Tumbleweeds ...24th Update.. Pg 45 - Page 28

Hey Piya, keep spamming her in-box for us. Apparently, she is scared of only your barrage! 😆

Sachin was worried about Shravani. He hoped she would keep her tongue in control. How had she come here? Nobody was supposed to disturb them that afternoon. He sighed. Shravani didn't like Arch and he wondered why. His relationship with Shravani had cooled off and he hadn't really cared much because there hadn't been much urgency from her side anyway. He realised that he'd been the one who'd been trying to keep the relationship going and once he withdrew there hadn't been much substance left in it.

Savita was getting everything ready. The maid had laid out the table. The puran polis were hot on the tava. Savita prided herself in being a master at making the item. She was inwardly hoping that Manav could find a solution for Arch's problem. She carried the tray of hot polis to the table. She made Sachin and Shravani sit opposite each other.

Manav held the door open as Arch walked in. She halted a sec and then moved forward. Manav noticed this was the second time she had done that. She didn't seem to be in pain as such. So why did she falter in her steps? Her arms must be tired from carrying her weight. He felt compassion and something else stirring up in him. He shook his head. He went forward to pull out a chair for Arch. After having seated her, he went round to sit opposite her and next to Shravani. Arch was glad that her friend was near her. She didn't want to ask Ms. Wasp for help and didn't want to make a fool of herself in front of Manav. She knew Shravani didn't like her and couldn't understand why. She turned her head and smiled at Savita as the older lady served her the puran poli. She took a spoonful of ghee and smeared it on the hot poli.

"The rest of you, help yourselves."

Manav offered Shravani the plate and took one. He then kept the jar of ghee in front of her.

"Oh no! None of that for me!"

"A puran poli without ghee? C'mon you don't have to make such a compromise." Sachin laughed and said.

"Those excessive calories I should well avoid."

"You could always work them off."

She turned to Manav. "Do you still work out?"

"Yes. My profession takes up much of my time and I have to keep fit, so I exercise through the week. The weekends when I get more free time, I am outdoors."

"Really? What do you do?"

"Some water for you, Archu," she said and sat down too.

"Thank you. This is delicious."

"And yes….. don't worry about those excessive calories. Nothing will happen."

"No I don't have to worry, I have workouts everyday……. whether I like it or not."

Archu sniffed and resorted to her kerchief again. She slowly lifted the glass and took sips of water threw the straw. The glass shook ever so slightly but that was noticed by a pair of sharp eyes. After several minutes she felt someone's eyes on her. She looked up. She saw Manav looking at her directly. She sniffed again and quickly raised her hand to her nose. Why did she suddenly feel nervous? She took a deep breath and picked the poli again.

"Must you sniff like that?" Shravani asked as if fed up with Arch.

"I am sorry. I can't help it."

"It's been a long time, surely you can control it by now?"

Arch looked down at her plate. Did she hear a deliberate snide or was she being sensitive?

"Shravani haven't you ever had a cold? Have been able to control your sniffing then? It's the same thing!" Sachin sprang to Arch's defence.

"Stop this nonsense. I have invited Archu here. No one speaks to my guest like this!" Savita was annoyed at Shravani. Shravani kept quiet. She never dared to defy Savita.

Arch suddenly felt tears in her eyes. She wanted to go home. The awkwardness was putting a strain on her. Her family had always shielded her from people who didn't understand her predicament. She squared her shoulders. She had to learn to deal with all kinds of cruelties that came her way. She knew that while some would sympathise there were only a handful who would empathise …. The rest couldn't care less.

"C'mon Dada, come and eat with us," beckoned Savita. Vishwasrao entered.

"Oh I didn't know there was private party. Hello Archana."

"Hello Kaka. Won't you sit down?"

"Yes, my dear ….. right next to you."

The doorbell rang. Manohar Karanjkar entered the Deshmukh house. He saw everyone seated.

"Hello everyone," he said. Vishwasrao invited him to join in. He sat down a little reluctantly. Sachin and Manav stood up out of deference and greeted him.

"It's been a while since Archu has been here. I thought I would pick her up and head home since my work was done."

"Now that you are here, join us for a bite," invited Savita.

"Yes absolutely," agreed Vishwasrao. "Also you should get to know Manav."

"Manav is a surgeon and a very able one at that," commented his uncle proudly. "Do bring in Archu's reports to show him. We must take his opinion since he's here."

Arch stiffened as if someone had stabbed her. Savita's jaws nearly dropped open. Sachin's heart sank and Manohar nervously looked down at his plate. The silence was deafening and lengthening.

"Oh so that is the reason for this get-together!" Shravani said in a shrill voice. She turned to look at Manav. "You are going to use your clinical expertise? Has Sachin put you up to this?"

"No," said Manav chewing his morsel and taking in the entire scene before him. He didn't like the way this girl was insinuating that his brother or anyone else was manipulating a situation. He looked at his mother who took her cue.

"C'mon Shravani, come with me to the kitchen," said Savita.

Shravani got up from her seat and followed the older lady out of the room.

"Sorry about that. She talks without thinking most of the time." Manav tried to diffuse the tension.

"It doesn't really matter. She says what she thinks." Archu contributed.

Vishwas rao put his hand across her shoulder. "She's just a silly girl. Don't pay any attention to her."

But luck wasn't on her side. Damodar entered singing some song loudly oblivious to the sobriety of the atmosphere.

