I turned back to gaze at a pair of dark brown eyes smiling at me. Instantly I felt his sweet, friendly charm and smiled back. He filled his plate with a couple of cheese sandwiches.

"That's a lot of cheese at one go, don't you think?" He said.

I nodded. "If you already know, then why are you taking so many of them?"

He laughed. "Just like that. I like making people laugh."

I laughed. "See? You were really successful. I just laughed."

"Are you taunting me or something?"

I shook my head. "No, I genuinely laughed. Really."

"So, first day?" He asked again. 

"Yeah, hectic, and yet normal. I'm accustomed to work, I guess."

"Accustomed to work. Something that I will never be." He exhaled, as if tired of his life, and continued, "It is always like that. Everyday is like the first day. So much work, no fun, no laughing. Being a doctor is so serious- just opposite of what I wanted. And just because my Mom wanted me to be one."

So there is the same story with all Indians. We become what we want not because of what we actually are interested in, but because our parents want us to become that. It must be so different in foreign nations, where the children are left to decide on their own. No mental stress, no parent pressure. But then, you never know what's happening in others' lives if you're not them. For example, how many people find my life awesome? Not me, and nor do you. (or do you?)

My chain of thoughts which was never ending was interrupted by the guy.

"..I wish I could become an entertainer. Like Kapil Sharma, the Comedy Nights host? I mean, look at his success. Do you know he was a random police inspector before? Sometimes I am so jealous of him, like whenever I see him on television. Meeting hot women, flirting with them and earning so much money. And look at me, then! Phew, I hate my life!"

"So are you jealous of him because he gets to flirt with actresses or because he's rich?" I teased him.

"Oh, because he does what he likes. Entertain people. Of course, I was never into girls."

"Really? How much do you lie on a daily basis?" I asked, laughing.

"Nil." He said. "Sometimes I wonder- how did I end up here? I mean, saving lives and stupid bio stuff was never my-"

"I guess you should respect the profession." I interrupted him.

"Yeah, Doctor. Of course. Wait, will you please treat me? I am speaking to a random beauty without even asking her her name? I mean what the hell is wrong with me?"

"Sarah. Sarah Siddique."

"Rafael Malik." He said, and then we shook hands. Everyone shakes hands here.

Someone tapped me from behind. "Hello? We're waiting."

"Oh sorry, my bad." I said. I filled my plate with cheese sandwiches, like Rafael did, and made my way out of the queue to let the others rush in my place for food. 

"Hungry people." I muttered under my breath.

Rafael burst out laughing. His sudden laugh made me jump.

"And there, I thought I was a great entertainer." He said.

I smiled and began to feast on my sandwiches.

"So where are you from?" Rafael asked while eating. We strolled in the corridors of the clinic while emptying our plates.

"Me? I am from Delhi. And you?"

"I live here in Lansdowne. My place is nearby."

I said nothing.

"Have you got any foreign descent? I mean your looks are strikingly non-Indian."

I laughed. "Non-Indian? Oh no. Or maybe, you can say. My Dad's grandfather aka my great grandfather was Turkish. But that was like a long time ago, so-"

"Not a long time ago biologically. See, I love biology!" His voice was filled with sarcasm as he said the last line.

I finished my sandwiches and emptied my plate. After Rafael finished his plate, we went back to the main canteen to return the plates. Then I bought some chocolates from the canteen.

"Still like chocolates?" He laughed.

I said nothing, just smiled and returned the change to the man who was selling them.

"Hope we meet again soon." He said.

"Yeah, same here. It was nice talking to you." I said.

Then he went to his cubicle and I went to mine. I realised then that his cubicle was just next to mine.

In my cubicle, a patient was already waiting for me. But what caught my attention was her bright big eyes. And though she was just a child, her smirk scared me.