Meera

Chapter 8

'So how was it?' Maa asked me.

'How was what?' I ask taking a sip of my chai.

'The date, buddhu.' she asks to exaggerate and it is weird what mom asks about her daughter's dating life.

'Maa, I am not a buddhu. Don't you feel weird asking about your daughter's dating life? For the record, it wasn't even a date.'

'I don't when my daughter is twenty-five years old and if that wasn't a date then what was it?'

'It was just a conversation over chai.'

'That only is called a date, madame. So why a sudden conversation over tea?'

'You are actually aware of how I abhor the army so when to my surprise I found out he was in the army, I had to clear it out with him.' I explain to her.

'Beta, what do you have against the army?'

'I'd rather not go there in the morning, Maa.' I give her the look and move towards the sink to put down my cup.

'So, the confusion's all clear?'

'Not really, but we will be there in a couple of days. Now go, you have to get ready, School nahin jaana hai?'

[School nahin jaana hai — Don't you have to get to school.]

With that, I start my day on my way to the hospital listening to Jagjit Singh when my phone starts ringing. It's Khushi.

'Kya yaar Meera, you never call me.' — I could imagine her pouting over the phone, typical Khushi. She has been so busy with the wedding that she did not even see the messages.

'I never call you. You haven't read my single message in the past few days. You have been busy, fairly so you are the dulhan. So don't be mad at me.' I explain to her calmly as she continues on with her rant. God, I am going to miss this. Just her going off on some utterly random topic. For now, she is panicking over the punctuality of the mehandi artist.

'Khushi, we are paying the mehandi artist, and solely for that she will not be late.'

'Accha, usse chhodh, tell me how was the date?'

'Why does everybody keep asking me about a date? It was not a date. I was majorly mad at him.'

'Were you?'

'I was. You of all people should get that. He kept a secret from me that affected me. It was a no surprise.'

'Okay. So are we meeting today?'

'I don't know. I will message you as it goes.'

It's been busy lately. The wedding is taking up too much off me that my patients are suffering. Today the full focus is going to be on them. They deserve my special care. I have to text Arjun too. He hadn't texted me today. He should've by now. Well, I can text him first.

'Well, good morning Mr. Sengupta' The text was sent and I moved into the hospital. I was to update the diet schedules. Moving to my cabin, a fancy name for a desk and start working. All I can do for these patients is to make a diet plan. I can't make them follow it. I can't follow them to their homes and make them each and every meal. If I could, I would.

'Mr. Sharma, if I go a little easy with your diet, then you have to follow it. I wan to see results.'

It is so important that doctors speak to the patients with a smile. They are here because their diseases have put them on a threshold from where they have slim to none chances to return. But I like to believe that my diet does them a little good.

'Ms. Sunaina, please take care and follow the diet strictly and be here for once a month medical check up. I'd like to see your attendence full.' With that she had a good laugh. It was already two'o clock. I had to text Khushi.

'I won't be able to make it today. I need to make brand new diet plans.'

The text was delivered and she was typing already.

'No worries, Meera.'

She gets me.

'You have an appointment.' Oh, an appointment. The receptionist informed me.

'Send them in.'

'Good afternoon, Miss Meera.' Well, only one person calls me Miss Meera. Is Arjun here?

What is he doing here?

'What are you doing here? I ask putting my pen down.

'Well, you have an appointment. Make me a diet plan.'

'So Arjun Senguta, an army officer needs a plan?'

'Yes, I do.'

'No, you don't. Army officers are fit, take it from me. I know, somehow.'

'So why are you here?'

'To wish you good afternoon. To reply to your text.'

'You came here so that you can wish me a good afternoon.' Well, that is sweet. It is almost a grand romantic gesture. Maybe he was nearby? He wouldn't just drop by to say good morning. Are we there now? Is it something more now?

'Stop the train of thoughts and focus on this moment. The moment in your hand.' Arjun says calmly and all of my overthinking just vanishes off into thin air. He sat across from me and held my hand over the table. I liked that. It felt good. It's been so long since I have felt like this and he is going to go.

Arjun is going to go by the end of this month.

Why do they always have to be army people? 

A/N

If a story is going to slow. It is going to take its pace. There was definitely some development in this chapter. It's my first and I am trying to focus on Meera's life outside of Arjun. I want this book to be from one's perspective only. I am skeptical that it isn't coming natural. But hey ! I am the writer.

Q and A is open? Just drop I your questions.