It had been almost a week since the interns joined the hospital. It was Saturday evening and all the interns were standing near the nurse station after their duties, waiting for Dr. Rai who was going to assign them department duties, which would commence from Monday.

"Good evening, Interns," said Dr. Samarth Rai.

"Good evening, Sir," said the interns in unison.

Nodding vaguely, in his usual business-like tone, Dr. Rai said, "Well, let me inform you all, from Monday onwards, your markings will be done based on your everyday performance. Since this week was your first week, so no markings were done but now onwards we will doing that. So I hope you all will do your work sincerely as these marks will be used as a criterion for issuance of your MBBS degree and as well as monthly Best Intern awards which are crucial for the annual Best Intern Award as whoever amongst you will win that will have an advantage later in their career as it will be added to your CV and one full and two half scholarship that Imperial College, London is going to award to three of you. So, I hope you guys understood how important that award is and how much hard work you all are needed to do to win the Annual Best Intern award."

Looking at the interns, he waited for them to give a response, which they did by nodding their heads. He continued, "For the next one week you all are going to assist our senior doctors in their respective departments. So let's start with the duties now,
Dr. Yuvraj, you'll be assisting Dr. Aarav Gujral in Neurology Department.
Dr. Neha, you'll be assisting Dr. Shaina Khan in Gynaecology and Obstetrics Department.
Dr. Nikhil, you'll be assisting Dr. Manav Sharma in Orthopaedics Department.
Dr. Rhea, you'll be assisting Dr. Anuj Oberoi in Oncology Department.
Dr. Shivam, you'll be assisting Dr. Aashika Mehra in Ophthalmology Department.
And lastly Dr. Anaisha Gujral, you'll be assisting Dr. Kabir Thapar in Cardiology Department.

"After two weeks, your duties will be changed again in a different department. And that's how your rotational duties will proceed. Work sincerely interns. Disperse now!" Saying that, Dr. Samarth left for his cabin, leaving the interns to talk amongst themselves.

Damn it! Anaisha groaned as she had to work with Dr. Kabir Thapar, that too for two whole weeks. Couldn't they give her duties with some other doctor? But then, she couldn't do anything else than to abide by the rules, after all she wanted a normal working experience rather than letting her daddy make it easy for her.

"Guys, it's so cool na we'll now work with our seniors. I'm so excited to work with Dr. Shaina. I've heard she's quite chilled out and easy to get along with," said Neha, with such excitement that it seemed like she would start jumping now. The blunt and outspoken girl from a business family, that she was, had gone against her parents' wish of joining their family business, to become a doctor.

"Yeah it'll be fun to work with such experienced doctors. But, Annie, what about you, you okay with getting assigned with Dr. Kabir?" asked a concerned Nikhil. A young man from the family of doctors, who was somewhat forced into taking Medicine. Everyone in his family was a doctor and that's why, becoming a doctor wasn't his dream but a tradition that he was somewhat forced to follow. But nevertheless, he now was getting used to enjoying his job.

"Of course, Nikhil, don't worry about me. I'll manage it. Anyway one day or the other, I would've gotten assigned to him, so today only. Can't keep running away na? Not a big deal. And besides, he's really a focussed doctor. Will surely get to learn from him," replied Annie, concealing every trace of her anxiety.

Of course, she wasn't happy with getting assigned to Kabir but she wasn't someone who was afraid of challenges, though her last working experience with him was enough to scare her a bit.

"Hey that's great, Dr. Kabir's really amazing in his field. Going by his records, all the cases that he had handled in last two years since he's become an independent practitioner, he has a 98.9% success rate in them. I so wish to be trained by him. You know I'm gonna take cardiology as my speciality," admiringly said Yuvraj, a lanky guy, whose idol was Kabir. A straightforward and reserved guy, he had always dreamt of becoming a doctor and making his doctor parents and elder brother, Dr. Anuj Oberoi, proud of his achievements.

"Yuvraj, Dr. Anuj is your brother right? So how's he to work with? I mean is he really strict or what? Don't take me wrong, I'm really scared guys," said a tensed looking Rhea, fidgeting with her lab coat. The damsel in distress, she was an only child of her software engineer father and biology professor mother. But she never allowed her shyness to come in the way of her dream of becoming a doctor.

