Anatomy of Love (Complete)

Chapter 45

Rishab woke up with a jolt. He immediately looked beside him. The bed was empty.
Did she leave him again?
That was the first thought that came into his mind. She left because he didn't clarify what he wanted. He had asked her not to go for the night. He should have told never to leave. But then again when had he been so open with his feelings.

Just then the door opened and Khushi entered the room. Her hair was wet which meant she was taking a bath.

“Uth gaye?” She asked after seeing him.
She came closer and touched his forehead.
“You don't have a fever now. Go and freshen up. Main tumhare kapde nikal ke rakhti hun. Kya hua kya dekh rahe ho?”
Rishab shook his head. He felt relieved knowing that she was still in his house.

They sat on the table having their breakfast and tea. Rishab was quiet. Khushi said, “Stop thinking so much. Trust me, aaj sab acha hoga. I have a feeling the verdict will be in our favor.”
He rubbed his temples.
“I am not thinking about it.”

“Then what are you thinking about?”
She waited for him to speak.
He said, “Us. I am thinking about us. Where are we in life? Dur jana mushkil aur paas rehna bhi. Hum kahan hain ek dusre ki zindagi mein?”
She gave him a sad smile, “Hum ek dusre ki zindagi mein hain. Ek dusre se dur jana mushkil hai. Rishab, mere liye yeh bahut hai. Especially after what we have been through. Rishab, we will figure it. We will talk about it but not right now. Abhi nikal na hoga. Ryan will pick you up. I will go with Pritha. Okay?”

The moment Rishab got down from his car, the press and media people surrounded him asking various questions.
“Dr.Rishab, what do you have to say on the allegations that has been imposed on you?”
“Rishab, will you continue to remain the CEO even if you lose your license today?”
“How are you feeling? Your career might end today.”
“What will you do if you lose your license today?”
“Are you nervous, Rishab?”

Ryan, who had accompanied Rishab, tried to take him into the council's building. Rishab stopped and turned towards them.
“I have remained silent till today as I felt I should not give any statement till the final verdict comes out. However, I will answer some of your questions. How am I feeling today? Nervous? No. I am not. I know I have done my duties properly. I have never neglected my job or my patients. I believe in the Medical council. I trust them that they will give the correct verdict. But even if I lose my license today, I will still continue my service to mankind. My road won't end here. Thank you.”

He turned and went inside. He saw Amol Sir standing. He was smiling at him.
“Sir? You here? Aap toh ashram se nikal te nahi hai. Phir yahan?”
He nodded, “I had to come today. I felt you may need me. But I can see you don't. Main khush hun tumhare iss confidence se. Let's go inside.”

Rishab had taken the seat next to the jury’s table.
Awasthi asked, “Can you narrate the events of the nights in question?”

“The patient, Rizwan Ahmad, was an accident victim. They brought him to our hospital after the Government hospital was unable to do anything.   He was already critical when they brought him here. I was in the ER with only one resident, Manoj. The moment they arrived, they started making scenes, arguing with everyone present that night. The brothers of the patient started screaming at Manoj. I intervened and asked them to leave the ER so that we could start the treatment. I wasn't rude with them but strict. And I don't think I was wrong. There were other patients inside who were getting disturbed. I didn't misbehave with anyone, especially his wife. In fact she was the only one allowed to stay back.”

Awasthi asked, “What was the condition of the patient?”
“There were several fractures in his body. He was bleeding from everywhere. There was an epidural hematoma in his brain. He was bleeding into his brain. There was substantial swelling as well.  We  informed the neurosurgeon while we tried to control the bleeding and stabilize him.”