14.2.2021

*Flashback*

Engrossed in rolling his left sleeve Dr. Shashank initially misses noticing Dr. Juhi walking towards him. Juhi too remains engrossed in reading a file of a patient she has been asked to treat under her mentor Dr. Shashank's supervision. He stops abruptly when he through his peripheral vision feels the presence of Juhi there.

No smile comes on his face to make any of his onlookers realize how deeply Dr. Juhi's sudden appearance in front of him is affecting Dr. Shashank.

"Juhi!",

he addresses her, walking closer to her.

He could have easily avoided talking to her; could have walked past her without uttering a single word, but how much strict and heartless might he look from his exterior; inside even he has a heart that gets affected on being ignored by his dear protégé Juhi.

His impatient eyes wait to make a contact with the almond shaped eyes of Juhi, which according to Shashank hold all the innocence of the world. How does this innocence of hers never fails to attract the almost rock hearted Dr. Shashank to Juhi, is still a mystery to him.

As Shashank's voice drags Juhi's attention and she looks up towards him, a wave of satisfaction flows through the faces of both Shashank and Juhi alike. The ever smiling Juhi, why suddenly has turned serious in the presence of Shashank, Juhi fails to understand.

This has happened only recently. Not since the beginning was she like this in front of Shashank. Juhi rather like her fellow interns was bubbly and talkative in front of Dr. Shashank, whom everyone would take as the epitome of seriousness apart from her friends – her fellow interns who care less about Dr. Shashank's anger.

It is on rare occasions that the interns get lucky to see Dr. Shashank smiling. And today might not be one of those 'rare occasions'.

Closing her file, staring Shashank throughout, smiling a little, Juhi greets him,

"Hi Sir!"

Shashank controls his desire to reply back to her mirroring her emotions. Keeping control over his increased rate of heartbeat, which he denies to accept even to himself that it has been the result of Juhi's presence around him, since the last few days.

"Aap ab tak gayin nahi?",

asks Shashank, knitting his brows in surprise. But inside his heart does a somersault.

Juhi stares him, unable to understand how to reply to that.

"Ahmm... mere aaj ke koi khas plans nahi hain Sir. To maine socha yahan rehkar patients ke saath kuch waqt aur guzaar lun.",

she says, cascading her eyes in hesitation.

Shashank's feelings for Juhi increases manifold hearing that.

"Dr. Juhi itne saalon ke iss profession mein maine kayi interns se deal kiya hai. Lagbhag har saal aaj ke din interns ko jaldi free hone ki bechaini rehti hai. Aap shayad pehli aisi intern hain meri, jo aaj ka din apne doston ke saath; apne 'khas' kisi dost ke saath celebrate karne ke bajaye yahan hospital mein patients ke beech rehna prefer kar rahin hain.",

says Shashank, emphasizing on 'khas' that makes Juhi to cast her look towards him.

They stare each other, without blinking their eyes. Some deep emotions pass between them without the utterance of any word. Little smile and deep blush touch Juhi's face. That result in Shashank's smiling a little too.

*Flashback ends*

A red balloon in the shape of heart gets burst in front of Juhi, dragging her out of her thoughts.

Juhi smiles looking towards the kid at the children's ward who had burst the balloon. Bowing a little, ruffling his hair lovingly, Juhi says,

"Koi baat nahi main abhi apke liye dusra balloon le aati hun."

As soon as she completes saying it, a balloon gets presented in front of her, taking her by surprise. Juhi looks towards the heart shaped balloon in surprise. Before she could react, her eardrums get hit with the voice she is familiar with so well.

"Apne tute hue dil ko jodne ke liye tumhe kahin durr jane ki zarurat nahi. Bus peeche murhne ki zarurat hai.",

says Shashank, words which result in clenching Juhi's heart.

Staring the balloon, her face expression serious, Juhi says,

"Darr lagta hai ye bhram hua to?"

"Bhram to wo tha jo itne saalon tak humein tha – ke hum ek dusre ke bina bhi jee sakte hain; khush reh sakte hain.",

replies Shashank, knitting his brows lightly.

Juhi accepts the balloon. Smiling lovingly at the kid, she gifts it to him. The kid gets busy playing with the balloon. Juhi turns to look towards Shashank. They stare each other transmitting their deepest emotions for each other through their eyes.

Cascading her eyes slowly, Juhi begins to walk away when Shashank turns and says,

"Kya itne saalon ka faasla kam tha, jo ab bhi faaslon ko kam karne ke bajaye barhane ki koshish kar rahi ho?"

Juhi clenches her stethoscope, trying to calm down her anxiety.

Shashank whilst walking towards her slowly, asks,

"Kya meri ek galti ki saza zindagi bhar milegi?"

Juhi shuts her eyes as wave of emotions for Shashank hits her.

