Thanks everyone. UR right Kaj- they both have some type of obsession in their life 😆 😆
PART 4:
"Hi, I am Dr Prithvi Bose," the young surgeon introduced himself. He spoke in a heavy Indian accent. Angad thought, "looks like he is a FOB (fresh off the boat), yeh kya surgery karega?"
"Hello doctor! Are you sure I need surgery?" Angad asked worriedly.
"Ladies…if you don't mind waiting outside….let me check Mr Khanna out," Prithvi said politely, "by the way…are you related to him?"
"No, he is our friend," Mishti spoke. Kripa glared at Mishti for referring Angad as OUR friend.
"I am Mishti Sharma, and this is my younger sister, Kripa Sharma!"
Prithvi's eyes lit up, "Kripa Sharma! Are you the young Indo-American writer from New York?"
Kripa hesitated, "well…yeah….but how do you know?…..I write under the alias Tanya!"
"Mainey aapke baare mein sab padha hai….aur aap ki saari books padhi hain….I have a soft corner for all Indian things and Indian authors!" Prithvi gave a big smile to Kripa.
"Thanks….we will wait outside," Kripa did not want to talk about herself anymore.
Angad was writhing in pain again and was a little upset that the surgeon was more interested in KRIPA!
"Doctor," Angad cried
Prithvi was still focused on Kripa, "you know Tanya…I mean Kripa…your last book PURE SOULS was very touching, and then THE WHITE SWAN you wrote last year was amazing……what are you working on next?"
"It is probably called SPOTLESS!" Angad said sarcastically, " Can I have another doctor…a REAL DOCTOR!" Angad yelled. Kripa gave Angad a dirty look for making fun of her titles.
"Oh…sorry…I got carried away….I have never met a celebrity in my life…..and that too an Indian! Mujhey apne desh ki yaad aa gayi," Prithvi said nostalgically and turned around to examine his patient.
Mishti and Kripa waited outside. Kripa rolled her eyes, "yeh desh ki dharti wala specimen kahan se aa gaya?"
Kripa hated recognition; she had started writing books in her sophomore (2 nd) year of college; her English literature professor at Columbia was very impressed with her work, and had convinced her to publish the book. Kripa had reluctantly agreed, as writing for her was meditation rather than a profession, or a means of gaining recognition. She had signed a 5- year contract with a leading publisher, as long as she would write under another name. 'Tanya' seemed like a neutral name, with no race or ethnicity attached to it. A nosey Indian journalist from an Indian magazine had found out her real identity and published an article about the growing talent among the Indian Diaspora earlier this spring, and since then a lot of 'desis' had proudly started claiming her as their 'own.'
Mishti was busy talking to someone on the phone, when Prithvi came out, "I am pretty sure, he has appendicitis…we need to take him in right now….is there a close relative, as we need a consent?"
"Sorry doctor…his brother is in Atlanta….I don't know if there is anyone else here," Mishti hung up her phone.
"Well…one of you can sign it then," Prithvi went back to get the paperwork.
Mishti's phone rang again, "Kripa…I really need to get this phone….it is from Miami regarding my next campaign….it is very important. I will be right back!"
Kripa tried to protest, but Mishti had run away to a quiet corner of the emergency room.
"Here you go," Prithvi walked out with paperwork.
"I can't sign it! I barely know this guy!" Kripa said
"Oh..we don't have much time Ms Kripa…please sign it…it is a mere formality….don't worry we will not drag you to court for this," Prithvi smiled and offered his pen.
Kripa took her own pen out from her bag, "I will use mine! Your pen has hospital germs on it!"
Prithvi was amused, "how cute! You are exactly like your books….so pure….so…so," Prithvi searched for a word, but Kripa just ignored him and signed the paper blindly.
Prithvi took a piece of paper out from his pocket, "please sign this also….I would love to have your autograph with me."
Kripa relented as she knew this doctor would keep pestering her unless she signed the paper. "Thanks a lot," Prithvi shook her hand and carefully folded her autograph and placed it in his pocket.
"OK….now am I free to go?" she asked, holding her hand, which had just shaken Prithvi's, a little away from her body.
"Sure…unless you want to wish your friend good luck for the surgery…we will be taking him up to the OR soon." Prithvi
As soon as Prithvi left, Kripa took some sterilizing gel from the pump attached to the hospital door and rubbed her hands, "yuck…..men and their germs!"
Kripa made a dirty face, "yeh mishti kahan gayi?"
Kripa entered the room and saw Angad half asleep. He looked harmless and more innocent with his eyes closed, she thought. She just stood there, not knowing what to say or do.
Angad opened his eyes; Kripa was surprised to see a tear in his eye.
"I am scared Kripa!" Angad wiped the tear from his eye.
"Why should you be scared? Look at you…you are so strong and big….why should you get scared by a small useless organ of your body….it was never meant to be inside anyways….so it is a good thing it is coming out!" Kripa tried to reassure him in her own quirky way.
Angad was still emotional, "Kripa…please hold my hand….I am really scared," he started sobbing.
Kripa felt sorry for this tall, gigantic man; he looked so vulnerable and child-like. She walked towards his bed and held out her hand. Angad grabbed it and squeezed it, "wish me luck….I don't want to die this young…..I have so many things to do in life…..please Kripa tell me nothing will happen to me," he looked at her sorrowfully.
Kripa placed her other hand on top, and squeezed his big, calloused hand with her two tiny, soft hands. She smiled and nodded, "you will be fine Angad…..nothing will happen to you."
Angad smiled back, "thanks." The nurse came in, "we need to take you in Mr Khanna," she started wheeling him out of the room. Angad looked back, as they were leaving, "Hey Kripa…..you have a great smile…..never noticed it before!" and he was gone.
Kripa was pleasantly surprised at his parting words. No one had ever said that to her before; well it was partly her fault as she barely smiled except may be in her dreams or after writing a wonderful chapter in one of her books- but she was always alone then, no one was there with her to appreciate her smile, till a few moments ago!
She walked out of the patient room to the hallway with a warm feeling in her hands. She forgot to scrub them with the sterilizing hand gel; Angad's words were still echoing in her mind, "Hey Kripa…..you have a great smile…..never noticed it before!"….
.to be contd…
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
Cricket
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