Chapter 21: Expert

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Chapter Twenty-One

Expert

Khushi could not remember a time when she was so happy in her life. The closest was probably when she was a child, unaware, unrestricted and just free. But even those memories came nowhere close to the absolute joy she felt now. 

Her days were all the same: hectic, stressful and sometimes downright depressing. But she relished it all, because she finally had a purpose in life again. She had something to look forward to every morning and even though she didn’t realize it, something in the evenings too. 

Despite being nervous on her first day, Khushi had adjusted to her new hospital so quickly that it felt like she had been always there. A part of that credit probably went to Ved, who made sure she felt welcome everywhere she went. But mostly –and Khushi refused to acknowledge it– it was because she was good at her job. No one, not even the senior resident doctors, could deny that she was knowledgeable, confident and most of all, unafraid. In short, she had none of the qualities that defined new interns. It had amazed them. 

Khushi wished it didn’t. 

“Damn… that was a tough one,” Ved muttered. 

Khushi didn’t reply. She had just emerged from a four-hour surgery that was scheduled to go on for longer had the patient’s heart not failed halfway through. 

“It’s okay,” Ved continued, misunderstanding her silence. “We can’t save everyone. The first one is always the worst.”

Khushi wiped her hands dry. “That wasn’t my first.”

Ved was confused. “How many surgeries have you been in? This is only your second one right?”

“Are you keeping tabs on how many cases I am getting?”

“Gotta keep an eye on the competition.”

Khushi rolled her eyes. “I am not competition.”

“And I am not a man,” he replied, sarcastically. “But tell me, when did a patient die on you? It’s only been a month since you joined!”

“I took Surveen’s shift last week and her patient coded in the middle of night. He was gone before we wheeled him in for surgery.”

“You ran a code all by yourself?!” Ved appeared horrified.

“It’s just a code. Relax.”

“… and you said you are not competition?”

Khushi shrugged. The reality was they all blew it out of proportion. So what if she knew how to carry out procedures? So what if she knew how to handle a difficult patient? Why couldn’t they just let her be? Why did they all insist on glorifying her as a gifted doctor? 

It was all so stupid. And also nerve-wracking. 

Khushi knew sooner or later, they would figure it out that she was repeating her internship. Their reaction, then, was not something she wanted to see. Especially Ved, who had joked casually over lunch one day that she was his best friend. 

“I am serious!” he exclaimed. “I spend more time with you than with my girlfriend. We are best friends and will soon become soul mates if one of us doesn’t leave!”

She rolled her eyes, being used to his antics by now. “Stop exaggerating. We don’t spend all our time together.”

“Um, yeah we do. You have slept four out of five nights in the hospital this week and so did I. People would think we are having an affair.”

“You wish. I’m just trying to catch up on everything I missed. What’s your excuse for taking extra shifts?”

“You are already caught up Khushi. Even graduating interns have a hard time doing some of the things you can. Where did you learn it all?”

Khushi ignored him, but the guilt in her stomach cut a little deeper. 

Arnav was not of much help either. “If it’s bothering you so much, just tell him the truth.”

She stared at him incredulous. They were having dinner together –it was now routine for them to eat together any time she was not on shift– when she had just finished recounting her conversation with Ved that day. “What do you mean tell him?!”

“Tell him you were an intern before. What’s the big deal?”

Khushi didn’t reply, choosing instead to play with her food. 

“Look,” Arnav said, watching her. “He clearly is a good friend and you don’t want to lose him. So, just do yourself a favour and tell him.”

“And if he asks why I left the last hospital without writing the intern exam?”

Arnav shrugged. “You had a family emergency. We have been over this before.”

Khushi didn’t argue with him, knowing that he wouldn’t understand. However, her silence seemed to have said it all. 

“Just spit it out Dr. Gupta,” he said. “I hate suspense.”

A small smile escaped her lips. It was always like that with him; easy and light. Khushi couldn’t recall when their relationship took such a one-eighty-degree turn, or for that matter how. Ever since he pushed her to resume work, he had become her number one confidant. He probably didn’t understand a word of the medical jargon she used, but he always knew what to say in response. 

And the best part of it all was that Khushi never had to pretend with him. With her father, she had to be the docile daughter, with her brother, the overprotective sister and with her in-laws, the obedient daughter-in-law. But with him? It was easy. She could be anything she wanted, because she knew he didn’t care. He had no expectations from her, so whether she lived up to her image or not, it didn’t matter. 

“It’s stupid really,” Khushi said, shaking her head. “But it’s just… embarrassing. Repeating your intern year is embarrassing.”

“Hmm.”

Arnav didn’t have anything else to say, so they simply finished their dinner in silence. It was one of those rare occasions that Khushi didn’t feel relieved after talking to him, but she should have known better. 