"Don't be so scared, Rhea. My brother won't eat you. He's just serious about his work like every other doctor in this hospital so stop worrying, okay?" replied Yuvraj with a small smile.

"He's right. Every doctor in this hospital is damn serious and focused on their work. But they are just like us only, humans. So stop worrying. Just do your work properly and with honesty, that's it!" said Shivam encouragingly, looking only at Rhea. The eldest child of his parents with two younger sisters, he too, just like Nikhil, came from the family of doctors but unlike him, it was Shivam's own choice to become a saviour.

Anaisha, who was quietly listening to her friends, shook her head and said calmly, "Guys, enough now! Relax, everything will be fine. Stop being so tensed! Look at Neha, if it's in her power na, then she'll just play her Punjabi songs on loudspeaker and dance here. Right, Neha?"

"Of course, Love," replied Neha with a big grin.

"Our department duties will start from Monday na, and tomorrow's Sunday, so let's go out tomorrow and have fun. It will be refreshing and we'll get a chance to know each other even better. What say, guys?" Annie asked them with excitement.

Even though Anaisha was from an affluent family and had two great friends, she still loved making friends. And the fact that her new friends were pretty much like her, down-to-earth and hard working, she mixed up well with them.

Nikhil and Neha were the first ones to say yes. The other three, after a little bit of fussing said yes as well. And as they were all free, Shivam suggested to go to the cafeteria and make the plan for the next day's hangout.

"You, guys, go, I'll just inform my brother about our little party," said Anaisha while taking out her stuff from her locker. She could've texted her brother Aarav or paged him but she thought why not meet him up.

"Okay, see you in cafeteria," said Nikhil and the group left for the cafeteria while Anaisha went to inform her brother, whose shift wasn't yet over, assumed Anaisha.

Thinking Aarav to be in his cabin, Anaisha made her way to his office. And he indeed was there, as she saw him sitting in his brown chair from the glass window of his office. Without knocking the door, she barged inside, only to bang against someone, a man to be specific.

"I'm sorry, I didn't see ... ." Anaisha's words trailed off as she saw who the man was. It was, again, Dr. Kabir Thapar, she had collided with.

"It's okay," replied Kabir in a soft tone, much different than the one he had used with her on her first day. Pretty much still ashamed of his behaviour with her that day. He moved aside, giving Anaisha space to walk upto Aarav.

As Anaisha wasn't really in the mood to talk to him, ignoring him completely, she moved past him to stand infront of her brother, who was amusingly glancing from her and Kabir along with Shaina, both of whom noticed the unspoken tension between these two.

"Bhai, I'm gonna be in the cafeteria with my friends. When you're done with your work, then meet me there or call me up to inform me. I'll join you then." She then turned to her right to where Shaina was sitting on the visitor's chair beside her and said smilingly, "Hey, Dr. Shaina."

"Hi, Anaisha. So how's your work going, so far?" asked Shaina, returning a smile to Anaisha, who was acquainted to because of Aarav. Her smile grew slightly as she saw Kabir, who was standing near the bookshelf, gazing at Anaisha from the corner of his eyes with an embarrassed look in his eyes, which amused Shaina.

"It's going good, just little too exhausting," replied Anaisha, acting completely oblivious to Kabir's presence.

"That's okay darling, you'll get used to it soon," replied Shaina, still smiling, though the reason wasn't obvious to Anaisha.

"She's right, Chhoti. Anyway, even we are going to cafeteria for a cup of coffee. After which, I've to check on my patients, and then we'll leave for home, okay, Chhoti?" asked Aarav, now slyly looking at Kabir as he too noticed that look on Kabir's face.

"Okay," said Anaisha and looking at Shaina, added, "I'll see you later, Dr. Shaina."

"Sure, Anaisha," Shaina replied.

Anaisha turned and left the room, without sparing Kabir even a small glance. Her this behaviour kind of upset him, but he ignored the tugging feeling. But surely he friends weren't ready to let this go so easily.

