Chapter 3
AG- Anil Gupta
BG- Bhavna Gupta- Anil's wife
Akshay
Kahlil Gibran
It is wrong to think that love comes from long companionship and persevering courtship. Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations.
Rano and Akshay
The warm June breeze ruffled Akshay Gupta's dark brown hair, as he raised his hand to knock on the door. He was tall, with an athlete's physique. His dark hair complemented his light features. His eye's now covered by sunglasses were a steely combination of grey and blue. His mom was light skinned and stunning. She was from Rajasthan and had inherited the lineage of beauty and grace from her dad. His grandfather. A strikingly handsome man, that stood out amongst the crowd. Akshay was like that too, and going by the track record of girls vying for his attention one could imagine the hysteria he caused wherever he went. Looking at him, one would easily mistake him for an actor or model. Many were shocked to know that he was a medical doctor.
Turning to look up at the house, he remembered, that this was the house that he had grown up in. the house he had left one morning abruptly, 7 years ago.
For most of his 34 years he sailed swiftly and happily through life. This was due to his brother Anil . Anil had been the one who raised him from the time their parents had died. Anil had been the one to put him through Medical School, waiting for him to return to help him in the specialist clinic that he had opened in Mumbai.
He hadn't seen Anil for 7 years now. Not since he left town with Laila. He had run off leaving Anil to deal with his young family and a new clinic.
Looking back he knew that he was impetuous, but that was the way he always conducted himself. He tried to work on this in recent years. Especially this past one when Laila walked out on him. Waking up alone in their house had accomplished what years of Anil's lectures hadn't. he needed to become responsible. He had. As time went by, he joined a lucrative medical practice. Working there gave him everything he ever wanted. Everything except a feeling of satisfaction.
As each month passed, his feeling of emptiness became stronger.
It was for this reason that he found himself standing outside the doorstep of his brothers house. As the door opened Akshay was confronted by his Babhi not his brother. Recognising him immediately, she rushed forward and grabbed his hands. Bhavna had always loved her young brother in law like her own. And had always saved him from her husband's anger.
BG- Anil look whose here, she cried joyfully.
AG-who? As he approached the open door, he stopped dead, staring at the man who was standing beside his wife. He felt he'd just seen a ghost.
Akshay- hello Anil.
AG-squared his shoulders, his face darkening. "what are you doing here?'
BG-standing on our doorway, she replied trying to play peace maker.
AG-get outâŚ.
BG- he's your brother Anil.
Anil looked at his wife in surprise. "He's the man who ran out on his family, without even leaving a note!.
BG-no Anil this is the boy that brought me the most happiness. If it wasn't for him I wouldn't be with you, I wouldn't be the mother of our beautiful children. I met you because of him remember, she begged.
The truth hit Anil like a ton of bricks. It was Akshay that had brought the badly injured Bhavna to his brothers clinic. She had been involved in a terrible accident and had lost her entire family, since then he had nursed her and she never left. The anger was already fading. When it came to his beloved Bhavna, Anil found he had troubling saying no to her.
AG- Ok, he said grudgingly, he can stay.
A few days later:
Akshay had joined the clinic.
AG- when last did you practice?
Akshay- last week. My speciality is paediatric care.
AG-good, next patient that walks through the door is yours. I could do with the help.
The brothers stood talking in the reception area. Whatever Akshay was going to say was temporarily placed on hold, as he looked out the window that faced the street. He saw a strikingly beautiful woman, holding on to an equally handsome teenager.
AG â your first patient. That's Rano and her son.
Akshay- the moment he repeated the name bits and pieces of memories came flying back to him. Memories that made him smile. She looked thinner, he thought, and prettier, very much prettier.
AG- Rano DixitâŚBali. Anil clarified.
Akshay- I know who she is.
Akshay's quite tone caught Anil's attention. "you OK?"
He shook of the memory of one of the most memorable nights he had. The college dance. She had danced with him, he remembered her soft silky hair and smooth skin.
The double doors opened and Rano and Varun entered.
AG- hello Rano, Varun he signed. You 2 are early.
R- I know Dr Gupta, but Bani Di has a conference early today and I need to drop her off at the airport. Varun's off to the swimming gala too. So!
Akshay- Hi, he greeted. His eyes beholding Rano. He realised Varun was deaf. He signed a hello to him too. Akshay- I am Anil's younger brother, he introduced himself.
Varun signed a hello to him too, liking the young doctor instantly. He looked friendly.
Akshay- come on in, he gestured to mom and son. Lets see what I can do for you today.
Rano felt the new doctors eyes on her and hid her annoyance. She hated being scrutinised, and this man wasn't making an attempt to stop.
But he looked familiar. She wondered where she had seen him before, perhaps one of Saahil's friends.
Akshay on the other hand had trouble looking away from her. She was so pretty. She obviously didn't recognise him, surprisingly he felt a bit hurt.
Clearing his thoughts he went through Varun's records with her. he learnt that Varun was born deaf, not totally but sufficiently enough to make hearing difficult. Other than that he was perfectly fine. He was a good looking boy, he noted. A lot like his dad.
Akshay- so Mrs Bali, Rano did not correct him. What seems to be worrying you?
Rano- Varun's going on a swimming gala. I was just worried about ear infections she explained.
Akshay- well let's give him a dose of antibiotics and drops shall we, to take along just in case. He signed to Varun letting him know what to do.
R- don't worry to explain he will call me.
Akshay- call you?
Rano- cell phone. I mean he will SMS me.
Akshay- oh! He looked embarrassed. That's it then.
she hurried off just before he could say anything.
AG- do you know Rano?
AK-once in university. We shared a dance. I was besotted, she was in love with Saahil Bali. How is Saahil by the way? Still loafing around spending Jai Walia's money or is he actually working in their conglomerate. I had no idea they had a son!he went on.
AG-not these days, he told Akshay dryly. He's dead.
Akshay- what? What do you mean he is dead?
AG- the usual. Not responding, not breathing, badly decomposing you know the usual stuff, he said unkindly.
Akshay- how, how did Saahil die?
AG- explosion or something, doesn't really matter- he treated her like shitâŚâŚâŚâŚ.
Akshay couldn't digest the fact that Rano was a widow. God,she's what about 31 now. But what irked him more was Anil's comment about Saahil ill treating Rano. As far as he knew they were madly in love. He remembered seeing her for the first time in university. As usual he was surrounded by a bevy of girls. It was the first day for the juniors. He was in his last year. He never lacked girls , but it was her stunning grace, her sharp tongue and her intelligence that he admired. He remembered how he made sure that he would bump into her, intending to strike a conversation. Then he would apologise profusely while she just smiled and walked off. His admiration turned to love, until he later learnt that the ultra rich play boy Saahil Bali had pursued her relentlessly until she finally married him.
Well! She wasn't married anymore was she? He reasoned. Suddenly realising that moving back home was the best thing he did.
End
comments please.
Hindi TV Shows
Advocate Anjali Awasthi
Noyontara
Kumkum Bhagya
Current Affairs
