Knotty Affairs Page 9
Aakash did not reply. He just quietly marvelled at how true Aneri’s words were. They both walked together in silence. Aakash finally said, ‘If you want to ask me anything, please feel free to do so.’
Aneri smiled and, pointing a finger at Aakash, said, ‘It’s you who wanted to ask me something, isn’t it?’
Aakash shrugged his shoulders, ‘No, not really. Nothing that I can think of right now. Just going with the flow!’
Aneri, who was now walking ahead, turned back and said, ‘If you start asking me things like what are my expectations from my partner and all that, then, I guess, I would flip because I seriously have no answer to such questions!’
Aakash gaped at her with an open mouth and replied, ‘But I…’
He paused before adding, ‘I have never…’ He again stopped short and began to laugh, ‘There is nothing more off-putting than that question about expectations.’
Aakash muttered under his breath, ‘Thank God, it’s not the same viva stuff this time!’
As Aneri’s face shone in the bright lights of the nearby stalls, Aakash gave it a careful look. She looked extremely pretty. A peddler of soap bubbles walked pass, blowing a stream of bubbles which wafted around Aneri’s pretty face like bokeh in a picture. Aakash lost himself for a moment. The buzzing of his mobile brought him back on the terra-firma of reality. He blushed as he realized that he had been gawking at Aneri for a while. Aneri gave him a smile as she turned towards him and asked if they were done. Aakash quickly tucked his mobile into his pockets and joined Aneri who had slipped ahead and was walking back towards the party venue.
On their way back to the hotel exit, the conversation veered to the latest movies, food tastes, and sundry other topics of mutual interest.
Aakash banged on his parents’ bedroom door and began pacing back and forth. No answer. He again pounded on it, this time with more force. He heard some mumbling voices from inside and the door opened.
He looked at his half-asleep dad and said, ‘You remember, Dad, I always told you that it’s practically impossible to select a life partner by just spending a mere half an hour with someone?’
Ashwin Mehta looked at him in a half-dazed and bewildered manner, ‘Uhh…Aakash, can we discuss this some other time?’
Kinnari Mehta shouted from inside, ‘Aakash, when we asked you in the car what you thought of Aneri, you kept mum. Now you come banging at our door at midnight to discuss it!’
Aakash completely ignored his mom’s words and instead continued, ‘I was right, Mom. I was right. It’s not possible to select someone simply because everyone puts their best face forward in those minutes.’
He nodded his head and then said, ‘The only thing that one can possibly fathom is whether that one hour kindles a spark to want to spend another hour or not.’
He firmly added, ‘I don’t know if I like Aneri or not. I just know that I want to spend that one extra hour with her.’
Before they could even react, he apologized for waking them up and dashed back to his room, leaving Ashwin and Kinnari puzzled.
The next day morning, as Bharat Doshi sat down for breakfast with Aneri, he asked his daughter, ‘So, did you like Aakash? Do you want to take this ahead?’
Aneri, adjusting her advocate’s robe and placing aside her documents, looked at him and replied, ‘Aakash seems okay, Dad. But, I did not feel strongly for him.’
Bharat said, ‘You could meet him again and see how you feel about him after that.’
Aneri gulped down a spoonful of poha and said in a garbled tone, ‘Dad, what’s the point of meeting when I will ultimately say “no”?’
Bharat thought for few seconds and replied, ‘That’s fine. In case they call, we’ll have this discussion again.’
Aneri looked at her dad in surprise and shook her head.
Chapter 10
SUPRIYA, A GIRL in her early twenties peeped inside the OT of ‘Smile with 32’, Dr Aakash’s dental clinic, and announced in Hindi, ‘Sir, aapse koi milne aaya hai.’
Aakash, who was busy attending to an elderly patient, slid down his mask and absentmindedly replied in Hindi, ‘Unse case paper bharwa lo. Aur haan, pehle hi consultation fee sau rupaiye hai bata dena. Nahi to baad me khit-pit hogi.’
Supriya went back to her seat and followed her employer’s instructions.
