Shards of Love

Chapter 10: Supernova begins

25th July, 2020 Saturday 12 PM.

It took both of them a minute to recover and get back to their own shoes.

Arnav sat down on the seat and the girl took her seat, with her eyes fixed on him.

"What can we do for you, sir?" the other guy doctor was asking.

It seemed to be a distant echo inside Arnav's head. He was lost in thoughts and his self-consciousness was about to erupt.

"Excuse me, sir. What's the problem you have?"

Arnav snapped back to reality in an instant and was now wavering internally arguing how to open up his darkness to total strangers, people who might be his age if not younger. He was hoping for somebody more mature and old.

"Er... I was hoping to see a senior doctor. So, I'm stumped as to how to proceed here".

"Not to worry, sir. I completely understand your concern, but we are doctors practicing OP under senior doctors. We will take up notes, offer diagnosis but the senior doctor will do the final evaluation and practice treatment if needed. Dr. Srinivas is our head." the guy doctor spoke with such clarity and earnestness that Arnav was impressed with his credentials. The girl hadn't opened her mouth yet. Dhiya was busily looking at some notes, or at least pretending to be at it.

"So, she's your notes maker?" Arnav asked trying to break the ice. He didn't think this would elicit a scorned look. He had zero idea that this would bruise her ego.

The guy doctor smiled openly.

"Dhinu, it's not funny", she said and elbowed him in the ribs.

For some reason, it bothered Arnav. Why?

The guy apparently nicknamed Dhinu didn't mind her reaction at all. It seemed as if they were extremely comfortable with each other. Or it looked for Arnav like that.

She is going to be making notes for your case, yes sir. That's very important so that when we go to our reporting doctor, he relies on her notes more than what we both say to him.

This seemed to disarm the girl's outburst.

She still hadn't said a single word to Arnav. It bothered him again. He was starting to feel uncomfortable with her being there. He wondered if she would be able to handle patients with maturity.

"Dhinesh sir, Doctor sir asked for you. He's going rounds in the second floor", came a voice from behind. It was an attendant.

"It must be about the patient with severe psychosis who got admitted after going through a violent behaviour at his home", Dinesh said and started getting up.

"Dhiya, please get on with the patient diagnosis. Don't miss any points he says, alright?"

Dhiya looked flushed for a second. Looked at Arnav first and then at Dinesh. Within seconds her demeanor changed.

"Not a problem, you go ahead. Let me know about the prognosis and sir's drug prescription. I am curious to know the effects of Olanzapine if he's planning to give it to the patient."

Her voice sounded extremely professional and melodious.

"You and your myriad interests. I'll see what I can find. Srini is very strict when it comes to inpatients", Dinesh said and started off.

Sandhiya also known as Dhiya now turned her attention to the patient also known as Arnav who sat before her. He looked even more nervous now.

She didn't seem to be feeling anything. Her expressions underwent a drastic shift and the creases on her forehead vanished. She looked like a confident woman who knows what she was about to do next.