Words Count - 2285
Attached Song - Maheroo.
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[Surfraaz Mehta]

Finally, the surgery day comes.

The day of lots of shivers down the spine and head full of responsibilities. I scrubbed in and dressed in the green sheets as the anaesthesia was already injected. We set the timer for 3 hours.

The surgery was of a 4 year old boy, with a tetralogy of fallot. He was born with several cardiac-structural defects like overriding aorta and Pulmonary stenosis, with a narrowed pulmonary artery.

The surgery was successful and the boy was kept in Intensive Care Unit for an observation of 48 hours. I freshened up and walked to my cabin.

"Sir, would you join us for dinner today?" One of my colleague asked me, to which I politely declined.

I was way too hungry as it had already been 15 hours since I last ate. So, I hurriedly drove towards our house.

I brisk walked to my room, only to find no one there. Changing my attire and relaxing for a while, I moved downstairs for dinner.

"Good evening." I wished everyone, to which they smiled.

In sometime, Viraj and Kiara even entered. As usual, Neha sat by the side of Viraj and we three sat on our original places.

As Viraj opened the dish container lid, he squealed, exclaiming, "Butter chicken".

A dazzling smile fluttered in Neha's eyes at his appraisal and she beamed at him.

"Uhmm.. Delicious." He moaned as he tasted the dish, relishing it's taste. She kept serving him more.

Though I shouldn't, still I felt a little low because he was getting that care and love, I yearned forever. She could've known being just my best friend.

Let go of my likes, she could've just known what I dislike !

This heart always travels in that forbidden region, where it is obstructed to roam. Only to be walked on, and get weared off.

I don't know why I've a hope that she would like me someday, if not love me as I do. A beautiful oxymoron, isn't it?

I received my phone, and walked away from the dining table, without having a morsel of food again. I was destined to stay hungry the whole day, perhaps.

Like anyone cared!

Again reaching the hospital, I buried myself with works even of tiniest importance and silliest significance. I just wanted to drift my mind away from reality. A night went by, and a day half past but I was too carefree to observe it. I just wanted a getaway.

Grabbing my car keys, I ignited my engine to drive back home. On the way, I saw Jia standing on the middle of the road in the pouring rain.

"Hey, what's the issue?" I inquired, halting the car before her.

"Buddy, my car broke down." She replied, sneezing again. I quickly opened the umbrella, led her into my car.

"Come with me. I will drop you." I draped my blazer on her as she was trembling with cold.

Her whole saree was dripping wet and her hair was messily gelled up with water. She was shivering, so I didn't converse much with her. Rather targeted to make her reach her home faster.

Within few minutes, we entered into Mallik Mansion. I asked her to get inside, and I will join her after parking the car.

I entered through the main gate and saw an old lady reading newspaper, her glasses on her nose. I touched Aunty's feet. By that time, I saw Vyom Bhai descending down the stairs, quite pissed off.

"Sorry I couldn't recognise you, beta?" Aunty asked, scanning me from head to toe and Vyom Bhai's attention turned to me, perhaps after her directed question.

I smiled and replied, "Urmilla aunty, I am Jia's college friend and your best friend's son."

"Now, guess who I might be?" I excitedly took the seat next to her and waited for her to recognise me.

I saw Jia, coming down the stairs in her changed attire. She was about to call me out, but I gestured her not to.

"Jia, your mother in law doesn't even recognise me." I complained, as Vyom Bhai and Jia laughed.

"Oh, aren't you that idiot Anil Mehta's son, Surfraaz." She raised her brows at me, waiting for me to confirm asap I cringed at her way of recognising me.

'Idiot' name runs in your family, Shay!

"Yes, aunty." I pursed my lips, showing offended, I felt.

"You've taken over your dad, entirely" She laughed at me, as I nodded.

"How's your married life?" She inquired me, quite gravely.

"What to say now, you know in which circumstances, we got married. But I am grateful that she didn't kick me out of my own house. Nothing much.But, I love her the way she is." I replied with a slight smile on my face, while Jia sneezed twice.

"Okay, it's already too late I'll take my leave." I said and stood up, not before smacking Jia's head, who was busy sneezing.

"Take medications and take care of yourself, Jojo" I advised her. I didn't miss her husband's burning glare towards my direction again.

I drove towards our house. It was over 5 p.m. I hoped, I would get something to break my fast from yesterday.

The whole house seemed empty. I walked to the kitchen and gulped down a glass of water. The whole kitchen counter was a mess, the soiled pan still atop the stove and the kitchen cloth in the basin.

"Let me change, first. Eat something and do it later." I mumbled. Then, I briskly walked to our room.

As soon as, I entered the room, I saw Neha pacing to and fro in the room with a bowl in her hand. I kept my coat on the single seater couch.

"What's up?" I tried to gain her attention as Neha turned to see me, beaming.

"I made something for you. Eat it. This one is my favourite dish." She mumbled, pushing a spoonful from the bowl, hurriedly. Leaving me now moment for me to know, what it was.

As I gulped the sweet and sour eatable down my food pipe, my eyes started to tear up.

"Is there curd in it?" I asked her, alarmed.

"Curd is the main ingredient in Thayir Sadam. I really love this south Indian dish." She went on rambling, unable to notice my discomfort. But, I was not in a condition to listen or understand anything as my body reacted vigorously to curd in my system.

Loosening my tie and unbuttoning my collar button, I freed neck to ease my breathings. The room felt so suffocating that I had to rush out, wobbly.

