Chapter 1
It is my mother's birthday today, and the day she died. When I was a mere 12-year old, my mother promised me that she will come back, but she never did. The last memory I have of my mother is she rushing out of the house with a medical briefcase in her hand. Yes, she didn't make it, but she died trying to save someone's life, and I'm proud of her. At times I wonder what in my life would have been different, had my mother come back. Maybe, the huge hole my heart would have been filled then. The gap, I feel in my life, wouldn't have existed. I would have been happy, peaceful. But I'm not at peace, and I will not be at peace till the day I fulfill my mother's dream-to become the best.
6.00 am:
Beam of golden rays of sun streaming in through the window is the first thing I see when I open my eyes. I bend over to pat my dog, who is sleeping at the end of the bed-snoopy. Immediately, I hop out of the bed, as per my regular schedule, and rush to brush my teeth and get ready.
6.30 am:
The gymnasium is at a 10 minutes walking distance from the house. I decided to wear my jacket, since it is slightly cold today. I'm out of the house and in the street already. The fresh mildly cold air acts like a refreshment from the thick, polluted city air. It clears my head and relaxes me. As I walk towards the main street, I notice movie posters all over the place. Turns out new year time is an important time for not only doctors, but movie stars also.
The hugest of the poster right outside the gymnasium, with the a male in his twenties, fair-skinned, shirtless with a gorgeous body, staring right into your soul. His blue eyes are... captivating, I realized. I kicked myself mentally, when I was unable to recall his name. Last month only, I had been dragged into one of his concerts, but right now I have clue what his name is.
The conflicting moment is out of my head in no moment when I realize that I'm late.
6.45 am:
I'm fond of the gymnasium for one reason-it clears your head. The gymnasium is a place where all kind of sport activities and a library are available.
Today was one of those days, where I had been challenged for a match. I stuffed my bag inside the locker and took out the sipper.
"You're late." I heard a soft but masculine voice from behind me.
"I'm sorry, I got stuck somewhere." And suddenly the strangest thing happened, the guy in the poster with his piercing blue eyes and gorgeous body, flashed before me. I really need to clear my head, I agreed.
"You mean the huge Armaan Malik poster displayed outside?" He said in his mocking tone. Right, right! Armaan Malik. Armaan Malik.
At that, I slammed my locker shut and turned to look right at him.
"NO." I told him a little too sternly.
"Okay, you ready?"
"Ready to beat you? Always." I walked passed him, right outside the room. I feel him smiling and shaking his head at me. He is the only person in the entire world I can talk to. He is Dr. Rahul Gahrewal, a fellow doctor and a dear friend. We're both in the same college, and somehow landed up in Sanjeevni. Although, we didn't speak much in college, I was completely sure that Rahul Gahrewal, of all the people, would make it to Sanjeevni, for a simple reason that he needed to be the best, like me. I will save this story for some other reason. Anyways, we met on the first day of internship and became friends instantly. Rahul is my best friend, one of the few people who have always been there for me, 'cause he understands me.
7.30 am:
No sooner did I unlock the door, that Snoopy came running towards me. I picked him up in my arms and headed towards the kitchen. Snoopy needs to be fed.
I pulled out of the opened packet of Pedigree from the shelf and put some in the bowl for him.
"Here you go." I patted him, as he got busy in finishing the food.
With that, I decided to get a shower.
8.30 am:
I bade snoopy goodbye, after having my breakfast and walked out of the house, locking it. Although my shift is supposed to start at 10 and Sanjeevni is merely at a 15 minute walking distance from my house, I had to leave early today. There was someplace I needed to visit today.
I stuffed the neatly packed doctor's coat in my bag and walked away.
9.00 am:
In spite of the fact that he had done nothing for me, I couldn't stop having faith in god. I rarely came to a temple, and when I did, I wished nothing except for the well being of my family. I walked over to a nearby shop to buy flowers, sweets and other required stuffs, I was told to bring.
As I climbed the stairs, I looked around slightly frantic, looking around for her. I could finally relax when I saw her, sitting right near the lords Idol- my dadi.
Dadi never once had stopped believing in god.
"He is watching you Riddhima. And what ever happens, happens for good. 'Cause god is looking after all this children." Dadi always told me, and I nodded in agreement, even though I didn't really believe in the statement.
Doesn't lord see my misery? Doesn't he see my pain? If he does, then why is he "looking after" me? Nothing in my life is happening for good, I'm certain. But the faith, somewhere, still existed, I knew.
Smiling, I walked to her. I bend down to kiss her forehead.
"Riddhima." She said in her weak voice and smiled at me.
"Dadi." I said, handing her the plate.
My dadi always the earlier part of her day in the temple. She believed that it gave her peace. As I said earlier, I rarely visited the temple; but on this day, I was supposed to be at the temple, no matter what. And I so I followed it, although the faith was small and disappearing, slowly.
9.30 am:
I was with Dadi, when my pager rang. I was supposed to report to the hospital immediately, since it was an emergency. I didn't have to explain my Dadi, since my Dadi almost instantaneously understood when I looked at her.
"It is okay. The driver and Rupa will take me home." Saying so, she planted a soft kiss on my forehead and all the stress seemed to disappear almost immediately.
"I love you, Dadi." I told her.
"I love you, too." She smiled at me one last time, and got back to her puja, while I decided to talk a walk (run!) to the hospital.
9.40 am:
"Dr. Riddhima, thank god you're here!" Nurse Lovely came running towards me as soon as I entered the building.
"It is an emergency. Four people are injured." She informed, both of us rushing towards the OPD.
"What happened?"
"It is a case of drinking and driving." She said, "..and he's one of them." She told me softly.
"He, who, Sister?" No ordinary guy was here, I could tell from the chaos in the hospital.
"Armaan" She whispered.
"Come again?" I lowered my head for clarity of her voice.
"Armaan Malik." She spoke a little loudly this time, surprising me.
"Oh. Was he?"
"Yes, he was drunk when he ran over a bike. Its a couple, both with severe head injuries." And immediately, hot rage surged in me. How could someone be so irresponsible? Just because you're a super star doesn't mean you can do anything you want!
"You'll be treating him, Dr. Riddhima."
"I got it." I told her, and walked into the OPD. Somehow, I knew that it was going to be a hell of a day.
Edited by Heart - 13 years ago
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