A/N: I just hope that you all will love this as much as u loved "Meant To Be", if not more!
Do read and review please!!
Chapter 1: The damsel meets the delinquent
"Life changes in a 'heartbeat'. Friends turn foes, families shatter, life gives way to death...What remains is 'you', your 'faith', your 'soul' and your 'will' to face life head-on!"
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*FLASHBACK*
It was Randhir Shekhawat's 10th birthday. His parents Dr. Harsh Shekhawat and Dr. Renuka Sanyal Shekhawat had taken him out for dinner that evening. The Drs. Shekhawats were the most famous and influencial surgeons in the country. Harsh was a neuro surgeon, while Renuka was into cardiacs. They were the founders of the "HOPE GROUP OF HOSPITALS" and had several advanced researches in the field of medicine and surgery to their credits.
The time was 11:30 pm when the family of 3 were making their way back to their residance. The resort they had gone to was located on the outskirts of the city of Delhi and the way to it was exotic and a bit deserted at night.
Harsh drove their Porsche as Renuka sat on the front seat reading a magazine. Randhir sat at the back playing with the new video game his parents had gifted him for his birthday.
"Aaah, damn it...road block..." cursed Harsh. They wanted to reach home ASAP as both of them had vital surgeries scheduled the next day.
Renuka lifted her eyes off the 'zine and said, "But it was all fine while we were going...What happened suddenly?"
As the couple took a closer look, they realized that the road was being blocked by a group of about 6 to 7 men, dressed in black, their faces covered.
"I sense something weird Renuka...Who are these people? They don't look like PWD labourers..."
Renuka nodded in agreement.
"Randhir beta, put ur head down.." she adviced her son.
Randhir oblidged quite oblivious to the whole situation.
That was when Harsh noticed that the men seemed armed.
"Renuka shut the windows, quick...I am taking an u-turn...NOW.." he said urgently.
By now the couple had panicked and so had randhir.
"Mama what's wrong?"
"Shhh..beta just keep your head down.."
Harsh brought the car to a screeching halt and was about to make a turn when he saw one of the men lift his gun, point it straight at the doctor and fire.
"HARSH..."
"DAAAD..."
The bullet hit his chest and it started to bleed profusely.
A second shot was fired. Then a third, which hit Renuka straight on the temple.
"Mooom"
Randhir's scream echoed in the night. He was still ducked under the backseat, not daring to bring up his head. But when the bullet hit his mom, who went still in a instant, Randhir pulled himself up and climbed towards the front seat. Fear gripping him, he could see the men who pulled the trigger get into a jeep and drive off.
"S-p-ee-d d-i-al 1...ph-o-ne.." Harsh managed to mumble while his breathing shallowed.
Randhir was sobbing by then, his whole body shaking at the scene unfolding before him.
"M-o-m...D-a-d...Please hold on...please..." he kept reiterating as he fished out the phone from his dad's pocket and the hit the 'Speed dial 1'.
"Hope centre trauma department. How may I help u?"
The number was of their own foundation hospital's trauma centre and Randhir choked as he tried to explain the situation to the attendant who had picked up the call, "This is Randhir...Son of Dr. Shekhawat...I am reporting an emergency from DefCol...My parents have been shot..."
That much info was enough for the hospital to realize the gravity of the situation and Randhir was asked to stay calm as help would be sent ASAP.
"Mom...Please open ur eyes...Mom...say something...MOOOM.." a frantic Randhir kept pleading while holding onto his mother.
"B-et-a...D-on't be sc-ared...U w-ill b-e f-in-e.." his dad tried to calm him down.
"Dad...Why isn't mom responding??"
But harsh didn't reply and instead started breathing deeply.
"Dad...dad...dad..."
Randhir realized that his father was bleeding out. He kept praying for the ambulence to get there as fast as possible while he applied pressure onto his father's chest wound in order to reduce the bleeding.
And as he desparately tried to keep his father alive, he could feel the latter's breathing slow down. After a few moments, at the tender age of 10 and on his birthday ironically, Randhir Shekhawat felt his father's heart stop beating.
