Darkhaast

~ 2 ~

"Can't wait to see you!" The text read.

"I'm sending Shantanu to pick you up; be ready in fifteen," another message beamed on her phone.

Dr. Basu rested her phone, screen down, on the desk. A creme-embroidered saree hung on her door, neatly ironed and vying for attention. If only my eye bags matched its elegance, Dr. Basu groaned.

"Shit! Dr. Kapoor will kill me if I don't clean up." Dr. Kapoor would forgive the paperwork and files as every doctor's Achilles heel, but the junk on her desk would sink her reputation. Haphazardly, she threw away her empty coffee cups and half-eaten bagel.

"Aah!" She shrieked as she slipped over a paper on the floor.

Nurse Thomas rushed into the room. "Dr.Basu, are you okay?" He asked.

"I'm fine, Micheal. Don't worry 'bout it," she waved him away, laughing. Her laugh evaporated when she read the paper. It was Akshara's uncompleted termination of pregnancy form. I wonder how she is, Dr. Basu thought. For all Dr. Basu knew, Akshara and Dr. Abhimanyu had left the hospital already. Dr. Kapoor's got this, Dr. Basu reassured herself.

Dr. Basu dressed in the hospital washroom. She quickly did a half-braided updo. She was shaking her head to scatter the hair and give it an effortlessly messy look when Akshara sauntered into the sink.

"Hi," Dr. Basu said as Akshara lathered her hands with soap.

"Hi. Aap kahin jha rahi ho?" Dr. Basu finished applying light blush eyeshadow and soft peach lipstick as Akshara washed her hands.

"Meri family ek party host kar rahi hai, bus wahi pe jaa rahi hoon."

"You look beautiful, Dr. Basu."

"My shift's over; please call me Nandini." Nandini extended her hand, but Akshara latched on for a tight hug. "You saved my baby. Thank you!" Hugs like these made the job worth it for Nandini.

"Akshara, you chose your baby. It has nothing to do with me or anyone else." When they met earlier, Akshara was a wilted flower, grief-stricken and pale. Now, she was a sunflower in bloom, light, relieved, and with an effervescent glow. There's an unbeatable aura around Akshara that lifts everyone up. Nandini was starting to get it; Abhimanyu's dewaanapan, bepaanah mohabbat for her.

"Take care of yourself," Nandini said as they walked out together. Abhimanyu and the Goenka family waited for Akshara. The Goenkas, especially Manish, didn't trust Akshara alone. While their family was split about what she should do, abort or nurture the child, they knew she was vulnerable and volatile. The last time they left her in a similar state, she left without a trace.

"Nandini," Akshara called out. "I have a request."

"Yes?"

Akshara glanced between Nandini and Abhimanyu. Akshara didn't know the conversation they shared while she made her decision, but there was a palpable unease between them. "Would you become my primary care physician? For me and my baby?

"Akshara, Dr. Kapoor is the best!" Abhimanyu rushed to supersede the request, but Akshara ignored him.

Nandini would've been offended by her superior's dismissal if she didn't share the same opinion.

"Akshara, Dr. Kapoor has far more experience than me. I've just started my fellowship. Plus, we've only just met."

"I know we've just met, but I trust you." Akshara took Nandini's hand and extended a small but heartfelt smile like Nandini had done earlier.

"Uhh-"

How incompetent is she? Abhimanyu thought as she mumbled. A pregnant pause ensued.

Nandini could feel Abhimanyu's gaze on her, silent, compelling her to refuse.