Part 20
“I believe Sir, the first 20 days, agar aap dekhenge toh, mere evaluation ke hisaab se, the issue is not of low medical equipment or materials. Humei supplies ke liye funding mil jaata hai, lekin the issue is yeh medical camp caters to two largest areas of east Nagpur and we are staffed badly. Agar yeh mera exit interview hai, toh mai sirf itna kahungi, ki Nagpur needs another camp.”
As Sai speaks confidently, Dr. Pulkit looks at her reports in awe.
“Toh where would you suggest, hamara dusra camp ka location?”
“Agar hum location CRPF ke paas karei, we can take advantage of two medical colleges and CRPF ki nigrani mei, hum criminals ke target bhi nahi banenge. Agar aapne notice kiya, toh bhikku problem ke baad yaha civilians kum aane lagey, aur iska matlab bache aur auratein toh aage hi nahi. Everyone thinks we cater to small time criminals and that’s ok, but we miss out on the people who need help too, Sir”
Dr Pulkit nods. “So Sai, agar mai tumse yeh kahu, ki main iske baare mei sochunga and maybe will get funding for another camp, kya tum vaha join karne ke liye tayaar ho?”
Sai confidently, “sir, only if I run it. Mujhe camp manage karna hai, Mai vaha head doctor and administrator ka role chahti hun”
Dr Pulkit smiles, “I will keep you posted. I am sorry we are losing you here”
Sai shakes her head, “it’s ok Sir, must move on”
Sai has a huge grin on her face after the meeting. Aniket had requested her to meet with him before she left, she waits when Abigail comes outside with Dr Pulkit. She smiles at both of them, Abigail smiles back, and Dr Pulkit waves to her, by which time Aniket joins her,
“Free for coffee?”
She nods and checks her phone, no message from Virat, she wonders what is he up to.
As he sat with other ACPs in a bar, their usual haunt, he misses wearing the uniform and the news he was hearing wasn’t great either,
“Dekh Virat, it’s not really bad news. Posting se achi hai na yeh news”
Virat nods,
“Aur Tu Nagpur mei hi rahega, Teri family yahaa hai, aish kar.”
He thought of Sai, and again nods, “Actually agar mei aur ek hafta leave ke liye apply karu toh?”
“Tu pagal ho gaya hai kya? Bilkul nahi, the minute you get order, report kar dei. Orders Saturday ko aayenge, Monday ko report kar”
He looks at his phone, no call or text from Sai.
He takes a long walk home, using the time to contemplate his next step. He enters his apartment and Sai is there at the kitchen stove
“Main raat ke liye Khana bana rahi hun, kya khayenge?”
He nods. She turns again and says,
“Aap abhi bhi naraaz ho, toh time out kijiye thodi der aur batayiye kya khayenge”
He smiles and comes to her and hugs her from behind. She grins and turns her head, holding his face with one hand,
“Kaha the?”
“TumHari meeting kaisi thi?”
She grins, “Achi thi!”
They separate and Virat looks at her
“Achi matlab? Tum continue kar sakti ho?”
She shakes her head, “Nahi..maine istifa de diya...” and continues to tell him how she presented her idea and how the senior doctor, Dr Pulkit was very receptive.
He looks at her with pride, but adds, “yeh idea Tum mere saath share karti toh main tumhe batata ki CRPF mei medical camp already hai jo civilians ko bhi include karti hai”
She makes a face, “Voh toh sirf example thaaa..”
He grins and pinches her cheek, “itna ego?!”
She pulls his hand away, “yeh ego ki baat nahi hai, main aapko batana isiliye nahi chahti thi, kyunki mujhe aapki help nahi chahiye, main Apne bal butte pe...”
He nods and interrupts, “Toh abb kyu bata rahi ho?”
“Main apni khushi share kar rahi hun.”
“Vaise hi Tum apna gum bhi share kar sakti ho”
He walks to the refrigerator and grabs a bottle of water, she stops him and takes the bottle
“Fridge ka paani itna mut pijiye”
“Arrey Doctor Sahiba, Mai 5 km chalke aaya hun”
She grabs a glass with aqua guard water and mixes the cold water and gives him
“Aap kaha the?”
“Kuch colleagues se milne gaya thaa. Apni status pata karne”
“Aur kya kaha unhone” she asks excitedly
“Good news nahi hai, tum sunna chahti ho?” He says with tongue in cheek
“Please, batayiye na” she makes a child face.
“Mere under ke do areas nikaalke kissi aur ACP ko de rahe hai”
“Toh iska matlab aap Nagpur mei hi rahenge?” She says excitedly
“Haan lekin I will be less powerful” he drops the glass in the sink and walks out of the kitchen. She watches him and then walks behind him to the bedroom.
“Kya aap posting prefer karte?”
He is fetching a towel and walks inside the bathroom.
“In a way, yes. Posting agar choti jagah bhi hoti, toh at least ek nayi shuruwat hoti”
Sai nods and watches him washing his face in the sink. She leans on the bathroom wall.
