CH 3 || Only Time Will Tell

Dhruv

**********

"Seriously dude, Maths tuition? I mean all you got was this excuse?" yelled Arjun in a disappointed tone.

"Shut up Arjun! I think he did the right thing." Namit said to him.

"Yeah, I think so too." Riddhi too agreed with Namit.

"I agree with Arjun. It's the worst excuse. They don't even show this in movies nowadays." It was Rohit.

I told my friends about how I approached Saavi. Riddhi and Namit have been supporting me but according to Rohit and Arjun, this was a bad idea. But that's the only thing which came to mind at that time.

"Guys, let me do this my way, and if anything happens I know you all got my back, right?"

"Always." they all said in unison.

"So, you told her you will see her in the evening, then why the hell are you here right now?" Arjun asked.

"I don't want to look desperate," I replied rubbing the nape of my neck. Although I was more than desperate, yet was sure she won't like it.

All the time my mind was clouded with her thoughts only. I could see her smiling face in front of my eyes. I hugged my pillow thinking of it as Saavi and slept.

******

Saavi

******

I went inside the school, hoping to not see Dhruv again. Yesterday he said he will see me in the evening but didn't. I guess it was all a bet. I was hoping maybe a little bit he was being genuine, but who am I kidding he is not different from others.

I know I am being judgy, but what do you expect from a person like me who has been bullied for no reason, who has been treated like shit for no reason, who has been abandoned by her own family.

I shrugged away all the thoughts and went straight to the library. I was dozing off while studying.

Why? Because of Dhruv. His smiling face was not leaving my mind. I guess it was because no one smiled that genuinely at me.

Wait! What? Genuine Smile?

A few minutes ago I was thinking that he was just like others and now I think his smile is genuine. What the hell is wrong with me?

Focus Saavi, focus. You have to leave this place forever in a few days. Don't let anything distract you from your goal.

I shifted my focus back to my studies. I was feeling weak too as today also I was not able to eat anything.

"So when shall we start?" came the voice of the person I was not planning to see. I looked to my side and he was standing with his hands inside his pocket dazzling his million-dollar smile at me.

Can anyone please tell me how this guy manages to look this handsome?

Shit! I am again having those thoughts. Saavi this boy is doing something with your brain.

"I never said yes," I replied and continued to look at my book.

"Saavi please, I don't want to fail," he said and sat on the chair beside me.

"You passed all these years without any tuition and now suddenly you want tuition and that too by me?"

"Because you are a good teacher and you are kind and sweet too."

He didn't talk to me all these years, always ignored me and now he finds me kind and sweet.

"Truth Dhruv. I want the truth. Give me an honest answer and then I will think about it." I said in an irritated tone. And obviously, I will turn him down again.

He sighed and said,

"Okay, if that's what you want."

"I want to start my own company. Even though I am the heir to Kapoor Industries, I don't have any interest in it. But my grandfather doesn't want that. I tried to convince him but all in vain. Grandpa said he will allow me to open my own company if I score highest in Maths, which he clearly knows is impossible because I suck at it. I do get passing marks in maths but scoring the highest is not my cup of tea. And that's why I need your help." I could see honesty in his eyes but it was still difficult to believe him.

"But why me?" He could have joined any coaching center that promises 100% result and money won't have been an issue for him as he is filthy rich but he wants me to tutor me. What game he is about to play?

"Your student Ryan is my relative's son. He topped his last exam and all because of you. Everyone was shocked at it because he used to come last in every subject. But you made the impossible turn into possible." I started giving tuition to Ryan one year ago. It was a tough job to make him study but somehow I managed. I had no idea that he was Dhruv's relative.

"Even though if I want to, I won't be able to help you," I said to him. I teach Ryan and other students after school and then I have to go to the restaurant to work. I get one hour after that to study for myself. How will I tutor him then?

"Is it because of the money? Don't worry I will pay you." That was expected, after all, every rich people think about money only.

"All you rich people only think about money right? You think people like us are beggars?" I yelled at him trying to make him angry so that he could finally show his true colors. He was behaving nicely unlike others, which was not settling well with me.

"I didn't mean that. I am so sorry. I am very sorry." I was expecting him to burst at me, show his true intentions but here he did the most unexpected thing ever. He apologized to me. Is he really being honest? Does he really want me to tutor him?

"Saavi please, only you can help me. Please." he pleaded and all I could see the sad face of him which didn't suit him at all.

Ah! This is so frustrating and confusing. What should I do?

"Give me time to think," I said to him getting up from my seat.

