Loving Her

A New Friend

Sai walks through the corridor of the hospital, examining her surrounding and memorizing routes. She has been working here for nearly a week, and is beginning to fall into a routine that isn't super stressful. 

Well it isn't that stressful except for the fact when she leaves she will need to take Veenu and rent out another motel room. She's made a few friends, nurses Pooja, Aditya, and Vyjanti. Oh, and Dr Balakrishnan, a fellow Cardiologist. 

She leaves her son with a babysitter before coming to work, and spends at least 12 hours away from him. It is excruciating for her, but she knows that if she wants to at least provide him with a home that doesn't change from night to night, she will need to pull through those hours.

From what she knows, her aquaintances are doing their best to assist her to find a place to call home. 

"Dr Joshi, there's a patient in room 223." Pooja walks past her at an alarming speed. "His heart rate has reportedly changed to an abnormal rate."

Sai follows behind her, practically sprinting the last few feet before the room. She practically flew inside and immediately began checking the patient's vitals, before watching as Dr Balakrishnan rushes in with his ECG reports. 

"I think his arteries may be blocked. That explains why he just had a heart attack." he spurs, handing her the file. She flips through it, and then hands it to Pooja. 

"Tell Dr Mathur to get an OT ready for him, and inform the Cardiovascular surgeon, stat." Sai orders. "And send the paperwork to Mrs Iyer." 

This entire time, Mrs Iyer has been frantically calling her son. Her voice breaks as she asks for more money and informs him about what has happened with his father. Sai rotates her head just enough to look at the old lady, and she feels pitiful about her condition. Her resemblance to Ashwini is uncanny, causing an odd feeling to creep into Sai's heart. 

"Ma'am, we will do our best to help him." Sai assures, taking her hand. Mrs Iyer nods along, and puts down her phone. 

"Thank you." she whispers, wiping away the tears her tears. "If god is merciful he'll spare his life."

Sai doesn't comment on that, instead turning back to watch as Mr Iyer is taken out of the room. Sai watches as the old man is wheeled into surgery, and sighs quietly. His life is at the mercy of the hands of a surgeon and god now. She watches from behind a glass window, witnessing the disarray in the room while he is being hooked onto multiple machines. The door opens and she hears heavy footsteps that follow.

She turns and proceeds to go out the door, gliding past a man who she could only assume is the Surgeon.

He turns to look at her, flashing her a smile. She nods to him for good luck, and he responds with a thumbs up. Pulling his mask up he washes his hands, and enters the OT.

Saying a small prayer for Mr Iyer and the Surgeon, she finally closes the door behind her. Pooja takes her by the arm almost immediately and begins talking.

"That was Dr Kapoor, the one I told you is looking for a flatmate to divide costs with." 

"He's a surgeon." Sai states, like it is enough to dismiss Pooja.

"His ex-wife has cancer, so he's been helping her out a lot financially." 

"And he still doesn't have enough money?"

"Well he saves and donates a lot of it." Pooja reasons. "Look, I've been to his home before, and it is among the most luxurious apartments ever in an area safe for women and children. You have a chance at having a comfortable home if you agree."

For a moment she truly considers it, but the thought of living with a man she barely knows makes her feel uncomfortable. She saw what happened last time she trusted a man she barely knows.

"I don't know Pooja..." Sai sighs, pulling her arm away. 

"It doesn't hurt to ask!"

---

"Dr Kapoor, I would like for you to meet the newest member of our hospital, Dr Sai Joshi. She's a cardiologist." Pooja introduces. 

A young man turns around and looks at the person being introduced. He is incredibly muscular, standing at a monstrous height of 6'2", and has two sweet dimples when his lips upturn into a soft smile.  

"Hello Dr Joshi. I am Dr Prem Kapoor, a cardiovascular surgeon. Seems like we specialize in the same department."

"Yes, I guess we do." the young woman replies with a cheerful smile. Prem's eyebrows furrow a bit at her incredibly friendly persona. 

"Is she the roommate you found for me Pooja?" Prem inquires in a playful voice, tilting his head. Pooja nods in response. "Her?"

"Don't worry sir. I have a 4 month old son, and I'm really desperate for a flatmate right now." Sai explains, folding her hands. "I just need somewhere to stay other than a hotel, and with the city so packed it is nearly impossible to find a home that fits my budget."

Prem puts his bag down on the bench, and crosses his arms. "Ok. Then the rent is going to be 50-50 between us. Around 25,000 per month each."

Sai nods, calculates the amount in her head and nods. "I think that's affordable."

"Well, you can come whenever you deem fit." Prem states, picking up his bag. He stares at her, waiting for a response.

Pooja's pager goes off, and she quietly goes back into the hospital building.

"How's Mr Iyer?" Sai asks almost as soon as Pooja disappears. 

"Well, I think he'll survive. But I cannot promise anything. With a complicated case like his... Hopefully he is alright." Prem responds. They go silent, awkwardly standing across each other.

So, to break the ice, Sai simply says, "Hey, can you give me a ride? I don't have a car, and I have to pick my son up. It will take too long to take a bus and-"

"Come on!" Prem exclaims, to match her enthusiasm. "I would love to meet your son as well. I love children. Did you know I was an assistant teacher before I went to medical school?"

Suddenly Prem bursts into random facts about himself, each more quirky and hilarious than the one before. Sai listens intently, laughing every so often at his humor. 

They are going to get along well, for sure.

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I'll update after 15 votes.