Sid

Three years! After three long years, I'm still looking for a place to be called home. I wish I hadn't left home three years ago, but home didn't feel the same anymore. Not after my mother's death. She was the one person that could keep the family together. She was an amazing woman and human being. We all loved my mother and she loved us all together. I guess that's why after she was gone, no one could stop the family from breaking apart. The glue that bind us was no longer there.

My elder sister left the house with the man she loves and I left the house because I couldn't live with the man that I can't love, my father. The whole world, at least my whole world looks up to him as a role model, as a person, and as an inspiration. Unfortunately, he couldn't even manage to be a father for me. Sometimes I wish he wasn't the renowned doctor he is and just my father. Just an ordinary man. But no, he has to be the great Shashank Gupta! The one great neurosurgeon everyone looks up to! Mom always told me that I'm like him in many ways, but I never seen it and even I am like him, I refuse to acknowledge it then. I'm not a selfish person who would simply manipulate anyone for my own reasons. Mom failed to see that, but I saw it right through.

A loud thunder brought me back from the reverie I was losing myself in and I jolted up from my make-shift bed to look at the window. The wind was very strong that it was swishing through the edges of the window. I just really hope that everyone will be fine after the thunderstorm. It hardly rains here in this village, but, when it does, it always pours as if the barrier of a damn has been opened. By God's grace, we never had to experience flood, and I hope it will be so when we leave tomorrow.

Heaving a sigh, I took a few strides to the hot water flask and made myself some coffee. It's almost dawn by the way and I'm wide awake. I looked at my packed baggage and the small room that had been my place for the past three months. To be honest, I had grown fond of this place, but I have to leave. There's always another village and another group of needy people that can't afford medical facilities need me and my team.

Project Hope! The only hope and happiness in my life. I started this project a month after Mom's demise and I travel throughout India, taking a team of capable doctors and medical staffs along with me. In just the span of three years, we had covered 18 villages and kept in touch with all the patients who required follow-up until they're fully recovered. For those who we can't treat, I had sent them to Sanjivani. We as a team don't do this for profit or money. We collectively decided to keep minimum wages for ourselves while treating others. Most of us do not have any commitments like family and bills, hence it was easier to make this decision. Besides, all our accommodation and food was covered in the camps expenses. We are funded from multiple organisations and rich people, including my own father as Project Hope is under Sanjivani, but it's mine.

I could hear the thunders racing with one another to break the silence of dawn as I packed my remaining things after a quick shower. The thunderstorm doesn't seem like it's going to stop any time soon and we better hit the roads before it starts to get flooded. I quickly reached out for my phone and unlocked it to send the message to my whole team that we're moving early, but there wasn't any network. Groaning to myself, I threw the phone on the bed and grabbed my raincoat with a torchlight to give the message to everyone.

When I walked out, I could see the driver across a distance as he was diligently dismantling the camp.

"Ramu Bhaiya! What are you doing out here alone in the rain? You should have called us out, right?"

"It's okay Saab. I was awake and looking at the rain, I thought you all might want to rush and hit the roads earlier, so I began with this. I'll take care of this, you go and don't be under the rain." He advised me as he continued to struggle with the stump. I stopped him from pulling out the stump and started doing it myself. He is barely being able to stand in amidst the strong wind and the rain yet he was putting himself through this trouble! For God's sake, he's so thin and fragile, but he's one of the strongest among us. He doesn't fall sick that easily and it's almost impossible to break his spirit.

"Ramu Bhaiya, you go and inform the team to get ready by one hour. I'll get the camp off into the bus. Go!" He went off with a nod.

Just then, I heard a huge splash and looked around to find Dr. Rishi on the ground. He was still in his night clothes but now it he was fully drenched.

"Rishi!" I called out to him as I rushed to help him.

"What were you doing out here and why are you still in last night's clothes?"

"Actually, I was... err... urrm... I went to check... err..."

"Don't tell me you spent the night with Tara again?" I was really hoping that he would say no but unfortunately, his head hung low in shame, I suppose.

"God, Rishi! I clearly told you both that fraternising among the camp staff isn't a good idea. Why are you both so adamant?"

"I love her, man! It's as simple as that. I cannot not be with her if we are going to stay close. We're in love and I think that can't be a bad thing." He explained as he got up and examined the cut on the edge of his elbow.

I sighed as I looked up at him.

"Just get ready within an hour. We are leaving earlier to avoid getting stuck in floods."

I just can't believe it! Rishi and Tara are both brilliant doctors and they were an asset to my project! It's going to be very hard to lose them both at once, but I have no choice. These kind of relations will only lead to complications once it's done. As soon as he got to Mumbai, I'm going to let them both know about it.

* * * * *

We managed to leave the village before the rain got worse and just as were reaching the border of the nearest town, my phone began to vibrate without a pause. I fetched it out of pocket to find hundreds of messages and missed calls. Most of it coming from my sister, Anjali. She doesn't normally do that. She knows that sometimes, we don't get network coverage in the villages that we camp in, then why did she spam me with so many messages and calls? A bolt of panic surged through my veins and I immediately dialed her number without even opening any of the messages. I need to know that she's fine. She picked up after a couple of rings and her voice didn't sound good.

"Di? Hello? What happened? I'm sorry there was no network coverage there in the village. You there? Can you hear me?"

