Part 4
Mini’s therapy continued with Neil and slowly he made her come out of her shell and accept life fully. She took admission into college as a regular student and even made new friends. Though she still find it difficult to trust new people specially men but slowly with the help of sessions Neil was successful in bringing her out of past trauma and taught her that every guy doesnt have bad intension. Mini enrolled for karate class as she hated that feeling of helplessness being weak and didn’t want to go through that again in her life. The class also gave her self confidence. Her personality had changed drastically. Ashok and Babita started to see their bubbly, chirpy and vivacious daughter coming out of the shadow of past and now no more fearing that ghost of past.
Today was Mini’s last therapy session with Neil and on her insistence he had kept it in the central park. “So, Mini…aaj khush to bahut hogi….ab se no medicines…no more of this boring doctor?” Neil laughed. “Tum itne bhi bure nahi ho…in fact I like your company…” Mini said but then hesitated before saying anything further. “Hey! What I see ....you are hesitating…what did we learn? Jo mann mein hai wo bina dare hamesha keh dena chahiye…right?” Neil encouraged her to say whats was troubling her.
“I..I…was….wondering…today is my last session…we wont be meeting after this…but I…like you…can we continue to meet?” Mini asked nervously. Neil was quite for sometime. Its true that he will also miss her but meeting after completion of therapy…he didn’t do that…unless if it was necessary for patient’s follow up. So with heavy heart he spoke, “Mini, you have completed your therapy now you don’t need me by your side….now you just need to live your life. If you keep coming for the therapy then it will make you weak. You will never learn to fight every weakness alone.” Neil explained.
“No…no…you are getting it wrong. I don’t want to continue therapy. I meant can we continue to see each other…like…personally…as a friend..or may be…more than a friend?” Mini finally said what was in her heart. Neil’s heart skipped few beats at first but then he controlled himself as he realized their situation. “Mini….look…I am your doctor. I have tried totally unconventional ways to treat you by becoming your friend first…but I am still your doctor….any such relationship between a doctor and a patient is not advisable and right.” Neil reasoned.
“I know what you did was just for my treatment but…Neil…I have started having feeling for you…you brought me out of hell. I couldn’t stop myself from falling for you…I cant even think about my life without you …I need you…I ...l..lo..love you….yes I love you.” Mini confessed in one breath. “Mini…Mini…how do I explain this to you? See, all these years you kept everything bottled up then I came and become your friend….the very first friend in a very very long time….you shared everything with me…from your deepest secrets to your dearest dreams…these therapy sessions with me helped you to come out of that hell…..so its natural that you developed feelings for me…that constant need to talk to me…have me around…its all understandable but please you have to keep this in mind that…what I was doing…I was doing it as your doctor…it was just my job.” Neil tried to explain but didn’t know why he was not sounding convincing even to himself.
“So whatever you did for me….was just your job? You didn’t even feel anything for me even for a minute…all that was a doctor in disguise of friend?” Mini asked hurt from his behavior. “Yes, now you got it right. I do it for every patient but I don’t end up befriending them all.” Neil answered. “So, I was just another patient…you don’t care for me….you were just…treating me…all those moments…it was my imagination….that I thought you have feelings for me too?” Mini asked now sobbing as her heart broke into pieces. “Mini…listen to me…we are just…” Neil tried to console her but she jerked his hand away. “In that case, you have cheated me Mr. Neil Oberoi.” Mini accused him.
“What! How?” Neil asked perplexed. “Agar kisi doctor ko hi meri problems ke bare mein sab batana hota to wo toh maine kab ka kar liya hota. Bachpan se na jane kitne psychiatrist ke paas le ja chuke mere mom dad mujhe but I chose to trust you….because you said you were my friend and I believed you….I opened up not to some Dr. Oberoi but to my friend Neil….now you say my friend was never there….he was just my doctor. You have cheated me. I hate you…you broke my heart….I hate you.” Mini furiously wiped her tears and ran away from there without even looking back at him and Neil kept looking at her direction. He should feel relieved that she understood but why he is feeling sad?
“I need you Neil…I love you” Mini’s voice buzzed in his ears again and Neil woke up startled from dream. Its been a month now, he is not able to forget Mini and their last meeting. Her words kept haunting him. He was fighting with himself everyday. On one hand his professional ethics stopped him from calling Mini and pursuing a relationship with her but on other hand his heart ached since she left him in the park. Her big innocent tear filled eyes accusing him of cheating and her words kept ringing in his ears again and again then there was his own feelings also. In this month he has relived many moments spend with Mini many times and found that the feelings he had in those moments were not mere empathy…they were deeper…may be love like what Mini said. No one in his life affected him this much....so Mini cant be just a patient for him. First time he was confused about his own emotions and felt like visiting a psychiatrist. He laughed at the thought. After struggling for few more days finally Neil accepted defeat and decided to meet Mini.