When she arrived at the hospital next morning, she was summoned to Dr. Awasti’s office for a meeting. Surprised, she gingerly went to see her mentor. 

“Come in,” Dr. Awasti said. “Have a seat.”

Khushi obliged. 

“The senior doctors are very impressed with your work and dedication Dr. Gupta.”

“I am sure they are just being kind, there is still a lot I have to learn.”

“On the contrary, I think it’s time for you to write your intern exam.”

Khushi was dumb founded.

“I have spoken to the authorities and they all agree that since you have already completed nine months of your internship elsewhere, there really is no point for you to repeat the entire year here. It’s been over a month since you joined, and you have done exceptionally well. We think it’s best if you give your exam with Dr. Arora and the others. If you pass, which going by your record, you will, you will be selected to be a resident doctor here.”

It was too good to be true. How was it that just yesterday she was worried about her secret getting out and today, she was being given the chance to bury the hatchet once and for all? 

“Do you have any objections? Or can I go ahead and register you for the upcoming exam?”

Khushi blinked, coming out of her reverie. “Are you sure I am allowed to do that?”

Dr. Awasti smiled, a rare thing for her. “Yes, I am very sure. I thought you would be happy with the news.”

“I am!” Khushi said quickly. “I am, thank you. I am just not able to believe it.”

“Well you have four weeks to believe it and sit for your exam. Good luck.”

And Khushi knew she was dismissed. Pulling out her phone, Khushi walked out of Dr. Awasti’s office, typing out a message to the person she knew was behind this miracle.  

What did you do?!

Arnav’s reply was almost instant.

Nothing… Why? What happened?

Don’t play dumb… I know you talked to the board and convinced them to let me take my intern exam along with Ved.

Did Awasti say that?

Khushi scoffed and answered:

Like she would dare. I just know it was you.

It wasn’t… but more importantly, congratulations :D 

Thank you… I owe you big time. Again.

First pass the exam Dr. Gupta. We can think about the formalities later ;)

Khushi grinned in response, almost skipping back to the OB/GYN floor, where she was on shift for the day. 

* * *

Life at the family front was surprisingly good too. Despite fearing her father’s wrath a month ago, Khushi found that he was now a distant memory that no longer haunted her. Perhaps it was because she didn’t have time to ponder about these things –what with the hospital keeping her so busy– or perhaps it was because she was confident that even if he did come storming back into her life, she had her answers ready. 

At least, that’s what she had told Vihaan when he stopped by the hospital during her lunch break the other day.

“You seem happy,” he had noted while they were sipping coffee in the cafeteria. “I guess life is back on track?”

Khushi grinned. “I don’t think our lives are ever on track, but yes, I am happy. As long as Papa stays far from me, I will always be happy.”

Vihaan snorted. “Does he know you resumed your practice?”

“I was going to ask you that actually. I was expecting him to barge in here by now and drag me back to the dungeons.”

“Your sense of humor needs to improve Khush. That’s not funny at all.”

She simply shrugged. From the way she was seeing it, that was exactly what it was. 

“Papa seems…. reserved nowadays,” Vihaan said slowly. “He is worried about something I think.”

“Oh really?” 

“I can’t be too sure, but he is mostly locked up in his office all day.”

“What about at dinner time?”

 “Oh, I don’t bother to eat dinner with him anymore.”

“Why not?”

“Well… Ahana thinks I am getting too fat.”

Khushi almost spit out the coffee she was drinking. “She thinks you are fat?”

“Shut-up,” he replied, avoiding her eyes. 

Khushi giggled. “Did she put you on a diet then?”

Vihaan sighed. “Yes, sadly. I am stuck with salads at night and I rather eat that in my room, drowning my sorrows in TV, rather than with Papa, who is ever ready to quiz me on the stock market.”

Khushi laughed, mentally making a note to thank her sister-in-law. Although Vihaan was the quiet one in the house, he had always gotten what he had wanted without any fuss. So it was very satisfying to see him denied of something. 

“But anyway,” he said, serious once again. “From the looks of it, I don’t think Papa has time to think about what you are up to.”

Khushi was little relieved. “What about your position in the company? Is he going to hold up his end of the bargain any time soon?”

“I think so. He scheduled a meeting with the lawyers next month, and I am assuming it’s for that.”

Khushi nodded, somewhat satisfied. 

As if on the cue, her pager went off. “I have to run,” she said, standing up. “Thanks for coming Vihaan.”

“Don’t be silly,” he said, hugging her. “I miss you.”

“Come home then. And bring Ahana. I haven’t seen her in so long.”

Vihaan smiled. “Will I have to take an appointment for that Dr. Gupta? Because every time I have called these past few days, you seem to be here.”

She rolled her eyes. “Bye Vihaan.”

“See ya baby sis!”

And Khushi happily made her way back to the emergency room, where a new accident case was just brought in. 

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