Ruhi:
A storm of emotions was stirring in my head: happiness, sadness, fear, and anxiety. My mood shifted in seconds. My wandering thoughts had no limits, and they were all focused on one person: Ekansh Razdan, my fated husband.
After he left me at the library, I strolled through the garden, recalling the incident from the previous night. That kiss. That closeness. What do they mean?
What should I think about it? We decided to divorce and move on with our lives, so why do we keep trying to connect? Now, this date!
And the nickname he gave me. Jaan.
What does this all mean to him?
And why am I allowing him to take control of everything? That kiss, sleeping in the same bedâ I should have protested. Just because we are married doesn't mean I should let him do whatever he wants with me.
What if...
Now, the fear that I had buried deep in my heart is resurfacing. What if I end up following in my mother's footsteps? What if Ekansh makes me pregnant and then leaves me for his girlfriend?
No, I can't let that happen.
I have to fight for myself. I can't just sit idly by like my mother, who never raised her voice against her husband's infidelity. She has accepted that she must live the rest of her life in a loveless marriage.
I looked up at the sky and felt a wave of nostalgia wash over me. I miss her, and a tear rolled down my cheek. But then Ekansh's words echoed in my mind: "I want you, Ruhi!"
No, I am not a dog or a cat, chasing after someone out of a desperate need for love.
****
For the past week, we have been following a routine of taking patients' case histories and then waiting for a senior doctor to hold a one-hour class for us. This schedule takes place before lunch. After lunch, we head to the university for our main classes with the rest of our batchmates.
That morning, we collected the case histories of the patients while waiting for a senior doctor in the medicine ward. Today, there were only five of us present, and the studious girl among us was busy with outpatient department (OPD) cases.
"Ruhi!" Saniya nudged me with her elbow. "I think your husband is going to take our class today." She said this while staring at Ekansh, who had just stepped into the ward. He did look amazing in his white coat with a stethoscope around his neck. "Girl, seriously he is so hot," Saniya complimented, causing a blush to spread over my cheek.
"I don't find but," that of course came from Rayan. "And he does have a name, no need to call him her husband."
"Whatever we can't change the fact," Saniya argued.
"And yes, don't expect me to behave normally with my future girlfriend's soon-to-be ex-husband."
I coughed at his words. Then I glared at him. He will never stop flirting with me.
Ekansh approached us and began the class without wasting a second. He took the class on neurological conditions. He even asked us multiple questions.
Apart from everything it felt so weird to listen to him. Now and then I wanted to laugh loud but I controlled myself.
But when my eyes fell on his lips, I couldn't stop but recall the kisses we shared last night. I stared constantly at his lips and pressed mine.
"Dr. Ruhi?" I jumped up, startled by his voice. Everyone stared at me. "I asked you something..." He said with a serious tone and I glanced to and fro at my friends.
"Sorry, sir, can you please repeat it!" I requested, softly.
"I don't like to repeat myself and I am not gonna let your ignorant attitude go that easily. So, you will explain completely about Parkinson's to me at 5."
I stared at him and raised my brow as if he was gonna take my class instead of going behind his... No... Not girlfriend... Mistress will suit best for her.
She must be too shameless to continue her affair with a married man.
"Did you get me, Dr. Ruhi?" He asked with a serious tone bringing back to the present world.
"Yes, sir," I answered and paid attention to his class.
Seems like he is very professional.
After class, we headed to the cafeteria. Today I carried two boxes one for me, a small one. And a big one for everyone.
During lunch, I got a few text messages from Dadu. Those were the pictures of corn, sugarcane, and fruits of our field. A constant smile played on my lips when I was exchanging text messages with him.
I: I want everything, Dadu.
Dadu: They are already on their way to Delhi. You will devour them this evening.
I: Do you know: who is the best person in this world?
Dadu: Meri Ladoo, Ruhi.
His response brought a big smile but I replied otherwise.
I: Ji Nahi. Aap best ho Dadu(No, you are the best!)
Usually, people in love forget about the existing world but in my case, whenever I am with my Dadu, I don't feel the world around me.
"Are you chatting with Dr. Ekansh," Avinash pried, scrapping the remained grains of rice from the box I gave him to eat.
"No, my Dadu."
"Hey tell us about your family," Rayan pried, chewing on his fries.
