Devrudra Banerjee

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The same day

I was in a trance as I saw her approaching the canteen, with hair braided into short braid, some tendrils of her brunette hair was flirting with her cheek, her face, a bit dull maybe due to class or hospital visit, still radiate the confidence she bore, her steps indicated her poised body language.

Reaching the counter, she quickly grabbed a parcel of roti and dal tadka, paying the money, she exited the canteen without glancing at anyone.
I , was the fool I am, still was gawking the exit, she just went out from.

"Bhai, sapne baad mein dekhna. Jaldi se kha le. We have to report in a hour, after your launch we have to go to academic building to register our name, before we can proceed to meeting hall" Raghav chided, patting my back, that became a reason to come out of my yet another daydream.

*Brother, dream later, just eat quickly*

Finishing our launch in yet another twenty minutes, I and Raghav ventured towards the academic block.
The opportunity that had come to us, was equally taxing and lucrative. Taxing because of the time length, and lucrative to work with various departments, gaining some precious knowledge.

Win was never a matter for me , but that did not mean , I was not competitive. I was , but more than the win, I always tried to enjoy the process, taking every bit of the essence of it.

As we still had somewhat twenty minutes, Raghav suggested to look onto the booklet that had been given to us during registration, it did contain some rough idea about the project along with the name of the mentors.

With the building anticipation in my heart, I accompanied my friend towards the meeting hall. Reaching there, we encountered with some of the brilliant minds of this campus not only that, but cream layer of this country, some of the faces were known to me, some them were only known to me by their names but never got the opportunity to meet them in person. Among them the most recognized person was Dr. Sanjeev Bhosle from the department of Radiology, my own junior. Seeing me, at the entrance, he sprinted towards me, with a bright smile.

"Aree, Sir Banerjee, you are in this group too. I am so happy. I heard that someone from Radiology is selected, even expected you too be in part of it. i can't tell how happy I am" Dr. Bhosle chided, though It seems, funny to watch a man with a height of above 6'3" animatedly expressing his joy.

"Ofcourse, Bhosle I am in. But how many times have I told you not to call me Sir anymore, You won't listen huh?" I expressed my feelings. Dr. Bhosle, a 27 years old young brilliant mind, last year during my third year of my post graduation, I was his mentor for one of his project, I actively participated in his project, except that, I had grown a good banter with him.

"Aree, Banerjee Sir, you know old habits die hard" he giggled, though it seemed more of restricted laugh.

With the a thud, we discerned three of our mentors entering the meeting hall.

Three of the best doctor of this country. Dr. Shushovan Gupta, from the department of medicine, an efficient doctor, who has multiple research paper and book publication not in this country but worldwide. Next was Dr. Abhigyan Singh from the department of Neurosurgery, a surgeon, who can be counted in top 5 neurosurgeon in whole world. and last but not the least, Dr. Tanmay Bhatia from my own department.

The meeting hall was now filled with all the selected doctors, except two them, which I got to know by counting them.

"Good evening all the doctors, we already know the purpose of this meeting here, but we have to wait a bit a more as two of our selected doctors are not presented yet" Dr. Bhatia mentioned in a friendly manner.

"Sir, we all are present here, as far as my knowledge, only two of the PGY-1 doctors are yet to come, Sir, we all have our own duties and class yet we are here at the right time, why this concession to them?" Dr. Shetty chided in her irritating nasal tone. When I said she was irritating, she was. I was someone who was mostly a calm person, who rarely get irritated, but she was one of those person who could give my patience a tough challenge.

"Dr. Shetty, though your curiosity was valid but you should always know that we as mentors aren't here for giving any concession, but the students who are late today, had already submitted valid reason for the late. So, from the next time, do think twice before raising fingers on the administration. Am I clear doctor?" Dr. Singh declared in a tone of no-nonsense. I always had admired this person, he was one of those person, who was well versed with the knowledge of how to put someone on their place.

"Sir, May I come in" A muffled raspy female voice could be heard from the opposite side of the closed door.

After getting the permission to enter, a woman figure entered the room, behind her was a male. I did not give more importance to the entrance of someone that was why I was more indulged in my booklet, until Raghav poked my rib. And when I lifted my head to grasp who were those students, who caused a serial drama in meeting hall, I stood there speechless witnessing the sight.

There stood, Prashmita.

Cladded in a purple long kurti paired with a pair of white slacks, she stood there along with his alleged boyfriend Dr. Somrath, flaunting a white shirt with a pair of chocolate trousers. I would not be lying, they did look good together, but that toxic, jealous part of mine, would never agree with that. I did feel dejected spotting them together, but the optimistic part of mine was overjoyed with the fact that they were those PGY-1 students who were selected. It could be proved to be one of the golden opportunity to know her more, to unveil the real story of the alleged relationship, that was one of the most discussed topic.

"Sorry for the late Sir, I apologized profusely for the same" she stated with a soft tone.

"I too apologize for the late" a deep masculine voice, which belongs to Somrath boomed the hall.

"Not to worry doctors, do take your seat. so we can start our discussion." Dr. Bhatia pronounced.

After that, the discussion went for two and half hours more, which could be sumarized as , we the team of 12 had to select a main topic, along with two minor one. The doctors from various branches would be working on those topic , giving their inputs and after that the materials would be presented in the form of both poster and presentation. At the end of the discussion, the mentors left the hall with the instructions and timetable for the upcoming project and how we would be maintaining both our duty and this project.

In the season of winter, dusk fell faster than other season, it is only 5 now, but the outside was already a bit darkened. With a big glass window at this hall, I could already perceive the environment.

My eyes again ventured towards her, her shoulder length hair was now open, a pair of medium lengthed jhumka embellishing her ears. The sight was too pulchritudinous to avoid, as if a celestial nymph may had descended from heaven, engulfing me into a tapestry of fantasy as if I was in a trance.

I was so focused in my imagination that I had almost missed her exiting if not the thud sound of the door closing was not too audible to miss, Somrath also followed her. A sliver of pain subdued in my heart, too transient to miss, yet excruciating to avoid.

Will I never get the chance?

Would my love never got reciprocated?

But, I should not be selfish for my love to expect the devastation of a beautiful bond ,could I?

Author's note

Todays update was more about presenting the backstory of one of the most important plot of this story. The fleeting moment of Devrudra, relishing the bitter sweet experience with Prashmita.

It may sound boring at first, but the description is needed for the upcoming chapter.

Idea 10, a soothing piano note to describe the peace of the ambience, yet some of it part may reflect the inner confusion , Devrudra is dealing with.