Ms Banerjee and her Dr Babu

Chapter 3

A symphony of beeps and whirring machines filled Avinaash's ears as he navigated the hospital corridors. The familiar fluorescent lights glinted off his stethoscope, a constant companion in his world of saving lives. Today's rounds promised a complex case – a young girl with a rare blood disorder. Avinaash thrived on the challenge, the pressure fueling his focus. Yet, a stray thought, a memory from the night before, brought a little smile to his lips. The feisty woman at the vet, her fiery eyes and the way she fussed over that scruffy pup – it was an unexpected encounter that lingered in his mind. Unlike the sterile predictability of the hospital, it was a spark of chaos, a reminder of life lived beyond the sterile walls.

Across town, Chaitali sat at her desk, the city skyline a blur outside her window. Spreadsheets danced on her computer screen, numbers her constant companions in the corporate battlefield. A nagging feeling of being stuck in a rut gnawed at her. Her phone buzzed – a text from Mili, her well-meaning but meddling friend, about a blind date tonight. Chaitali sighed. Maybe a change of scenery wouldn't hurt. The prospect of meeting someone new, someone outside the echo chamber of her colleagues, held a sliver of hope.

Chaitali, with her signature messy bun and oversized glasses perched on her nose, navigated the evening traffic like a pro. Every pothole, every honking rickshaw, was a familiar hurdle in her daily commute. Today, however, a sliver of nervousness fluttered in her stomach – it was blind date night. Would it be another awkward encounter with a know-it-all finance guy, or someone with whom she could share a genuine connection?

Across town, Avinaash, in his crisp surgeon's blues, expertly navigated the chaos of the emergency room. The adrenaline rush of saving lives was his caffeine, the exhaustion a familiar ache. Yet, a different kind of anticipation simmered beneath the surface. Tonight was his blind date, a chance encounter set up by his overly enthusiastic sister. He hoped for someone who could see beyond the long hours and sterile environment, someone who could understand the weight of responsibility he carried.

Dusk painted the sky in hues of orange and purple as Chaitali entered the designated restaurant – a cozy Italian place with a warm ambiance. It felt like a world away from the fluorescent lights and sterile environment of her office. She scanned the room, searching for her mystery date. Was he tall, short, funny, serious? The possibilities danced in her head.

Just then, a waiter approached with a charming smile. "Ms. Chaitali? Your table is this way." He led her to a corner booth. 

Just then, a man with kind eyes and a captivating smile approached her table. Relief washed over her – he seemed nice. His name was Rahul, and as their conversation flowed, Chaitali found herself relaxing. He was an accountant, a little nervous at first, but his genuine personality shone through. Yet, a niggling sense of familiarity nagged at her. Had she seen him somewhere before? Perhaps at a work conference, or maybe he was a friend of a friend?

Meanwhile, Avinaash, looking dapper in a crisp white shirt, entered the same restaurant. His eyes scanned the room, landing on a beautiful woman in a crimson dress. A jolt of recognition shot through him – it was the fiery woman from the vet clinic! The one who'd accused him of stalking! Flustered, he cleared his throat and approached another table. He spotted a woman with fiery red hair seated at a table, fiddling with her phone. Neha, his date, he presumed.

Neha was everything Avinaash wasn't looking for – loud, self-absorbed, and more interested in her phone than getting to know him. He forced a smile, hoping to make small talk, but the conversation sputtered and died.

Chaitali excused herself from her date and headed towards the restroom. The nerves of the blind date, coupled with the city traffic, had taken their toll.  When she emerged back,  a wave of nausea washed over her. Her vision blurred, and the world tilted precariously. Instinctively, she reached out, grabbing the nearest arm for support. Unfortunately, the arm belonged to a startled elderly gentleman, mid-sip of his wine. The inevitable happened – the wine glass toppled, sending a crimson cascade splashing onto the crisp white tablecloth, soaking not only the gentleman but also the woman seated opposite him – a woman with a bewildered expression and a fiery red dress.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry!" Chaitali stammered, mortified.

