"Dadi! Good Morning! Mai aa gyi. Chaliye exercises start karte hain." said Preeta in her chirpy voice as she sat on the bedside.
Usually, her presence would lighten up the atmosphere and Dadi would feel a new vigour every day but today she was lost in her own thoughts.
What could have happened. Maybe she is tired, she looks tired. Is she not feeling well? Should I call auntiji and Rishabhji?
She lightly tapped on Dadi's shoulder, "Dadi sab thik haina? Aap bahut pareshan lag rhi hain."
Being shaken out of her reverie, Dadi looked up,"Arre Preeta tu kab ayi? Tera phone nhi lag rha tha toh maine Srishti ko call karke bola that ki tujhe aa jane ki zarurat nhi hai. Mujhe thik nhi lag rha hai aaj kuch."
Preeta smiled and patted her hand lightly, "Dadi aap mujhse nazaren chura rahi hain. Aap thik hain, sach boliye kya hua?"
"Kya btaun beta. Mai Karan ko leke bahut pareshan hun. Mera baccha it na upset hai."
"Kya hua Dadi. Shayad mai kuch help kar sakun?" offered Preeta. She absolutely hated his guts, could not stand his presence in the same room, but she was only human and her compassionate nature was ready to help Karan too.
Dadi sadly looked on, "Nhi beta tum bhi kuch nhi kar sakti. Karan was really looking forward to the Test Series next month against "Xyz" country. Aur woh 2 mahine se jeejaan lagage practise kar rha tha. Lekin kal practise session mein uska ankle sprain hogya. He will have to sit out this series."
"Dadi maybe I can help, I have handled a case like this before--"
Dadi took her hands in that of her own,"Beta agar aisi baat hai toh tu ekbaar Karan se baat karle."There was a light of hope in her voice that was hard to miss. "Uski medical report Rishabh ke pass hai."
Preeta was just about to knock on the door when Rishabh saw her, "Arre Preeta ji? Aap yahaan kaise? Kuch kaam tha? Ayiye na.Baithiye."
He cleared some space for Preeta to sit on the bedside that had his work files strewn all over. To keep thoughts of Preeta at bay, he thought it was best to stay involved in work as much as possible. And so, on a very fine and bright Sunday morning he had surrounded himself with tons of work.
"Mujhe woh Dadi ne btaya ki Karan ka ankle sprain hogya. I just wanted to see his medical report once to see if I can help." she asked toying with the end of her dupatta. She did not want him to feel that she was interfering in their lives.
Kitni achi hain Preeta ji. Wohh sirf dusro hi help karna chahti. Aur badle mein unko kuch nhi chahiye. Kitne saaf dil ki hain wohh.
"Rishabhji I know aapko aisa lag rha ho ki mai interfere kar rhi hun lekin mai sirf help karna chahti hun. she added when he did not respond for several minutes
"Arre aisi koi baat nhi hai Preeta ji. Aap toh humari family ka hissa ban gyi hain, Dadi, Maa aur Kritika sab apko kitna pasand karte hain." He desperately wished to add his own name to the list of people who loved her but he couldn't. "Actually who team ke physio aur humare family doc, dono ne dekha aur kahaan ki match se pehle ankle sprain thik karna possible nhi hoga."
"Arre Rishabhji, science ek taraf aur humari will power ek taraf. Aap mujhe ek mauka dijiye, mai puri koshish karungi."
"Apki baat toh sahi hai. He motioned her to wait and took out the report from the closet. "Yeh lijiye. Aap Karan se bhi baat kar lijiye. Wohh thoda gusse mein hoga, aap kahen toh mai bhi apke saath chalta hun."
She took the report from him and gave him an assuring smile, "Nothing I cant handle. Aap fikr mat kariye. Mai dekh lungi."
He gave a curt nod and his gaze longingly lingered on her as she made her way out of the room.
Preeta sighed in frustration. She had been knocking on Karan's door for the past couple of minutes and he had not responded. She wanted to pull out her hair.
Shanti rakh Preeta. Jo tu soch rahi hai karne ka usmein tujhe iss loser ke saath aur waqt guzaran padega. Abhi se hi irritate hojayegi toh kaise chalega.
Floating on the edge of her patience, she blew out a deep breath, knocking for the last time she shouted," Mai andar aa rhi hun! I hope you are decent I don't want a repeat of what happened earlier. She smiled at the memory when she had accidentally seen him naked and now she was here to help him, the very same man. She froze at what she saw.
Karan was seated on the bed. The bags under his eyes were clearly visible. His hair was dishevelled, his stubble had outgrown and his shoulders were stooped low as if he had lost a war. His eyes were tired but they were blazing with fire. His stance was that of an injured lion, ready to pounce any minute. For a second she was taken aback by his presence. She felt intimidated but heaved a sigh of relief as his gaze was not directed at her. He was mercilessly killing the opponents in the video game and the only sounds that could be heard were of tapping of the keys of the joystick and the sounds coming from the game.
