Chapter 3

*Palak Pov*

"Everything is good now. Just continue to do the exercises we just explained even at home and you will be completely fine." I informed smiling at the patient while she nodded hearing my words.

"If there is any difficulty, let us know." I added before signing her report and walked away after excusing myself.

I started walking towards the water can but stopped looking at Tina's expression who is already standing there drinking water.

She gestured me to look towards the entrance and I turned to see my famous patient entering the room. I shook my head and continued to walk towards her.

"It's already one week and he is still coming early to his appointments even after you made sure to inform him every day." She commented passing the glass.

"Why don't you complain to the head?" she asked, frowning and waved at someone.

"What happened?" Veer asked, walking towards us after she waved at him and she started explaining about my patient.

I can't say they are over reacting because even I would have felt the same, but I really don't have any energy to involve into a fight and let my senior make the decisions which could disappoint me if it goes wrong.

"Just think what your other patients would have gone through if he was not your last patient everyday?" Veer asked frowning.

"Both of you just leave it. At least I am finishing my work early because of him." I pointed out but they shook their heads.

"You are staying longer than before. Sometime he is making you walk him to his room too, whenever his manager disappears." Tina pointed back.

"Why is his leg still hurting?" he asked, frowning and I explained how it is not a simple fracture but he got it operated too.

"I am just worried sometimes that this one month will not be enough for him to get better." I mumbled throwing the cup in the garbage can.

"He stopped using the crutch. I think he is getting better and the pain should be occasional." Veer commented and I nodded, glancing over my shoulder to look at him but blinked meeting his stare.

I immediately turned to stare at Tina asking, "He was looking this side all this time?"

"Yeah! Where else would he look when you are his physiotherapist?" she asked, frowning and I frowned back at her.

Had I just reacted too much about a small matter which is like normal for everyone? But it was really not normal when I found him staring at me just now.

I shook my head clearing my thoughts and nodded at her smiling. We three stood there for some more time while they both shared the new cases they got today.

"I guess I need to go now. I can't let his eyes hurt too much." I commented, turning around to leave them.

"At least today try to finish your session within the time he is allotted." Veer's voice reached my ears before I took another step towards Mr. David.

I shook my head and continued to walk before reaching him. He gave me a nod and I nodded back with a polite smile which he didn't return of course.

I don't think I have seen him smile at all but his expression definitely softens whenever he talks about racing. He even properly talks when I ask about the details of racing.

He really wants to go back to that life otherwise he would have felt uncomfortable to talk or hear about any of that. I have experienced some people like that and I am glad he is not one of them otherwise all the sessions would have been on mute.

"Were you gossiping about me?" he asked with a frown.

"What? No!" I immediately replied, clearing my throat while checking his ankle.

"Then why were you three kept on stealing glances at me?" he asked and I sighed, not knowing how to explain it to him and at the same time not offend him.

"And it would be good if you can try to reply honestly." He added and this time I really didn't like his attitude.

"They are angry that you are coming way too early to your sessions which I felt normal while they felt normal that you were staring at us continuously from the time you came unlike me." I explained folding my hands and he just stared at me.

"What? You wanted honesty, remember?" I asked, unfolding my arms and started checking his shoulder for any pain he could be feeling.

"The conclusion is wrong both times from either one of you." He replied after a few seconds.

"You mean everything was normal but we were wrong to think any different?" I asked looking at him.

"No! Everything was not normal. I shouldn't come this early like this and so that makes you wrong, but I shouldn't stare at you continuously too, which makes them wrong." He explained and I just stared at him.

"You could have said we were right at one point instead of saying that we were wrong." I pointed out but he just shrugged.

"So, what is the reason behind all this even though you know what shouldn't be done?" I can't help but feel curious about his reasons, even though I know I shouldn't be thinking too much about one patient like this.

"There need not be any specific reason." I shook my head and started the session in silence, not wishing to talk about anything special today.

When he is being this secretive, even I can be silent and just concentrate on the work. I glanced at the intern when he tapped my shoulder after some time.

"What?" he gestured behind me and I turned to see Chief walking towards us along with my senior.

"Do you want to operate this machine now to show your capabilities?" I asked looking at him.

"What if I make mistakes?" he asked, frowning and I remember my days when I was in his place feeling the same worry about the chief and others.

"No need to worry about all that and just do as I instructed." I said, gesturing him to use it while I smiled at them when they reached us.