"My family is my Dadu. I have tau ji and taiji and three cousins too. But since my childhood, my Dadu nurtured me and brought me big." (Tau ji and tai ji: Father's elder brother and his wife.)
"And your parents?" Saniya asked.
"When I was 8, I lost them in an accident"
"I am sorry for your loss, Ruhi!" Everyone said one after the other.
I smiled at their gesture, "It's been 14 years for now. But... I will show you my Dadu..." I showed them my favourite picture of Dadu. It was in front of our Manor and I stood beside him.
"He looks so Royal," Saniya expressed. Rayan plucked my mobile from her hands and glanced at the screen. "And that Manor, is it a tourist place in Ludhiana?" He pried.
"No. That's my house."
Once again, Saniya took my mobile from Rayan's hold and confirmed, "This freaking Mahal is your home." I nodded my head, smiling at her surprised countenance.
"Girl, you are so plus extremely rich," she commented and showed the picture to others.
"I will take you all once to our Mahal."
"Where does your husband live?" She asked.
"In Amritsar."
"In Mahal?" She pried.
"Yes. It's a huge mansion."
"Holy goodness, you both belong to the Royal families," She wondered. I nodded smiling at her.
"That's why, Dr Anthra hadn't broken with Dr. Ekansh even though he is married to Ruhi," Manoj put his point of view. We all fell into silence. He glanced at us. "If I were Dr. Anthra, I would have done the same. I mean why would I leave the chance of living like a princess by marrying a prince, whose ancestors own a huge mansion."
"You mean to say, she is a gold digger." My eyes fell on Saniya.
"Maybe," I turn my gaze back at Manoj mentioned, shrugging his shoulder. Then he stared at me, "You can find it if you drill the information properly from Dr. Ekansh. If you want to try and give a chance for your marriage, you should start knowing how they started to date and what made her continue her affair. Just imagine if anyone finds out that Dr. Ekansh is married and still Dr. Anthra is with him, she will lose all of her fame."
I found his words to be meaningful. And I agree that only he has a mature brain when compared to the other three.
I shared with them about the necklace he bought for her. And instantly they concluded that she was a gold digger.
And they gave me a few tips: how to drill information about her from my husband's brain?
Maybe if our plan of dinner is still on, I can try it tonight.
It was five to five when I made my way to the GM department. For the past hour, I was in the library, going through Parkinson's disease. I made notes and even presented a couple of times in front of Saniya. For some reason, I was feeling scared of my senior doctor, Dr. Razdan. Yes, he is not that bubbly Ekansh when it comes to his profession. And this I have to highlight in my head.
"Huff!" I huffed and pushed open the door of Ekansh's cabin.
He seemed to be involved in the case sheets in front of him. I settled silently on a chair in front of his desk. Before doing mischievous things, I reminded myself once again: He is Dr Razdan.
"Ehem!" I coughed, announcing my presence to him.
"Mehsus kar liya humne apko." He announced still staring at the files. After a few seconds, he scribbled something in them and put it aside. "Explain the topic, I told you to prepare!" H demanded, staring directly into my eyes. He was swirling the pen with his right hand and his left hand was resting on his thigh.
(I sensed your presence!)
Jaise ki basketball Zameen par bounce kar raha ho, wise Kabhi appka Dil sine mei dhaka kya?
Did your heart ever bounce like a basketball in your chest?
Kisi aur ka toh patha nahi par mera ho raha hai. Aise lagra Raha hai kahin muh se mera dil na nikal jaye.
And at the present moment, I am experiencing it. And it feels as if it's gonna come out of my mouth.
I smiled to calm my anxiety.
"Explain the topic!" He repeated.
Nodding my head, I took a deep sigh, "Parkinson's disease is due to dopamine def.. deficiency.. " what the freak? Why am I stammering? "It's... It's...." why he is staring at me as if he is going to eat me raw?
"...is a progr...essive dis...disorder that affects the ner...nervous system..." Waheguru ji don't let me lose my nerves.
Ekansh huffed and slammed his hands on the desk. "You didn't prepare for the topic, did you?" Lowering my head I gave a curt nod. "Then why don't you feel confident, Dr. Ruhi?"
"Because you are scaring me..." I disclosed. I spun around along with my chair, "I will explain now...It is a progressive disorder that affects the nervous system and the parts of the body controlled by the nerves..." but my stammers began when he forcibly spun my chair and slammed his hands right on the armrest of my chair.