"Savita!" he called in a sing song manner. "Please send in some tea for us in the living room. I love to have my cuppa in my favourite chair. Come let's go there. Dada and Manohar ……. Please do join me," he finished with a flourish.

"Baba," protested Arch.

"After my tea, Archu…… I shall allow your father to leave. I hope you don't mind? It won't be more than a few minutes."

I know it's on everyone's mind that I should consult you on my condition. But I have made up my mind."

"And what's that?" asked Manav curiously.

"I shall accept what's comes my way. I am not living in any dream world where a cure is waiting right round the corner. I know my limitations."

"Archu ……" started Sachin but Arch looked away.

Manav jerked his head ever so slightly and motioned his brother to maintain silence. Sachin sank back in his chair but stayed put.

"What we have to see is if we can in any way help you to get back to your original way of life." Manav said.

"That's never going to happen."

"How do you know that?"

Arch pursed her lips. "Six months have gone by ……"

"Everyone thought you wouldn't come back from the dead… but you did. No one thought that you would ever stand ….. but you did …..even if you needed crutches for doing so. Isn't that progress?"

"I have come to the end of the road and I can read the writing on the wall."

"You want to be dependent on crutches for the rest of your life?"

"I mayn't have another option."

"How would you know if you didn't try?"

"Didn't try?" Arch's voice raised several decibels. "How do you think I have reached upto here? Her eyes flashed fire while her hands clenched into tight fists.

"There are no shady trees on the road to success and once you are there, this will be a thing of the past." Manav got up and came round to pull a chair in front of the girl who was taut with indignation.

"Words …….tripping so easily, aren't they? Road to success? A thing of the past? Wake up doc, this is reality. I stopped reading fairy tales long ago."

"Why won't you give yourself another chance?"

"Oh .. I'll give myself a lot of chances. What is your role in all of this? Why the interest in me? I mean why the interest in my case? It intrigues you? You want to hone your talents on me? I am to be your guinea pig? You can take a long walk, doc."

"You are giving up?"

His words really rankled. She didn't want this confrontation. Her shoulders sagged. Manav realised she was being pushed too far. A reluctant patient was not going to make things easy for anyone least of all himself.

"Pick up that fist ballerina, and strike it on my jaw. I have been boorish and I am sorry."

Arch didn't look at him. She sniffed. Damn her nose! She lifted her kerchief to her face.

"Well?" asked that infernal man.

"Well what?" she replied.

"Am I forgiven?"

"What for?"

"For having riled you?"

"Looks like it's second nature to you."

"Am I to be given a chance?"

"What?" Arch blinked her eyes.

"Are you going to allow me to read your file?"

She shook her head in disbelief. "Do what you want." She stroked her forehead with trembling hands. "Leave me out of it. I know I am never going to be the same again."

"What? Why such quick conclusions?"

"They are hardly quick!"

"Something has happened to your last few vertebrae or to the top of your thigh bone. Some nerve could be jammed there. Once the nerves are treated, it could be a different story."

She looked at him and her dull expression told him that she had heard that before.

"Give me a chance and let's see what we can do ……."

Her eyes misted and she looked at him forlornly. She shut her eyes before he saw the tears welling up and her head fell forward in resignation. Manav felt a tug at his heart. He didn't want to see this flower wilt before its time.

That night, Arch slept after a long time. Her thoughts had marauded her peace. Her pillow was wet with tears she wept silently. Would anyone understand her plight and her loss?

That night, when Manav slept it was past midnight. His eyes scanned every paper in Arch's file. He sat at his computer going through his file of cases. He searched every medical case loaded on the net to find a comparison. He was not going to see defeat on her face again. He turned off the lights and slipped into a deep sleep.

*****************

Originally posted by: nikitagmc

Its been such a long time since you updated Skepi!!! But thank god you did and what a wonderful one it was. It's been almost three months ........ I'm terrible!

I am really liking the way you are sketching both the characters--- Archana's character is very heart tugging and realistic as to how people slowly start losing hope after giving their 100% to such life shattering experiences. Manav on the hand, is coming across as a very sensitive doctor. I am glad you can visualise my carving! 😉

The good old experienced doctors in our hospital always say that medicine was an art earlier but has become become just a science now. Earlier, people used to rely most on proper clinical examination and experience to know about condition of the patient before carrying out investigations/test, while today many doctors straightaway write 3 letters on the prescription form--- "MRI". 😆 Right, there is no more "feeling the patient".

Add to it that the level of patient sensitivity and dedication was different. It is said that winning the confidence of the patient is the most important thing, everything else falls in place if the former is achieved.It's become a cold and remote way of diagnosing. And rapport with the patient is non-existent.

Balancing your sensitivity , your dedication with a firm no-nonsense attitude towards the patient (not softening under patient's tears and losing hope) and pushing him to do the best, all the while showing your understanding of the patient's problems and condition is very difficult and yet very important Yes .....very true

I find all these qualities in Manav, and that is what is making him shine more in my eyes. This part was a treat simply cos at this point Archana is not Manav's love, and we came to see the plain 'doctor' part of him, which was highly endearing.

Shravani continues to be annoying- I liked how you made her to be insensitive and immature without making her overtly bitchy (the way TV people do it 😆 ). Hahahaha dead-on! 😃

The rest of the characters were likeable.

Keep up the good work Skepi! Waiting eagerly for the next part! I hope I am able to do that soon.

Character sketching through their dialogues is a fascinating read. Hope to see you return quickly.