The Strings Of Heart

38

David's POV

I look at the phone screen, a groan leaves my mouth. I place the phone on my table and lean back in my seat. Closing my eyes I wait till I get a message.

When I received the message after ten minutes I stand up removing my coat, I pick the phone and leave the cabin.

"Doctor David, you going somewhere?" Meera asked when she saw me.

"Yeah Meera, can you take care of your team? I will be back in two hours."

"Yes doctor David, but you have appointments," Meera said.

"When do they start?"

"In an hour."

"Tell Yashwanth or Yasmeen to do the appointments. I will be back and take care of the other appointments."

"Okay doctor David," she said.

"And don't forget to apologize to the patients on behalf of me."

"Noted doctor David."

"Have a nice day," I say giving her a smile. She smiles back shyly nodding her head.

"Drive safe doctor David." I don't say anything, just smile and start walking towards the elevator. the elevator ride was short and empty.

"Good afternoon, doctor David," the receptionist lady greeted.

"Good afternoon, have a nice day." I smile and greet everyone as I go to the parking lot.

Unlocking my car, I open my door and get inside. I throw the phone and wallet on the passenger seat then put on my seatbelt before driving.

I reach the location she has sent me. I park the car in the parking lot and step out of the car.

I walk to the entrance to where she wanted to meet. She isn't here yet, sighing I take my seat. I tap my finger on the armrest with my leg crossed over the other.

My gaze goes to the lady walking in my way with her assistant walking behind her. Her gaze meets mine, she halts and tells her assistant something before he nods his head and leaves.

I stand up from my chair to greet her, "good afternoon mum, how was your flight?" I ask her. Her eyes narrowed and I know I'm in trouble. 

I take my seat after she took her seat, placing her phone and bag on the table she turns her head.

"Waiter..." She didn't answer me and called the waiter.

"Good afternoon Ma'am and sir, how may I help you?"

"I will have an expresso coffee," she told him.

"Good afternoon, I will have a cold coffee," I tell the waiter. He wrote down our orders and left.

"Do you have any idea of how much trouble you have created?" She came straight to the point.

"I don't know that I have created trouble that you had to travel all the way from Europe to India," I say looking at her.

"Yes... You have. Do you know how furious Madhav and Lalitha were? When Sejal called me saying about your little date with Sitara, I booked an immediate flight ticket to clear the air." Her eyes are narrowed and her jaw clenched.

"Mum... It wasn't a date even Sejal have told her parents that Sitara is like a sister to me."

"Oh really? Do you think I'm stupid or Sejal's parents are?" I close my eyes and then open them.

"Mum, I don't think you are stupid or Sejal's parents. It was just a simple dinner together," I tell her.

"Haha... You are available to that small dinner with Sitara but you don't have time to meet Sejal outside the hospital? How many times I have told you to take Sejal out on dates..." She continues. She is furious and glaring at me.

"And why did you meet Sitara? Don't she hates you and I dislike that girl. I couldn't believe that you were seeing her."

"Mum! I'm not seeing Sitara and why do you dislike her? I have told you that she is a nice girl. There is no point of disliking her."

She raised her brow, "you are arguing with me and talking on behalf of her? Don't tell me that you are seriously seeing her."

I shake my head closing my eyes, the only people who make me nervous, furious and worry is my mum and Sitara.

Handling them is always a tough job. I need to be very careful of my words not to hurt them.

"To begin with, I'm not arguing with you nor taking Sitara's side. It's a misunderstanding mum... There is nothing going on and I don't see Sitara in that manner where I have feelings for her."

"I don't know about that, Madhav and Lalitha were furious seeing you with some other girl when you are going to be engaged with Sejal."

I look at her, "engaged? I'm not going to marry anyone."

We become silent as our coffee is placed. "Thank you."

"David, you are not getting any younger. You need to marry someone and that someone is Sejal. Sejal is the perfect woman for you and for our household," she said sipping her coffee.

"Mum, I know Sejal is the perfect girl but I'm not ready for engagement or marriage. I need space and time, I have just finished my residency and have responsibilities," I tell her.

"Do you love someone? Or are you in love?" She asks. I'm startled by the question, I look at her without uttering a word.

"No, why do you ask?"

"You are being distant with Sejal, she have informed all the times when you rejected going out with her. You said you will meet her parents for a dinner but you never did. And now you are saying you need space and time."