The sirens of the ambulances arriving fell on deaf ears. Randhir was slumped onto the back seat, his tiny hands blood stained, his eyes swollen and red from crying, his face showing signs of a 10 year old who had just left behind his fairytail childhood and stepped onto the harsh realities of this cruel world.
His 10th birthday marked the day when Randhir Shekhawat became an orphan.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
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A young girl of 18 stood near the gates of the "Founders Medical College, Delhi" with hope in her eyes and a huge smile on her lips. She was flanked by her parents on either side. Sanyukta Agarwal was Kishore and Anju Agarwal's only daughter. Kishore was the owner of a small grocery store in Dehradun while Anju was a tailor. Their meagre income had never been enough to provide their daughter with a lavish lifestyle. Just like many other small-town folks, the Agarwals were also humble and hard-working. Sanyukta had, at a very early age, taken it upon herself to stand in her own feet and support her family.
When Sanyukta was 8 years old, her father had suffered a massive 'stroke' which also resulted in cardiac failure and sent him in coma. A family that could hardly make both ends meet was faced with a matter of life & death. Anju took her husband to the only hospital in their locality - "The Hope Centre".
She was at first denied admission as she had no money. Sanyukta still vividly remembered how she had clung onto her mother's saree and wailed in misery at her father's depleting condition. That was when she had seen a doctor of exquisite beauty, who had been passing by at that moment and noticed the wailing child and halted. The doctor asked the receptionist if everything was ok and on learning about the situation, had asked the authorities to grant Kishore Agarwal admission.
20 days later, after 2 craniotomies and a by-pass surgery, all performed completely free of cost, Kishore Agarwal was ensured that his health would be fine. An 8 year old Sanyukta met the doctors who had performed the surgeries. It was the kind surgeon who had allowed them admission and his compassionate wife - Dr Harsh Shekhawat and Dr Renuka Sanyal Shekhawat.
"The Hope Centre" was part of their foundation. They had chains of hospitals and clinics across the country. Their main centre was in Delhi, but luckily for the Agarwals, they had been in the Dehradun branch when Kishore was brought in after his stroke.
It was that day that Sanyukta Agarwal had decided that she would become a doctor just like Mr & Mr Shekhawat. She had cut out a photo of the couple from a newspaper clip and had kept it with her ever since as a source of inspiration.
And 10 years later, Sanyukta stood outside FMC with her parents, a proud medical aspirant and now a part of this reputed institution. It was the first time that the Agarwal's had travelled outside of dehradun. It was Sanyukta's first experience of city-life. And her joy knew no bounds.
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-Medical College Day 1-
Sanyukta was not at all used to life at 'hostel'. Her room-mate was still alien to her. The girl had arrived the night before, but by then Sanyukta was already asleep. And she had woken up just now and on seeing time, realized that it was 8 AM and she had classes from 8:30. Her room-mate apparently was more punctual than her and had already disappeared for her classes.
"Shit!!! Late on my first day. I can't believe this...Aur yeh ladki...pta nhi kaun hain...Mujhe bina bulaye chali gayi...Arey bula toh sakti thi...Ajeeb insaan hain..."
She brushed her teeth vigorously and showered with lightening speed. She then gobbled some bread and dressed up in a hurry, not bothering to dry her hair. She wore a blue kurti and white patiala, a dress that her father had gifted her on securing a place in FMC.
She then took a quick look through her time-table and saw the following classes scheduled for the day:
Introduction to Anatomy (Prof : Dr. DS) - Room 101(Hall)
Pathology (Prof : Dr. PD) - Room 305 (New gallery)
Biochem (Prof : Dr. AM) - Room 201 (Junior gallery)
*BREAK* (1 HOUR)
Lab (Anatomy) (Prof : Dr. VS) - Room (Dissection Hall)
Sanyukta grabbed her books, not bothering to stuff them in her bag as the time showed 8:29 by her watch. And she dashed towards her first class.
She scurried past scores of students, down the corridor and towards the hall.
She spotted a sign that pointed to the right and said "HALL".
Sanyukta abruptly made a right turn and bumped into a strong figure.
"What the..." swore the guy in shock as the impact of the hit made Sanyukta land bottom-first onto the floor, the books in her hand flying in every direction.