As soon I did exit the room, I strided to the basin and vomited my guts out. There was a sear itching on my throat and my body had started having rashes with painful itching. I folded my blue shirt's sleeve till my elbows and saw few red rashes. My fingers were shaking as I drew the oil container out of the cabinets and applied it on my forearm.

I wanted to scream at the shearing sensations.

"Bhai, What's wrong?" Aisha shouted as she just came back home, from the main door.

"Rashes, vomiting." I managed to say in difficulty as my throat constricted.

No one was at home except Neha. Aisha dragged me towards her room, and in few minutes, brought me a glass of hot turmeric milk.

"Gulp it down." She handed me the glass.

I hurriedly drank it in a go. My throat pain relieved to an extend.

"Go and take a hot water bath. You will feel good. How the hell did you get this allergy again?" Aisha pushed me into the washroom with two towels.

"First, go and take a bath. We will talk later."

Standing under the shower for 15 min, I felt good. Changing into the tee, I came outside the room and saw my neatly folded tee and shorts on the bed.

"Feeling better?" She asked me, entering into the room and handed me a plate of khichdi.

"Just finish this before me and go to your room." She ordered me, with a glare.

"I know, you missed your meals. Or else, your lactose intolerance wouldn't have aggrevated so much." She continued to glare at me, as I fed myself Khichdi, made by my baby sister.

I finished the whole plate as I was too hungry. She gave me anti-histamine tablet after I completed eating.

Sipping some water, I thanked her and hugged her, wishing a goodbye and went inside my room to see her soundly sleeping.

Without disturbing her, I went to the balcony and slept there as I was feeling a bit dizzy lately. I felt as if floating in my dreams, as soon as my head touched the pillow.

Something was pricking me as I felt hot rolling over me. I could hear subtle commotion but, it felt tough to sit up like the mattress had clutched me.

"Where is Bhai?" I heard Aisha's raised voice.

"He is sleeping." I heard Neha replying, lightly.

"But, the bed is empty." Aisha asked in an irritated voice. I knew where it was heading, so I tried to get up, nonetheless, couldn't muster up courage to do so.

"He sleeps in the balcony." I heard her replying again, casually.

Shit!

"On the Balcony?" Aisha released an exasperated sigh.

Then, I could hear no more conversations, as footsteps approached me. I could see Aisha standing with a cup in her hand.

"Bhai, why are you sleeping here?" She murmured, sitting beside me.

"Doesn't she respect you at all? If she doesn't, then, why are you suffering?" She spoke up, as her jaw clenched.

"This is the so called progress in your relationship, isn't it, bhai?"

"I don't know, but I can't bring myself to like Neha after all these." She expressed in distaste.

I tried to wake up. But, failed.

"Bhai, you are having fever." She handled me to get up and helped me to get into the bed.

"Rest for now." She said and went away, making me drink the glass of almond milk.

For the entire 2 weeks, I stayed at home and she took care of me. She took leave for me. I never realised when she has grew up to be so mature and responsible.

Upon knowing everything from me, she never once said anything to Neha nor to any other members of the family. I was deeply gratified for her, compiling to my words.

Never once in these 13 days, I saw her. She neither asked, why I was ill? She never cared enough to ask.

Why would she ask, when my mother didn't?!

It has been days, since she went to her parents house. It wasn't like, I had some hope that she would take care of me, or bother about it anyway. Indeed, I had no expectations from anyone.

I did my lunch alone in our room and then I made myself look presentable to attend an urgent meeting of the council of medical board.

I was about to grab my car keys, when I heard the door, unbolting.

"Idiot, where the hell are you going?" She walked through the unlatched door, towards me.

"Hospital, where else." I replied, monotonously.

"You aren't going." She commanded.

"But, I need to." I retorted.

"I requested them to cancel the meeting, So, take rest." Seeing her face and hearing her words, the loneliness I felt from last few days, suddenly disappeared and replaced with a brittle and weak smile.

"Why would you do that?" I asked her, amused.

"Because, you are my friend. " She mumbled, audibly.

Sad!

Nodding, I sat on the bed with a faint smile. It was okay, though.

Better than being a no-one to her.

"Stop smiling and get changed. You need to help me for a bigger mission."

"Which mission?" I literally held onto my breath, hearing 'mission'.

I hope, it's not 'Get Viraj' mission, again.

"I want make ice cream and eat." She whined like a child, sitting beside me.

"Why so suddenly, you want to eat ice-cream?" I asked her only to receive a glare from her side.

"I just want to." She jumped on the bed, stomping her feet. She seemed too happy.

I switched on YouTube videos on how to prepare ice cream at home.

Step by step, she handed me the ingredients and I blended the cream, milk, vanilla essence and chocolates with choco chips and kept it on the freezer.

The way she was drooling at the ice cream, I felt too uncomfortable making it.

"Done." I said, but she shook her head negatively.

"Make coffee now." She was hanging on my arms like a gorilla, pleading me.

"Hot coffee with cold ice cream. Do you want Dalgona coffee? But, it isn't the way, it's made. Right?" I tried to make her understand, but my stubborn head wife never listens.

"Make it the way, I say." She looked cute with that red angry nose. She has anger on the tip of her nose, that makes it red every now and then.

What would I do with her?

•••

Hey guys,
         Hope you loved the chapter . They are inching towards each other a bit.

What do you think she will do with hot coffee and cold ice cream?

Do share it as much as you can if you loved it. Don't forget to vote and comment.

Do hear out the song, in the beginning, it's really a sweet one.⚡

Thank you for reading. Stay happy and healthy.❤️

Love,
Biswa.❤️