Sukoon (completed)

Part 1

Sidharth Khan, a 6'2" tall muscular guy who was a doctor by profession but looked more like a model; came back from Chicago after 6 long years to his hometown Lucknow. He was an Oncologist, who completed his medical graduation from India but moved to US for residency and fellowship.

His parents, Salim and Resha Khan, were also doctors and owned one of the largest hospital chain in North India. He always wanted to be a doctor just like them, but he decided to become an oncologist when he lost his youngest sibling to blood cancer. Sidharth was 15 then; his parents were devastated unable to save their 7-year-old daughter, Sadia, even after being doctors. His mother was never able to get over the loss and stopped her medical practice. Resha became religious after the loss, she felt humans have no power on Allah's will. Whereas Sidharth Khan, was determined to never feel same helplessness again so he made up his mind to become one of the best oncologist.

Sidharth entered his flight for Lucknow from New Delhi where he was greeted 'Namaste' from airline staff. He nodded his head with a courteous 'Hello'. He was wearing white t-shirt with denim and a mask. Everyone would have admired his handsome face had it not been for that damn dust allergy which spiked as soon as he landed India. He moved towards his seat, 12B, but saw a beautiful young girl sitting on it instead. She was wearing a white Tee with brown linen pants and hair tied in a messy bun. She was scrunching her nose as her eyeglasses kept on slipping from her button nose while she was reading a medical journal. 'God she is cute' he thought and moved next to her. 'Hey ma'am, 12B is my seat' he enquired. She looked up in a jerk as if she heard a ghost 'Sorry, my seat is 12A, but I have air sickness, bahar dekhne se badh jaati hai. Can you please take my seat?' she requested with a puppy eye. Being a gentleman, Sidharth immediately accepted. Soon the aisle seat was also occupied by another girl who appeared to be friends with the cute girl.

Cute Girl: Piya, tere paas koi candy hai. Giddy feel ho raha hai, aur abhi to hum takeoff bhi nahi kiye hai.

Piya: Sorry yaar Shehnaaz. Mera bag bhi peeche Rohan ke paas hai.

Sidharth heard their conversation, not that he wanted to eavesdrop but for some reason he was pulled towards anything and everything the cute girl was doing whose name was Shehnaaz which Sidharth's mind immediately registered. He got up and took out his bag from cabin above and took out a big box of candy which he bought as gift for kids in the family. He put out his hand with a few candies offering to Shehnaaz. Shehnaaz looked at him with a surprised pout but soon realised and smiled while taking a candy from his hand and whispering thank you to him. Shehnaaz had closed her eyes during the takeoff, which Sidharth observed in her reflection that was falling on window glass. She was relaxed as soon as the flight took off.

Piya: Shehnaaz, tu kitna padh rahi hai. Trip pe bhi padhai kar rahi thi. Itna padhne ke baad bhi ekdum gadhi hai

Shehnaaz: Hum kyu gadhi hai. Hum bahut smart hai. Koi question pooch le GK ka.

Shehnaaz challenged with excitement.

Piya: Chal bata Justin Beiber kaun hai?

Shehnaaz: Justin Barber...barber matlab Naayi...Naayi hai...simple. Dekha.

Piya laughed at her English to hindi translation. 'Isiliye kehti hu tu gadhi hai. Jab nalayak thi tab saare gaane pata the aur padhayi ka ABC nahi aata tha; ab nerd ho gayi hai to kitab ke bahar ka kuch nahi pata. Bahar ki bhi kuch knowledge rakha kar, Gadhi.

Shehnaaz: Dekh, bahut knowledge le kar kya fayda jab aap apply naa kar pae. Isliye hum jitna use kar paate hai utna hi knowledge lete hai. Waise hum bahut smart hai, aap koi common sense ka question pooch kar dekho.

Piya: Okk Madam genius; kitne months mein 30 days hote hai.

Shehnaaz started counting the months on her knuckles, a technique that she learnt in childhood to identify the months with 31 days. After several minutes she answered '4' while raising her shoulder as if it was the most obvious question. Sid was observing her every antic, he smiled on how cute she looked even when giving wrong answers.

Piya: Pata nahi tere patients ka kya hoga. Tu to sabko maar daalegi apne genius brain se.

Shehnaaz looked confused, according to her she gave correct answer; in fact, she had counted multiple times. Sidharth unable to see her so troubled whispered to her '11, except Feb all months have at least 30 days'. Her eyes widened upon realisation, and she immediately shouted '11, answer 11 hai. Dekha humare patients hum se bahut pyar karenge. Kahenge hum doctor nahi allah ki parchai hai'. Piya was impressed 'Sahi hai Shehnaaz, ab to main bhi cold ki dawa tujhse hi lungi'.

Shehnaaz turned towards Sid, 'Aap ko pehle se pata tha ye question?'. Sid looked at her innocent face and shook his head in a 'No'. 'Uske baad bhi apne sahi answer diya. Aap engineer hoge tabhi to maths ka question answer kar paaye'. Sid was unable to control his laughter and chuckled at her weird deduction but still replied 'No, I am a doctor just like you'. 'Hayee sachi, aap to bade intelligent hai. Waise aapki English ke saath subtitle required hai. Aap ekdum English movie ki tarah sound kar rahe' She giggled at her own joke, Sidharth too joined her. 'Sorry, main aaj hi US se aaya hu so wahan ka accent hai' he immediately spoke in Hindi. He didn't want language should stop this lovely conversation. But to his disappointment Shehnaaz was no more interested in talking to him. She slept after a few more questions.

They landed in Lucknow, Sidharth wanted to ask for her number but stopped, as in Lucknow people might think of him as a stalker. Shehnaaz bid a quick goodbye and went out of flight, while Sid looked at her retreating figure and wished for another encounter with her.

He too went out of flight to collect his luggage. It took him a while to get his three huge bags from luggage belt (readers no judgements he is returning after 6 whole years). He came out of the airport to see his Family, Ammi, Abba, his younger siblings Sazia and Sadiq and his Khalla Parveen. Everyone welcomed him, his mother was emotional after seeing her son after such a long time. He wiped his mom's tears 'Ammi, itni dukhi ho apne bete ke aane par jo aise ro rahi hai aap'. She smiled 'Chaliye nawab, aapka ghar aapka intezaar kar raha hai'. They got into their cars and went home.