In the heart of chaos

Chapter 41

Abhimanyu paced back and forth in his office, his mind spinning with frustration. He had been thinking about this idea for weeks, hoping to bring a fresh perspective to Birla Hospital. His wife, Akshara, was a talented singer, and he believed that her gift could be used for something more than personal passion. The concept of music therapy had been gaining traction in the medical community, and Abhimanyu was convinced it would be a groundbreaking addition to their hospital.

But there was one obstacle—well, two—standing in his way: Aarohi and Rishi. After Dr. Mehera's retirement, the two of them had been promoted to lead various departments and oversee important decisions within the hospital. Their influence had grown considerably, and Abhimanyu knew that without their approval, his proposal wouldn't move forward.

He took a deep breath, gathered his papers, and headed toward their office. It wasn't going to be easy, but he was determined to make this happen.

Aarohi sat at her desk, reviewing patient records, while Rishi stood by the window, sipping his coffee and staring out at the bustling city below. Their day had been relatively quiet, but they both knew that in a hospital, things could change in an instant.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, followed by Abhimanyu walking in, his expression determined.

"Aarohi, Rishi," he began, his tone more formal than usual. "I have a proposal I'd like to discuss with you both."

Aarohi exchanged a glance with Rishi before gesturing for Abhimanyu to continue. "Go on."

Abhimanyu cleared his throat and presented the documents he had prepared. "I want to open a new department—Music Therapy. Akshara would lead it, and we would focus on using music as a form of healing for patients dealing with emotional and physical trauma. Music has proven benefits in stress reduction, emotional well-being, and overall recovery."

Rishi raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident, while Aarohi remained expressionless, flipping through the papers. After a few moments of silence, she finally spoke.

"Music therapy?" Aarohi's tone was neutral, though there was a slight edge of disbelief. "You think playing a few sad Bollywood songs is going to help patients recover from major surgeries?"

Abhimanyu frowned, already sensing the resistance. "It's not about Bollywood songs. There's substantial research showing that music can have a positive impact on patients' mental health. It can help reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and even aid in pain management."

Aarohi leaned back in her chair, folding her arms. "And how exactly do you plan to integrate this into our current structure? Are we supposed to build an entirely new wing just for this?"

"I believe it would be a valuable addition," Abhimanyu said, keeping his voice steady. "Akshara has a unique talent, and this could set Birla Hospital apart from other institutions."

Rishi, who had been quiet up until now, finally spoke. "Look, Abhimanyu, I get that you're passionate about this, but we already have an emotional healing support department that covers a wide range of therapies—counseling, mindfulness, stress management. If you want to include music therapy as part of that department, fine. But opening a whole new one? It doesn't make sense."

Abhimanyu's frustration was starting to boil over. "This isn't just about adding a few songs here and there, Rishi. This is about creating a space specifically for patients to heal through music. It's a different approach."

Aarohi shook her head, her patience wearing thin. "We're not denying that music can help with emotional healing, but it's not a priority right now. We need to focus on things that have a direct impact on patient recovery from surgeries and critical care. Music therapy might be a nice add-on, but it's not essential."

Rishi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. You can add it to the existing emotional support department, but a whole new one? That's overkill. It would drain resources that could be better used elsewhere."

Abhimanyu's fists clenched at his sides. He had expected resistance, but the outright dismissal of his idea stung more than he anticipated. "You're not even giving it a chance."

Aarohi's gaze was firm, unyielding. "I'm not going to approve something that doesn't align with the hospital's immediate needs. Emotional healing is important, yes. But right now, our priority is patient recovery and surgical outcomes. If you want to integrate music therapy, talk to the emotional healing support team. They can find a way to incorporate it without opening an entirely new department."

Rishi added, "We're not trying to shoot down your idea completely. But if you want it to work, it has to fit into the hospital's larger picture. We're here to run a hospital, not a concert hall."

Abhimanyu opened his mouth to argue but found himself at a loss for words. He had walked into the meeting confident, but now he felt deflated, as if all his plans had been reduced to nothing more than a pipe dream.

Aarohi, sensing the tension, sighed and softened her tone slightly. "Abhimanyu, I know this is important to you, and I get that Akshara's passion for music is a big part of it. But right now, this isn't the direction we're going. Focus on working with the emotional healing department. They're open to incorporating new ideas."

Abhimanyu clenched his jaw, his frustration still simmering. But there was no point in pushing further. Aarohi and Rishi had made up their minds, and it was clear that nothing he said would change that.

"Fine," he muttered, grabbing his papers and turning to leave. "I'll figure something else out."

As the door closed behind him, Aarohi let out a small sigh, shaking her head. "Music therapy... unbelievable."

Rishi chuckled, sitting back down and taking a sip of his coffee. "You've got to hand it to him—he's persistent."

"Persistent or stubborn?" Aarohi muttered, glancing at the clock. "Either way, it's a distraction we don't need."

Rishi leaned forward, his smirk still in place. "And yet, I have a feeling this won't be the last time we hear about it."

Aarohi rolled her eyes. "Probably not. But for now, we've got bigger things to focus on."

The two returned to their work, leaving the conversation—and Abhimanyu's ambitious plan—behind.