Shards of Love

Chapter 17: Pursuit of normalcy

September 5, 2020 Saturday.

Arnav wanted to go to the hospital a couple of days before the given date as it was his birthday. He never took any interest in celebrating his birthdays, but that year, he wanted the day to be at the least normal. He somehow believed that meeting doctor Dhiya could bring some normalcy into his boring and at times sullen birthday.

He didn't mention it to either Vishwesh or Adarsh. He wanted to be invisible from the world that day. He didn't have any expectations that day. Zero. He just wanted to go with the flow. Whatever his heart wanted. It wanted to go talk to his doctor. So, he conceded to that wish.

After waking up, Deepthi and Lakshmi wished him, and his grandmother blessed him and took a little bit of sugar from the kitchen and put it in his mouth. That was the sweetest gesture he always looked forward to. He simply told his mother that he was about to go to the hospital.

During the ride, his stupid mind kept crafting scenarios that were never going to happen in reality with doctor Dhiya. He forgot that he was a patient seeking help. The low dosage medicines were helping him calm his nerves at night and sleep. So, he felt a little better each morning, braving through the events with renewed vigour.

He reached the hospital and went straight to the ward. There were five people waiting before him and it was going to test his patience as two of them were young girls. It would seem they tend to talk a lot compared to other age groups. And the doctors seem to have patience to deal with them as some of the girls were pretty.

It took more than an hour to finally get to his token. For some reason, he was not flipping out. He accepted the delay. He was watching some anime on his phone to kill time.

When he was asked to go in, Arnav was brimming with some sort of excitement. He saw Dhiya on the same desk, looking over at some of her notes. She didn't look up yet.

Dhinesh recognised Arnav that time and welcomed him warmly and shouted Dhiya to look at him.

"Hey, Dhiya. It's your patient".

Your patient!

Shut up, mind!

Are you her patient?

You shut up too, heart!

It seemed like they were giggling inside which reached his lips too. He was smiling.

"Hello, doctor", he said.

"Why, hello, Arnav. Morning! How are you doing today?"

Arnav noticed that she had dropped the 'sir', and there was a tinge of informality in her approach. What was different that time!

"I'm good, thank you! Hope the day doesn't turn really hectic for you", he said.

"The day can try, but I'm off this afternoon. So, half the work today, which I should be able to manage!" She said with a glee in her eyes.

Arnav smiled too, and he also wanted to know the reason behind her leave.

"You're going to your native or something?"

"No no. The city can be called as my native. I'm just heading out with my family. It's my parents'anniversary."

"Wow! That's amazing. Convey my wishes to them too".

"Will do, thanks. I thought of you as somebody who hated such curseries".

"Guilty as accused".

A faint laugh. Then silence. They both realised they needed to get back to their formal behaviours soon or things would get a bit awkward. Arnav had no idea about what was happening in Dhiya's head and she had no idea about Arnav's thoughts too. Hence the tension of the unknown. Both didn't want to come off as anything other than their predefined roles. One seeking medical help. One providing that medical help.