Chapter 1

*Palak Pov*

"Ms. Palak!" I turned away from my mobile hearing my name to see my co-worker pointing her hand at the doctor's office.

"I am waiting for a call. Can you take the case?" I asked, walking towards her.

"Even I wish to do that, but he specifically asked for a specialist and your name got chosen." She replied sighing longingly at the door.

"VIP?" I asked her frowning and she nodded.

I am not that keen on working with the VIP as they are never ready to work hard on getting better and whine a lot. Not everyone act in that way, but at least most of them.

Being a physiotherapist, there is a need to hold them or touch them, but many have objected to that and I don't know what type of patient will I be getting today.

I am already worried with none of my calls being picked by anyone for the past two weeks and I don't even know what actually happened. How can they just keep me out of the loop in this way?

I am scared to call others, but if they don't reply to my messages or call me then I will do that no matter what is the result. With all these thoughts I have to work on a VIP?

Shut up, Palak! You are being too much now thinking about patients in a wrong way. I need to finish all this soon and then think again about my personal problems.

"Is there a need to get briefed or you already know what is needed?" I asked, looking at Tina who really seems disappointed right now.

"It is better if you get briefed once as this is a really important case. And many people will be behind you if you make any mistake." She advised and I sighed, walking towards my senior's cabin and found him sitting alone.

"He just got shifted from Mumbai to this hospital following his wishes. We need to take care of this carefully. His ankle got fractured and also had a dislocated shoulder two months back from an accident." He started briefing after passing the file.

I paused, hearing two words and those are two months and accident. I cleared my throat and checked the report to see he is a racer and the accident happened on the field and that brought me too much relief without my conscious.

"He will be staying here for one month mostly. You are in charge of this case." He added looking at me and I nodded before leaving his cabin after he said my patient is waiting in the room.

I glanced at the time and rushed to the room so that I can finish it fast. On my way I decided to check if I have any other patient other than him so that I can just leave for the day.

Tina immediately pointed the table where a man is sitting and found many others, even patients looking at him. I gave her a nod and walked towards the table.

"Good afternoon, Mr. David Mattew! As today is the first day, we will work on the small exercises, but we will not be putting any pressure on the shoulder immediately. We will work on the ankle today and I will check your shoulder to understand the pressure it can bare." For five minutes I talked about the treatment and used the scale to check the point to where he can lift his arm slowly.

I gestured one of the interns I found lurking around to hold the chart and mark the details while I knelt down to check on his ankle.

After some time, I gave the intern a nod to help the patient from the table before walking away holding the chart when I felt my phone buzzing in my coat and that immediately turned my attention back to the problem I have right now.

"Palak! I heard you are in charge of the new patient. How was he to be working with?" I frowned, hearing Veer's words and calmly took out my bag from the locker.

"It was like working with a patient." I replied, giving him a tight smile and started walking away from the lockers but he followed me.

"What is it? I am in a hurry, Veer." I added turning around.

"It's just I heard he is very popular and also handsome. So..." he trailed off making me frown.

"I don't even remember his face and it is not your business to inquire such things." I pointed out and this time I walked off ignoring him.

I took out my phone near the reception before signing out and found the call I just missed belonging to my brother. I sighed in relief and immediately called him back and nodded at the receptionist while signing.

"Bhai! Why have none of you informed me about the judgement? What happened?" I rushed the moment he picked up the phone.

"Why are you calling Dad and me so many times? Can't you understand that we were busy?" he shouted and I immediately pulled my phone away from my ear.

"Tell me what actually happened." I pleaded ignoring his words.

"I am answering to your call, right? Can't you understand from that?" he asked scoffing and I placed my hand on the table bracing myself hearing those words.

"So, everything is settled now? There will be no more problems? You are completely free?" I asked again to be sure.

"Of course! Now, do not disturb us again like this. And don't send those threatening messages saying you will contact the company people and others if we don't pick the phone." He warned before cutting the call.

I shook my head, removing the phone from my ear and smiled in relief not letting his words or attitude affecting me. I don't care about all that and all I can think about is he is not in any problem right now and everything is fine.

I don't know what actually happened, but I know it caused a lot of worries to Dad and him. Now, I can just ignore them and be like before thinking only about my work.

Ugh! I don't want to go home right now and stay alone after all this stress. Maybe I can check up on some of my patients and spend some time here before leaving.

"I will be going back." I mumbled, looking at the receptionist and she nodded, letting me strike of the time I wrote.

I turned around only to step back looking at the person standing before me. I gave him a nod before moving a little to pass him, but stopped when he shifted to stand right before me.

"I need to have a word with you." He said in a light tone.

"You can inquire about anything here." I pointed out the reception desk and shifted to the right but frowned when he followed my suit.

"Will you talk to your patients only in that room?" he asked, pointing to the room belonging to our department.

"You are my patient?" I asked, frowning and he gave me a stunned expression.

"You found her, Mr. David?" I heard Tina's voice and found her walking towards us.

"Do I know him?" I asked her in a whisper and she gave a shocked look.

"You just treated him. And how were you able to forget his handsome face?" she asked, raising her voice and I cleared my throat to warn her.

"I am sorry about that, Mr. David Mattew. What do you want to talk about?" I asked and observed the clutch he is using with his right hand.

"Do you want to sit somewhere?" I added, realizing it is best if he sit down.

"No need! I just wanted to ask whether the treatment will be like this everyday with no interest towards patient and just a rushed exercise or will it be different from tomorrow." His words shocked me for sure.

However, I realized he was somewhat right in what he was saying. I was completely wrong to not even know the patient I just worked with because of my personal reasons.

"I can understand what you are saying, Mr. David. But there was no rush in the exercises I just helped you with. You need not have any worries regarding such matters." I assured him smiling, but he just continued to frown.

"I want to get my shoulder exercises start too. I need to be on the field soon to practice racing and unless I get a proper declaration from the hospital. So, I would like it if you concentrate on your work properly." Saying that he turned around and walked away slowly.

"Wow! I saw a few patients grumbling at you, but they never talked in this way. Are you okay?" Tina asked worriedly.

"Maybe he is right in his own way. And it is expected to face such criticisms from VIP's. I will be careful from tomorrow." I replied smiling.

"Stop it, Ms. Palak! You need not find any excuses for him too. He can't decide which exercise he should do or what you need to consult." She mumbled frowning.

"Wow! Are you angry at the person you were just fangirling for my sake?" I asked chuckling.

"Maybe! But you seem to be fine now rather than before." She observed.

"Maybe!" I copied her words.

I don't care if everyone scolds me today. After worrying about this issue for the past two months, I am finally relieved. And who cares if a stranger just voice his opinion when I know it will be changed by the end of the treatment.

We both walked back into the department room and she continued with her work while I decided to guide the interns for today and I can't keep the smile away from my face.

I yawned walking out of the hospital and started walking towards my room looking around. I rubbed my shoulders, feeling the breeze, and glanced at the scenery as it is still not dark.

I think it was my best decision to come here to Lonavla to settle three years back instead of staying in Mumbai. I can stay away from them and lead a peaceful life, even though I keep on worrying about them whenever a problem occurs.

I just hope nothing else happens, at least for a few months and I can work hard forgetting about them as much as I can. I walked to the house where I am staying as paying guest and climbed the stairs to reach the penthouse.

I cooked a light meal and finished it before getting ready to bed. I can finally sleep peacefully with no worries today. I drifted off into sleep with a smile still covering my face.