“Come in,” Paritosh heard a knock on his door about an hour later. He had to prepare a presentation on the department’s performance in last quarter for the impending board meeting. But he was not able to concentrate at all. He could not let go of the feeling that he might have made a mistake by intervening between Rupali and Rohan. It did look like Rohan was forcing himself, but would his intervention make things better or worse for Rupali? They had a life outside the hospital too!

Rupali walked into his cabin, “Dr. Khanna. I needed your signature on these discharge papers. I’m sorry to disturb you for this, but Dr. Gupta has stepped out for an hour, and the parents are getting edgy. Only you have the authority to sign these.”

“No problem. I will sign it. You have ensured that he is ready to be discharged, right?”

“Yes Sir. Dr. Gupta also gave his confirmation over phone.”

“Dr. Banerjee,” Paritosh stopped her when she made to leave after getting the papers signed.

“Yes Sir?”

“I acted on my best understanding earlier. But I am not sure if I should have… I just…”

“Thanks for bringing it up,” Rupali looked relieved rather than awkward, “I wanted to thank you. For speaking up and not looking the other way.”

“Really?”

“Yes Sir.”

“Okay then. Take care.”

Rupali nodded and made to leave, when she was stopped again.

“Dr. Banerjee.”

“Yes Sir?”

“I have to ask. Did Dr. Moitra lie about your relationship? If so…”

“No,” she sighed, “He didn’t. I guess… But what you had said still stands, right? I have my rights?”

“Of course,” he assured hastily, “If there is ever any problem in this hospital or from any of the employees here, you must come to me.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

It was extremely odd. Why would she be engaged to a person when she needed and was fine with another person intervening between them? And what was hurry to get engaged? How old would she be? Was she under some pressure? What kind?

—

Rupali was relieved that Rohan was not waiting for her in the parking lot after her duty was over. Even when he finished earlier, he always insisted on taking her home with him and waited for her. It should have been romantic, but it wasn’t…

“Rupa. Darling, what’s up with Rohan? Have the two of you fought?” Rupali’s relief was short-lived as she ran into Damyanti Moitra, Rohan’s mother as soon as she entered home.

“Why Kakima? What happened?” Rupali’s behavior with Damyanti was nothing like the the dry, distant one she had with Rohan. And her conflicting emotions were clear in her body language. When Damyanti worried about something, Rupali worried about it too. But when it came to Rohan…

“He refused to eat after coming from the hospital and has locked himself in the room. Only you can handle him, when he is in that mood. Will you please see that he eats something, dear? Why don’t you take your plate also to his room?”

“Sure Kakima.” Damyanti always dismissed Rupali’s discomfort while speaking about Rohan as her shyness. Despite growing up in her liberal household, she found this girl to be incredibly shy. When she had come to live with them as an eleven year old, Damyanti used to worry a lot about whether or not she was comfortable. But over time, she was satisfied that she was.

And Rupali was indeed comfortable with Damyanti and her husband Sabyasachi Moitra. They had provided her not just with a roof over her head, but also with immense love and care. There was no repaying their kindness. She could do anything to keep them happy. And their happiness lied in their only son – Rohan!

—

“Kakima said you haven’t eaten anything,” Rupali brought a plate for Rohan in his room.

“Do you have a crush on Dr. Khanna?”

“Excuse me?”

“Why were you tongue-tied before him? Couldn’t you have spoken up, while he insulted us?”

Rupali took a deep breath. What was she thinking? That he would let it go? Of course not. And he wouldn’t leave her out of it either. Insulted us? Whatever that meant. As far as Rupali was concerned, she had been saved; not insulted. She didn’t want her workplace tainted with the memories of… But she did not want to anger Rohan further. Not at home, at least. Not when Kakima and Kaku would be around.

“It was not right Rohan. We work there…” she attempted a logical discussion.

“Don’t give me excuses,” he glared at her.

“I’m sorry,” she said in a small voice.

“Why didn’t you speak up?”

“I… I got nervous,” that was an explanation he’d like. He liked to think of her as a damsel in distress, who needed rescuing.

He smiled. Rupali could not help noticing that it appeared affectionate. It still freaked her out…

“Of course. I should have known.” He got up from his bed and came to her. “But you really have to stop worrying when I am around, okay?”

She nodded.

“And right now, there is nothing to be nervous about,” he closed in on her.

“Rohan… Kakima is around…” she tried to protest.

“She is in her room, I know that,” he replied and kissed her. She endured the kiss fighting her urge to step back. She wondered if she’d ever feel the same way about a kiss as the heroines of novels did. It had always felt repulsive to her, something she had to endure. That was her destiny.

—

To be continued