See You Again

Chapter 3

"Bye. Go home safely", Manikarnika waved at Srijan.

He waved back before getting into his car and driving off.

It was her night shift today. She actually liked working in the hospital at night because of the silent premises. It gave her a very peaceful feeling.

She went about her usual round, checking on her patients, and telling the nurses to call her if anything arose. She was about to return to the common room, when a nurse came and told her that she had been summoned by the Head of the Department.

Wondering what she could have done wrong this time, she went to Kinjal's office and knocked at the door.

"Come in."

He was sitting in the chair behind the table. His hair tousled, glasses askew, his eyes showing signs of tiredness.But even in his exhausted state, he looked every bit in control.

" You're still here?", she asked.

"I have a night shift too", he said. Even his voice sounded tired.

"Don't kill yourself with work, Mr. High and Mighty. Take a break. We don't want to replace you so soon."

"Why do you care?", he half smiled.

"You're an asset to the Department", she said simply.

She sat on the chair opposite to him and looked him in the eye.

"Now, divulge why you wanted to see me."

He looked at her for a moment, as if trying to read her mind. But her face gave away nothing.

"That day, at the  common room I was about to tell you everything. You deserve to know the the truth."

"And about time too", her tone was laced with sarcasm.

"But I didn't get a chance because your friend interrupted us", he added pointily.

"You didn't have to emphasise unnecessarily on the word 'friend', you know. Srijan's really my friend and nothing more."

That seemed to shut him up for a while.

Then he began again.

"Minnie."

Ignoring her warning look he continued, "You know that my parents were in the village while I was studying in the city.  Five years ago, their house caught fire. My parents got trapped inside. When they were finally rescued, it was too late."

His eyes glistened with unshed tears.

"Third degree burns. They didn't survive. I was devastated when I heard the news. I was confused, I didn't know what to do.I lost my head and I acted upon the first thought that came to my mind. I caught the train straight back home."

Silence followed his words. He was struggling with his emotions.

Then, Manikarnika did something that surprised both of them. She went around the table and hugged him.

"Why didn't you tell me?", she whispered into his shoulder.

"You knew that I was always there for you, didn't you?", she pulled back to look into his eyes.

He didn't speak for a moment.

"I'm sorry, Minnie", his eyes were sincere. "I know what I did was unforgivable. I'm so sorry I hurt you so much."

"I'm not the one to hold grudges", she said.

"I had forgiven you a long time back. But you could still have contacted me when you got back to the city."

Kinjal looked guilty.

"I came back nearly six months later. And by then I was so sure that you wouldn't want anything to do with me after I had ghosted you. I thought you had moved on."

"For  a smart guy, you can be incredibly stupid sometimes", she said.

They sat in silence for a long time.

Finally Kinjal said, "Will you give me another chance, Minnie? Give us a chance to start over again?"

Her eyes turned serious.

"Honestly Kinjal, I need some time."

He took her hand in his.

"I understand. Take your time." He smiled.

"You are worth waiting for."