PROLOGUE
Jalal walked into his cabin, talking off his jacket and tossing it at the back of his chair he took a deep breath as he rolled the sleeves of his shirt. He sat on his chair resting his head onto the headrest. After a bone tiring three hour complicated heart surgery that was perfectly successful, he was well received and appreciated by every person in the hospital. Even he was feeling good as the patient, Rahul was a child and that too from the orphanage he regularly visited to soothe his soul amongst those little bundles of joy. Although everyone in Sanjeevani Hospital knew that Dr. Jallaluddin Mohammed rarely failed any surgeries, but still his colleagues and junior doctors used to marvel at his operating skills. He had such a magical touch in his hands.
But the last ten minutes has ruined his mood badly. It seemed that his heart leapt out of his chest and into his throat. He never knew he was capable of this kind of rage... Or rather jealousy would be the better word to say.
Why? Why is this happening god?'
This was the question, he was tired of. It actually has started haunting him, and then he tried to avoid it too, succeeded to some extent too but then failed miserably at last. But to imagine something he has just witnessed was beyond his worst nightmares. His chain of thoughts was broken by a knock on the door of his cabin.
"Come in." He said.
"Dr. Jalal your coffee." The peon said as he kept the coffee on his table and left.
He removed the lid from his coffee mug to which he is used after every heavy tiring surgery but today the coffee didn't seem to soothe his tired nerves. He took out an Adol tablet from his side drawer and gulped it down with the hot coffee to lessen the ache in his head. The coffee seemed much bitterer today. His mind wandered back to her and every time he thought about her or talked to her. Even like some senior surgeon talking to a junior doctor on some medical issue, he felt as if he is giving her a piece of him...his soul to her, such was the connection he felt with her. Her refreshing sweet smile and complete balance of wit and intelligence with a hint of mischief made his heart pounce. It was such a rare combination to get. Her every smile made my day and her way with the children in the children's ward, which was his favorite place in the hospital, made him feel more bonded to her. Although I knew that it was again a part of my imagination...or say imaginations which were very common these days.
"So Dr. Jodha. This is Viren haan, nice choice I must say." Dr. Neha, Jodha's colleague said.
"Vo toh hain, aakhir meri choice jo hain, Kyu Virenji" Jodha asked him teasingly.
"Toh shaadi ki date kabki fix hui hain" Dr. Ahana asked next.
"Abhi shadi ki date toh fix nhi hui par sagai next week hai aur tum sabko aana hain. Mujhe tum sabko Anamika di se bhi milana hai. Vo do doin pehle hi London se aayi hain khas sagai ke liye." Jodha said.
"Are tu nhi bulati toh bhi hum aate." They all said in union.
"Chale Jodha, shopping bhi complete krni hai." Viren asked her and they left.
Jalal got up from his chair and went towards the window to breathe some fresh air and what he saw again pierced his heart. There Jodha was in the parking with the man with whom he saw her talking to her colleagues about her engagement, laughing and smiling with him. Only on hearing those words he left the place and rushed to his cabin. That was too much for him to bear. After a few minutes they drove away and he slammed the window furiously.
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