Darkhaast

~ 9 ~

There was something about her that got to him. Something that kept her on his mind but roused resentment.

She wasn't clumsy like Neil, nor was her smile as vivacious, but when her laugh resounded through the conference room, he couldn't help but wonder if Neil was nearby. But he wasn't.

She wasn't as brazen as he expected, but her spirit was never hidden. Small trinkets of hers became infused in the hospital fabric, whether switching the neon binder tabs to bright yet subtle pastel colours or adding accented and themed stationery to the pediatric (Ped's) ward. In a couple of weeks, the Ped's ward was indistinguishable from her office. The ward wallpaper reflected the colours of her retro wireless Bluetooth iPad keyboard: a sunset gradient with outlined stars sprinkled about.

So what was it?

Naaz and Roohi dashed to the pediatric ward, papers flailing in Naaz's hands.

"Roohi beta, thero," a custodian reached to stop the teenager.

"Ahhh!" Roohi crashed into the 'Caution: Wet Floor' sign, skating in the puddle. When steadying her didn't work, Naaz grabbed her, and they bumped into the wall.

"Thanks," Roohi's grin fell apart when she saw Naaz glare.

"Ab kya?"

"Tujhe bachane ke chakkar mein mera head smash hogaya," Naaz patted the back of her head, feeling for any spots or numbness.

"Sorry," Roohi's expressions got her out of everything, especially with Abhimanyu. When she held her ears and pouted for forgiveness, he saw his Akshu, and his heart melted.

"Chal," the girls went ahead. They spotted Mahi engaged with Abhimanyu, Aarohi, and Dr. Bansal.

"I think the case should be pro-bono too, but with our limited funds, the final decision is Dr. Mahima's," Aarohi said.

"But Dr. Aarohi," Mahi sighed and looked at Abhimanyu, hoping he'd chime in and show some executive 'supreme' power that came with his title. He pressed his fingers against his forehead.

"Mahi," a small voice called out to her.

"Aap dono yaha?" Abhimanyu asked the girls.

"Lagta hai shehar ke saare malls aur cafes bandh ho gaya jo yeh dono yahan hang out karne lage." They nervously laughed at Aarohi's joke.

Mahi's brows furrowed.

"Mahi, tum yeh forms sign kar sakti ho?"

"Nani se kyun pucha?" Mahi's voice was laced with skepticism, wearing Naaz down.

"Woh Nani ne phone nahi utta na," Roohi interjected with a plastered smile. Naaz nodded along. Both had their fingers crossed behind their backs.

"Pen?" Naaz hastily popped one out of her pocket. Abhimanyu saw Mahi bite back a smile.

Naaz took the signed paper.

"Ruko-" Mahi stopped them as they attempted to flee with a quick bye and wave. "Rohan bhi aa raha hai na?"

Naaz turned around, defeated, with her head hung low. "Tumhe kaise pata?"

"Chalo," Mahi took Naaz's hand and sat the girls down on the waiting chairs. "Jis Naaz ko main jaanti ho, woh kabh bhi cricket match ke liya itni bechain ni hoti. Aur ye toh woh kabhi nahi paati," she removed the Chennai Super Kings hat off Naaz's head.

"How could you be so sure? Naaz could change her mind about cricket. People change their minds all the time." Roohi rambled off.

"People do and should change. But a 180-degree change overnight?" Mahi shook her head. She kneeled down to them. In a quiet voice she sai, "tumhare Mumma bhi aisi hi karti thi." Naaz started at Mahi ardently. "Ek baat baaton? Jo maine aapki Mumma se bhi kahi thi?"

Naaz nodded, hoping to hear more about her mother. "Koi pyaar kare, toh tumse kare. Tum jaise ho, waise kare. Kisse se badel ke pyaar kare, toh woh pyaar nahi hai. Samjota kare. Aur Sahiba, pyaar mein sauda nahi hota." Mahi kissed Naaz's forehead before ruffling her hair.

"Mahi!" Naaz swatted with a giggle. The flush from her face dissipated. They turned to see Roohi, paused in thought.

"Roohi beta, kya soch rahi ho?" Mahi snapped Roohi out of her mind.

"Yeh Sahiba kon hai? Tumhare nickname hai kya?" Roohi asked Naaz. Naaz and Mahi burst into laughter. An inside joke perhaps, Roohi wondered.

"Dr. Aarohi, aapne Roohi ko Purane filme nahi dikhayi?" Aarohi shook her head.

"Ab jao, homework karo." Mahi sent the girls on their way.

"Advice achi hai. experience se de rahi ho?" Aarohi asked.

"Woh?" Mahi gestured to the girl's shadow in the corridor. "Woh meri advice nahi thi."

"Toh phir?"

Mahi laughed. "Woh Aman ke room mein Mohabbatein chal rahi thi. Wahi se dialogue churaye. Warna pyaar jaisi bhool bar bar karni ki shaukeen nahi hoon". She shook her head.

It was her callousness, Abhimanyu concluded. The way she spoke about love and then, laughed at Naaz's antics trying to impress a boy; it was sheer callousness in his eyes. His heart seared hearing Mahi call pyaar a bhool. Akshu wasn't a bhool, his heart screamed. "Pyaar tumne bhi humare rishta ko bhool kaha tha, Abhi?" Akshu's words echoed in his mind. He thought back to that day, her blue anarkali suit, drenched from chasing after him. She swung around wood logs to break anything in site. She was enraged and torn. It was another mistake he couldn't take back.     

Next update: Mahi and Abhi, alone together at 3 am. Will there be a thaw in Abhi? Will we start knowing Mahi and liking her on a deeper level?

Feedback always appreciated!