Signing off on the last batch of files, she smiled contently as she got up to make her last rounds for the day - this was concerning a patient who needed to be discharged that day. As she walked down the hall, she recalled the night before...she was reading a book and he had his head in her lap. Her hand was fondling his hair gently in between flipping the pages while his eyes were half-closed, his arms folded over his chest.. humming a tune she could not recognize, in the softest of tones..
Her hand stopped in his hair when he asked her what she wanted as a gift for Valentine's.. she put down her book and looked at him, wanting to make sure he was not joking. It was unexpected for her - she did not think for a moment Ashutosh was one of those who took Valentine's seriously.. they had never been in a situation where either of them had the money or involvement to buy each other gifts specially for V-day. He was smiling back at her, almost radiant. She could imagine a hundred thoughts in his head...trying to second guess her and her choice of gift.
Running a finger down his temple, she told him his gift should be something he 'cannot buy' and laughed, throwing her head back...she thought the matter was sorted because Ashutosh had gone all silent...her hand was still in his hair.. But now he held it and brought it to his chest...closing both his hands over it, hugging her hand as her palm spread over his heart!!
"Hmmm...", he drawled...before going to sleep.