"Mr. David! Is everything going well?" Chief greeted him and he just nodded.

"If there is any discomfort regarding the treatment, let us know." He added and I immediately frowned at him, but my senior shook his head in a warning looking at my expression.

"It's fine! She promised me that I will again be the worst on my team." I coughed hearing Mr. David's words while they glanced at me in shock.

"What? You promised me last week, right?" he added and I wish I didn't say anything to him at all.

"I will handle it." Senior assured the chief and he walked away.

"Senior!" I started, but he waved his hand.

"Meet me after the session ended." He walked away saying that and I stared at his back feeling worried.

"It is over, Dr. Palak." I turned towards the intern and nodded at him before taking the machine away from the table.

"You stay here until he leaves with his manager or help him to his room if he needs it." I gave the intern a nod and turned around to leave.

"Already? It's not the usual time like everyday when the session ends." I took a deep breath chanting that he is the patient and I definitely should be professional and not react like I wish to right now.

"It is for one hour, Mr. David. I noted down the time when it started and you can check the time I am ending it. If there is still any problem, let us know." I just blurt out whatever I am supposed to say without giving him a chance to say anything before walking away from his side.

I took a deep breath and knocked on my senior's cabin before stepping inside to see him already waiting for me. He gestured me to sit and I followed to do that while trying to guess how is he going to react to what happened just now.

"I heard he was giving you a lot of trouble." I frowned, but didn't react to that statement.

"I am sure there is a story behind his words today. I am not going to give you any warning or something like that. I just didn't want our chief to admonish you when you didn't do any wrong." He added and those words finally relaxed me.

"Should I explain what actually happened?" I asked relaxing my expressions.

"No need! We all are keeping an eye on Mr. David and we all know you are going to higher lengths for his sake. It's just he rejected all top centers in Mumbai and came all the here which is making our chief to worry more. The director also checks up on the progress. I will try to help you as much as I can but just bear it for three more weeks." He explained and I gave him a small nod.

What else did I expect from my senior? He was the same during the college times, always helping whenever we need it and he helped me a lot to shift to this place.

"Thank you, Senior. I will try my best." I got up smiling and he smiled back before opening a file while I walked out of his cabin smiling.

"You smile when others scold you?" I took a step back in shock hearing those words and glanced at my side to see Mr. David sitting on one of the chairs.

"Do you want to meet him?" I asked, gesturing my senior's cabin.

"I am here to explain my earlier statement." He replied leaning back.

He is here to explain? Then why did he say something like that in the first place? There was no need to say anything like that even though what he said was true and he know full well how others would think if it is not clearly explained.

"No need for that, Mr. David. My senior already knew I wouldn't have made such mistake or was rude to my patient." I gave him a polite nod before taking a step to leave.

"Will you not help me to my room? I came all the way here to help you stressing my leg." He said gesturing to his leg.

"Where is the trainee or your manager?" I asked looking around.

"He went away because some other doctor called for him and my manager is not here as the session ended earlier than every day." He replied and I gave an awkward laugh to stop the words from coming out.

Now, he is saying everything is my fault? I can't believe I am experiencing a new kind of patient as I thought I already met every type of one way before.

"I will call for someone." I offered not wishing to help him when I am seriously angry at him right now.

"I want to go to my room right now and waste anymore time in hurting myself by sitting here. Is it such a hard task to help me when I am here to help you in fact?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"Help me? Who told you to say something like that in the first place?" I blurted out not able to stop myself after hearing all this nonsense.

"Is something wrong, Palak?" I glanced around to see my senior standing at the open door.

"I was asking for her help but..." I immediately stepped towards him and moved my hands towards his uninjured shoulder to help him up.

"I am helping him, Senior." I stated looking at him with a pleading smile while he gave me a nod after a few seconds.

"She is very helpful." He added after standing up with my support while glancing at my senior.

"If there is any problem, let us know." Saying that he walked back into his cabin after giving me a nod and I smiled at him before looking ahead to start walking.

I shifted my hand to his waist while giving him support with my other hand, which he is holding right now and we started walking towards the elevator.

I can't ask him whether he wants a wheelchair, which could offend him some way like it did for a few patients before. I sighed in relief when we were able to get into the elevator and it is empty and we need not wait for next one.

"Why do you call Dr. Ronit as senior?" I glanced at his face hearing the question to meet his stare.

