Lovingly

Introduction

MANVI"S POV

"I want to see all your medicines for today finished before I come back home today evening. GOT it papa?" I ask my father who is just blantly ignoring me while reading his newspaper in the room. He just nods his head and points me to go and not disturb him. I chuckle seeing him so invested. "Ok fine, I won't disturb you, but anything happens you call me okay?" again he just nods and I kiss him goodbye running out of the house without paying much attention to the other members of the house.

Well that's my daily routine. Wake up at 4.00. Make breakfast for Dad, look after his medicines and off to work by 7.00. My father, Manit Shah, is paralysed waist down hence he cannot walk and is always on his wheelchair. Wondering where is my mom, well she left us when I was 12, after dad got paralysed. She could not take the burden and left her daughter and her husband just like that.

The other members of the family just do not care. My grandmother is always taunting and making snide remarks along with my aunt about me and my father. They were not happy with my father making me study so hard to make me independent to not rely anyone else for that matter. My dad does not work but he does get a small amount of pension from work and there's my salary. I do earn enough to support me and my dad but it is never enough with loans and student debts on your head.

My uncle, father's elder brother, Mayank has never ever helped us financially even when we were struggling in my college years. My aunt and her daughters, both younger than me, have always created a chaos for me and my father. But my father being the innocent soul that he is always forgives and forgets everything. But I never do that. I used to stand up for myself before but when everyone started taunting dad for giving me to speak freely, I stopped. I don't want any harm to my dad. He is my hero. He has brought me up alone even though he had his own problems to deal with. I would do anything for him.

Taking a cab to the hospital, I went straight to the locker room and changing into my scrubs and coat. Walking out, I am greeted with a new face. "Dr Shah?'

"Yes?" walking together towards the floor reception. "I am new hear, this is your case for today." and she hands me the iPad with the patient details. "Lets go" and we were off to the patient's room.

"Hello Mr. Jaideep, how are you feeling this morning?' I ask while checking him up for pre op, squeezing his side of the stomach. He flinches slightly. "Definitely ulcer. We are going to prep you up for surgery right now. I will be doing your surgery. Meet you there." I smiled "Will he be okay?" A lady from his bedside asked, maybe his wife. "Definitely. Don't worry he's in good hands." I smiled at them and left. From the corner of my eye I could see tears in the lady's eye. Aww so cute.

An hour later, we were in the OT ready for the operation. As I started I gave important pointers and briefs to the interns about it. An hour later the operation was done and I go out to tell his wife. "Hello Mrs. uhh,"

"Diya, Jaideep's wife." she says

"Right sorry. Mrs. Diya, the operation went good. After a few more post-op check ups, he's healthy to go home." I say "Thank you so much doctor." She prays as well. "You can see him after he's shifted to his room." and I leave.

I reach the reception of that floor making charts. I sigh thinking about my father. He has been through so much yet he keeps a tough exterior in front of me. I just want him to leave that house which is full of negative people. "Hey Manvi!!!" and here comes my best friend, Dhruvi.

Dhruvi has been my best friend since medical college. Both of us were roommates studying for the same course, applied to the same college and also having our jobs in the same hospital. "Hey what's up?" I turn towards her, seeing her also finishing up some paperwork. "Nothing. Today is such a boring day foe me. Only charts and charts. No surgery today." I laugh at her pouty face. "Well if it makes you feel better, I already finished one surgery today." I say sneakily waiting or her reaction. "You bitch already??? Ughhhh why?" I laugh out looking at her. She's like a child, just wanting surgeries instead of toys.

"Anyways how was yesterday? We weren't able to meet." Oh yes she had to go to an important medical seminar. "It was fine. just as usual, the taunts and all." I say keeping my eye on the paper. Yesterday was a normal day but I got off work a little later than usual. So as usual dadi starting her tantrums of a girl being alone at night. It was not even night. It was just 9.00pm. she went on and on about it to papa who just sat there listening to everyone. I could see he was trying not to lash out on them. So once again I told them off, and thus started World War #3.

"Till when will you stay in that house Manvi? Why is uncle not ready to leave?" Dhruvi asks. thee conversation suddenly turning serious. "I don't know what it is. I told him many times, I have enough money for us to rent a house and if we need more I would work extra hours. But no he doesn't listen. And you know I won't leave him alone in that house." I sigh on the verge of tears.

"It's ok everything will fall into place. Don't worry." she rubs my back. "Let's go and work, meet me at lunch in the cafeteria." I tell her not wanting to think about it again and distract myself with work.

Some hours later

As I reached the house, I could feel a shift in the atmosphere. I could feel something different. Dadi and chachi (aunt) were whispering among themselves while my younger sisters, Ami and Avni were going all around the house. I gave them a confused look trying to decipher what was going on. Stepping towards dad's room, confused, I closed the door behind me. Dad was on his phone looking as happy as ever. I gestured him what's going on. He told me to wait as he finished up his call.

"Yes, Yes sure. I'll send you the address right away. Yeah. Yes please keep your dinner here. Okay, Thank you Mr Mehra. have a good night." he says finishing up his call. "What happened Dad?" I ask, now getting a bit edgy about what's going on. "Manu, Manu, Manu" he squeezes me and hugs the life out of me, making me topple over his legs onto the bed. "We've got an alliance for you." he says, a huge smile playing on his lips.

"Ohh. Were we looking for alliances for my marriage." I ask still confused as this was the first time, him bringing up this topic. "I mean, not you but I did look for some suitable matches here and there." he says not looking into my eyes.

"Dad I don't want to marry anyone right now. I have to focus on my career and who would take care of you. Huh papa?" I ask while sorting out his medicines for tomorrow. "But Manvi you're getting older. I wanna see you all settled before I die."

"Nobody is dying. Not now, not ever. Please don't talk like this." I say trying to keep my tears at bay. I still cannot accept what would happen if anything happens to him.

"Okay Okay. But they are coming to meet you tomorrow at 5.00. Could you please try and come early? Don't worry I'll ask Juhi to make some extra dinner for them also." He says making puppy eyes which he knows I will definitely fall for.

"Ok but no promises ok?" I smile at him. "Thank you beta."

"Now lets go and have dinner." and I help him on his wheelchair taking him out of the room to the dining table, where everyone was already present.

"So is it a yes?" Dadi asks out of the blue. I stop eating trying to figure out what is she trying to do. Dad was going to say something but I stopped him, "No they are still just coming to meet tomorrow." I faked a smile at her. "Well make sure you say YES." chachi butts in. Seeing Dad getting worked up, I give him a small smile and ignore them.

Well as bad as it seems, I know they want me out of their house as soon as possible. But I can't let that happen. Cause I know what would papa go through after. God please let the boy be sensible enough to say no, cause I definitely won't be able to.