"What?" asked Kabir, as his two best friends were looking at him with some really weird and somewhat creepy expression.

"Nothing," said Shaina, getting up from the chair, "Let's go. Anuj and Leher will join us too, I've informed them."

"Okay," said Kabir and along with his friends, left for the cafeteria. Even then, the tugging feeling wasn't leaving him. But had becoming a master in numbing in his emotions and hiding his feelings, he covered it up. Though his best friends did notice his unusual behaviour, but they didn't probe him, giving him time to deal with it on his own.

Not quite happy with coming face to face with Kabir, Anaisha still tried to not think about him. Though she wasn't that angry at him for ruining her first day of internship, she still didn't want to just forget it all and act friendly with him, even if he was well acquainted with her family. She just didn't care.

Really not to wanting to ruin her mood further, she moved faster to reach the cafeteria. Entering the cafeteria, she spotted her friends and went to sit beside them.

"You guys didn't order anything yet," asked Anaisha, just to get herself distracted from all the thoughts of her first day or Kabir Thapar.

"No, we had. Coffees and sandwiches. You want something else?" asked Shivam, looking at a picture in Nikhil's smartphone.

"Not really," replied Anaisha and then engrossed herself in talking with Yuvraj and Nikhil.

Some minutes later, they all were having their coffees and sandwiches, when Rhea in a much calmer tone, said, "Guys, isn't it weird that we all have known each other since only 2 weeks and it already feels like I have known you all for guys. Thank you so much guys for accepting me in your group!"

The girls, who engrossed in eating those sandwiches, heard what Rhea said, and both Neha and Anaisha exchanged an astonished look. They both looked at Yuvraj who was sitting beside Anaisha and he had the same expression as them, and like them was now staring at Rhea without blinking their eyes. It was probably the first time Rhea had spoken her heart out.

Anaisha, who was sitting beside Rhea side hugged her and said, "Awwie, Rhea, you don't have to thank us. It's an honour for us that you are our batch mates. After all, who gets a chance to become friends with scholars so easily!"

"Yeah, as if you guys aren't scholars. I've seen your grades, you guys are indeed scholars no doubt in that," said Rhea, in an a-matter-of-factly tone.

Neha, who was sitting opposite to Rhea, beside Nikhil, got up from her place and, engulfed Annie and Rhea in a group hug and said, "Okay we all are! Happy? Anyway, Rhea, Annie's right there's no need to thank us. We are friends, right? So please don't say like that!"

Yuvraj, who was silent all along, was about to speak something when his attention fell on Nikhil and Shivam, who were arguing over who's gonna get the last sandwich. He shook his head and quirkily added, "Everything's fine, except two people who still haven't grown up."

Listening to his remarks the girls broke into splits of laughter. Nikhil and Shivam, both of who were completely oblivious to the entire commotion taking place between the other four, then realized how childish they both were acting and scratching the back of their necks, sheepishly grinned.

Once done with their coffees, soon they all started discussing where to go and what to do tomorrow. But more than discussion, they were busy pulling each other's leg and cracking jokes, enjoying this moment of pure happiness and friendship.

While these young interns were busy making plans, in the same cafeteria, some tables away from the interns, a group of senior doctors was chilling together as well, oblivious to the interns. Unlike the junior doctors, these senior doctors weren't really done with their shifts but were just enjoying some time off from their busy schedules with each other.

"Guys, agree with me or not but our internship days were the best. Free of worries and stress, just like the group of these new interns," said Aarav, looking at his sister and her batch mates. A neurosurgeon, Aarav, like his friends, did his internship from NLHRC, so seeing his sister do her internship from the same hospital, was kinda cool for him.

The group of senior doctors, comprising of his girlfriend Leher, his best friend Kabir, Anuj and Shaina, looked at him and nodded their heads in agreement.

"You are right, Aarav. Our internship days were the best. We have made so many amazing memories during internship which we still cherish," said Leher, glancing at the group of interns.