In a moment, Aakash’s mobile phone rang, much to his exasperation. He pulled down his mask again, advanced his chair towards the table where his mobile was kept for charging, and brightened up as soon as he saw the name flashing across the screen. He immediately detached the charger from the phone and answered the call.
‘Aakash, your receptionist is asking me to pay a hundred bucks,’ said Aneri with a naughty smile on her lips as she winked at Supriya in the reception area of the clinic. Supriya looked puzzled.
Aakash, who by now had comprehended who his visitor was, was at a loss for words. He fumbled, ‘Aneri, I am really sorry. I thought one of my new patients, who had called twice for an appointment, has finally dropped in. Just give me five more minutes. I am on a patient right now.’
Aneri asked with a naughty wink, ‘On a patient? What’s going on inside, huh?’
She settled down on a chair and looked around. The reception was neatly arranged. There was a black leather couch and a few plastic chairs for patients. Magazines and newspapers were stacked in a wooden stand along with a few books on dentistry. On the wall facing the receptionist, just above the couch, was a long soft board with various pamphlets and clippings on recent advances in dentistry, and a few pre-treatment and post-treatment photographs pinned up. On the adjacent wall hung various certificates conferred on Aakash for his participation in scientific sessions, clinical programmes, and comprehensive courses. Right in the middle of these certificates hung a photograph of Aakash and his friends flinging their black graduation hats in the air. Aneri’s attention was caught by a cute bespectacled girl in the picture. She was standing right next to Aakash. The picture had a typical nostalgic air of college days attached to it, which reminded Aneri of her own college friends.
The next photo was of Aakash holding up his degree certificate and trophy. She smiled at the beaming face of a much younger Aakash, exuding boyish charm. Suddenly, on the glass frame, she noticed Aakash’s reflection. She turned to face a smiling Aakash. From the corner of her eyes, she could see the old lady settling her treatment charges at the reception desk. Supriya was discussing her next appointment schedule and the old lady looked tired. Aakash pointed to the college group photo that Aneri had been looking at and said, ‘Those are my college friends. That’s Uttam, the girl behind him is Apeksha, and that’s Neel besides him.’ He hesitated slightly before saying, ‘And that’s Kashish next to me.’ He added, ‘That was our convocation day at the MUHS University, Nashik. That photo was taken on the campus.’
Aneri looked intently at the picture and said, ‘You never forget college days, do you?’
Aakash smiled and showed her around the clinic before settling down at his consultation desk. Aneri sat opposite him.
Earlier that day, Ashwin Mehta had called Aneri’s dad to ask if Aneri would like to meet Aakash again. Aneri’s parents were open to the suggestion, but Aneri was not keen at all. After a passionate discussion with her parents, however, she ran out of reasons for refusing the meeting.
She shifted in her chair once or twice and looked around the consulting room. A teal-coloured dental chair stood beside a wallmounted x-ray machine. Various impressions and cast moulds lay on the platform. The machines and instruments lying around gave Aneri an uneasy feeling as they reminded her of unpleasant childhood dental visits. She laughed it off and said, ‘Aakash, you seriously need to be applauded for the choice of meeting places. First, it was a parking lot and now a dental clinic! I wonder what it will be next. Maybe a hospital or a court!’
Although he was a bit embarrassed by Aneri’s frank observation, Aakash joined in the laughter. He gently added, ‘You forgot the beach.
And the coffee shop we’ll be going to soon. Actually, I saved myself from your wrath! I am pretty sure you would have lost your temper waiting for me outside a coffee shop,’ he said with a wink.
‘Who said anything about waiting outside?’ Aneri winked back, ‘Coffee shops do allow single entries.’
Aakash joined his hands with a smile, ‘Hats off! You are too good for me. I am having visions of being dragged out of my own clinic. But I need you to cool down before that happens,’ he added and ordered for cold drinks.
As his assistant barged in with finished lab work for Aakash’s examination, Aneri looked around once again. Aakash sure knew how to make a person comfortable.
Aneri said, ‘It’s a really nice clinic, you know. I mean it. You have worked really hard at all of this.’ She waved her hand around.
Aakash, clearly elated at her compliment, thanked her, but said with a deadpan expression, ‘Now that you really mean it, we don’t need to go to the coffee shop.’