"Wada kijiye.... Wada kijiye ki apne dil ki baat apne dil mein ab kabhi chupakar nahi rakhenge.",

says Juhi, keeping her eyes shut, holding her emotions for as long as possible.

"Main wada karta hun ke apne har juzzbaat ko tumse baantunga.",

promises Shashank, earnestly, tilting his head a little towards left.

Juhi turns to look towards him hearing his words.

Staring him throughout, Juhi takes forward steps towards him and says,

"Waada kijiye ke grey coat ke saath....",

she holds his tie, staring him throughout and continues,

"....ye blue tie kabhi nahi pehnenge."

Smile twitches her lips as she utters those words.

Shashank blushes and laughs a little, silently and says,

"Main waada karta hun ke ab se har roz subhe tumhe apne kapdon ki photo bhejkar pehle tumse approval lunga uske baad hi wo pehn kar hospital aunga.",

teasing her.

Juhi laughs in shyness. Shashank joins in.

"Aaj jaldbazi mein matching tie mil hi nahi rahi thi. Ye samne tha to pehn kar aa gaya.",

blushes Shashank, smiling.

Juhi smiles in understanding.

"Achi baat hai nurse Philo ne nahi dekha warna apki achi khasi class le letin.",

says Juhi, widening her eyes, then laughing.

"Oh! Unse to aaj mujhe chhup kar rehna parhega.",

says Shashank, as if really very scared of nurse Philo.

They laugh together.

They stare each other intimately. Smiling lovingly at each other.

"Aap dono kya kar rahe ho?",

asks one of the child patients, innocently.

Her voice drags Shashank and Juhi out of their love shell. They blush profusely, getting away from each other immediately. Smiling in shyness Juhi leaves. Shashank turns to look towards the retreating figure of shy Juhi, smiling lovingly at her.

*****

Juhi enters a vacant room in the hospital upon not finding Shashank in his cabin. This is the second place he loves being at times when he gets an urge to spend some lone time in the hospital. The moment her heels click the polished marble of the room, her nostrils get blocked by the fragrance of his perfume first; followed by her eyes arresting the beautiful sight of few candles illuminated on a beautiful heart shaped Red Velvet cake. Inclined onto the cake is the person who manages to take Juhi's breath away each time he appears in front of her.

"Sir, aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?",

asks Juhi, smiling in astonishment.

Shashank looks towards Juhi through the gaps between the illuminated candles. He fails to understand what is more brightening – the illuminated candles or the smile on Juhi's face?

Standing straight, looking straight into her eyes, he utters without any regret,

"Tumhara intezaar!"

His deep voice hits the pit of her stomach, making her stomach to churn in anticipation.

Could that be possible? Can this man be patient enough to wait for her... and just her?

His words that contain deep meaning succeed in vibrating the strings of Juhi's heart.

"Main bus ghar jane wali thi to socha aapse milti hui jaun.",

says Juhi, her tone serious; her voice as deep as his.

They continue staring each other understanding how much they want to be with each other at this moment.

Shashank keeps staring her, nodding his head a little.

Juhi tears her gaze from him feeling uncomfortable under his constant gaze.

"Ye sub kya hai Sir?",

asks Juhi, not ready to listen to her heart's explanation about the scenario.

"Ek chota sa pal, aur ek choti si koshish usse khoobsurat aur yaadgaar banane ki.",

explains Shashank, smiling a little.

Juhi smiles and blushes looking towards him as his words have a deep impact on her.

"Koshish?",

she asks, astonished.

Shashank keeps staring Juhi.

Smiling throughout, Juhi shakes her head in slow pace,

"Apko koshish karne ki zarurat nahi hai Sir. Apke saath bitaya hua har lamha meri yaadon ki kitab ke panno mein simta hua hai."

Her words make Shashank's heart to throb.

"Jab mann karta hai ateet ke unn pano ko palat kar parh leti hun.",

smiles Juhi, staring him throughout.

Shashank's eyes twinkle further, staring Juhi throughout.

Shashank cascades his eyes out of hesitation as nervousness grabs him.

Juhi knits her brows lightly wondering what resulted into his knitting his brows.

"Kya baat hai Sir?",

she asks, curious to know the reason of his sudden change in mood and desperate to do anything to change his mood and bring that genuine smile back on his face.

"Jab yaadein banane ka waqt tha tab to maine khud tumhe khudse durr kar diya tha.",

says Shashank, regretting everything that happened in the past.

His words pierce Juhi's heart. She immediately says,

"Humari kahani ko issi tarah likha gaya hai shayad Sir. Aap khudko dosh mat dijiye."

Her eyes reflect her honesty.

They stare each other.

"Jo beet gaya uska ghum nahi. Jo hai aur jo agey hoga, uski khushi hai.",

smiles Juhi.