"Because he is my senior from college." I replied, shrugging, but he just frowned at me.

"Do you want to extend the time to receive the therapy after this one month?" I casually asked, staring at him and he turned away to look straight not giving any reply.

We finally reached his room and I took a step back after helping him to the bed. I glanced at the remote which is again on the table and the water jug. I moved them to his side before glancing at him while he just observed me.

"You need to tell your manager to keep these near you, Mr. David." I said while he just gave me a nod.

"The session will be there for tomorrow even though it is Sunday?" he asked looking at me.

"I don't have all the appointments except the special cases. The time is same like everyday and I hope you can follow it. Then, I will take my leave." I gave him a polite smile and turned around to leave.

"Are you not angry at me?" I glanced at him to see his curious expression.

"About what?" I asked even though I understand what he is asking me about.

"I am making you work extra and you can take into today's incident too. Why are you being so polite?" he explained and I again gave him a polite smile.

"You are my patient, Mr. David." I pointed out, but he shook his head before gesturing me to step forward and followed him to ask what he wants help with.

He suddenly took hold of my hand when I reached him and pulled me closer while I shifted a little in shock, but stopped myself to not fall on him and hurt him again.

"Mr. David!" I called pulling my hand, but he has a firm grip on it.

"What if I was not a patient?" he calmly asked, ignoring my reaction and moments.

"Let go of my hand." I warned him ignoring the question.

"Will you get mad like this for my behavior or will it be worse?" he just continued.

"What do you want to know, Mr. David?" I asked him frowning not understanding his behavior.

"I want to know Ms. Palak rather than Dr. Palak." He replied and pulled me a little making me stand right before him with my legs pressing his bed.

"There is no need for you to know your doctor on a personal level. I am being considerate right now because of your injuries. So, it would be better if you release my hand right now." I warned glaring at him.

"You get angry in this way?" he asked, not following my words.

"What do you want, Mr. David?" I asked, calming down when I know he is just holding my hand and if he behaves improperly I can always hit him and explain to others if he get worse.

"Why do you reject Dr. Veer every time he asks you for a date?" he asked staring at me.

"How do you..." he cut me off saying, "I heard it a few times within just one week and I can analyze how many times it must have already been by now. Many people gossip about how rudely you reject him, but he is still friendly with you."

"But I can understand your rudeness. If he still didn't realize you are not interested in him even after being this rude then he would have been worse if you replied softly." He added before I can say anything.

"Why do anyone reject the other person if not for having any interest in them?" I asked back when he repeated his question why I reject him.

"Then will you reject me if I ask you?" I stared at him in shock hearing those words.

"You are my patient." I pointed out and tried to take my hand away again.

"So, it is fine if I was not?" he asked raising his eyebrow.

"No! I mean, I have no interest in dating anyone. So, stop all this nonsense right now." I warned him.

"Then I should ask you again when you are not my doctor. But that would mean I shouldn't extend my therapy after this one month so that I will not be your patient for long." He just continued to talk while I stared at him in shock.

"Are you blackmailing right now?" I asked scoffing at him.

"In a way! Is it working?" he asked, clearing his throat.

"Do you think I care whether you extend it or not? You are the one who needs to get better to achieve your dream again. I will do my best during the time you want help and when you don't want it, I can't do anything." I replied, waiting patiently for him to let go of my hand.

He stared at me after hearing my words and I stood like that for a few more minutes without saying anything staring back at him in defense. I cleared my throat blinking my eyes not wishing to look into his eyes any longer feeling the intense look poking me too much.

"Then I will not wait until I get discharged from this hospital to pursue you." He said shrugging before releasing my hand.

Right! When I didn't let Veer pursue me even though he is quite nice to me, he expects me to fall for him when he is being too rude.

"Just don't disturb with my work and get well soon, Mr. David." Saying that I turned around to leave not wishing to give him any chance to say anything else.

"I will disturb only you Ms. Palak but not Dr. Palak. There is a difference, right? That's what I get from our interesting conversation we had today." I ignored those words and didn't stop to reply before leaving his room.

Interesting? Is he serious? I can't believe a person can be this obnoxious too. He will take the award for being my most difficult patient if I ever wish to hold a ceremony for my patients and he wants to date me after causing all this trouble.

He can wish all he wants. I rolled my eyes and removed him from my thoughts as there is no need to take any of his word in a serious sense at all.