This is my first attempt in writing a ff, though I'm an avid reader. This mini ff is based on my favourite pair, the KaSh couple of DMG. Shashank and Padma are riddhima's parents and Anjali her sister. This story continues from the part where Riddhima leaves for Chandigarh with her mother.
This story is set in Munnar- a beautiful hill station in Kerala. So I've included some characters who are Malayalis or Tamilians. I may show them to be talking in accented Hindi but that's not to make fun of them, (I'm myself a Tamilian and wouldn't do that). It's just to bring authenticity to the story. They will be introduced to you as we move on with the story.
One more request, my Hindi is not very good especially where genders are concerned so kindly overlook whatever mistakes I have made.
QUE SERA, SERA
Part 1
Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be
The future's not ours, to see
Que Sera, Sera
What will be, will be
Knock, knock'..
Come in'''.
A: Good morning Dr.Mohan
M: Good morning Armaan, please take a seat. We have a new patient admitted today. It's an alcoholism case again.
A: OK
M: I had met his wife at the Delhi Seminar last month. She is a doctor at the hospital where I presented the seminar. She had spoken to me about him and I asked her to bring him here. She said he had attended the program of 'Alcoholics Anonymous,' few years ago and gave up drinking for about three months. But then got back to it. She's now hoping for a miracle to get him out of it
A; OK sir, I'll do my best. Can I see them now?
M: His wife has gone to drop their son at the kid center in our hospital. She should be back soon. In the meantime I'll introduce you to your patient.
They go to the ward ' a private room. They knock and enter. Mr. Modi is doing something on his laptop. He gives them an irritated look and gets back to it.
M: This is Dr. Armaan. He'll be the doctor in charge of your case.
A: Hello Mr. Modi extending his hand. Abhi pays no heed.
Dr. Mohan nods to Armaan and leaves. Armaan pulls the chair and sits. We need to talk Mr. Modi'
Abhi: I've nothing to say to you. That bitch is the one who needs treatment. You can talk to her. Leave me alone. You can't keep me here against my wishes.
A: She's your wife Mr. Modi''
Abhi: I don't care. I don't need her. She can get lost '
A: I don't want to ask any personal questions. Just some general talk.
Abhi: Don't try to humour me doctor. Just get out.
Armaan stood up, smiled to himself, wrote some medications on the chart and left saying "I'll be back later."
He saw Muniamma wiping the floor and called out "vanakkam Muniamma, epdi irukkey?" "Namaste Thambi (younger brother), Hum bagut achcha." He was learning Tamil from Muniamma and in return teaching her Hindi.
This was a normal dialogue between the two of them every morning. Armaan had requested all the staff at the hospital not to address him as doctor. So just as he was Thambi to Muniamma, he was Chetan (elder brother), to some, Mone (son) to some and Sare (sir) to still all others and just Armaan to the rest.
He proceeded to the next ward to see another patient. After chatting up with him for sometime he was walking to the OPD, when Sister Stella came to him and asked "Ermaan Ward dwendy one (21) may jo naya patient edmit hua hai usko kya dava deneka?" Sister Stella had worked in Mumbai for a few years where she had picked up some Hindi. When he looked towards that ward, he saw a lady enter Mr. Modi's room. He just caught a glimpse of her and stood still for a minute. It was as if a ghost from his past had walked by him.Then he just shook his head saying "it can't be her". My mind is playing tricks again. He smiled to himself thinking "Maybe this shrink himself needs a shrink."
After 2 hours at the OPD he went to his cabin and logged on to his computer. There was a message from Rahul with photos of Rohan's fifth birthday. (The only person from his past life with whom he was in touch. He had met Rahul last year ago when he had come to Munnar to attend a short term course at MSHC).
Armaan still remembered the day he had walked out of Sanjeevani almost seven years ago.
Flashback
After slogging for almost a year at Sanjeevani, the interns had appeared for their exams. A year in which his life had turned round 180 degrees. The playboy, casanova Armaan Mallik, had argued quarrelled, pattawed and fallen head over heels in love with the simple, beautiful, highly principled but short-tempered Riddhima Gupta. Their relationship had been one roller-coaster ride with her constantly dilly-dallying between yes and no.
He still vividly remembered the holi celebrations, her antics after having the bhang ladoos, her confession and everything that followed'' He had been in seventh heaven when he walked into Sanjeevani the following day, but she had just broken his heart to pieces. How could she not love him after all that they had shared? And the very next day she had left to Chandigarh with her mother, just leaving a note for him in his locker explaining that they were not meant for each other.
A couple of days later their results had been declared. Dr. Kirti had informed them that Sanjeeevani was going through a financial crisis so would not be able to absorb all of them as residents. Only 2 of them would be selected. Riddhima and Armaan were the top two rankers in the exam. So obviously they would be the trustees' choice. Rahul and Muskaan had decided to return to Patiala while Atul was still undecided about his future. But all of them were dumbstruck when Anjali informed them that Riddhima was to get married the following week and would continue to reside in Chandigarh, while she herself, was leaving to the US in a fortnight to pursue a course in hospital management. A visibly shattered Armaan had walked out of Sanjeevani that day and that was the last time his fellow interns had seen him. He had never looked back even once.
That day, after walking out of Sanjeevani he had walked aimlessly along the beach immersed in his thoughts. How could she walk out of his life like that? And that too after he had changed himself so much for her. He hated her, he hated Sanjeevani which had brought her into his life and he hated this city which had given him so much sorrow. He had to get away. He wanted to go to some unknown place and start his life afresh.
He remembered his friend, a senior at the medical college, who had been pressing him to apply for post-grad at his college, in Chennai. He went home, packed his bag, called his friend and caught the first flight to Chennai. That's the last place anyone would expect him to be.
At first he did not like Chennai. The hot climate, the language, the food, the people, everything was so different. But he liked the annonymity it gave him and stuck on. He applied and was accepted into the Masters course in Psychiatry at the Govt. Medical College, Chennai specializing in 'Substance Abuse'. After his internship he joined this state of the art clinic ' The Munnar Speciality Healthcare Center - a center which specifically dealt with alcohol and drug abuse.
Munnar was breathtakingly beautiful town- a haven of peace and tranquility - in God's own country (Kerala). The lush greenery of the unending expanse of tea plantations, pristine valleys and mountains, and the spice scented cool air of this town were perhaps partly responsible for the speedy recovery of the patients at MSHC.
Though Kerala is renowned for its Ayurvedic medicines and ayurvedic oil massage spas, MSHC had made a name for itself with its team of dedicated doctors who had expertise in their respective fields. It was both nationally and internationally renowned with doctors from all over the country vying for a position in it. Armaan had been working at this centre for the past 3 years, from the time of its inception. He loved his work, this hospital and this quiet town which provided a soothing atmosphere for laying to rest the ghosts from his past.
Armaan was jerked back to the present by the ringing of his phone.
A: Yes Robert uncle
S: Mone, Mrs. Modi wants to meet you as you are the doctor in-charge of her husband's case.
A: Send her in.
She opened the door and stood shocked still. Was it really him? He looked different. His chiselled features and his well built physique were still the same. But his formal clothes and demeanour gave him a matured look, unlike the Armaan she had known. He looked even more handsome. Just then he looked up. But his eyes??
His eyes were transfixed on her. He couldn't believe what he saw'' She had not changed one bit or had she??'
Bhabhi Ji Ghar Pe Hain?
324