Neil went to her house on a pretext of taking her progress report and how is she doing now a days. He had come to the conclusion that what he felt for Mini can be find out only through one way. Now that Mini was not his patient he will meet her find out if she is still interested in him then they will date for few times and if he still feels the same then it must be love.
Neil was talking to Mini’s parents when Mini came there from college. For once Neil couldn’t recognize her. She looked different…more confident..beautiful..her body language was completely changed and giving vibes of happy go lucky girl. His heart started fluttering the moment he saw her, he controlled it with difficulty. But then his eyes fell on the boy standing with Mini. “Who is he?” Neil asked before he could have stopped himself. All of them looked at him. “Oh shit! No hello..no hii…direct questioned about this boy…how stupid…what they might be thinking?” Neil scolded himself. “I mean….looks like your friend…its good to know that you have made new friends.” Neil covered up.
“Yes, a very good friend indeed.” Mini replied smugly. “Chal bye Mini, main chalta hoon ab kal college mein milenge.” Mini’s friend Bobby said. “Bobby, wait I’ll see you off.” Mini replied and went with him outside.Neil kept looking at them. He clenched his fist when Mini hugged Bobby. His heart burned with jealousy and he now knew it…he didn’t have to wait for going on dates with Mini to knew his feelings…he knew it clearly…it was love…but too late…looks like she found someone else.” His heart broke and he couldn’t wait there anymore he needed to get out of here if he wants to maintain his cool, calm attitude in front of everyone. He thought and stood up to leave as there was nothing left to stay.
“Arre, aap itni jaldi kaha ja rahe hain? Chai to peekar jaiye.” Babita stopped him. “No thanks, may be some other time. I am in hurry.”Neil made excuse. He went outside and crossed Mini who was returning inside.“ Mini…” he called her. She turned around, “Yes?” "Wont you ask why I have come here?" Neil asked. "Must have come for the follow up about your patient...after all you were just my doctor....aur kya wajah ho sakti hai?" Mini replied.
“I…wanted to say…uh… I am sorry….for…..leave it....your doing great…changed a lot…I thought you still want me…but…your…your boyfriend …he is great..seems nice guy….bye...best of luck …may you have a wonderful life ahead.” Neil said with difficulty and turned to leave when he heard her. “Bobby is only a good friend. I have changed…yes…but I still want you.” Mini replied as her throat choked due to emotions.
Neil closed his eyes in relief and smiled. When he turned around his eyes were wet too with happy tears. He just extended his arms for her and Mini came running to him and found her place in that protecting warm embrace. “I love you Mini. I love you so much.” Neil confessed. “Sorry it took me forever to figure it out.” He continued further. “Confused over your own thoughts…what kind of psychiatrist you are?” Mini laughed. “A stupid kind of.” Neil replied as he laughed with her. “I love you so much….you don’t know how I passed this one month without you…thinking my first ever friend left me…my first ever love was unrequited. But then I thought if I would go in depression again than all your hard work will go in vain. so I was trying to move on in life desperately but I was missing you...Don’t leave me again. I cant live without you.” Mini sobbed in his arms. “Promise, I wont ever leave you.” Neil replied as he made his hold tighter around her.
Neil pulled apart and looked at her lips. He wanted to kiss her but stopped himself considering her past. She might not be comfortable with physical proximity. So he took a deep breath to control his emotions. “You can kiss me.I don’t want to stop living keeping in mind my past fears…..I have come out of it now wont miss out life for anything.” Mini told him as if reading his thoughts. Neil was surprised by the way she understood him like he knows her inside out.
Neil slowly closed the distance between them and placed his lips on her ever so softly. He could feel her going numb for few seconds but then she held his collar for support and like his love pulled her out of dark she started responding him.
They were engrossed in their new found love and in its expression when Mini’s parents also came out. “Ab ye kaun si therapy chal rahi hai?” Ashok asked shocked from the scene in front of his eyes. “Pyar wali therapy….aapko bhi chahiye?” Babita asked and winked at him while Ashok just blushed.
Soon Mini and Neil were engaged and after completing her studies they decided to get married. Neil welcomed his newly wedded wife in his house for the first time. “I cant believe you had walked into my clinic as a patient and now look at you….my beautiful bride.” Neil said as he caressed her face. “I am still your patient….your love sick patient….you have to cure me doctor.” Mini giggled at the little joke. “Sure, lets begin the therapy.” Neil laughed and picked her in his arms as he proceeded to their bedroom.
The End.
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