Sukoon (completed)

Part 8

Salim was discharged from the hospital and was brought back home. The entire household was now busy taking care of him. The recovery was slow as Sailm was already 72, but the family did not loose hope and paid complete attention to all his needs. Sidharth felt he can go back now as everything was almost settled. He heard a knock at his door 'Ammi aa jao' he said. It was his phuphi, Parveen, standing on the door. 'Phuphi, aap? Kuch kaam tha? mujhe bula lete' said Sidharth. 'Nahi beta, kuch baat karni thi' she said. She looked worried. 'Aaiye na, andar aiye'.

Parveen: Tum wapas aa jao. Please hospital sambhal lo.

Sidharth: Kya hua Phuphi? Aap hai, chachu hai, meri abhi kya zaroorat hai?

Praveen: wo beta. Tumhare chachu ko hospital nahi de sakte hai. She said stammering as if she was not sure how to explain him.

Sidharth: Kya hua hai phuphi, aap itna pareshan kyu hai?

Parveen: Beta, bhaijaan ki tabiyat kharab hote hi, chote bhaijaan ne saare directors se baat karne lage. Wo agli director meeting mein khud to chairman declare karna chahte hai. Agar tu nahi hoga to sab directors maan bhi jayenge.

Sidharth was shocked. 'But phuphi, abhi abbu hai naa chairman, naya chairman kyun chahiye? Chachi ko bolo wo sambhal le, main jab wapas aaunga tab dekhunga. Mujhe waise bhi ye nahi karna hai. Main simple doctor hi theek hu'

Parveen: Beta,chote bhaijaan ko lagta hai yahi ek mauka hai hospital ko apna karne ka. Unhone sabko bol diya hai ki tere abbu ab kaam nahi kar payenge, aur shayad kabhi theek bhi naa ho paye. Tu bhi yahan nahi hoga to sirf wo hai jo sab sambhal sakte hai. Saare directors bhi maan gaye hai. Mujhe koi takleef nahi hoti agar wo bhi sab sambhale, wo mere hi bhai hai. Par  lalach ne unhe badal diya hai, woh sadia trust fund band karwana chahte hai jisse garib ka ilaaz na ho ab humare hospital mein. Unke liye ye hospital sirf buisness aur power hai.

Sidharth was boiling with anger after hearing how his chachu has talked about his Abbu. 'But Phuphi main sirf doctor hu, main hospital nahi sambhal paunga'

Parveen: Tu chinta mat kar, maine Sajia ko bula liya hai. Woh sambhalegi hospital. Tu apni pasand ka kaam karna par Chairman ban jaa. Warna ye hospital barbad ho jayega. Tere abbu ne din raat ek karke isse itna successful banaya hai, unki mehnat jayar mat hone de. Tu bhi ab itna kabil ho gaya hai ki yaha oncology khol sakta hai naa. Aa jaa wapas, beta. Please.

Sidharth was numb, it was too much for him to process. His father's health and then this, he needed sometime. 'Phuphi, aap pareshan mat ho, main dekhta hu'

Sidharth was busy next day in discussion with the directors about feasible solution, but just like Parveen suggested nobody was ready to take anyone else as Chairman except Sidharth. He was not left with any options but to shift back. He resigned from Mumbai to join his hospital. He was changed after this, he stopped trusting people now. He was a lot more protective about his family. Sajia also came back from London to join the hospital.

He brought few of his friends from Mumbai, to join the newly opened Cancer department. Rukhsana was one of the doctors who were recruited.

*******

Sidharth had limited transactions with Naaz as he was too busy with hospital administration and setting up oncology Department. But Shehnaaz always took care of him secretly, ensuring he gets food on time, covering him with quilt when ever he slept in his cabin, talking to nurses and doctors so that his schedule always had time to rest. She saw him spending a lot of time with Rukhsana, she was told by Sadiq that he was rejected as Rukhsana loved someone. She could easily guess it was Sidharth. She could sense that they have grown closer as she was a big support for Sidharth while setting up the new department. It broke her heart but she always believed that Sidharth was someone else's and she can only love him from afar.

Sidharth too had the same misunderstanding. But, he tried finding excuses to pass from pediatric just to see a glance of Shehnaaz. One day, Sidharth was out for his rounds, he was passing through the pediatric when he heard a familiar giggle. He turned his head and saw Naaz playing with kid, distracting him so that the other doctor could vaccinate him. He stood their admiring the beauty in front of him. 'Sir' called out a junior to bring him back from his trance, he moved ahead with a smile. Her one glance was enough to get over his fatigue.

*******

Naaz was having her lunch with one of her fellow doctors, Raj. He was one funny guy, Shehnaaz always enjoyed his company. Like always he was telling her some funny story making her laugh. Sidharth too came to cafeteria with Rukhsana to have his lunch, his eyes fell on Shehnaaz who was laughing with Raj while giving high fives. He was angry, just at the sight of it. He took his lunch and moved towards their table while Rukhsana followed sensing Sidharth's mood.

Sidharth: Naaz, Can we join?

Naaz flinched at his voice and looked at him, he looked pissed: Haan, aaiye naa

Sidharth raised an eyebrow: I am sorry, you are?

Raj: No Problem sir. I am Raj. I work with Sanu in pediatric.

Sidharth was now furious: Sanu?

Raj: Sorry, Shehnaaz. Raj was sweating looking at fiery eyes of Sidharth. He was not even sure what he did to piss him off.

Sidharth: Naaz, lagta hai aapke bahut aache friends hai hospital mein.

Naaz who was angry with Sidharth. He had not talked to her in ages and today he is only talking to taunt her especially when he was with Rukhsana. So, she replied back with a smirk: Friends to aapke bhi bahut aache hai iss hospital mein. Waise bhi hum hai hi aise jo log humne pasand kare; kyu Raj? Humara lunch ho gaya hai. Hum chalte hai.

She left with Raj leaving Sidharth fuming. Rukhsana acted innocent and tried to convince Sidharth to let go off Shehnaaz.

Rukhsana: Sid, tu itna gussa hoga har ladke pe to teri BEHEN ka NIKAH kaise hoga. usko privacy de

She was cut off by the angry glare of Sidharth.

In the night, Shehnaaz was sleeping in her room when she heard a knock on door, she checked the time it as 3 am. She opened the door and saw Sidharth.

Naaz while rubbing her eyes: Bhaijaan, itni raat ko. Kya hua, sab kairiyat. Aap abhi aaye kya hospital se?

Sidharth moved in her room and sat on the chair while she moved back to her bed.

Sidharth: Tum padhne jaati ho naa hospital. Jyada dosti yaari mat karo.

Naaz: Aap yeh kehne raat ko 3 baje aaye hai. She was annoyed that he disturbed her sleep for this silly conversation.

Sidharth: Jaroori baat hai ye. Ye Raj kaun hai? Itna kyu has raha tha? usko bolo colleague ki tarah behave kiya karein.

Naaz: Bhaijaan, colleague hi hai. Ab sab aapki tarah muh sada kar to nahi kaam karte hai naa. Aap bhi to Rukhsana ji ke saath haaste khelte hai, humne to kabhi nahi kaha 'Be professional'.

Sidharth: Shut up! jyada behes mat karo. This is the last time I am telling you to stay away from boys.

He moved away without listening to anything Naaz wanted to say. Naaz pulled her hair 'Kya problem hai inki. Pyar kissi aur se karte hai aur haq hum pe aise jatate hai jaise Shauhar hai. Hayee pichle 3 saal se pagal kiya hua hai'.