Fighting Destiny

Chapter 5 - Gossip

I have witnessed life ending right in front of my eyes.

Not once.

Not twice.

But countless times.

My night was full of nightmares of all these moments combined, including my own death.

As soon as I woke up I took a moment to focus on my surroundings. I didn't cry. I think the reality, my reality, started to kick in.

My encounter with Abhimanyu left me so overwhelmed that I canceled all my plans and went straight home. Abhi after giving me my phone back went to the hospital without looking back. I stood there watching his back despair as he went through the front door.

I took a shower and prepared myself for work quickly, half excited, half anxious at the idea of seeing Abhimanyu again.

At the hospital I get my breakfast and walk over to the table by the large windows. They overlook the gray skies and the wet grounds.

Ever since I got to this place, it's been raining every day. I love the rain. I love the water droplets crashing into my body, sliding down, clinging to my skin, washing me clean, making me new. It's raining now, more like drizzling, and I wish I could go outside and feel it, but I can't.

My friend Sonakshi joined me as soon as she got her food. She is a nutritional consultant and comes here 3 days a week. She was one of the very first people to talk to me the day I arrived here. She knows everything and everyone. Nurses are her best friends. Techs can't get over how pretty she is. A real queen bee !

Anyway, Sonakshi as usual, is staring at her crush of the week. Her crushes come and go, and she has a type. But for some reason she can't stand Dev. And it seems reciprocal because as soon as Dev saw Sonakshi next to me he left the cafeteria.

Sight.

If only they started acting like adults and not teenagers.

Obviously I didn't tell anyone about Abhimanyu. But I needed someone to help keep tabs on him.

" Sonakshi, i have something to tell you."

"You have gossip ?" Sonakshi's eyes widen.

Shrugging, I say, "I might have some, yes."

"Oh my God, tell me !"

"So I heard the nurses saying that a new guy might be coming in. I mean, they didn't sound very happy about it. That their boss never told them and they're like, nurses are always the last to find out and –"

"Oh God, who's coming?" Sonakshi stops my rambling.

"Right." I clear my throat. "Someone named Abhimanyu Birla."

My. Abhimanyu. Birla.

I shift in my seat. "Well, I just heard the nurses talking."

Sonakshi sits back with a smile. "Oooh. Do you think he's a doctor too?"

I get to know that some doctors are the worst kind of people. Pretentious, arrogant, obnoxious. Most of them have a God-complex. They think everyone needs saving and they are the only ones who can do it. But my Abhi is different. I hope that for his stay here everythings will go well.

"Could be." I replayed vaguely on purpose.

"Oh my God, I'm so intrigued. Oh, please let him be handsome. And older. Like, at least ten years older. I've got a thing for older guys," she said excitedly.
I froze.

I need to play it cool but I can't help my possessiveness and jealousy that is threatening to explode at any moment.

"Or maybe he's not a doctor." I say. Trying to make her lose interest in him.

"Whatever. I just want him to be older."

Maybe I should kill her ?

"Yes, let him be older," I agree. And then, just to tease her, I add, "Oh, and wrinkled. Yup, a wrinkled old man".

Sonakshi flips me the bird and my smile widens.

Asha enters the hall. She's Dr. Singh's wife and the hospital administrator.

Usually, she has a smile on her face but today she looks a bit frazzled. "Good morning, everyone," she begins, her greeting sounding less than enthusiastic. "Hope we're all doing well and enjoying the breakfast."

Almost everyone nodded.

"I tell you this with a very heavy heart, that..." She sighs. "Friday night, Dr. Singh suffered a sudden heart attack and had to be hospitalized over the weekend, and..."

She swallows, trying to gather herself, as a shock wave runs through the room. "And, well, he's doing fine right now, and he's expected to make a full recovery. But it means that he won't be able to come back to work for a few weeks."

The murmurs became louder, and more agitated. Even though I'm not the one contributing to the ruckus, I'm kind of shocked, too. He was fine the last time I saw him. He smiled at me in the hallway, his white mop of hair glinting in the afternoon sun. He was chatting with a few patients, who all looked at him like he hung the moon. For them, he probably did. He is super popular with the patients and the staff.

Asha manages to calm people down with the help of techs and continues, "I know you guys are upset and I understand. Of course I do. I'm upset, too. Some of you have been very close to him, and I promise you he's fine. I'll let him know how much you guys love him. He'll appreciate that."

Smiling sadly, she takes in a deep breath. "But for now, I'm here to tell you that we've been very fortunate to have found a replacement for him. He's due to arrive today and he's an excellent doctor. I'm sure you guys will love him, and everybody will get along in this difficult time, okay?" She shoots a couple of pointed stares around the room. "If you have any questions, come find me or any of the staff members. We're all here to help you."

She's ready to leave when Sonakshi calls out, "Hey, Asha ! Who's the new guy? The one we're supposed to love and get along with."

Beth turns around and raises her eyebrows. "Right. Thank you, Sonakshi, for shouting out that question. The doctor you're supposed to love and get along with is Dr. Birla. Dr. Abhimanyu Birla. He's coming to us from Birla hospital. It's one of the most reputable hospitals in the country." She throws a pointed stare again. "As I said, you're in more than excellent hands."

With that, she leaves, and noises recommence. I tune them out. I'm frozen, trapped by the sound of a name.

Abhimanyu Birla.

My Abhi.

He will share the same hospital as me for the next few weeks.

To be continued ...

Sorry for the hiatus guys, I will try my best to update another chapter soon. Enjoy and let me know what you think ;)

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