C h a p t e r - 12
<3Back to being Best Friends<3
I came back to the hospital within an hour. I didn't feel sleepy or anything so I just had a bath and then I was back. As I entered the room, I felt as if I had just entered our classroom. There were hordes of girls all around Samrat and one of then was sitting next to him on his bed. Dia, Benji and Mayank were sitting on the sofa and chatting and there was no sign of my mother. I made my way through to Samrat and then I saw Claire. Why would she be here? Why would she even care? What did I miss in these two weeks? I thought she hated Samrat and vice-versa but they both were actually talking. There were so many roses around Samrat and I don't know why but I was fuming. "What is she doing here?" I said out loud, making everyone look at me. Claire got up and turned to face me, "I came here to visit Samrat. I came here yesterday afternoon as well, but you weren't there. Something more important must have come up, right?" she said taunting me. I felt like slapping her across her face but that didn't seem right. I looked at Samrat for an explanation but he just signalled me to stay calm. Maybe he would tell me later?! I just hope they aren't back together. Please lord, save me from this b****. Samrat deserves someone better than her atleast. "Look, I don't want to create a scene here.." I told Claire. "When people don't have answers they avoid the conversation," she stopped me. All day long the dog barked, Bow bow. "Claire, I don't care what you think okay? You are here to meet Samrat, well, I don't think he wants you to stay longer. Goodbye." I said. "If Samrat asks me to go, I will.." Claire said. I looked at Samrat. "Umm, Claire, you can stay if you want" he said. I couldn't believe it. After I told him everything she used to do behind his back, he still takes his side. OhMyGod. I was flaming with anger as Claire gave me her *Now-what-are-you-going-to-do* look. "Fine, stay." I said feeling let down from Samrat's side. I just decided to go meet the doctor and then never come back to meet Samrat. As I stepped out of the room I heard him call out my name, but I just ignored. He didn't take my side, now he could spend all the time he wanted with Claire, who cared.
I knocked on the doctor's cabin and he let me in. "Good Morning doctor," I said and he replied the same. "I am a friend of Samrat Shergill's, patient in room No. 107." He nodded. "I wanted to ask, how bad was the accident?" "Look, as you must have noticed he fractured his arm and his backbone has a little hairline fracture. Its not very bad, but he needs rest. His wounds are very bad because he fell into a cluster of plants which had thorns and there were stones. There isn't much to worry about, all we have to make sure is that he rests as much as possible.." the doctor explained. "So when will you be able to discharge him?" I asked. "I would have discharged him tomorrow morning, but his other friends told me he lives alone, so that's why he'll have to stay here until he can do his work on his own. If he works too much, his ligament in his leg may tear and that is going to be a disaster. So either he stays here, or lives with a family member who could take care of him and do his dressings and all that." He told me plainly. That moment I wished Uncle or aunty were here but then again, they have work too. I don't even know if Samrat has told them or he wants to keep it a secret from them too. I don't even understand what's wrong with him. Since I came back, he has changed, alot. He was always that carefree Samrat who was an open book, no secrets from anyone and now he doesn't tell his own parents about his problems. "Doctor, can you get his discharge papers ready, he can stay at my place, My mother and I would take care of him." I decided. That was a perfect plan. He needed rest and obviously he couldn't stay alone or in the hospital for too long. So that would be perfect and I wouldn't get too worried for him either! "Ok, I'll get the papers done and you need to learn how to do his dressing from the nurse, just write your name and sign here please." He said.
While walking back, I re-analysed everything I had just said. I was very impulsive so I couldn't decide whether it was the correct decision or not? I couldn't find anything wrong in it, except I just needed to ask mom, who I just couldn't spot. I called her up. "Hey mom?" "Hey baby, where are you? I just reached home." She said. "Mom, I am at the hospital. Actually, I wanted to ask if Samrat could stay over at our house since the doctor said he couldn't stay alone." My mother was impulsive too I think, because the next moment she said, "Ofcourse, you didn't even need to ask me. I will be going to Africa day after tomorrow, and I wouldn't even have to worry about you being alone." she seemed ecstatic, "And plus, that kid has done more than we can ever repay for us, so I think now it is our turn." "Great mom! Thanks. And I will be home in a while."
I reached his room and the girls were still there. I could sense him staring at me but I didn't look towards him. I went and asked Benji and Dia if they wanted to grab lunch and they agreed. I thought, Samrat would want to spend some private time with the girls. So Benji went and told Samrat while me and Dia headed out. I knew he had realised that I was angry, and somewhere I wanted him to. I wasn't angry with him or anything, but I wasn't too happy with him either. I was supposed to be his best friend and in front of everyone he takes Claire's side. Ugh. I would only come back once Claire leaves and demand an explanation.
During lunch I told Dia and Benji about my plan. They had different views on that. "That's great. We can all chill out at your house then. And your mom won't be there either!" Benji said. "Are you crazy Gunjan? You should let him stay at the hospital! Even aunty won't be there, you won't be able to handle it yourself." She said. Dia wanted me to let him be at the hospital but not because of the reason she gave. I know what she was thinking about, and sadly I didn't expect her to feel that way, but there was nothing like that between us and I knew that. That is all that matters. "Chill Dia, you all will be there practically the whole day anyway..." I said. She didn't argue further and just let me be. My phone rang and I knew who it would be, Samrat. But it wasn't. It was Louis. "Bonjour Gunjan, Comment tes-vous?"(How are you?) he asked. "Je suis bien" I said and Dia and Benji gave me weird stares. He laughed. "Aah! I miss you." He said. "Me too. So, whats up?" I asked. "Nothing, just sitting at home watching tv." "Oh, so that's what work princes have to do all day?" I teased. "You have no idea." He said. "Really? Its high time I know then.. don't you think?" "I.. sit at home.. and think about youu" he said. I blushed and Benji laughed. "Am I on speaker?" Louis said immediately. "No, he just laughed at a joke Dia cracked." "Oh so you're with Samrat now?" he asked. "No, we came to have lunch. Samrat's at the hospital" "I really hope your taking care of yourself and not just Samrat.." "Obviously Louis. So how is everyone?" I asked. "Everyone is fine, my sister remembers you alot.." he said. "Tell her she should come here with you." "Who said I was coming?" "My intuition says you'll be here soon" I said. I really want him to come! But I didn't want to sound desperate. "Oh! So lets see if you're intuition is right. I don't really have plans to come now, though.." "But, if you come, get Ramon with you!" "Yes, I will." "Louis, I need to go now. I'll call you later!" "Sure. Bye." He said.