"Yes, Sid. I can hear you! I'm sorry, I just panicked. Where are you now?"

Panicked? Why?

"I've just left the last village we were camping in. We are on our way to Mumbai. We'll be arriving by evening. Why, Di? Is there anything?"

"You come here. We will talk." She kept her answers short and I could tell from her voice that she was trying to remain calm.

"Okay, then. I'll try to get there as soon as I can."

"Come to our house straight!" She added another instruction.

"House? You know that I haven't been there since... since Mom passed away" I paused, trying to hold back the tears that were brimming through the corner of my eyes.

"I know, but do you trust me?"

"I do!"

"Then, come to the house and I'll let you know!"

"Fine!"

"Sid?" I heard her voice before I cut off the call and I answered back, letting her know that I am still there.

"I miss you!" I couldn't help but to smile and find myself relaxing upon hearing that.

"I miss you too! Will see you soon! Bye!"

* * * * *

As soon as I arrived in Mumbai, despite promising Di to meet her in the house, I had to stop by in Sanjavani first to complete several procedures for Project Hope. Just when I was about to enter, someone had walked into me from the back and I could hear the thud of them falling down which was followed by a soft "auch!"

"Are you okay?" I turned around to face that person and contemplated on whether or not to help her. Girls these days, if you try to help them, they judge you and put a 'flirt' label on you, but if you don't, you still get judged. And yet, they blame that all men are like that.

"I'm sorry I walked into you by mistake!" She mumbled as she struggled to get up with her heavy backpack. Putting away the thoughts of being judged, I helped her up and picked the backpack for her.

"Thank you!" She politely replied with a smile and dusted off the dust on her clothes. I nodded, acknowledging her thanks and walked into Sanjivani.

"Do you work here?" I heard her voice yet again.

"Yes" I replied, keeping my answers as short as possible.

"Thank God! I need to meet Shashank uncle. I mean, Dr. Shashank. Can you guide me to his office, please?" She sounded very timid and innocent that I had to turn around and take another look at her.

She was quite attractive, I must say. Her shoulder length, dark brown, wavy hair was neatly tucked behind both her ears with the help of a cute clip. She had no make-up on, I think, judging by the way how pale yet glowing her skin was. She must have put on some lipstick as her lips were unnaturally rosy pink. Not too much, just nice to make them look kiss-able. She was wearing a pink deep 'V' neck blouse that gave a little tease of her cleavage along with a knee-length black skirt that truly complemented her small waist and sexy legs.

"Hello?" She snapped her fingers in front of my face, catching me off-guard.

"Dr. Shashank's cabin is on the third floor. I'm going there actually. You can tag along." I swiftly replied and walked past her towards the elevator.

"How long have you been working here?" She questioned me once the doors of the elevator shuts.

"A few years, but I don't work here. I'm always away for Project Hope."

"What's Project Hope?"

"It's Sanjivani's medical camp for the rural areas and villages." I just hope she would keep her mouth shut after this, but no, she had to keep on asking.

"That's amazing! So, how often does this camp goes on and how long do you guys camp in a village?"

An elevator ride has never been this long for me. I let go of huge sigh and turned around to look at her curious eyes.

"It depends on the size of the village and the amount of people there and this camp goes on all year around. I had in fact just returned from one and will be going again to another one in around 2 weeks. Do you have any other queries?" I asked her, hoping that she would take the hint that I'm really not into having this conversation with her right now. I don't care if I sounded rude. I tried the short answer method. She just doesn't seem to get it.

"Yes, can I join you in the coming medical camp?"

"Huh?" She had caught me off-guard. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that. What the heck?

"Wait, what?" I had to ask her again.

"Oh, the door opened!" She exclaimed and walked out, leaving a confused me behind.

"What the hell just happened?" I mumbled as I walked out of the car, trying to not stare at her.

"Which way is it? Left or right?"

"This way!" I replied curtly and lead the way towards Dad's cabin. How weird it is to say Dad.

"You didn't reply me earlier, though!" She started again.

This girl, she walked into me a few moments ago, started questioning me about what I do and now wants to tag along with me for a medical camp? I don't even know her name! What the hell am I supposed to reply? Does she even know what we do in a medical camp? She looked so prim and proper like a princess. Can she even endure all the rough things in the camp? Like seriously? And the most important question, what would she do there? Is she a medical staff?

"It's not my decision to make. Dr. Shashank and a board of doctors will have a meeting to decide on the crew of Project Hope. I hope that answered all your questions and this is Dr. Shashank's cabin. Do you want to go first or can I go first?"

"Oh, you can go first. You seem to be in a little rush!" She smiled as she sat on the bench right next to the door.

I nodded curtly before knocking and entering his cabin, only to find it empty. He was supposed to be here at this time of the day. Where was he? He might be off being a philanthropist again for all I care! I sighed and placed the report of the last Project Hope on his table before walking out.

"Hey!" I called out to the girl, gaining her attention almost immediately. "Did you have an appointment with Dr. Shashank?"

She shook her head and asked why.

"Because he's not around here. You'll have to come back some other time then." I replied as I walked out of the cabin and head towards the elevator.

* * * * *

I arrived at home after stopping by at my apartment for a quick shower and was shocked to find 'her' seated in the living room with Anjali Di.

"What the?"

- To be continued -