Chapter 2

*Palak Pov*

"Here!" I opened my eyes to see Veer sitting beside me and I immediately sat properly before glancing at the bottle he is offering.

"Thank you! Are you taking a break too?" I asked, opening the bottle to take a sip.

"All my appointments are done for the day. What about you?" he asked, smiling and glanced at the chart in the room we are present sitting to take a rest.

This is supposed to be the place where we take care of all the patient records and have meetings, but most of the time we just use it to take some rest whenever we feel tired sitting in these chairs. Some of us go to the dorms but some of us feel it is better to stay near to the equipment room to help if anyone needs it.

"I have one last patient, but it's after half an hour." I replied, leaning back feeling tired today and I really hope he is not going to suggest something again already knowing the answer.

"I will wait for you here and we can go somewhere. It is the weekend after all." I sighed when my worry became a reality.

I just hope at least for once we both can sit down with no discussion regarding this matter. He is a good guy, but he just doesn't believe when I say no and that is a big problem for me.

No matter how many times I have explained that I don't feel that way about him, he is not accepting my words. I try to be harsh sometimes, but how much can I try without being too rude.

"No! You already know the answer to that." I mumbled leaning forward to place my head on the table to rest my eyes.

"Just as friends." I shook my head and closed my eyes, but sat straight when I heard Tina calling me in a loud voice.

I turned to see her standing at the entrance, looking at me with a worried look. I frowned and gestured her to come towards me without shouting.

"Why are you shouting, Tina? Is there some emergency?" I asked, to which she shook her head, but nodded slightly before glancing outside.

"Your patient is here, Ms. Palak." She mumbled walking towards me.

"Already? There is still some time left, right?" I asked, looking at my watch.

"That's what he was informed when he came but he is not leaving. I tried to convince him, but the look he gave is definitely frightening. He is Mr. David and I came here to call you, not wishing to make it any worse." She replied shaking her head.

"How can he do that? Just because he is a VIP candidate?" Veer asked, standing up and I sighed following him.

"Isn't he the one who talked to me yesterday?" I asked her and she nodded.

"Is he creating too much ruckus?" I asked, taking my coat to go and let him know he can't cause trouble for others like this.

"No! He is not saying anything at all." Her words paused me.

"Then why were you so worried?" I asked her frowning, not at all understanding her.

"He is talking in a normal tone and doing anything to disturb others. It's just that he gave me a look like he will not move an inch and we don't know what will happen if someone doesn't intervene, right. So, I was worried." She explained and I kind of understand her explanation.

"Well, I guess I will be going home half and hour early." I said, smiling and walked out of the room but they continued to follow me.

"You are still fangirling him?" I asked, to which she just shrugged.

"I don't want to create any trouble. So, don't react much." I pleaded Veer and he just sighed, but gave me a nod.

"You were about to leave, right?" I added and this time he just frowned at me.

"Fine! But don't let him bully you." Saying that he walked off.

"Why don't you give him a chance, Ms. Palak?" Tina asked when we continued to walk.

"Should I just force myself to like him in that way, even though I can't bring myself to think him as anything else other than a friend?" I asked looking at her.

"No! But I have never seen you showing interest in anyone and I don't know if you like someone or not." She pointed out.

"Don't worry! You will know immediately if I like someone. I think I am the type who goes to the end if I actually fall in love." I explained and she chuckled while gesturing me to the place where the patient must be waiting.

"And maybe that's why I didn't let myself fall for someone." I added clearing my throat and she frowned at me but turned her attention when we both couldn't find the patient.

"I asked him to stay here when I came to inform you, Ms. Palak." She explained frowning.

"Maybe he returned to his room not wishing to wait. I will for some time and if he doesn't come at the appointed time, then I will call him." I assured her.

We both turned to leave and stepped back when we found him standing right there. What's wrong with him? Why is he always sneaking behind someone? It was same yesterday and he did it again now.

"You can go now." I mumbled and she nodded before walking away.

