"Have you ever met someone for the first time, but in your heart you feel as if you've met them before?"
-JoAnne Kenrick
Chapter 1
Asad was collecting his things and putting them in his briefcase and keeping all the devices of the office back to where they belonged when Nikhat, the receptionist knocked on the door of his office and peaked inside.
"Sorry, Dr. Khan but there is a lady outside who needs a doctor. I know that your shift is over but I think that you should take a look at her, there is something just not right." Nikhat gave Asad a meaningful glance and without waiting for my answer she retreated and closed the door.
Asad sighed and stopped what he was doing. It was just his luck; moments before his shift was scheduled to end, someone would drop by. Well Asad Miyan, that's what you get for working at a free clinic. He sat down, rubbed his tired eyes, rolled his shoulders and waited for his latest patient to enter, wondering why on earth did he put up with all these uncertain hours at work ?
***
Nikhat came out of Dr. Khan's office and went straight to the lady waiting near the reception area of the clinic. She observed the girl from a distance. Anyone looking at her could guess that she was scared, terrified even and in a lot of pain! She was wearing baggy clothes and carrying a small purse. The smudged kohl indicated that she had been crying and her face was pale.
"Excuse me, Miss?" Nikhat approached the girl cautiously.
"Y-Yes?"
"If you could just fill in these forms quickly, it'll be fantastic. The doctor is ready to see you." she handed the girl some forms and a pen and saw her shaking hands take them. The girl sat down in one of the chairs and started filling the forms.
"I, I don-n't have my..my insurance c-card o-or the number with me. I came down in a hurry." the girl stammered out.
Nikhat quickly assured the girl, "Oh, it's not required! That's the benefit of this free clinic. It's a formality if the patient requires emergency treatment for something that is not listed in the free services provided by the clinic. Unless you need dental care or a prolonged hospital stay, you should just be fine" Nikhat smiled at the girl, trying to get her at ease, but in vain.
The girl only nodded and went back to filling her forms.
She was done in a few minutes and handed the forms back to Nikhat. After Guiding Zoya to one of the examination rooms, Nikhat then proceed to take the forms over to Dr. Khan's office.
***
Asad was answering an email on his computer when Nikhat re-entered his office, this time holding a file.
"Here, she filled out the forms. I have her in Room 1. Is that fine?"
Asad nodded at her and took the file from her hands, "I'll go over these and in the meanwhile have one of the nurses take her vitals."
"Yes, doctor." she proceeded to exit the room but stopped at the door, "I don't know what's wrong with her, but she seems very scared. Just...just be careful and gentle, Asad." Nikhat said and left the room.
Asad sighed and opened the file. Female, 26 years old.
***
Just as Asad was entering Room 1, he saw the nurse coming out of the room. As she saw him, she went straight up to him, "Dr. Khan, her vitals look fine. I have them on the file here," she handed him over the file in her hands, "She is changing into one of the gowns, so if you could wait for a few moments, then you can enter. Call me if you need anything, um, she seems timid." the nurse said.
Asad looked at the file and studied the stats. Well, it didn't seem to indicate like she was under some serious trouble as Nikaht had sensed. Hopefully it'll be done quickly.
After a few more moments, Asad knocked on the door. Upon hearing a timid come in', he opened the door and entered. Asad looked up from the file and located her in the room.
She was sitting on the examination bed, looking uncertain and unsure of her surroundings. Her head kept on darting from here to there, taking in everything in the room. Asad noticed how she kept furling and unfurling her fingers. He could not have a good look at her, given that her hair was acting like a curtain.
Asad cleared his throat and introduced himself, "Good evening Mrs. Zoya Nasser. I am Dr. Asad Khan."
***
It was a male voice. For whatever reason, Zoya was expecting an older doctor, preferably female. Sigh. She looked up from where she was sitting. The person in front of her who introduced himself as the doctor could not be more than thirty years old and he was a very handsome man. Even in her almost panicky state of mind, she could appreciate the person standing in front of her.
"H-hello, Dr. Khan."
"So, Mrs. Nasser, what can I do for you today?" Asad questioned her. Upon his questioning, she started squirming and her nervousness became even more palpable. Seeing her getting distressed, he quickly tried to reassure her, "Mrs. Nasser, please, it's perfectly fine. You can tell me what's wrong. I am here to help you."
His words did the opposite of what he had hoped. She became even more agitated and anxious. Asad gave an internal sigh and tried another tactic, "I can call in a female nurse if will be more comfortable. I am afraid that there are no female doctors present at this moment, Mrs. Nasser."
Just as Asad proceeded to call in a nurse, her soft voice rang out.
"It's alright Dr. Khan. I am fine, just please call me Zoya." her innocent eyes pleaded with his. He could not understand how her name could be having such an effect on her. Pushing that thought aside, he focused on the fact that she had finally responded.
"Alright then. So, Zoya, what can I do for you?"
She shifted once again and started out, timidly, "I, um, I think that..Uh..well, I hadn't been feeling very well for the past few days and then I started throwing up a couple of times yesterday and the day before. I am not sure, but I think that I am, um, p-pregnant. Maybe."
Asad tried to shove down the disappointment that he suddenly felt. She is married for crying out loud! Asad, get a grip! Gathering his professionalism, he starting questioning her about basic things.
"Okay. We can have that doubt cleared. Would you prefer the blood test or urine testing? "
"Which is faster?" Zoya asked nervously.
"The blood test results can take up to a week to come in while the other can be done in a few minutes while you wait."
"Second option, please. I would like to know the results sooner."
Zoya was then handed a standard hospital cup. She sighed and went into the bathroom. Honestly, why can't the hospitals make this part of the whole deal less humiliating? She came out a few minutes later and kept the sample on the table by the bathroom. Asad placed a label on the sample and asked her to wait for a few minutes and went outside, presumably to the lab.
Zoya looked around the room that she was sitting in. It was a typical examination room. White walls, a desk with a complex looking machine thing-y, examination bed and a couple of chairs. Would it hurt to hang a picture or something? Make it look a little less depressing. Zoya sighed, her anxiety has lessened a bit but nothing could calm down her fears.
Before she had a chance to mull further over her thoughts, Dr. Khan had returned, holding some papers. She looked at him, almost scared to hear what he had to say.
"Well, Zoya, looks like you were right. You are indeed pregnant. Are congratulations in order?"
Zoya's world reeled. Pregnant. A baby. She looked at the doctor's kind face. He was looking at her with an anticipatory expression.
After a few moments of silence, she stammered out, "I-I don't r-really know what to say."
"Oh. I take it that the baby was not planned."
Zoya snorted, "Understatement."
"Well, it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Would your husband be happy with the news" Asad tried to get her responding to the news.
Zoya's head whipped towards him fast. Tears filled her eyes, "Yes, he would be very happy. Ecstatic even."
Okay, now Asad looked confused, "That's great! But you don't seem, um, too happy about that. Please, I don't mean to pry but is something terribly wrong?"
After a few seconds of silence, Zoya's voice rang out.
"Only that my husband is dead."
A/n: Here is the first part! Tell me how you liked it!
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CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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