Serendipity

Episode #9 : The Concern & Care

SCENE 1

“...so how was your first day at the camp ?”

Abhimanyu was laid on the bed, his head comfortably sunken into the pillows. He was holding his phone horizontally in both hands and was talking to Manjiri and Neil on video call. After Neil patiently told them about his day, Manjiri directed her question to her elder son.

A smile crept upon Abhimanyu's face. “It was...” the events of entire day flashed through his mind in that brief pause and he huffed a soft laugh. “-memorable.” - he completed.

Manjiri looked curious while Neil wiggled his eyebrows playfully. “Memorable huh ?”

Abhimanyu rolled his eyes. “I said that because it rained in the morning and I didn't have an umbrella with me.” - he explained, unaware that the smile on his face softened as the face of his rescuer came to his mind.

But it didn't slip Manjiri's notice.

“Then how did you reach ?” - she asked, more excited than worried. Neil's face got closer to the screen as well like Abhimanyu was going to give insider on the national security plan.

“A doctor helped me.” - he said smiling sweetly.

Manjiri and Neil both leaned back, sighing in disappointment and Abhimanyu chuckled. If he told them the doctor in question was a girl, he would not hear the end of it.

“Abhi listen na... there will be-”

“I am feeling sleepy Maa...” - Abhimanyu yawned, not letting his mother start on her favourite topic. Neil was dissolved in silent laughter and didn't sober up even when Abhimanyu glared at him. “Wait till I get home.” - he threatened his younger brother.

Neil only grinned in response.

Bidding both Manjiri and Neil night, Abhimanyu put the phone on charge at nightstand and rolled on his left to sleep. Although, sleep was far from him as someone's enthusiastic talks and lively eyes played in his mind on repeat.

~

SCENE 2

For the first time ever, Suman bunked a class. But it was not for nothing. The class in question was of pathology and she already knew Abhimanyu was not going to teach so attending it had been useless. Instead, she used that time for medical camp and reached early only to find that...

Abhimanyu was not there.

A worrying frown came over her face. The chair where Abhimanyu had sat the day before was reserved by some other doctor who was dealing with a long queue of patients. Her eyes restlessly searched the camp but he was not there.

‘What if he left for home ?’

The thought stilled all her movements. And THAT shocked her, SHOOK her to the core. Why did it feel like someone sprayed sadness in the air ? Why did the possibility of not meeting Abhimanyu again bothered her so much ?

‘Because of my pathology lessons...’ - she reasoned with herself, shaking her head.

She spotted Mr. Bedi taking rounds and her feet automatically took her to the supervisor for inquiry.

“Oh Suman! So good to see you!” - Mr. Bedi delighted at her sight.

“Have you seen Dr. Abhimanyu ?” - she asked quickly, not noticing that she might come out rude to Mr. Bedi. But her mind was fuzzy at that moment. She was not to be blamed.

Mr. Bedi smiled. “He called in sick today and is resting in the quarter.”

Her heart gave a sharp pang, shocking her yet again. “Called in sick ? But what has happened to him ?” - she asked, not knowing that she sounded highly worried and borderline panicked.