I gulped a jug full of saliva. "Who am I?" he demanded. Why did he turn like a Godzilla?
"Dr. Ekansh."
Nodding his head "And you?"
"Your wife," I replied innocently.
"You are my student, and you are so careless that you couldn't accomplish a simple task your senior doctor assigned to you." He spat in my face, and I felt like crying. Tears were already welling up in my eyes. "Dr. Ruhi, you weren't paying attention in class, and you didn't even prepare for the simple topic I asked you to focus on. Don't you think you are wasting my time?" he shouted, and my tears began to flow uncontrollably.
"I... I did prepare..." I replied through my sobs. "I even..." I sniffled and showed him my notes. "I made the notes. But you are scaring me."
"Do I look like a clown or a ghost to you?" I shook my head. "Dr. Ruhi, unless you are ready to explain the topic to me while making direct eye contact, I won't let you leave this cabin today."
But we have a date at 8.
However, I opted to shut my mouth.
I reviewed the topic and gained a bit of confidence, but I got stuck when he asked me about the symptoms. I know I'm not this weak, but he is my husband, and it's natural for me to feel uneasy. When the clock struck 7, I was successful with my explanation. Yes, there were a few questions that I couldn't answer. So he asked me to demonstrate them tomorrow.
While I was packing my things, he informed me, "Nobody will notice us, at this time, so we can go together to my car."
I shook my head and displayed my anger in words, "I don't want to come with you."
He chuckled. "Hum apke husband bhi hai aur apke senior doctor bhi, Ruhi. Agar hum apke sath strict na rahe toh apki padai nahi hogi." He stood up with his apron and stethoscope, "chaliye humari Laado Rani!"
"Even though I am your husband, I am also your senior doctor, Ruhi. If I don't behave strictly with you, you won't focus on your studies properly. Let's go, Laado Rani!"
I raised my index and warned him, "Only Dadu has the right to call me that."
While we walked out of the hospital we maintained a still silence, not wanting anyone to get suspicious of us.
But when a man similar to Ekansh's age obstructed our path we stopped. "Ekansh?" He raised his brow and intermittently glanced at me and my husband. "And who is this female?"
"Guess!" Ekansh asked, crossing his arms below his chest. A constant smile played on both men's faces.
"Ahmm... Ok. Don't hit me, if I am wrong. Parjai?" He asked back to Ekansh.
"Yes," Ekansh replied and wounded his arm on my back from behind. I stared at him confused. I mean he didn't want anyone to know about us but now what's wrong with him?
"Sastriya kal Parjai(Sastriya kal: Way of greeting in Punjab). I am Harshit, your husband's only friend."
"Hello. I am Ruhi."
"Ap toh Ekansh ne bataya usse bhi zyada khubsurat hai."
"You are way more beautiful than his description."
I tilted my head at Ekansh and stared at him confused. Toh ye us chudail ke alawa, humare bare mei bhi apne doston se bath karte hai.
So he does speak about me apart from that witch, in front of his friend.
"Baby, with whom are you speaking?" we heard another woman's voice from a car behind Harshit Pra.
"Parjai is here."
A female similar their age peeped at us from the passenger seat. She had a big bump in front of her belly, which indicated that she was in full-term pregnancy. He introduced me to his wife, "She is Mahi!" She was sweet but appeared too exhausted to make any conversation. "You both should visit us," She said to us before exchanging a farewell from the same spot.
Then they drove away.
After we settled in the car, Ekansh helped me with the seat belt.
"Your friends are nice."
"We all got friends in the first year of our Medicine."
"That's nice. Seems like it's their love marriage."
"Yes. We knew they would end up together."
I intertwined my fingers and stared at them. "Did they even think that you and Dr. Anthra will end up together?" I probed.
"Hmmm..." He just hummed. "But sometimes fate decisions are also beautiful, aren't they?" He questioned me back, pushing me into further confusion. He halted the car in front of the signals and laughed out of the blue, teasing me, "I... Am scared of you."
"Shut up. Don't tease me." I scolded him and turned my head away from him.
"But why were you afraid of me, Ruhi? It's not like I was going to eat you in my cabin like I wanted to do right now in my car."
My jaw dropped. I turned my head and stared at him in shock.
But he just roared in the laughter. Did he just tease me, again?