"Mr. David! Aren't you tired of waiting for others like this behind their backs?" I asked, looking at him, but he completely ignored me and walked towards the table.

"There is still half an hour left for your appointed time. It is fine to do this session, but it will not be the same every day. Please go through the schedule given to you, Mr. David." I added after he settled properly.

"My Manager must have made a mistake by informing the wrong timings." He looked at me giving that excuse and this time I didn't say anything.

I repeated the instructions I gave him yesterday, but I know he is waiting for me to concentrate on his shoulder right now. I can't let him feel hurt just because he is wishing for all this not understanding, but I needed to do something to not let him be rude like yesterday.

I gestured an intern who is passing us and asked him to stay with me. After a few minutes, I finally showed a small exercise and asked him to do it.

"You make sure he is doing it properly, otherwise he will get hurt." I instructed the intern and took a step back to leave.

"There is still time left in my session. Are you going to rush off like yesterday?" he asked looking at me.

Now I understand Tina's reaction completely. He really communicates too much from his eyes and I can totally read his judgement in his eyes right now along with his words.

"I left after finishing my work yesterday and I will do the same today. I am not leaving but just going to let the intern take care of this part while I observe him and also keep an eye on the progress." I explained and I wish I need not explain all this to him but I need to so that there will not be any tantrum right now to put a stop.

He frowned but continued with the exercise, but didn't look away from my face. I tried to look at his shoulder and the intern in between but feeling weird about his stare, somehow my eyes shifted back to meet his in between.

"Ms. Palak! Can you review this test result?" I looked away to find Tina standing beside me.

Clearing my throat, I concentrated on the result before signing it and nodded at her, but she gestured to the table before whispering, "Why is he looking at you, Ms. Palak? Did you say something?"

"You know that I will be careful with VIP's." I whispered back.

"Then why?" she asked frowning.

"I don't know! Do you have to stay longer?" I asked, changing the topic and she nodded sighing.

"I had free time in the morning, but now it is packed." She replied before walking away and I checked my watch to see the time he is scheduled is finished.

I nodded at the intern and he immediately explained how the test was before walking away. I took the crutch from the table where he placed it and moved it near to him so that he can use it immediately.

"If there is any pain while doing any of these exercises, we need to be informed." I instructed while forwarding my hand to help him.

"There is still half an hour." He pointed out.

"We started early." I pointed back, but he didn't move an inch.

"So? We need to go as per schedule." He stated frowning at me.

Is he serious right now? What happened to the same statement just an hour ago? I sighed, looking around hoping my senior is around so that he can take care of this.

"You shouldn't put too much pressure on all this, Mr. David. One hour is more than enough and you will be completely fine by the end of this month. You need not worry much about all this. We plan all this beforehand." I explained still not moving my hand.

He finally placed his hand over mine taking a hold of it and I sighed in relief, but frowned when he didn't move and just sat there.

"I need to wait for my manager here so that he can help me back to my room. I don't want to over work my leg like you said." He said looking at me.

"Okay! If you want I can get one of the interns to help you." I offered, but he shook his head and I nodded before pulling my hand away from his hold but he shifted with it and I immediately placed my hand on his shoulder so that he will not fall down.

"Are you okay?" I asked, looking at his face when he closed his eyes.

"Yes! But you need to remove your hand from my shoulder. It is hurting." He replied and I immediately shifted my hand to the neck and helped him to sit properly.

"I didn't know that you were holding it tightly." I explained and he just sighed before letting go of my hand and I stepped back.

"Is it hurting too much?" I asked when he placed his other hand over his shoulder.

"A little!" he mumbled clearing his throat.

"Let me help you to your room." I finally offered after a few minutes when I can see him still feeling the pain because of this and I am feeling guilty as this is somehow because of me.

"Fine!" he accepted which surprised me a little, but I guess he will accept anyone's help feeling this pain.

Again, I took hold of his hand and passed the crutch to his other hand, but he let it go immediately. I don't think he will be able to hold it right now with this pain.