As Aneri shook her head, Aakash said more seriously, ‘You know, setting up this clinic has been like nurturing a baby for me.’
‘I know! My dad always narrates a similar experience. He was just out with his law degree, had zero experience, and had opened a small office near the High Court. There was no staff or fixed clients, and he ran from doors to wings of the court with files and documents in his hand. Today, he has earned a decent name for himself in the world of law and justice. He always says this one thing: “Life has no shortcuts”.’
Aakash discovered that when Aneri spoke of her father, she glowed with love and pride.
As Aakash and Aneri walked towards the glass door of a Barista at Diamond Gardens in Chembur, he stole a glance at Aneri. She was in her court attire of black trousers and a smartly tucked creamy-white shirt. Aneri looked at him as he held the door open to allow her in. As she entered, Aakash asked, ‘Okay, flowers or chocolates?’
Aneri narrowed her eyes and replied, ‘What? Nothing. We are not on a date!’
Aakash nodded his head and simply chuckled, ‘Good. Because I have neither.’ Closing one of her eyes, Aneri pointed her index finger at Aakash and imitated pulling an imaginary trigger. As she advanced a little further, Aakash caught her elbow. Wheeling around, she saw a smiling Aakash extending his fists towards her. As his hands neared, his fingers opened to conjure a couple of homemade chocolates! Aneri broke into peals of laughter.
Soft western music played in the background as Aneri and Aakash chatted and made themselves comfortable. Aakash felt that Aneri was like a breath of fresh air, especially after his experiences with innumerable incompatible girls before. As he got up to place the order at the counter, Aneri opened her purse and said, ‘Let’s split.’
Aakash stumbled, ‘What? No, it’s on me. Moreover, it’s not going to cost a lot.’
Aneri pursed her lips together and spoke, ‘Precisely the reason why I insist that we share the bill.’ She was chuckling when she added, ‘So, in case it does not hurt your ego, think about it.’ She winked playfully at Aakash.
She was so resolute that Aakash thought it better to accept the offer and argue about it later. Before he left the table, he said, ‘Yeah! Yeah! Also we’re not on a date, remember?’
As Aakash settled back in his chair, he teasingly asked Aneri, ‘So, do you split bills with everyone or am I special?’
‘Aakash, I am certainly not one who’s flattered if a guy spends on me. Be it a college group or friends hanging out, sharing always eases matters. Don’t you agree?’
Aakash joined his palms in mock tribute. ‘And I had girls asking me if my clinic is on rent or owned by me,’ he grinned.
‘You know what? Day in and day out, we see a helluva lot of people fighting over money and property in court. It’s a dark scenario. So, knowing this grim reality of life, it would be highly illogical to resort to the same thing. It’s like a dentist going for a smoke while fully knowing the hazards of it,’ she said matter-of-factly.
Aakash shook his head as the vision of his professors smoking flashed before his eyes.
‘You have seriously high ideals, Aneri. Are you really an angel or just pretending to be one?’ Aakash asked.
‘What I fear most is that we want to be our best in these moments,’ he said, ‘so, what I want to know is what are your negative traits?’
Sipping her lemon tea, Aneri blurted, ‘Ahem! Right now I am being accused of being indecisive.’
Before Aakash could react, she put down her cup and looked straight at him and said, ‘Listen Aakash, you are a nice guy and you have this inherent charm, which makes a girl feel comfortable. But, I have always believed that I need to feel strongly about someone before I decide to marry him. I know that I am going through an arranged match format where such strong feelings are not considered important, and they don’t stand a chance before commitment. And yet I need to hear my inner voice telling me to go ahead.’
Aakash remained silent, looking down at his coffee mug. Aneri continued, ‘Aakash, don’t get me wrong. But with you…’ Aneri’s cell phone vibrated and interrupted the conversation. She tilted her head to see the screen flashing her dad’s name.
She silently raised her finger, gesturing Aakash to give her a moment. She reached out for her phone and pressed it to her left ear.
‘Ya, Dad… Oh hi, Sudhakar. Why is Dad’s phone with you?’