The first thing that clicked in her mind as she hit the ground with a loud 'ouch' was the guy's shoes...They were branded 'Nike' sneakers.
"Oh my god...How pathetic...Don't u even know how to walk properly?" taunted a girl standing next to the guy.
Sanyukta snapped out of her 'shoe-admiring' mode and glanced up as she made an attempt to apologize to the guy profusely.
"I'm terribly sorry..I ha-.."
She stopped as soon as she looked at his face...his eyes.
A pair of 'sea-blue' eyes were peering down at her with a bored look.
"My god" came her automatic reaction.
His hair was a light shade of brown, his face flawlessly fair. He was wearing a deep blue pair of denims and a button-down white shirt. To sanyukta, he looked like the Greek God Adonis, whom she had read about in novels.
"Oh hello? Are u waiting for us to give u a hand or what, Miss 'Damsel-in-distress'?" the girl next to the guy spoke again.
That was when Sanyukta noticed the other people standing there. She stood up and dusted her kurti and realized that 'Adonis', as she now called him in her mind, was accomapanied by 4 others, 2 guys and 2 girls.
The girl who had spoken to Sanyukta was now glaring at her. Sanyukta noticed that she was a typical city- beauty, clad in black jeans and a sleeveless white top. The other 3 were all well-dressed and oozing in attitude and style.
"I'm sorry...I was getting late for Anatomy and.."
"U dumbass, Anatomy got cancelled...haven't u heard the announcement?" asked the girl.
"Cancelled?" she asked surprised.
"Are u a first year?" This time it was one of the guys who asked. He looked a little kinder than the rest, but was definately a richie-rich from the looks of it.
"Y-es" Sanyukta mumbled.
She chanced a glance at 'Adonis' who was now fiddling with his cellphone - an 'Xperia Z'. Sanyukta gawked at the gadget while remembering her own 'Samsung Guru'.
She then bent to pick up her books. As she was about to pick up the pathology text-book, one of the girls snatched it from her.
"Oh my God!!!! 'An introduction to Pathology', Vikas publishers? Seriously? Who even reads such stuff these days? And please don't tell me this is second-hand?"
Sanyukta was feeling extremely embarrased. By now a crowd had formed around them and she was becoming an object of ridicule.
"Please give it bacK", she tried to reason politely.
"Ooo...please and all haan? Manners...manners...Tell me something behenji, what does ur dad do?"
Sanyukta ignored the jibe at her. She was aware of the 'city' people and their obnoxious ways. She replied politely yet again, "He owns a grocery store in Dehradun."
And to her utter shock and awkwardness, both the girls burst out laughing.
"Grocery store? Seriously? No wonder u look like that..I mean u are actually wearing the i-card around your neck like it's something to show off!!!", taunted one of the girls and tweaked her i-card.
Sanyukta couldn't take the insult any longer. It was ok to insult her, but her father? She wouldn't tolerate such cheap jokes.
But before she could retort, 'Adonis' suddenly took one step towards her, blocking her view of the rest of the group and pierced her with an icy gaze that sent jitters down her spine.
"You're in our way, feather-brained", he said before giving her a shove and walking away briskly, his 'friends' following him giggling at her all-the-while.
Sanyukta's retort was left caught on her throat as the after-effects of his husky voice still tingled in her senses. She stood there and stared after him in utter awe.
-----------
Her first day in her dream institute had suddenly turned into a nightmare.
"Let me help u" said a girl, speaking softly and held Sanyukta's bag open for her to put the books in.
"Thank u", replied sanyukta, relieved that atleast someone was talking to her in a civilized manner, "I am Sanyukta by the way, Sanyukta Agarwal, first year. You?"
"I am Kaustuki Sherpa, first year too...Nice to meet you Sanyukta. Please don't mind those guys. They have been bahaving that way right since the morning. It's like they own this place or something."
"Who are these guys? Seniors right?" enquired Sanyukta.
Kaustuki shook her head and replied, "No they are in our class. They were in the hall to attend DS sir's lecture. But came out as class got cancelled. I think one of the girls in called Ishita Mittal. I don't know about the rest though."
Sanyukta smiled. Kaustuki definately seemed like a docile girl.