“Toh aap SP saab se yeh kyu nahi kehte ki saare stations aapke under se nikaal dei aur ek nayi station de de yahi Nagpur mei, that way, aapko yehi Nagpur mei kissi nayi area mei nayi shuruwat mil jaayegi”
He stares at her, wiping his face with a towel. He holds the towel to his neck and says
“Dekha share karogi, toh itne ache ideas milenge”
She presses her lips sheepishly and grabs the towel from him and starts to hang it on the rack. He grins at her and fetches his shaving kit. He begins to lather his face. She turns and watches him
“Kya kar rahe ho aap?”
“Shave kar raha hun”
“Nahi mujhe pasand nahi” she insists and pulls his wrist
“Kya? Kya matlab” he looks confused
“Mujhe voh five o’clock shadow vali chahiye” she continues in a child like manner
He grins and washes the shaving brush and looks at her
“Toh tumhe yeh nahi chahiye..?”
“Nahi..”
He grabs her and wipes the shaving foam all over her neck, shoulders and clevage with her screeching to stop.
“Kya kar rahe ho?”
“Tumhe nahi chahiye to hataa raha hun”
“Abb mujhe iss top ko dry cleaning mei dena padega.” She wails.
He laughs looking at her hurriedly trying to wash herself in the basin. He gets a towel and wipes the little bits off his own face. His five o clock intact. He removes his Tshirt, and puts it in the hamper. He walks towards her, calmly, to her flustered self. He watches her through the mirror, standing behind her, while she washes her face, her cleavage, brushing water over her top and then getting frustrated.
He places his hands over her shoulders and turns her. She raises her hands, He pulls the top over her shoulders while watching her with wet tendrils, droplets all over her face, her lips shiver.. and her bra wet with drops of water now running on to her formal pants that she wore to her meeting. He stares into her eyes, she moves towards him and hugs his bare chest, the warmth enveloping the cold on her and the heat within her. She can feel him extend his hand to her back, she yearns for him to undo her bra, so that she is rid of it, so that he can touch her in places she yearns to be touched. But nothing happens. The bathroom is suddenly way too quiet. She is confused, and looks up
“Kya hua?”
“Tap kaun band karega, kitna paani waste karti ho tum?!” He says teasingly.
She moves away from him, looks at him, absolutely vexed, she hits his chest, pushing him.
“Jayiye, aap abhi ke abhi”
He laughs and tries resisting her pushing, but she uses her might and pushes him out.
“Sorry re meri maaa..”
“No sorry..jayiye”
The door shuts on him. He stands outside pleading
“Sai..yaar please”
She opens the door and flings her bra to his face. He groans and pleads again
“This is not fair yaar”
Hours later, they sit to eat the dinner they have made together.
“Vaise doctor sahiba, kal aapko bahut saare baatei share karni padegi”
“Matlab?”
“Matlab ke dinner hum Aai ke yaha karenge” he says raising his eyebrows
Sai gasps “main nahi aa rahi”
Virat laughs “Tum kab tak chupne vali ho?”
“Aapne bata diya ki main aapke flat mei hun”
“Not yet, aur Btw, Just Sai, yeh abb hamara flat hai, Jaise voh cupboard humara hai, voh bathroom humara hai, yeh kitchen aur yeh sofa cum bed..bus bedroom vaala bed baaki hai” he grins
She plants a kiss on his cheek, “Voh shaadi ke baad”
He grins back and kisses her nose, “doctors orders?!”
She nods and smiles, he smiles back and continues eating. She worries about dinner with the family.
They are done eating, and both begin to clean up. Sai is collecting the leftovers, while Virat is rinsing the dishes. He is cleaning the counter when he says,
“Aur btw, tum kal jab apna medical camp story share karogi, tab Dr Pulkit ke jyaada gunn mut gaana..”
“Kyu?”
“Kyunki Dr Pulkit Devyani ke ex boyfriend hai”
“Kyaaaa?!”
“Haan..Achaa sofa ko bed tum bana rahi ho ki mai..”
She looks at him and comes closer to him, while he wipes his hands with a kitchen towel..
“Kal hum dono ke liye holiday hai” she grins “der se uth sakte hai”
“Voh pata nahi, Hirabai 9am sharp aayegi - Vaise Voh bhi puchne vaali hai ki tum ho kaun aur mere sofa bed pe kya kar rahi ho?”
“Voh Kyun puchegi? Voh aapki Aai thodi hai!” She says irritated
“Aai nahi, lekin Bai hai, aur bachelor ke liye equally important”
“Achaa bachelor?!?! Toh thik hai, aap andar bedroom mei so jayiye aur Mai yaha, kal hirabai se keh dijiye, main aapki doctor hun”
“Voh toh tum ho, Jaise tum meri body ko jaanti ho, aur koyi nahi jaanta” he holds her hands and starts rubbing them on his bare chest.
She mock glares at him, “Aap bedroom mei so rahe ho aaj”
He grabs her hands and places them on the back of his neck, and nuzzles her neck
“Pehle doctors orders, phir Sai ke orders”
——
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