"But we only have one month before the final exams."

"Give me a day at least."

"Ok," he replied.

I was going to get another book from the last rack of the library when I felt dizzy. I grabbed the nearest table to support myself.

"Saavi!" he yelled.

I sat on the chair near me and held my head.

"Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked me holding my hand looking all concerned.

"I am fine," I replied and got up again. I felt dizzy again, my head was spinning badly. I was about to fall but Dhruv held me. I could see him being panicked with my half-closed eyes but soon darkness consumed me.

I opened my eyes slowly and my gaze went to the white ceiling above me. But I remember I have painted the ceiling of my house then how come it's looking white.

I looked around and found a tube of saline connected to my left arm. I was in a hospital but how did I end up here? The last thing I remember was feeling dizzy and falling in Dhruv's arms.

Did he bring me here?

I looked to my right and saw the cutest face ever. Dhruv was sleeping with his head on the bed while he was sitting on the chair. His lips were turned into a pout and hairs disheveled. I smiled looking at him and removed the hairs from his forehead.

As I was caressing his cheeks he opened his eyes making me remove my hands from him. He looked at me shocked and then shouted, "Arjun, call the doctor."

I moved my gaze towards another direction where I saw Namit and Arjun sleeping on the couch holding each other like babies. Seriously, what are these guys?

Arjun got up hearing Dhruv and went outside running. Namit got up too.

Dhruv held my right hand and kissed it making my heartbeat go wild. He was looking tired and sad.

"Are you ok? How are you feeling? Do you need anything? Should I bring water?" he asked caressing my cheeks and tears started coming out from my eyes.

Not because I was in pain, but because of the way he was behaving. No one has ever cared about me like that.

"I....I" I wanted to say something but couldn't form words.

"Dude calm down, you are scaring her." came another voice which was of none other than Namit.

The door burst open, revealing Arjun and the doctor. He checked my pulse, my temperature and asked, "How are you feeling Saavi?"

"Fine," I replied.

He smiled at me and said, "Good."

"You are still weak so you need rest," he said.

I saw him taking out an injection and my eyes widened in horror.

"NO!" I said. I wanted to withdraw my hand but it was attached to the tube of saline.

"No Please don't put the injection," I said crying.

"Saavi, dear this is for your own good. Don't you want to be healthy soon?" he asked but all I could think was the pain that I was about to encounter.

I started crying and turned to Dhruv in hope. He was holding my hand and now I held it too and said,

"Please make it stop. It will hurt. Please, please, please." Tears started coming out from his eyes too which was unexpected.

He held my hand tightly and said, "Nothing will happen ok. No one is going to hurt you. You will not feel any pain from now on." He caressed my head and wiped my tears and didn't stop comforting me with his words.

"Done." I heard and I turned towards the doctor as it was his voice.

"See, you were worrying but you didn't feel any pain while I injected you," he said smiling.

"Now rest ok. And you all should go home too. It's quite late. Should I ask my driver to leave you guys to your home?" the doctor asked them to which Dhruv replied,

"I am not going anywhere, uncle."

After him, came Namit's and Arjun's reply.

"Yeah me too."

"me too."

That's when I realized they knew the doctor as they all were calling him uncle.

"Ok, ok. Fine." the doctor said.

"I will see you guys tomorrow then," he added further and left the room.

"How did I end up here?" I asked Dhruv. Although I knew the answer, I just fainted and he shouldn't have brought me here just because of a petty issue like that.

"We will talk tomorrow about it. Sleep now, you are weak."

"No, I want to know," I said.

"Saavi, sleep," he said sternly and I nodded as I was really weak and also not in a condition to argue more. He caressed my head and closed my eyes with his palm. I felt myself going into the deep slumber of sleep.

I woke up with the rays of sunlight falling directly on my face. I groaned and lazily opened my eyes. I saw Riddhi sitting beside my bed on a chair and cutting apples. Her gaze fell on me and her lips curved into a beautiful smile, "Hi." she said.

"Hi," I replied. I looked around and found no one else was there.

"Dhruv has gone home. He will come in an hour, don't worry," she said. But how did she know that I was looking for him?

"I wasn't looking for him." I lied.

"How are you feeling?"

"Good, I guess," I replied and tried to get up.

"Let me help you." She said and pressed the button which pushed the upper half of the bed upwards.

"How did I end up here?"

"You don't remember?" she asked me.

"I do, but I just fainted. You guys shouldn't have troubled yourselves."