"By the way Kaustuki, u can call me Sanyu. All my friends call me that. Do u know why the lecture got cancelled?"
"Yes. The professor is out of Delhi and on leave. He will return next week."
Sanyukta nodded and checked her time-table again.
"Dr. DS...what does DS stand for anyway? And what's with these short forms?" she asked.
Kaustuki took the time-table from her hand and replied, "DS stands for Dinesh Shekhawat, you know, Dr. Harsh Shekhawat's brother who now runs the 'Hope Foundation'...Short forms are i guess to make us remember easily all the names.."
"Oh my God!!! So Dr. Dinesh will actually be taking our classes...Wow!!!!! The Drs. Shekhawats have been the greatest inspiraton of my life, u know. It's because of them that I'm here today...I even carry their picture with me always to serve as a motivation..." Sanyukta explained to her new friend.
"Oh wow! Sanyu that's really nice!!! I hope we have lots of fun here.."
"Of course we will..."
And so the new buddies decided to go to the canteen and spend their free period getting to know each other better.
--------------
As soon as Sanyukta entered the canteen, the first thing she spotted was 'them'. The gang was huddled together in one corner, chatting away rapidly and joking about something.
Kaustuki went up to the counter to order coffee and burger for both of them, while Sanyukta reserved a seat. From where she was seated, Sanyukta could see his face clearly. He was sipping his coffee and smiling at something the girl next to him uttered.
"How can someone be this good-looking?" thought Sanyukta before she realized where her thoughts were leading her and chided herself.
Suddenly the guy turned his face and their eyes met, or rather he caught her staring at him red-handed. Sanyukta flushed but didn't look away. The guy however barely kept the gaze on her for a few seconds before turning away.
"Coffee and burger for u sanyu" Kaustuki's voice brought her out of her reverie and for the rest of her time in the canteen, Sanyukta concentrated on her food, or atleast tried to do so!!
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-ROOM 305 (NEW GALLERY)-
It was their first class in med-school.
Pathology.
Dr. Prasun Desai was their professor. His first dialog as soon as he entered the class was, "Welcome students officially to FMC. Let me make one thing very clear. Any student who 'bunks' theory classes will not be allowed in the 'dissection hall'. Now shall we begin? Introduce yourselves please..."
And the intros began.
"Ishita Mittal, Delhi", said the girl who was standing near 'Adonis' in the hallway.
"Karan Vadra, Delhi", said one of the guys in the group whom sanyukta hadn't interacted with.
"Smriti Sharma, Delhi" , said the girl who had snatched Sanyukta's book.
"Parth Kashyap, Delhi", said the guy who had seemed the kindest in the gang.
And that was when Sanyukta noticed that 'Adonis' was missing. In other words, 'Adonis' had done a 'bunk'.
Huh! Now his attitude would be brought to the ground, thought Sanyukta as she got up to give her intro.
"Sanyukta Agarwal, Dehradun"
The gang snickered.
"Kaustuki Sherpa, Changmai, Arunachal Pradesh."
The gang snickered yet again. Sanyukta heard Ishita say, "Changmai? LOL! Is that some sorta sick joke?"
"Jignesh Patel, Ahmedabad", said a shy looking bespectacled boy.
And so the intros continued. The rest of the class, the professor explained 'rules of survival' in the medical college before dismissing them.
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-ROOM 201 (JUNIOR GALLERY)-
Biochem was the most boring subject ever according to Sanyukta. She nearly dozed off in class. The only thing that got her attention was that 'Adonis' was still missing.
"Damn...I don't even know his name yet..."
The class ended 45 minutes later and the students made their way out of the gallery anticipating their first ever 'Anatomy lab' which was scheduled after an hour long break!!
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"Sanyukta, let's go grab some lunch. We are gonna need our strength if we wanna survive our first lab", said Kaustuki as they made their way to the canteen.
"Say Kaustuki...Is anatomy really that scary?" Sanyukta piped up.
"Sanyu, we have to deal with dead bodies...How can it not be scary?"
"Ya I get ur point...But, i mean, i heard people black out and all...U think we will be ok?"
