The Strings Of Heart

36

David's POV

I sighed leaning against the sofa, Meera and Yashwanth are arguing over their presentation.

"Doctor David, it was Yashwanth's mistake. Yasmeen, Vikram and I were waiting in your office but he never showed up. We didn't have time to prepare before ahead because of him," Meera complained.

"Brother David, don't listen to her. I was present in the office for preparation. I was just five minutes late. And she changed the whole position... She told Vikram to start the presentation then she changed our presentation," Yashwanth said.

"Don't put the blame on me! I wasn't the one who changed it. Ask Yasmeen and Vikram." I lean my chin on my palm watching them as they fight.

I look at Yasmeen and Vikram who stood looking at Meera and Yashwanth. I can tell by the expressions on their face that they are scared.

There was a knock on the door, they stopped arguing and turned their heads. I turned back to see Sejal. Sejal entered the room with a serious face.

"Good evening, doctor Sejal," Vikram greeted.

"Good evening, doctor Sejal."

"Good evening, doctor Sejal."

"Good evening, doctor Sejal."

She crossed her arms looking at the four, Yashwanth and Meera are wearing furious expressions.

"How can you two do that?" Sejal started looking at them.

"Do you all have any idea of what you have done today?"

"You four aren't high schoolers. You are first-year residents of this hospital and you have to know how important those demonstrations and presentations are..." Sejal started scolding them.

"Because of you four, doctor David have to apologize to the senior professors. Other doctors are laughing at doctor David, you are his residents and you should've thought about doctor David's reputation!" Sejal added.

"Doctor Sejal..." I call her name. She turned her gaze to me.

"Leave them alone, don't say a word. I request you not to say a word nor scold them." I stand up from the seat, turn and look at them.

Without saying a word I walk over to my desk, pick my belongings and leave the room. Sejal follows me out.

"David... I know you are angry with them. Why don't we go for dinner and talk about it?" Sejal suggests.

I'm not angry with them, I'm just upset about what happened in the afternoon.

"Sorry doctor Sejal, I like to be alone. Hope you understand," I tell her and give her a smile before leaving.

*

I open the balcony door and walk towards the railing to see the sunset but saw Sitara playing basketball alone in the backyard.

Aishu aunty requested me to stay in the house with Rishi, Sitara and Pihu as everyone went out of the station. I couldn't say no to Aishu aunty, now I'm staying here for two weeks.

Sitara didn't disturb me nor she tried to talk with me. She must be still in shock about the accident. Pihu hardly looked my way, which I found weird but I'm happy that she is trying to move on from her crush.

I watch Sitara from the balcony before deciding to go to the backyard. My mind is a mess and I need to relax.

Sitara stops playing, removes the AirPods and keeps them on the table. Then walks back to where I stood.

"Hi," she greets. She is wearing a sports bra and shorts. I blink my eyes, I have never seen her in this sports attire.

"Hi." She smirked throwing the ball at me.

"One-on-one," she said.

"Sure."

We start playing not so seriously. She didn't speak and I didn't speak, we just played in silence.

"What is that bothering you apart of me?" She asked breaking the silence.

"Huh?" I kept my distance from her and fixed my gaze on the ball and court.

"What is that bothering you? You seem upset about something..." She said and I make eye contact with her.

"How do you know that something is bothering me and I'm upset about it?" I ask in astonishment.

"It's written on your face clearly. So tell me about it." I bounce the ball and she easily takes the ball from me.

I don't know if I should tell her or not but I need a way. A way to make my residents work together.

"I started working in my mom's hospital this year and this is the first I got first-year residents under me," I start saying.

"Okay... That's good."

"Every month they need to give demonstration and presentation of what they have learned. Like residents will be working under us while performing an operation. They need to observe everything and make a report of it..."

I move closer to her to get the ball, she turns around bouncing the ball away and go to the other side. Her body touches mine as she swiftly moves.

"And?" She asks as I stopped saying.

"We had a presentation or reporting day. My residents messed it up from the beginning, Yashwanth and Meera blame one other. Vikram and Yasmeen got no say as they stayed silent. It was a mess and they started arguing. I just don't understand how they are going to work together if they keep on arguing or have small fights," I say.