Shashank smiles back in gratitude, showering his emotions for Juhi through that sparkling smile of his.

Juhi slowly picks up the knife, holding it she takes Shashank's hand with her free hand and rests it on her hand holding the knife. Shashank after a beat turns his hand into fist, holding her hand. They look towards each other one last time, smiling lovingly, then bending down they blow the candles together. Straightening themselves they look towards each other. Juhi wishes Shashank, lovingly,

"Happy Valentine's Day, Sir!"

Shashank stares her back, smiling lovingly and says,

"Ek baar bina Sir ke bhi kehdo."

Juhi smiles further, blushing.

Looking back towards him, she wishes him,

"Happy Valentine's Day, Shashank!"

Her addressing him by his name without the suffix 'Sir' makes his heart to beat at a high pace.

"Happy Valentine's Day, Juhi!",

he wishes her back, smiling shyly.

They feed each other from a single piece of cake.

*****

Sitting beside each other, their backs resting against the wall and Juhi's head resting against Shashank's chest while his left arm wrapped possessively around her, Juhi says,

"Ye itna sukoon dega maine kabhi socha nahi tha."

"Kya?",

asks Shashank, confused.

"Apka yun mere paas hona.",

says Juhi.

Shashank takes a deep breath, smiling in satisfaction.

"Shashank, main ander se bilkul tuti hui hun!",

confesses Juhi, sadly.

"Ek baar phirse kaho!",

says Shashank.

"Main ander se bilkul....",

Juhi begins to repeat but gets cut short by Shashank,

"Nahi ye nahi, usse pehle jo tumne kaha tha."

Juhi knits her brows in confusion. She looks up towards him, straightening up a little, though not getting out of his embrace.

"Kya?",

asks Juhi in confusion.

Shashank smiles at her innocence, looking towards her.

"Wohi jo tumne usse pehle kaha tha.",

teases Shashank, his eyes twinkling with naughtiness.

Juhi tries to remember and utters carelessly,

"Shashank main....",

her heart skips a beat as she realizes what she did unconsciously.

Juhi blushes immediately and she stares Shashank in utter shock.

She turns speechless.

Shashank notices how her chest expands and contracts in quick succession. He fails to hide his amusement and asks her, laughing a little,

"Kya hua?"

Juhi keeps her eyes wide opened out of shock and hesitation.

"Main... Main kehna nahi chahti thi... wo...",

in her state of shock she fails to form a coherent sentence.

Shashank laughs out loud, throwing his head back.

Juhi feels all the more uncomfortable.

"Aap hans kyun rahe hain?",

asks Juhi, feeling uncomfortable.

"To... to kya ho gaya Juhi agar mujhe mere naam se bula bhi liya to tumne?",

he teases her in between his laughter.

Juhi cascades her eyes in shyness.

"Ab tum kya mujhe zindagi bhar Shashank Sir bulaogi kya?",

asks Shashank, laughing still.

"Haan to? Aap mere mentor hain. Sir hi to bulana chahiye mujhe apko.",

says Juhi, suddenly turning into Shashank's intern and in her 20s.

"Humara rishta jo ab badlega uss mein 'Sir' ya 'Doctor' shabd ke liye koi jagah nahi hai!",

says Shashank, looking deep into her eyes, his voice turned deep.

Shivers run down Juhi's spine hearing that.

"Kaisa rishta hoga humara? Mujhe to ye soch kar bhi darr lag raha hai.",

Juhi shares her deepest fear with him.

Shashank smiles and says,

"Dosti ka rishta! Vishwas ka rishta! Pyar ka rishta! Iske alawa kuch nahi."

Juhi's feelings for Shashank increases further. She smiles wide, staring him, mesmerized.

Slowly she places her left palm on his chest crawling it upwards on his chest.

Shashank never ends the eye contact with her, smiling throughout.

Wrapping her left hand around his neck, Juhi pulls his face lightly towards herself. Shashank submits to her decision, bending down on to her. Softly Juhi allows her lips as soft as petals, to taste the nectar that his lips are ready to feed her with. Their desires and emotions heighten up for each other with each passing moment, making it almost impossible for them to let go off each other. They part away only when their turn short of breath. They stare each other intimately, regretting nothing about their this precious moment. They realize that this is the best Valentine's Day gift they could gift to each other.

Sometimes it is best to let your emotions flow. There is no harm in acting according to your heart's desire. Sometimes you need to block your mind from thinking about the end result; worrying about it. All you need to worry is to not let the opportunity to die; the time to pass by.

'Love' is already a complicated term. Why complicating it further by guarding yourself from acting as you feel like, even after confessing about your feelings to the love of your life? Let the emotion flow and blow your mind!

-THE END-