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As they both recalled the first time they had collided, they both thought of the same thing. That first run in on the lawns of Kapoor Estates had changed their lives.
Would it be the same this time? Would this collision alter the course of their lives once again, just like it did all those years ago?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Geet didn't know what to do as she still stood in the embrace of the man she'd once loved more than life itself. Just like always, she was lost in his eyes – his beautiful eyes. In them she saw shock, concern, confusion and a tad bit of resentment.
However, she didn't have time to dwell on Maan or his eyes, because just over Maan's shoulder a visibly pregnant woman groaned as she held her swollen belly.
She quickly stepped out of Maan's arms and went to the woman.
"Mrs. Kelly, what's wrong?" she asked.
Mrs. Kelly didn't answer, instead she was breathing heavy. She was in the middle of a contraction. It was at the moment everything else faded and all she saw as her patient.
"I need a wheelchair," Geet yelled.
A nurse came from behind and helped ease Mrs. Kelly into the wheelchair just as her husband entered.
"She's been having contractions for about an hour now," he said. "I know you said that there was still time but she's in so much pain I didn't know what to do."
Geet recalled sending Mrs. Kelly home a few hours ago because her contractions had turned out to be Braxton Hicks Contractions – false labor. Clearly, she was now in active – real – labor.
"It's ok, I'm glad you brought her in," Geet said with a smile as she began checking Mrs. Kelly's pulse. "Let's get you into a room."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maan stood silently still trying to comprehend what had happened. One part of him knew that he'd just run into Geet – his Geet. Yet another part of him was sure that it had all been a figment of his imagination. He didn't know how long he stood there, but it wasn't until a nurse came up to him that he came back to reality.
"Can I help you Sir?" the nurse asked.
"Ummm…yes, Naintara Khurana," he said.
He was surprised at the look on the nurses face, almost like she was expecting him.
"Please have a seat, I'll get Dr. Mehta for you," she said as she pointed at some chairs for him to sit.
Maan took a seat still reeling from what had happened only moments ago.
"Mr. Khurana?" someone called.
Maan immediately stood up and came face to face with a man, wearing glasses, dressed in blue scrubs and a white coat.
"Yes," he said.
"I'm Dr. Mehta," the man said as he held out his hand. "We spoke on the phone."
"Yes of course," Maan said as he remembered. "How is my sister? How is Naintara?"
"She is fine, nothing to really worry about," the doctor said just as the pager went off.
Maan waited while the doctor checked the pager attached to his hip.
"I'm sorry but there's a trauma coming in that I have to attend to. If you please just have a seat I'll be back with you as soon as I can," the doctor said as he turned to leave.
"But my sister," Maan said.
"She's fine, nothing life threatening, I promise," the doctor said. "Let me take you to conference room where you can wait…away from all this."
Maan quietly followed the doctor to a conference room at the back of the ER department.
"Please, help yourself to some coffee," the doctor said before leaving.
Maan looked around the long room and felt uneasy. He was trying to be as calm and patient as possible but he didn't know how long that would last. He placed his luggage on the floor next to the door as he took a seat in one of the leather chairs.
Twenty minutes later, with a cup of coffee in his hands, Maan exited the conference room because he had to stretch his legs and maybe get some air. As he rounded the corner he saw her again – his Geet – coming out of a room from the other end of the hall. It was then that Maan fully took her in.
She was dressed in powder pink scrubs, a white lab coat, her hair tied in a ponytail, and her hands reaching over her as they placed a set of stethoscopes around her neck. She was engrossed in conversation with an nurse and was signing what looked like a chart as she walked.
She always was a multitasker.
She was headed in his direction but didn't see him in the shadows. Within seconds two other nurses pushed a large hospital bed out into the hall, where a pregnant woman lay breathing hard, with her husband by her side.
"Let's go have this baby Mrs. Kelly" he heard her say with a smile. "And Mr. Kelly, remember to breathe…in…and…out…the last thing your wife needs is for you to pass out in the delivery room."
Maan smiled as he heard her giggle. It was still the same giggle. The one that made his heart flip and made him smile as well.
"What would I do without you Dr. Handa," Mr. Kelly said.
It was then that Maan saw that was embroidered on the white coat she wore.
Geet Handa, M.D.
Obstetrics & Gynecology
She was doctor. She'd finally become a doctor.
One part of his heart swelled with pride and joy. After all these years, her dream had come true – she was a doctor, just like she'd always wanted to be.
But deep inside, another part of his heart was cold, bitter and resented the fact that his Geet was now Dr. Geet Handa. It was because of that dream, she'd shattered his dream, his life and his heart.
After all, it was because she was a doctor that they were not together. As proud as he may feel, he could never forgive her for that.
JAZ
ps: sooo...whatcha think 😉
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