I tapped my foot holding the edge of my desk. Students stood infront of me with their cases and books for approvals.

"Later." I spoke not glancing at them. They murmured but my fingers refreshed the page again.

Results are out! I jumped out of my seat walking out of my department. Students around me were startled, I pushed them back and ran to old pathology lab. Huffing, I sat down to type her number.

Please make her pass!

Please!

It took me exactly 5min to load her result. My eyes bulged out . Tears of happiness flowed out of my body. This moment if she was with me, I would have kissed her hard to show how happy she made me today. Finally my girl has done her MD! 3 great years of struggle, separation, mood swings, bad times and extremely uncomfortable situations she secured highest in her department! I jumped in excitement holding my phone.

"Sir?." One of my undergraduate student called out. I turned around to see him.

"Ah nothing! One of my paper got accepted in reputed journal." I gave him a reason patting on his back. He smiled nervously and left not before congratulating me. Tucking my shirt inside, I briskly walked back to my department. Everyone in the corridor were heard talking about good results secured by pg students. I smiled at few and entered the ward to check on patients.

"Yo!. Two of our department students got 2nd and 3rd place in university ranking!." Sanjay my friend spoke as I smiled at him.

"Guess who got 1st?." He asked. I just smiled and moved my head as no.

"My dear darling Dr Anagha! I am sure she will now accept my proposal which I am going to make soon." He spoke smiling like a lost puppy. My hand tightened around the steth, anger radiated towards him but my friend is  dumb to even understand my situation.

"Why don't you concentrate more on cases? Just because you turned 31 years that doesn't mean you will harass anyone you want with your stupid proposals." I commented. He was shocked but didn't say a word. Walking away from me, he left me alone with a patient who was smiling at me.

"How are you feeling after your surgery?." I asked him.  He shrugged his shoulders a gesture made by many patients.

" I think it's time you propose her." He commented as I was leaving.

Propose?

She's mine already!.

Congratulations poured in from all the departments and there was a talk that Anagha outshined everyone. A Wallflower now famous for scoring highest marks. Pride filled in me whenever I heard praises about her.

"Sir, Dr Panchal sir is calling you. " My peon informed. I nodded my head moving behind him silently. As soon as I entered his chamber, he hugged Congratulating on her result.

"That's her hardwork sir. I have not done anything." I said looking away. He smiled knowing full well how much I love her.

"Regardless, she's still a baby of our family who now graduated with good marks. I am happy with that fact that she not only managed to perform well but also engrave good reputation for healing hands among her patients. An achievement we both should be proud of, isn't it?." He spoke. I nodded my head as yes. We talked about different things in our lives leading our conversation to graduation ceremony.

"I will be inviting my professor as chief guest. Why don't you be host of presenting awards for highest scoring graduates and post graduates? I am sure you love to do that?." He asked winking at me. Suddenly an idea struck my mind.

"Are you sure sir? If I take decision based on my feelings?." I asked him.

"I know you well, I have seen you through years Amogh. Whatever you do, it's for best interest of both parties. You are free to host as you want." He said giving me free hand. I smiled at his words. I couldn't wait to go home or see how happy she will be! After all, all years she went through immense criticism for not being at par with me. God has beautiful way of showing strength to the world. Walking back to my department I sat down in my cubicle holding my phone. It's been 45min since her result was out.  Maybe she's free now?

"Hello?." I answered as soon as her call got connected. She was silent for few minutes without saying a word. I smiled with tears flowing down my eyes. Should I be this emotional? People eventually pass these examinations and get through the shit, right?

"I am so proud of you! You don't know how happy I am to see your result. If you were here, right in front of me, I would have kissed you like a mad person to show what kind of happiness you spread in my life. I can't believe your hard work finally paid off! Go tell your parents! It doesn't matter when, you did outrun my academic skills, scored  highest possible marks and stood first in the university! I am so proud of you Anagha! Extremely proud!." I spoke wiping my tears. I am sure she can heard my shaky voice. After silence of 2 min I hear her take a breath and within a second she cried like a baby.

"Shhhh...don't cry! You passed your exam!." I cooed to which she just hummed.

"A..are you really proud of my marks?." She questioned with meek voice. I smiled at the other end. Is she mad? I would have been this happy even if she scored pass percentage.

"I would have cried and felt proud even if you fail to pass this examination. I have seen your struggle and dedicate all these days, you deserve to be happy that too in highest place." I replied. She just hummed. I motivated her that it's not me or her uncle who got this result, it's her own fate and hardwork. Anagha hummed to every line with shaky voice. If I was not a professor here, I would have ran back  to comfort her in person.

"You need to be careful now Anagha. Choose hospitals where there is less stress and happy to work. Don't run for money ok?." I advised to which she just hummed again.

"So...tell me, what was your friends reaction?." I asked.

"I was waiting for you call. I did not lift theirs nor called my hod or professor." Her words stunned me.

Waiting for me?

I waited for her to talk with friends and family. As I did not want any disturbance while talking with her. Also, I was not sure if she gave me a chance to pursue her or take things slow.

" I.. I thought you needed time to talk with your friends. I swear, ran out of department to check your results, got caught by one of my students while jumping in excitement and.." I trailed.

"You did? Jumped? That's.. so not you. " She commented laughing a bit. I hummed this time. Will I be called pedophile? It's just 4yrs age gap. I am sure, people with this age gap do fall in love?

She has to..

No other choice..

Now that we are... she has to..

"I was asking, at what time you get off work?." She spoke as I zoned out remembering our past.

"Huh? I..I have surgeries this afternoon, won't be back by midnight too. I will meet you tomorrow?." I asked feeling bad about my life. If only I had chance to live a life where I don't need to ask my people to plan their schedules according to mine.

"Its ok, I will wait. My friends are calling. Got to go. " She said disconnecting our call. I leaned against my chair gazing at my phone. How will my life be now? I can't be with her nor I can help her out if she's stuck in some problem. I won't even know what kind of path she will choose.

"Sir? Shall we start premedication?." One of my pgs asked me.

"Give me a brief." I replied getting into my work mode. As time passed, I made sure to distract myself from love of my life. If only I had taken right decision on time, I would have not hide things about her with everyone.

"Sir? Sutures?." One of my pgs asked as I held needle in my hand ready to wind up the case. Looking at him,  I sighed just because I want to meet her, I can't deny their chance to learn something new.

"Do it.  No hurry. I will talk you through. You can do it. " I encouraged which made him beam with happiness. After an hectic day with full of surgeries, I finally rested in my car.

Did she have change of mind towards me?

**********************
Please vote comment and share my story!