"Here!" I shifted to his other side while passing the crutch to his uninjured hand and gave him the support by myself so that he need not put any pressure on his shoulder.

"Is it fine for you like this?" I asked, placing my hand around his waist to support him.

"Sure!" he replied, taking the steps along with me.

When I passed Tina dealing with her patient, she gave me a wide look while I just shook my head. If it was not my mistake, I would have called the intern to support him.

At least like this I will not feel guilty for sure. But why did he hold my hand like that? I sighed, walking along with him while he gave me instructions to his room and we finally reached there.

After helping him to lay down on the bed, I stepped back, placing the crutch near to him and glanced around to see no flowers or anything special like we generally find in other VIP's rooms.

"Do you need help with anything, Mr. David?" I asked, hoping he will say no.

"What's your name?" he asked, looking at me.

"Palak Anand!" I replied, feeling awkward to have this conversation right now.

"Ms. Palak! I am feeling thirsty." He gestured to the water on the table.

"I will call a nurse for you." I offered giving him a polite smile and turned around to leave.

"Is it degrading to help patients in these situations?" his question stopped me from leaving for sure.

"Not at all, Mr. David. I thought you would be more comfortable if the nurse helps you." I replied turning back to face him.

"If I had a doubt that I would feel awkward, then I wouldn't have asked you." He pointed out and I ignored his comment before moving towards the table to fill the water in the glass.

When I walked back towards his bed, he is already sitting properly and I passed the glass to him. He took it from my hands and drank before passing back the glass.

"Can you pass me the remote?" he asked, pointing the remote beside the water.

Why everything is far away from his side in the first place? I thought, frowning before passing the remote to him and he immediately switched it on.

I glanced at him to take my leave, but stopped looking at his expression while staring at the television. I glanced at the screen to see a Motorsports event.

He is a racer, right? Is that the reason he looks too sad and regretful while watching this? I stared at his face for a few seconds before sitting on the stool beside his bed.

"How long have you been racing?" I asked calmly but didn't expect much answer.

"It's already ten years. The moment I got my license, I joined and started racing." He replied still staring at the screen.

"Were you the best when you first started?" I asked, not looking away from his face.

"No! I was the worst of the whole group that joined with me." He replied and I can find a trace of a smile appearing on his face.

"But somehow I ended up best by the end." He added and I smiled hearing his words.

"Then you will be the worst again after finishing your treatment and you can be the best again like before." I finally said and this time he turned to look at me.

"Are you interested in sports?" he asked, staring at me.

"No! But I know a few details about some of the sports because of my patients. They talk a lot while trying to ignore their pain you know." I replied smiling.

"You allow them to talk? You don't rush off from them like you did with me?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"I didn't rush off from you. How many times do I have to tell you, Mr. David? You can see right now, how I am staying with you longer than scheduled." I pointed out and he just shook his head like he will not leave that point.

"So, you are the best at this work in this hospital?" he asked looking at me.

"It is kind of right because the ones who are better than me already left this hospital." I replied sitting properly and not at the edge.

"To the city? Why didn't you?" he asked the second question when I nodded to his first.

"I want to stay here and I don't have any plan to shift to the city. And I will be the best if is stay here." I pointed out and he chuckled hearing my last statement.

He started explaining about the racing and the details he has to take care of along with the mistakes the participants are making while I listened to him mostly observing the way his expressions change while saying each word.

"David?" I glanced at the door hearing a voice to see a man standing while frowning at both of us.

"He is my manager Satish." Mr. David introduced him and I gave him a nod before standing up.

"I will take my leave. Please come as per the scheduled time and not before." I said, nodding at David while turning towards the manager to give the same instruction and walked out of the room.

Somehow, without my knowledge I started smiling while packing my things and leaving the hospital after waving to my co-workers. And even more surprising is the fact that it didn't slip off even after I reached my room. I was smiling yesterday and today like a mad woman. Still I didn't let go of my smile and I don't have any plan to do so.