The woman, the date presumably, glared daggers at her dress. "You clumsy oaf! Look what you've done!" she hissed.

Avinash, witnessing the commotion, spoke. "are you okay?" he inquired, his brow furrowed with concern.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry!" Chaitali exclaimed again , her eyes widening in horror. "Are you alright?"

Neha glared at her dress, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "Fantastic! Just lovely! First you ruin my dress , now you are asking me if i am okay lovely!!"

Avinash bristled. "you are prone to accident na! Besides, who spills wine on someone's blind date?"

The tension crackled between them, a storm brewing in Chaitali's honey brown eyes and a frustrated frown marring Avinaash's handsome features. Before either could retort, Neha, finally looking up, shrieked, "Chaitali? Is that you?"

Chaitali's jaw dropped. "Neha? What are you doing here?"

"This is my blind date!" Neha exclaimed, gesturing to Avinaash . "The one i was talking to  you about"

The air hung heavy with a mixture of shock, amusement, and something else entirely. Avinaash stood from his chair . "Well, this is a disaster," he muttered, throwing Chaitali a withering look. "Enjoy your date, Ms. IamawalkingDisaster."

Chaitali opened her mouth to apologize, but Avinaash was already turning on his heel and striding out of the restaurant. She watched him go, a sigh escaping her lips. She turned back to Neha, a forced smile plastered on her face. She had officialy doomed her friend's date night.

Chaitali felt a wave of heat crawl up her neck, a mix of mortification and simmering annoyance at Avinaash's harsh words. "Neha," she began, her voice strained, "I am so incredibly sorry about the... everything. Let me get you some water and maybe a shawl to cover the stain."

Neha, still fuming, snatched a napkin and dabbed at the wine spreading across her dress. "Honestly, Chaitali, what were you thinking?"

Chaitali winced. Apologizing again felt pointless. "Look, it was a complete accident. I don't even know how I managed to topple over that poor man's wine."

Neha scoffed. "Well, hopefully your date is more understanding." She gave Chaitali a pointed look. "Speaking of which, where is he?"

Chaitali glanced around the restaurant, the sight of the empty chair across from Rahul a fresh pang of guilt. "He... he was here," she mumbled. "But I don't think he'll be staying after this."

Neha let out a frustrated groan. "This is just great. Thanks a lot, Chaitali." She pushed her chair back, her anger simmering. "I think I'll just head home. Maybe next time, blind dates won't involve near-death experiences with spilled wine."

Chaitali watched Neha leave, a sense of desolation settling in her stomach. The evening, which had held at least a sliver of hope, was now a complete disaster. With a sigh, she caught the waiter's eye.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "Could I please get the bill?"

The waiter nodded sympathetically, his eyes lingering on the remains of the red wine 'incident.' Chaitali paid the bill, the weight of the ruined evening pressing down on her. As she stepped out of the restaurant, the cool night air did little to cool the simmering frustration within her.

"ami ami a walking disaster... what were you then a walking maniac huh! ASSHOLE" she muttered under her breath, the memory of his accusing gaze sending another wave of annoyance through her. "Just the absolute worst! UFFF"

Little did she know, Avinaash was just a few steps ahead, his own evening in shambles. He'd stormed out of the restaurant, the image of Chaitali, the woman who seemed to bring chaos wherever she went, burning in his mind. He cursed under his breath, the memory of her fiery eyes and the way she'd fussed over the puppy at the vet clinic a confusing counterpoint to his irritation.

As they walked in opposite directions, both Chaitali and Avinaash couldn't help but steal glances back at the restaurant, a strange mix of anger, amusement, and a flicker of something else lingering in their hearts. The disastrous blind date had brought them closer, albeit unwillingly, and fate, it seemed, had a strange sense of humor. The question remained – would this be the end of their awkward encounters, or just the beginning of something more?

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