"I know, Leher, which memories you are actually talking about! Haina, Shaina?" asked Anuj slyly, completely in a mood to pull Leher and Aarav's leg. Aarav and Leher being the only couple in the group, were always targeted by Anuj for teasing, for he had being friends with them since the beginning of their career and along with the other two had seen Aarav and Leher's relationship evolve over the years. Neither Leher nor Aarav minded Anuj's jokes much, because in their hectic and highly demanding profession, his jokes and their group's light moments were like breathers.

Shaina giggled and played along with Anuj, "Yes, Anuj, I know very well which memories she's talking about. After all, she and Aarav were the only couple in our batch. Lots of romantic memories. And still they are the most romantic couple in the entire hospital. Offo!"

Leher and Aarav blushed hearing Shaina's remarks and Aarav tried to say something but was cut off by Kabir, "Shaina, Anuj, you know you both shouldn't tease these two like this."

Seeing his best friend defending him, Aarav smiled and said thankfully, "This is why, you're my best friend, Kabir."

"Let me complete, Aarav," said Kabir, his lips turning into smirk. Aarav nodded and Kabir, still with the same smirk, turned to Anuj and Leher and prompted, "Guys, instead of teasing them, you both should remind them of all the embarrassing things they both had done during our internship because honestly those are the best memories, atleast for us."

And just as he finished speaking, both Anuj and Shaina started laughing and Aarav's jaws dropped, it wasn't like always that Kabir would so easily let any opportunity to tease Aarav slip away. But so did Aarav, whenever he could get even with Kabir.

"Aarav, only this was left now. Why do people have to be so mean to poor souls like us? Cruel world! Now we have to endure their laughter and their silliness! Unlucky us!" exclaimed Leher, rubbing Aarav's arm.

As soon as she was done saying that, all of them broke into laughter. Pretty much like the young interns, they all too, except Kabir and Aarav, had met each other during their internship. With their friendships turning deeper with time, they all were quite close friends. And as after their post graduation, some three years back, all of them being too lucky, ended up getting recruited in the same hospital, where they all met for the first time, keeping their friendships even stronger.

"You are talking about me, huh? What about you? At least I don't go around arguing and troubling my interns," said Aarav indignantly, few seconds later after recovering from the contagious laughing moment.

Kabir was flabbergasted by Aarav's remark and defensively said, "C'mon, I told you I'm sorry for my behaviour. I shouldn't have troubled your sister like that. But honestly your sister is so full of herself, always lost and a drama queen. Just like you!"

Aarav rolled his eyes at this remark of Kabir, but deep down knowing his was right. His baby sister resembled his behaviour the most, one of the reason he got along with his sister so well.

The two women didn't say much, though both of them knew that Kabir wasn't being himself quite lately. And not just them, but even Aarav and Anuj too had noticed some unusual changes in Kabir's behaviour, which Aarav guessed had something to do with his family and their past. Being it too personal and the sort of guy Kabir was, none of them asked him anything about it, though they all were quite concerned for him.

Seeing the situation turning a little too awkward, Anuj, who unlike his younger brother, quite chilled out and outgoing, the funny bone of his group, decided to cool it down. Having got one more opportunity to tease Aarav and Anuj playfully said, "Aarav, I didn't know, you're a drama queen. I always used to think that you're a drama king. But never mind from today onwards, you are our group's drama queen! Hey people, say hi to Aaravi!"

And with this, they all again broke into splits, Kabir being glad for the attention being shifted from him. The shy man he was, he never liked being much in attention, even with his own friends.

Once done laughing, they recalled many of their internship stories. Some time later, when their pagers buzzed, they all left the cafeteria to resume their works. Before leaving the cafeteria for their respective departments, they glanced at the interns one last time and with a smile, Shaina said, "I just hope they make as many memories as we made. And after few years like us, they also sit together and relive all those memories like we do."

The remaining four agreed with her and left to resume their work as their duties weren't over yet. Kabir while leaving shot a glance at Anaisha, who was animatedly talking to her friends. He smiled a loop sided smile and left for his cabin.

Like its said, in friendship don't see differences in creed, size, or shape, the same applied to both the groups of the doctors. All of them came from different families and worlds but what bound them together was their determination and passion for their profession.