"Dhruv tried to wake you up but you were not responding, so he brought you here and informed us and that's when we came," she said and I nodded.

After some minutes the same doctor entered and then I got to know that he was Riddhi's uncle. He examined me and I couldn't help but asked him,

"When can I go?"

"You are still very weak and need bedrest of at least a week."

"No!" I yelled but soon apologized for my behavior.

"I meant, I can't. I have my exams soon and I need to study." One week in this hospital means no school, no teaching other students, and no work at the restaurant. Not going to school for a week is fine but no tuition and no work at the restaurant is not acceptable. I need money to go to London and not working for a week means less payment.

"Saavi, you are weak and need rest too." Riddhi reasoned.

"I am completely fine, See," I said and tried to get up but was about to fall. I didn't know what happened to me which made me this week.

Someone held me when I was getting down from the bed to prevent me from falling, the touch felt familiar to me as it gave the same tingling sensations as the one in the library when I was about to faint. I looked up and it was Dhruv. He laid me down on the bed. Namit, Arjun, and Rohit also came along with him.

"You are not going anywhere," Dhruv said which made me snap at him,

"What do you think of yourself? Why am I obliged to do whatever you want? I am fine and I need to go and don't think I will run away with your money. You must have paid the hospital bills so tell me the amount and I will send it to you."

"I am sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." he again made me regret, the words I spoke.

"Children, can you all wait outside? I want to talk to Saavi alone," said Riddhi's uncle, and they left. I was scared that he will scold me for behaving rudely with his niece's friend but he proved me wrong.

"When was the last time you had your proper meal?" he asked me calmly but I could sense the seriousness in his voice. I didn't want to answer and was thinking of a way to get out of this situation.

"If you are worried that I will tell Riddhi or someone else then you are wrong. I am a doctor and you are my patient and according to protocols we never share anything about our patient with anyone without the patient's consent. So you can freely tell me."

I thought for a while and decided to lie.

"Yesterday morning," I replied but he didn't look convinced.

"What did you have yesterday morning?"

"Toast," I replied and he nodded.

"You know there is a saying that you should never lie to your lawyers and doctors," he said. I got caught, such a bad liar I am I thought.

"Now come on, be a good girl and tell me," he said smiling at me and I told him.

He asked me if I had any medical record or something and I replied honestly. He got up from his seat and went out not before patting my head just like how a father does.

After he went out Riddhi, Rohit, Arjun, and Namit entered the room. Riddhi sat beside the bed and made me eat the apple which she was cutting earlier. Rohit and Namit brought chocolates for me and Arjun brought white Lillies for me.

I just couldn't believe, the elitist group of the school was treating me like a normal human being. They were trying to initiate a conversation with me and Arjun was constantly cracking jokes to make me laugh. But my mind was thinking about the bill. How much it could be and how will I even pay it. I have been saving money for my fare to go to London and if I will pay that money as the hospital bill then I will never be able to achieve my dreams as it will take a year to collect the money.

Dhruv came after a while and said something which made me smile,

"You can go home tomorrow." I don't know how he convinced the doctor but I was happy that I didn't have to be here for a week.

The rest of the day went by fast, as most of the time I was sleeping due to weakness.

My eyes opened and the lights were dim. I looked around and found Dhruv standing in front of the glass window looking outside.

He turned around and when his eyes fell on me he smiled, but I could see sadness lingered over his face. He came and sat beside me.

"You are feeling good?" he asked and I nodded.

We were silent for a while and I decided to break it, "I am sorry."

"For what?"

"I shouted at you in the morning."

"No, it was fine. I would have done the same if I was in your place."

I was confused, how could someone be so calm. Was he like this only or pretending in front of me?

"What about the bills? Can you tell me how much is it so that I can pay you?"

"You want to pay me back?" he asked and I nodded in response.

"Then tutor me," he said.

And here we go again.

"Dhruv...I." he cut me off,

"If you genuinely want me to pay then tutor me otherwise forget about it."

I thought for a while and my inner self scolded me by saying,

'Are you for real Saavi? This guy helped you and has been patient and nice to you all along but here you are being selfish. He is a nice guy Saavi. For once listen to me, trust me you won't regret.'

For the first time, I decided to listen to my inner self.

"Okay," I said and he looked at me as if he heard something wrong.

"You will tutor me?" he asked confirming as if it was hard to believe.

"Yeah, I will," I said which made me see his beautiful smile which reached his eyes.

I don't know whether I did right or wrong by listening to my inner self, because that Only Time Will Tell.