Ruhi:
When I woke up, I was still cuddled in his embrace. It was dark out. I thought of sleeping for an hour more but the thought of a practical exam on Monday didn't let me.
I pulled away from him slowly and carefully. Then, I climbed down the bed and walked directly to the kitchen. I made a kettle full of coffee for myself. Meanwhile, I continuously recalled last night's stories of Ekansh and giggled while I climbed back the stairs. I took a cup along with the coffee kettle. I glanced at him. He was sleeping like an elephant. He is too adorable sometimes.
I sat on my table and switched on the table lamp instead of the whole lights. I opened my books and made notes on all the viva questions on the topics Ekansh had asked me last evening.
I forgot the time and even the cups of coffee I had, but the light in the room brightened. I lifted my eyes to check up on Ekansh and found him staring at me with his lips slightly curved up.
I crossed my arms across my chest and stared back at him. "Kab se taad rahe ho hume?"
Since when did you start, leering at me?)
"No idea, but when I woke up, it was dark and now it's bright."
I pressed my lips for once and inquired, "Did I disturb you?"
"I didn't know that you are so studious. It's 8 Ruhi. Since I woke up, your head was fixed on your books."
I laughed. "My dadu taught me to do things perfectly and try until I don't get success."
He sat at the corner of the bed, in front of me, "Ruhi, you always say that Dadu said that. Dadu said this. Didn't your Dadu say that he needs great-grandchildren?" I sensed mocking in his voice.
So, I teased him back, "Ahh... He did say it, Ekansh. But he didn't say with whom I should bear a child. Which means, I can have them with anyone."
"With anyone?" he pried again with anger and moved towards me, I stood up and walked away from him.
"Yes." I laughed teasing him further.
"Don't you think, you deserve a small punishment?" announcing he increased the speed of his strides to catch me. I climbed up on the bed and ran to the other side.
"Ruhi!"
"Rayan asked me out for a date!" I annoyed him further.
"Uska toh bura haal karenge hi. Sath mei apka Jo karnge na ap soch bhi nahi sakthi."
"I will deal with him in the worst way. Along with that, you can't even imagine, what I will do with you!" He challenged, chasing me.
"You can do nothing. Stupid."
"I can Ruhi Razdan. And when I will do it, you can't get down from bed."
I stopped and asked. "Are you gonna hit on my legs."
Instantly he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him.
I giggled and tried to push him away. But he circled his arm around my back and muttered in my ears. "Pyar karenge. Woh bhi puri raat."
"I will make love, that to the whole night."
I stared agape at him. Meanwhile, he leaned forward ready to claim my lips but my mobile ringtone disturbed our moment.
"Lagtha hai apke dadu ka call hai,"
"I guess, it's Sajjan Dadaji," he guessed letting me go.
I took my mobile from my study table to see the caller ID. It is from his Maa.
"Maa!" I informed him before attending the call.
"Maa. Sastriyal kal!" I greeted her.
"Ruhi, how are you?" She asked, happiness lacing in her voice.
"I am fine, Maa. And how are you and Papaji."
"Everyone is fine. But I called to inform you that this Saturday is Karwa Chauth. As it's your first, I want Ekansh and you to come to Amritsar, is it possible?" I stared at Ekansh, he saw my doubtful face and waggled his brows.
"Maa, Ekansh is here. Why don't you ask him?"
I handed the mobile to him. I waited patiently for his response. "Okay, Maa. But we will leave on Sunday evening." He replied to her.
After he cut the call, I confirmed, "So, I have to take leave on Saturday."
"Are you gonna observe fast for me?" He asked otherwise. "I mean, if you don't want to, there is no pressure. The whole day you have to be without eating, can you manage?"
I laughed, "Ekansh, don't worry. I have been observing this fast for you for the past two years."
He stared surprised at me. "2 years, but why?"
I walked to my table, and while setting my things on the desk I responded, "Dadu wanted me to observe fast for you. So I did."
"You observed fast for me?" He affirmed, slightly confused and slightly shocked. I nodded. He cupped my cheeks. "Then how did you break the fast?"
I laughed, adding, "He always said to break it by making a video call to you. Which I never did."
"We never exchanged our numbers to do that." He shared and chuckled, shaking his head.
I nodded my head, agreeing with him. "But this Karwa Chauth will be so memorable," He whispered against my lips and slightly pecked on the right corner of my lips. Then he off-guarded me pulling into a warm hug.
"I think, you should take some rest," he said, pulling away.
"No, I am fine. But Ekansh, I only practised CNS examination and CVS but not GIT or Respiratory system. I was thinking, will you teach me that on Uncle Manish, as we don't have any patients, here."
"Ok. Let's do it after lunch. Cause now I have to work on my thesis."
"Ok. I will freshen up and join you at the breakfast table," I informed him and walked to the bathroom.
When I reached the dining table, Ekansh was still waiting for me. We had breakfast together then we parted to our rooms. Usually, he works in his personal study room.
Though he offered me to sit with him and study, I rejected his offer. It's true, he scares me whenever he asks questions me. Maybe if he weren't my senior doctor and only my husband I wouldn't have been this scared of him.
