memory.

"My wife" I replied in a clipped tone as he quickly replied in negetive.

"No, she took a half day." He informed me, making me halt the car.

I declined the call, after informing him that I would talk to him later.

I tried to connect to Neha again, as I was genuinely concerned of her safety.

The sudden ringing made me feel at peace. Ah, finally, that girl got some streak of responsibility in her head.

"Hey, where are you?" I propelled my question as soon as the call connected.

"Raaz?!"

"Yes. Will you come back home late?" I questioned again, hoping an answer.

"Yes, it will take me another two hours or so. Don't wait for me." She said, quite in a hurry.

"Did something important come up?" I found myself asking again.

"I've lots of pending work at the hospital. I gotta go." She spoke, as if she had no interest to answer.

I drove towards the southern point, the best momo junction of our town close to her restaurant. I hopped out of the car and enjoyed the floating air laterns in the night sky. It was the Valentine's week, the week of romance and light.

The sky was lit so bright, that it made me jealous of it's beauty. It's just so perfect to be true. For a brief second, I felt like living in a illusion after I caught a sight of someone familiar in the crowd.

I dialled Neha again. This time standing just a metre long distance between us.

"What happened, again?" She snapped, rudely.

"If it's going to be late, should I come to pick you up?"

"I can come on my own." She uttered, paranoid.

"Is there any emergency? Is it a too critical case?"

"Yes, it is. And, you need not know everything. I am not answerable to you." She replied, rudely before terminating the call.

"You seem too busy, though." I whispered to none in particular as I saw her in the same orange dress before me with a couple of people along with Riya. But, the sight of her hugging another man and him, kissing her cheeks, didn't just settle with me.

Unable to bear it anymore, I walked to the nearest bar. Men reeking of sweat and alcohol heaped in the corners.

"A tequila mojito, please" I ordered. The man in his early twenties stared at me for a good two minutes, before serving me my order.

I sipped the drink, slow. I drink rarely but, today the feeling was overwhelming.

"Anything else?" He raised his brow.

"Something strong?" I murmured under my breath, sliding the empty hourglass to him.

"Vodka?" I nodded. Blocking my sense of smell, I gulped it down in a go.

"Just one more." Gulping the second glass down, I paid my bill and drove back home. I was still very much in my senses, being alcohol tolerant.

My legs felt heavy as I got back home. Glancing at the kitchen, I was reminded of my new friend, who cooked poha for me. I served poha for myself and feasted on it. It was really more delicious, than I'd expected ever.

Serving a plate with butter naan and paneer masala, I kept it in the refrigerator for her.

I laid on the bed after a very long time and tried falling asleep, failing miserably.

I better not think about her, anymore.

In few minutes, the room door clicked open and I sat erect on the bed. She threw her purse on the cushion and went to use the washroom and I held my blanket and pillow to go to the balcony.

"You can sleep on the bed. I don't mind." I heard her voice, halting my movements. It felt nice to ears, but I felt bad.

I am not a thing of pity or too pathetic to sympathise or a place of charity.

"Was there any emergency in the hospital?" I initiated the talk, settling my pillow again on the bed.

"Yes. Sudden cardiac arrest of-." She spoke, looking into my eyes. It didn't take her a second to lie blatantly on my face.

"Stop lying." I interfered her words and moved to my side of bed.

"I don't care, what you think." She yelled, sleeping on the same bed,facing another side.

"And, I don't care whatever you do." I replied back, coldly.

•••

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