The best arrangement: Between us...

Chapter 41 - Downfall...

"Dr Siddharth Kothari,  are you out of your mind? You let a patient with severe suicidal tendencies and a clear history of clinical depression get discharged?  On what grounds? Clearly she was not sane! And she went and killed herself! Now the media and public will descend upon us like vultures, and soon, your career, and this hospital's fame, will be things of the past!"

"Wait.... No ma'am! I did not have such a patient, and if I had, I would not have discharged her! In fact, no one in their right mind would...."

"Then why, does her discharge summary bear your name, and signature? Are you suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder or something?"

"NO... There has been some sort of mix up, I did not do this!"

.................................

" Hey, Siddharth, you are saved!"

"What? How?"

"Well, Abhishek went to the director, and confessed that since you were busy, he was the one who checked on her last. Apparently, he made a grave mistake in his diagnosis, and  you allowed the discharge, trusting his judgement. So, he says that he is to be blamed..."

"Abhi, you fool!! Wait..... Doesn't that sound too fabricated and lame?  Because on the first hand, I had no such patient, and  even if I had, Abhi is a man of precision, and our senior doctors know, that he of all people would never make such a mistake! And lastly, that's not how discharging patients work!"

"Siddharth, you know that, I know that, but the media and public don't. Most of them are in this just for the drama and publicity, and they don't care about any of these finer details! And, the hospital will of course try to protect him, or you, but even they need a  person, to put the blame on. That's how things are.... Both of you must be great friends, for him to make such a decision...."

"He's the greatest idiot alive! "

 Abhishek and Siddharth sit on opposite sides of the bed, their faces tense with stubbornness. The room is filled with an eerie silence, broken only by the occasional sound of their heavy breathing.

After a while, Abhishek spoke "Siddharth, I've made up my mind. I can't let you take the blame for something you didn't do. I won't let you sacrifice your life and career."

Siddharth yelled, clearly in anger " And I won't let you ruin your life for me either! You think I can live with the guilt of watching you suffer in jail while I walk free?  I can't let you pay for this stupid mistake!

Abhishek's voice cracks, desperation seeping through his words. "Siddharth, I can't lose you. I can't bear the thought of living without you. I'd rather be in jail, knowing you're safe and free."

Siddharth's eyes soften, but his determination remains unyielding. "Abhishek, we can find another way. We can fight this together, clear my name. I can't let you sacrifice everything for me. I won't let you throw your life away. This is not the only way to help me!"

They stare at each other, the weight of their love and stubbornness hanging heavy in the air. Finally, Siddharth reaches out, his voice laced with both love and frustration.

" Abhishek, please understand. We have a future, a life together. We can't let it all crumble because of one mistake. Remember all the things we've planned out - you, I and Sam, our little family... Our mental health awareness foundation... Above all, this is a profession you love!"