I hadn't realised for how long, I was occupied with my studies. But a knock on my door, made me realise that it was already 2 in the afternoon. Ekansh stood in front of my room.
"Lunch?" He asked.
Nodding my head, we walked together for lunch. While doing lunch Ekansh asked me questions. I answered a few and when I didn't answer, he asked me to study them.
"Do you have any idea, who will be our examiner for tomorrow's exam?" I asked him.
"Most probably, the doctors doing superspecialisation. Me and two female docs."
"Oh!" Colour drained from my face, instantly. "I hope you won't be my examiner."
"Why?"
"You are an arrogant monster in hospital, Ekansh."
I laughed. "Tell me, do your friends know that I am your husband?"
"Actually, I didn't want to," I shared, shrugging my shoulders, "but they say my ID."
"Hmm... That's why, Ruhi. I have to behave arrogantly with you in front of them."
Shaking my head, I acknowledged him, "In your cabin. You were so rudely with me."
"Ruhi, I have to be one. And stop looking at me like I am your husband. In hospital, we will be like professors and students. Even if I come and take your exam it shouldn't affect you."
I quirked my lips. If we were enemies it wouldn't have bothered me. But now things changed between us. Whenever my eyes fell upon him, especially in a hospital, I recall our romantic moments.
"Can I ask you something?" I questioned him. Nodding his head, he permitted me. "Don't you..." I stared at my plate, feeling embarrassed, "... recall our romantic moments whenever you see me?"
He chuckled. "Meri Jaan, at the beginning yeah I recall it. But then I trained my brain that in the evening we can have as many romantic moments as we went."
"Haha!" Gurpreet giggled at Ekansh's words.
"See the place and people, Ekansh!" I scolded him. "Gurpreet, Is Uncle Manish here?" I asked her.
"Parjai, His mom's health is not good, so he left an hour ago."
"Oh! What shall we do now?" I questioned.
"I have an idea," Ekansh announced and took me to his study. He cleaned his desk and asked me to lie down on the desk. I stared doubtfully at him, "I will teach you," He announced.
I gulped and shook my head with fear, "You lie down and I will practice on you."
"Yes. That's our next step but first, you will learn by yourself," I bit my lip, removed my dupatta and placed it on his chair.
He grabbed my waist, lifted me off the floor and placed me on his desk. I lay down feeling extremely scared of him.
He will touch me everywhere now. Once again if he was only my senior professor it wouldn't have mattered but he is my husband. With whom I am having a few romantic moments.
Staring into my eyes, he commanded, "Lift your top and lower your pants."
"Is... Is it necessary?"
He just stared at me quite irritated. Giving up, I moved my shirt up and lowered the band of my Patiala pants.
I felt more and more scared when his eyes stared with a distinct gaze at my exposed skin. Feeling self-conscious about myself, I covered my stomach with my hands.
He wet his lips and stared at my face. Then without missing a second, he started his explanation, "As usual the Gastrointestinal Tract examination holds four steps: Inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation." I nodded my head. "In GIT you will also oral cavity too.." he continued and in mid asked me some questions, "...okay tell me, if you see blue lines on your teeth what can be the cause?"
"Lead poisoning," I replied.
Nodding his head, he continued, "After the oral cavity, check the axilla for any lymph nodes swelling. Then come to the abdomen. Check if there are any visible swellings. Next is palpation."
My breath stuck in my throat. Now comes the dangerous part of the examination.
"First," he said and placed his warm hand on my freezing abdomen. A small gasp escaped my mouth, which he didn't notice, thankfully. "Here," he moved his hand on my right side of the abdomen, "is the liver. To check any swellings you have to start from the lower abdomen," meanwhile he moved his hands from down to up, pressing my stomach deep.
I fisted my hands tightly as I recalled last night's bathroom incident, where he pecked on my belly above my navel. "Once you perceive the liver stop and measure the size of swelling," his words pulled me to the class.
"Ok!" I whispered.
"Next you will feel for spleen. Place one hand on the patient's back and with the other hand start examining from the right side of the abdomen to the left," Informing, Ekansh pressed my belly with his fingertips from my right belly to my left. In this way, he continued his class which worsened my condition.
I reached a point where I couldn't handle anymore and I caught his wrist. "Enough."
"But, we have more to learn," he answered.
I shook my head, "I want to study alone," announcing, I jumped off of the desk and grabbed my dupatta from the chair.
Instantly he grabbed my wrist and twisted it on my back.
"Chodiye Hume, Ekansh."
"Let me go, Ekansh!" Instead, he moved close and breathed heavily. His warm breath gave goosebumps on the nape of my neck.
He made me face him by turning me around and asking, "Kab thak bhago gi ap humse, Ruhi?"
"For how long, you will try to escape from me?"
Wetting my lips I answered by gaining enough courage, "Until I am the only one in your heart and life. Until you truly and wholly love me. Until you catch my hand in front of everyone and say that I am your wife, Ruhi Ekansh Razdan."
Nodding his head, "That day is not too far, Ruhi," He whispered, surprising me and pecking my forehead. I closed my eyes and lived the moment with him.
******
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