"Sanyukta, let's think positive please...I'm really scared of this anatomy part. Don't talk about 'black-out' and all now.."
Sanyukta gave Kaustuki an apologetic look before changing the discussion.
"So...Arunachal huh? I hear it's a beautiful place..."
"Yeah", replied Kaustuki smiling, "Very exotic...I didn't like the way Ishita made fun of my hometown..."
Sanyukta's face turned hard.
"Those show-offs need to check their attitude...But guess what Kaustuki? That guy whom I bumped into won't be able to attend lab.."
Kaustuki looked at her in surprise and asked, "Really? But why not?"
"Haven't u heard Prof PD? Anyone who bunks theory won't be allowed in the lab...And he bunked both classes!!"
Understanding dawned on Kaustuki's face as the both the girls rejoiced at the prospect of 'Adonis' getting chucked outta lab!
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-DISSECTION HALL-
The scenario outside the dissection hall was one depicting melancholy. The students were all wearing the customary lab-coat, an honor for any med student, but their faces were grim. They were awaiting the professor's call to go inside.
A lot of faces already showed signs of panic. Some students, especially girls, looked like they could use the washroom. Kaustuki was looking stringent. Sanyukta herself wasn't feeling confident at all. She suddenly wished she hadn't eaten so much on lunch. Besides, the staunch smell of 'formaldehyde' and other preservatory chemicals was making it extremely hard to not feel unwell.
Out of the corner of her eye Sanyukta noticed Ishita, Karan, Parth and Smriti talking to each other, unfazed by their surroundings. Sanyukta couldn't help admire their confidence. It seemed like they were very familiar with this stuff.
Just then the professor came out. The students instantly stopped whatever else they were doing and gave the Prof undivided attention.
Sanyukta saw the doctor's name on his 'lab-coat' - Dr. Vardhan Suryavanshi.
He began speaking without preamble, "Since this is your first lab class and ur theory got cancelled, i will divide u into pairs alphabetically. For today we shall just inspect and get used to the atmosphere inside the lab. So about the pai-.."
"May i come in sir?" a student interrupted him.
All eyes turned towards the door.
Sanyukta realized with a jolt that it was 'Adonis'. Kaustuki gave Sanyukta a triumphant smile. But all Sanyukta could think was how 'drop-dead gorgeous' the guy looked in his 'lab-coat'. He was the only one who wore a full-sleeves coat and had folded the sleeves.
The professor gave him a searching gaze while sanyukta waited for the former to ask 'Adonis' to leave the lab.
"Randhir...Punctuality is a rule, I hope to see u on time from the next lab..Come in."
Come in?? Seriously? What happened to one hour ago when bunking thoery meant no labs? Sanyukta frowned at the Prof.
"This is injustice...And Randhir? So that's his name...He is such a 'deliquent'... But tell me, how did sir know his name? He doesn't know our names, I bet you.." Sanyukta muttered furiously to Kaustuki.
"Shhh...Sanyu, keep ur voice down...The pairings have started..."
"Jignesh with Kaustuki" said Prof vardhan.
Kaustuki glanced at Sanyukta before moving to stand with the guy named Jignesh.
"Randhir with Sanyukta"
Sanyukta gulped. She turned to look at her assigned partner and found him talking with Ishita. She dragged herself over to him and stood quietly by his side, all the while cursing her luck!
Did 'R' and 'S' have to neighbours????
Ishita spotted her and spoke in a disgusted manner, "Hasn't anyone taught u that spying on people's conversations is bad manners?"
Sanyukta sighed and replied, "I have been assigned as Randhir's partner."
"So?? Just because you are partners doesn't mean you'll be all clingy..."
Sanyukta flushed and retorted heatedly, "Excuse me? I wasn't being clingy. i was just standi-.."
"Everything ok Miss Agarwal?" asked Prof Vardhan and Sanyukta fell silent immediately.
"Follow me in everyone" spoke the Profesor again as he led the class to the lab.
Sanyukta glanced sideways and found Randhir still talking with Ishita.
And as she stepped inside the 'dissection hall', her breathe hitched and she felt numb.
-----------------
Love,
#Anu.
Edited by federized2210 - 11 years ago
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