We reached the hospital and Benji was busy making fun of me and Louis once Dia told him the entire story. "Seriously? Like prince charming and Cinderella? Or Shah Jahan and Anarkali?" He said giving it a more Indian touch. I just sighed and entered Samrat's room. He was sleeping so we were quiet and benji was controlling his laughter. I gave him a stern look and then all of us went outside. Benji started off again. "So gunjan, how was it, with your *prince*" emphasizing on "prince". Mayank also came and joined in all the questions. Though he wasn't making fun of me but even his questions didnt end. He wanted to know more about his rule and city and blah blah. "Benji and Mayank. Please. Relax. When he comes you can ask him only." "He's coming? WHEN?" Mayank asked. "I don't know yet, but soon." I said. "But are you going to marry him?" Benji asked. "What? Its too early now, don't you think, Benji?"
"Love at first sight." He replied. "Oh please, its not that cheesy." "Oh yeah it is. Ask anyone. Meeting a prince and then falling in love, its very cheesy!" Benji stated. I looked at Mayank and Dia and they both agreed. "You guys, are just impossible!" I said. My phone rang again. It was Samrat this time. "Hello" I said. "Why do you sound so annoyed?" he asked. "How do you care?" "Oh come on! You couldn't still be angry about what happened earlier?!" "Why not? You wanted Claire to stay right? So now why are you calling me? she left you and went? So sad." "Gunjan.. there was a reason, can you just come to the hospital and I will explain everything to you." "I'm at the hospital only." I said and kept the phone.
"How long do you'll take to eat? I took a half an hour nap also!" he said as we came in. "You were sleeping when we came back so we went out again." I said. "Samrat, do you know that Gunjan met her 'prince' finally?" he asked. "Yeah, Dia told me." He replied, not trying to make fun of me, which I found very weird. "They met in a museum" Benji said laughing. "What's so funny?" Samrat asked. "It is. Who meets their life partner in a boring museum?" "Why not?" I asked. "Its not like other fairytales." He replied. "Its not supposed to be!" "So, is he everything you wanted?" Samrat asked. "You won't believe it but he fits the description perfectly. He's just so perfect. The perfect man for me." I replied. "Do you know what my favourite fairytale is?" Samrat asked. I was confused on why he would even ask. "Its Shrek. Because there even *imperfect* people have happy endings." He said. He emphasized imperfect which made me realise that I had been using perfect just too many times. I didn't know why he mentioned that but everyone else in the room agreed with him. Its as if they understood something I didn't. But I didn't ask. I didn't want to sound dumb.
Later, Mayank and Dia had to go out and Benji had a Job interview so he left. "Samrat, are you going to tell me why you took Claire's side?" I asked turning away. "Look, I didn't take her side. I just said she could stay because she is a friend." He said. "Since when?" I asked. "Since you left for Paris. She was there for me. We talked alot and she isn't that clingy. We are just friends, nothing more. She actually helped me feel better. So, I couldn't ask her to leave." I was silent. I didn't have anything to say to him. I made him feel bad. I left him alone. That's what he meant to say. Its my fault. He indirectly meant exactly that. I was hurt. I really was. Samrat has always been such a great friend and when he needed me I was gone. Far away. I was so angry and so desperate to leave town that I didn't think that he would become alone here. I am so selfish. Why? How? "I'm sorry." I said softly turning to him. "Please, don't say sorry. Its fine. And you know I am always on your side, why would you even think I'm on Claire's side?" "Yeah.. but I said sorry for leaving you alone here." I said. "You needed a break, from me, from Dubai. You deserved that vacation." "No Samrat, I should have stayed with you.." "Then you wouldn't have met that Grimaldi" he said changing the whole topic of discussion. I didn't even have anything to say to that. That's when I remembered, "Oh, by the way, you'll be discharged tomorrow. I spoke to the doctor. He said you can get discharged and you're staying with me until you're fine." I said. "What? What do you mean *with you*" he asked. "I mean, at my house!" "No I am not. You really don't have to baby sit me." He said. "You don't get to decide what I do. You are coming and that's final. I have taken permission from mom and she said I made the right decision!" "But Aunty'll be going to Africa day after! What after that?" "What?" I asked. "Whose going to cook?" he said. I laughed. Out of everything that's what he cares about. FOOD? "Me. Who else? This isn't India where you will get cooks! You have to eat what I make." "No way!" he said widening his eyes. "You don't know how to cook. I'll get food poisoning!" he replied. "I do! You just havent tasted the food I make so you shouldn't comment." "I don't think I'll survive with the food you cook!" "Shut up!" I slapped him across his arm and he shrieked with pain. "Serves you right!" I replied.
_________________________________________________________________
Edited by Manjari1104 - 13 years ago
Members Lounge
Book Talk
8