"Mum seriously? I was busy and I'm busy with all the shifts in the hospital. And there is a reason behind why I don't attend those dinners. There is no point of me being in love, even if I'm I would tell you."

"I would never agree to love marriage. You have seen how your dad and I ended our relationship. I don't want you to fall in love," she said seriously.

It's a waste if I say a word now. I don't say anything just stay quiet sipping my coffee.

"I don't want you to see Sitara. I can't stand that girl, she is too much trouble. She caused you so much trouble and I don't want to have disturbance between you and Sejal because of her."

"Mum, please don't bring Sitara into this. Don't ever say a word to her. If you want to say anything to me, just say but please not her."

She stops sipping her coffee and stares at me. "I do not want to know what's going on between you and Sitara. I love her mum and Elora, don't do something that would end my relationships with them. Whatever it is end it before it grows, it will only hurt people. Everyone knew that it's you and Sejal, don't involve with that kid."

"Anything else?" I ask sarcastically. I'm done listening to everyone and I can't say a word back to them.

"I'm staying two days, we are having dinner with the Kuthadi family in the evening and don't forget to bring them gifts," mum said.

"Why today? You could've kept it tomorrow."

"Do you think it was easy to talk with them and to clear the air? They were very happy with you but because of your stupid dinner, your reputation was ruined in their eyes. Thank god, we have Sejal. Who handled the situation, spoke with her parents and informed me."

I bite my tongue and simply nod my head. "Right, send me the location and time."

"Bring flowers for Sejal."

"Noted." I stand up to leave.

"Do you know her favourite flowers?"

"I don't know, I need to bring flowers. I will bring them," I say.

"She loves red roses, bring her red roses."

"Okay."

"Goodbye."

"Hmm."

*

"Doctor David, I didn't know that you read novels in your free time," Yashwanth spoke.

"Thank you, Vikram," I say taking the coffee cup from Vikram.

"What are you saying?" Meera asked Yashwanth.

"See, it's a novel by Ruskin Bond," Yashwanth said showing the book. He picked it from the sofa, it suddenly clicked in my mind, it belongs to Sitara.

"What is the book title?" Yasmeen asked. Yasmeen is a book lover.

"Falling in love again."

"Keep the book away Yashwanth," I say but it's a waste of saying as he already opened it.

"There is a note written."

"What they wrote?"

"What if we are wrong about love... The true power of love lies in when you start worrying about the person, it is not about the butterflies and the racing of heart seeing them. It is the feeling of safety and happiness you get seeing the person. He is good to me and I hope he is good to me...

To my first love, I fell in love and I pray that you fall in love again..." Yashwanth read.

They all shared a look before looking at me. "I don't think it belongs to doctor David," Meera said.

"Yes, this is not doctor David's handwriting," Yasmeen said.

"Doctor David, does this book belong to Sejal? I don't think she is a novel reader," Yashwanth said.

Yashwanth's words kept ringing in my mind, "to my first love, I fell in love and I pray that you fall in love again."

"Doctor David," Yashwanth's words snapped me out of my bubble.

"No... It's not mine or Sejal's." Yashwanth gives me a smile.

"Then who is the owner of this book? Awe, her words makes sense. Tell me doctor David, do you know the owner of this book?" He asked with so much curiosity.

"Why?"

"If she works here, I would like to meet her."

Meera, Yasmeen and Vikram shook their heads. "No, I don't know the owner of the book," I simply lie.

The thought of Yashwanth meeting Sitara didn't settle down in my mind. "Then why is this book in your cabin?"

"I found it somewhere, someone left the book on the bench and I picked it up." They all nod their heads, Yashwanth goes through the pages.

"She has highlighted the lines she liked. She must've fallen in love recently."

"How do you know?" Yasmeen asked Yashwanth.

"She mentioned the date but she didn't mention her name."

"But why do you think the reader is girl, it can be a man too," Meera said.

"It can be but I feel like it's a girl."

"Doctor David, can I keep the book?" Yashwanth asked.

"Hey, I was going to ask doctor David," Yasmeen spoke.

"No, I want to keep the book," I tell them.

"Aren't you guys going for dinner?" I ask them.

"Oh yeah, let's go before they finish the food," Vikram said standing up.

They started having their meals together, they working on their bond and right now, they are good. Meera and Yashwanth doesn't argue all the time which is a blessing. 

I sometimes have my meals with them when I'm not in the operation theatre or busy. It's good to have my meals with them.