As she listened, Aakash saw her expression change into one of complete shock and horror. She tossed her cup aside and grabbed her purse. In a fraction of a second, she had darted towards the door. As she faintly heard the voice of Aakash calling her from behind, she turned towards him with tears rolling down her eyes.
‘Dad’s being driven to Jaslok Hospital right now.’
She turned away, opened the door and, in a matter of seconds, had sprinted out of the café.
Aakash was stunned for a moment but, without wasting any time, he made a run for Aneri.
‘Hypoglycaemia,’ said Dr Vilas Parulekar, a famous diabetologist consulting at Jaslok Hospital, as he looked at Aakash and Aneri who sat opposite him. He turned his head to Aneri and spoke in clear tones, glancing at the case report papers on his desk.
‘Aneri, you know your dad is a chronic diabetic case. I just spoke to your family diabetologist, Dr Prakash Shah, on the insistence of your father. My junior doctors just filed his case history, which suggests a heavy work-load since the last few days, irregular meals, and medications.’ He looked at Aneri and continued, ‘He is stable at present. We had to deliver an immediate glucagon injection and administer subsequent dextrose bottles to get him to a stable state. But do you think this is acceptable?’
Aneri listened to Dr Parulekar’s words in complete silence.
‘Since your dad’s been a diabetic for a long time now, I don’t have to fill you in with the basic facts that lifestyle irregularities can cause extremely low glucose levels in the body. And this is something which no diabetologist in the world can have a control on. I want you all to take extra care to avoid such incidents in the future.’
He smiled and finally added, ‘Since this episode of hypoglycaemia has now happened for the third time in past couple of months, I advise you to keep him under a two-day observation period, so that we can monitor his levels consistently and keep a check on his diet and medication. Dr Shah will visit as soon as he winds up his practice at night.’
As Aakash and Aneri stepped out of the consultation cabin, Sudhakar came running towards them. Sudhakar was a junior associate lawyer working at Bharat Doshi’s law firm. Sounding tense he said, ‘Sorry, Aneri Ma’am, we had to bring him here. We tried giving him fruit juice and a glass of Glucon-D, but we panicked after he fell unconscious. We tried reaching Chhaya Aunty as well, but could not get through to her cell.’
Aneri looked hassled. She said to Aakash, ‘Mamma has gone to Surat to attend a wedding ceremony. Dad was supposed to go as well, but his work tied him down and he decided to stay back at the last moment.’
Aakash sat next to her and said, ‘Aneri, relax. We met him before we went to collect the report. Although pale, he seemed fine. Even Dr Parulekar said there is nothing to worry about. They are just keeping him here for basic monitoring. Just calm down.’
As the phone vibrated in Aakash’s pockets, he realized that he had not informed anybody at home and it had got very late. While he spoke to his mom about the recent developments, his eyes studied Aneri who was thanking Sudhakar for his help.
Aneri smiled as their eyes met. This was a sign that she was now less stressed. Before Aneri could express gratitude, Aakash said, ‘Aneri, you have not eaten anything since lunch, and you may have to spend the night here. Even if you refuse, I hardly care, because I am dragging you to the canteen.’
This time around, Aakash was so firm that Aneri nodded her head with a smile. She was still toying with the idea of informing her mom right away or waiting for her to come back in the morning. She gave it a thought and then dialled her mom’s number.
Aakash, standing on the other side of a glass door, saw an emotionally charged daughter talking to her mother.
Chapter 11
AAKASH BALANCED A plate of idli in one hand and a plate of dosa and sambhar in another, but in spite of his efforts, some sambhar spilled on the table as he put down the plates. He looked apologetically at Aneri only to find her surveying the canteen. He followed her gaze. A group of doctors and nurses in white aprons were munching snacks and having a loud, animated conversation. A strange odour of clinical spirit filled the air. Tense relatives of patients sat in the canteen; their eyes looking at their food, but their minds far away. Aakash, having studied dentistry, was quite used to such an environment, but Aneri definitely looked as if she was out of her comfort zone. Aakash looked at her and realized that he had had this feeling of discomfort every time he met Aneri. It had nothing to do with her, but the places they met in!