It was Sai's second year of mbbs. Her first year results were still pending but she had a community health program for 2 weeks. She would be traveling to a rural area for 1 week with her class and understanding the social determinants of health, basics of data gathering and at the end of the 2 weeks they would be divided into groups to make presentations. But Sai was excited about traveling away for 1 whole week. Sai had always dreamt of seeing the real India which was in rural areas. She had heard from her seniors how amazing their trips were- how simple and hospitable the village people were and Sai knew from her GC days that villages had a certain rustic charm, a tehraav that she actually really craved. It kind of contrasted with her bubbly, live wire personality but the slightly slowed down pace of life in a rural area is something she actually enjoyed.
Sai came home on Saturday excited to get the packing done for her 1 week camp starting Monday.
When Virat got home that day, he saw Sai merrily humming to herself and sitting crosslegged on the floor with clothes strewn around.
Virat- yeh sab kya horaha hai Sai. Koi tufan agaya kya is kamre mein
Sai- haha! So funny. Mein packing kar rahi hun.
Virat immediately panicked.
V- kya hua Sai? Kisine tumse kuch kaha... Kaha bhi toh tum bhul jao na. Har baat peh ghar chhod ke jaane ki kyun sujjti hai tumhe
Virat yanked the clothes from Sais hands
Sai- yanked it back- Virat Sir, mein ghar chhod ke nahi jaa rahi
V- toh phir?
S- monday seh humara voh medical camp hai. 1 week ke liye jaana hai. Maine bataya toh tha.
V- kya? Tum vahi peh rahogi? Mujge laga roz camp ke liye jaaogi aur vaapis shaam ko ghar aaogi.
S- virat Sir, camp rural area mein hai. 200km door hai. Roz roz travel karein toh din mein 6-7 ghante toh usi mein lag jayenge! She laughed.
Humaare college neh hum sab ke liye accomodation vahin arrange kiya hai.
And saying so, she continued happily packing her stuff.
As Virat saw her excitedly packing, he felt the opposite emotion. He didnt realize that he'd have to be away from Sai for 1 full week! That was too long. He had come to get so habituated to her that his day was incomplete without seeing her, doing his nok jhok with her, having dinner with her or talking about his day with her.
But he knew that Sai was super excited about this medical camp. But Virat was worried for her safety. He knew this was arranged by her college and Sai was an adult- she was responsible but for Virat she was still a bacchi at heart, an innocent, big hearted girl who was a trouble magnet... he didnt want to let her go but he knew this was part of her education and he shouldn't stop her.
Virat was lost in his thoughts as Sai snapped him out of his daze.
S- Virat Sir, aapke paas odomos hai kya?
V- odomos?
S- mosquito repellent cream
V- mujhe pata hai odomos kya hota hai
S- toh phir maine jo bola voh aap repeat kyun kar rahe hai?
V- lekin odomos kyun, goodnight lejao...
S- haan but agar vahaan electricity ki problem hui toh, aur jo coil hai uske fumes se mujhe thodi allergy hai.
V- arey haan, vaise tum toh kaafi smart hogayi ho! He teased her.
As he handed her the odomos he said- accha, tumhe tumhaara rule yaad hai.
S- kaunsa rule?
V- roz phone karne ka. Chalo phone nikaalo apna aur uspe reminder set karo roz 8 bajein ka
S- reminder set karloongi, lekin mein bhul gayi ya alarm baja hi nahi toh?
V- smiled as he realized she was repeating his dialogue so he also played along. Toh aayega maza kyunki Tumhe milegi saza. Jab tum vaapas aaogi toh kaan pakad keh utthak baithak karvaunga.
S- laughed- and said accha- chaliye laga leti hun alarm.
V- in his mind- maine toh itne sweetly iska photo apne wallpaper pe save kiya tha, lekin ye toh sirf alarm laga rahi hai. He pouted sadly.
S- haan toh kitne baje ka alarm lagana hai?
V- Sai, tum abhi seh bhul gayi, shaam 8 bajein tumhe mujhe roz phone karna hai. Samajhla?
Sai- smiled and gave him a thumbs up.
Then she hit play- and virat heard himself- his sneaky wife had recorded his voice.
Sai- toh ab mein isi ko apna alarm ka ringtone banaungi. So every evening I'll hear your voice n remember to call you.
Virat just smiled at her. She was truly a unique piece.
Virat- acccha, monday kitne baje nikalna hai.
Sai- 530am ko college seh bus niklegi. Toh mein soch rahi thi ki mein ajinkya ya aniket ko bolun ki mujge raaste mein pick karte hue jaaye. Voh apni bikes pe jayenge nah aur phir hospital mein hi park karenge.
Virat- nahi. Koi zarurat nahi hai unko bolne ki yaa bike pe jaane ki. Main chhod dunga tumhe.
Sai- par virat Sir, itni subah aap kaise...
Virat- Saiii, maine bol diya na. Mein chhodunga. Toh bass. Kabhi toh meri baat maan liya karo
Sai- just bobbed her head in agreement with a sheepish smile.
Virat- ab chalo so jao. Tum last week apne exams ke tayyari mein bahut busy thi aur thik seh soyi bahi.
Sai- haan, she said stifling a yawn
Virat just shook his head at his baiko. She curled herself up into a ball as soon as she laid down and Virat couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like if he could hold her as they slept.
Sai- asp vahan bhoot banke kyun khade hai?
Virat- nahi...kuch nahi. He hurried into bed beside her, and picked up the blanket and covered her with it.
After making sure she was tucked in, he turned off the lights and lay back.
Sai seemed to have nodded off almost immediately but Virat couldn't help stare at her face and knew he was going to have many sleepless nights when she was away for a week...but he still had the full Sunday tomm he thought with a smile as he also dozed off..
Pushpa Impossible