"Hmm... You are worried that those small arguments and fights would turn into something big while working together."

"Yes," I reply. She steps forward, easily taking the ball from me.

"It's clear that they don't have proper communication between them. Communication is important for any bond to develop. If they have proper communication then there will be proper understanding. First, take them out for lunch or dinner dates, it will help out," she said. Throws the ball in the basket making a point.

"Yeah... I haven't thought about it."

"They are residents, they don't have proper knowledge of how it works in the hospital. It takes time I guess to understand, so be patient with them. They would be startled and nervous working as a first-year resident. They will make mistakes but if you are their head, guide them. I'm sure you will handle them with care, not by anger. You are not a person who would get angry so it's a plus point."

I stop and watch her as she bounces the ball, her long legs flexing and there is sweat coating her open skin.

Sitara is attractive there is no lie in it but I can't get attracted to her. Her long hair is tied into a high ponytail which is swinging side by side as she moves around.

I blink my eyes when my gaze halts at her chest and stomach. She doesn't exactly have abs but she got a slim waist.

"Done checking me out?" She asks raising her head. There is a smile on her face as she looks at me.

All of a sudden I become shy under her gaze. "N... No. I wasn't checking you out." That is a lie, I was definitely checking her out.

"Haha..." She comes closer. Sitara is tall compared to other females in her family. But when she stands before me, she becomes a shorty reaching only my shoulders.

She must be 5'7, she stands closer holding the basketball ball to one side. I look down at her as she looks up at me. Her skin is clear but there is a red pimple on her forehead.

I need to step away but I can't. Instead of feeling nervous, I felt a strange excitement.

"Why are you so cute today?" She asked before standing on her tip toes. My eyes widen as she placed her warm lips on my chin very close to my lips.

She kissed the place before stepping away and started leaving. I stood there wide eyed as my cheeks turned warm. I felt tingles and excitement in my body.

*

"Should I go down or not?" I ask myself. I have been pacing back and forth with that question in my mind. I don't want to see Sitara and feel those weird excitement that is new to me.

I never felt that before, I don't want to give in and raise Sitara's hopes. There was a knock on my door.

"Come in." The door opened and Farheen Didi stood at the entrance.

"David beta, your dinner is ready. Everyone is waiting for you," she said gently. I want to eat in my room but that doesn't sound good.

"I will be there in a minute," I reply softly with a smile.

"Okay David, don't make it late." I nod my head and Farheen Didi leaves the room.

"Nothing will happen David! Just ignore Sitara and don't look at her..." I tell myself.

Taking a deep breath, I open the door and go downstairs. I walk towards the dining area, Rishi and Pihu are talking with Sitara.

They stop talking when they saw me. "Hey David, sit here," Rishi says patting the seat beside him.

Pihu and Sitara are sitting side by side opposite us. "Hi Pihu," I say looking at Pihu who is looking at me.

"Hello." I try to not look at Sitara. But I can't help it as I look at her and make eye contact.

She is wearing a sweatshirt and smiles at me teasingly. I immediately look away feeling so shy. I don't understand why I'm shy.

We serve our plates, start eating. Pihu and Sitara talk while I make conversation with Rishi.

I spend some time with them before standing up to leave. Rishi and Pihu decided to stay back while Sitara stood up to leave as she has college tomorrow.

I don't say a word climbing the steps with Sitara following me behind. Our rooms are on the same floor but mine is at the beginning of the hallway while hers is at the corner of the hallway.

"Good night," I tell her opening the door.

"David..." She calls me by name. I stop and turn around.

"Huh?"

"Hmm..."

"I seriously want to meet you tomorrow for dinner. Yesterday I was serious when I told you that I'm looking forward to meet you for dinner..."

"I..."

"I know... You don't want to meet me for dinner and it would be better if we stop. I'm asking you as Elora's sister," she said.

"Huh? I don't understand."

"I'm grateful that you came yesterday and I want to treat you for dinner. I'm going to wait for you, I will share the location after deciding the location."

She doesn't give me a chance to reply as she starts walking away to her room. I stand there watching her figure go away.