She very slowly approached him and sat on the bed, blocking his view of the TV. He chose not to acknowledge her again and adjusted his posture a little and resumed his gaming. She placed her hands on his that were furiously pressing the keys and he stopped at the soothing coldness of the touch. He met her gaze and snatched the joystick away, pulling her with it in the process. He let go of the joystick as his hands landed on her waist to steady her and hers landed on his chest. He suddenly felt cold all over, as if someone had splashed a bucket full of ice on him but he welcomed this touch, it was calming. On the other hand, Preeta felt as if she was burning, heat surged through her being, she felt like a moth drawn to fire.
A few seconds passed before they let go of each other go of each other. Karan noticed his report that had fallen on the bedside table.
"Preeta, mujhe pta hai tum yahaan Kya kar rhi ho. You are here to tease me. I am in no mood. You win today. Okay! That is one for Preeta and zero for Loser Karan. You can leave."
"Karan tum galat samajh rahe ho. Mai tumhari help kar--"
"Tum.Meri.Help. yeh three words ekline mein aa hi nhi sakte." He said giving her a look of disbelief.
"Karan meri baat suno. I have seen your medical report. I can really help you, mujhe pta hai tumhare physio ne kahaan ki tumhara ankle heal nhi ho sakta before the match but Abhi 3 weeks hain. Ek mauka do mujhe."
His eyes grew wide at the sincerity in her voice. He considered her proposal for a minute. Surely there was no harm in trying, if she failed, he was anyways not playing. He nodded his head.
"Arre waah tum toh badi chaldi maan gaye!" She stated gleefully.
"Preeta" he whispered trapping her between the wall and his body. "Tum janti hoki tumhari killer smile hai, seedha samne wale ke dil pe lagti hai." He said pointing at his heart. She was stunned as usual and he backed away laughing.
"Arghhh!" She heaved in frustration and eyed him suspiciously, "Oh hello yeh mat samajhna ki mai genuinely tumhari help karna chahti hun. Woh toh bas that day you saved me from the goons. This is just payback so that we will be even." To herself she sounded unconvinced but she put up a brave face.
He grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her towards him. His face gave away nothing but his eyes, it was as if they were speaking to her, silently willing her to tell him the truth, that she was doing this for him and not for anyone else, that she of her own accord wanted to help him. He could see right through her facade, in that moment she felt naked under his raw gaze. She suddenly felt warm and cold at the same time. Her cheeks coloured and she looked away. The spell broke and he let go of her.
"Ek problem hain." He stated casually.
"Kya hua? Ankle mein pain hain. Tum baitho na, khade kyun ho----"she started blabbering with concern.
He grabbed her shoulders and gave a jerk, "Preeta tumhe pta hai English mein ek punctuation mark hota hai full stop!suna toh hoga? Kabhi toh use karo, nhi toh tumhare dimaag jaise unused reh jayega."
"Very funny! Ab btaogay problem Kya hai!"
"Woh bhai se baat karni padegi. He handles all the matters related to Selectors for me but we got into a fight and I am not sure he will listen to me."
When she did not respond, he looked up only to find her smiling at him. "Tum sach mein psycho ho! muskura kyun rahi ho?
"Mai already unse baat kar chuki hun. He agreed.'
"Arre wah! Tum dikhti nhi ho lekin ho smart aur beautiful bhi" he whispered in her ear and leaned back to see the expected reaction. Compliments really did embarrass her.
They heard his mom looking for her. She found the escape she desperately needed, "Woh mujhe auntiji bula rhi hain. Mai baad mein ati hun."
"Preeta yaar! 3 din hogaye hain! Kuch bhi farak nhi pada hain. Yeh Kya mujhe tum stupid exercises karvati rehti ho!" bellowed Karan as he got up from the bed.
"Karan we need to heal your ankle first uske baad hum-"
"Tum yeh sab purposely kar rhi ho na. Psycho toh tum ho hi. Tum mera ankle aur kharab kar dogi!" He gasped as pain surged through his ankle and he sat back down.
"Karan aaram se!'
"Don't touch me mental!"
How much would she love to twist his angle even more or rather strangle him. Before meeting him, she never knew she was capable of having such evil thoughts.
She sat down beside him, "You know what is missing Mr Karan Luthra. 'Trust and patience' which is very important between a doctor and the patient. You need to have patience and trust me and yourself that we can do this. If you really want to play this match you will have to do what I am asking of you."
Karan had a faraway look on his face. "Yeh match toh mujhe khelna hi hai au raise chauke chakke marne hain ki bas dekhna tum. Mujhe uss team ke ek bowler ne last time zero pe out kiya tha and challenge kiya tha ki next match mein bhi woh aisa karega. I have to show him ki Superstar cricket Karan Luthra se koi nhi jeet sakta.
She did not want to admit but she was impressed with his determination. "Toh deal fir? You trust me on this and have patience and I promise you will play the match." she said extending her hand.
He nodded and shook her hand, "Deal."
They managed to fall into a routine somehow, with their constant bickering of course, it mellowed down a notch but it was the defining part of the relationship they had with each other, they couldn't do without it.
Two weeks later, now, Preeta was nervously pacing across the length of the waiting room. She would sit down for a minute, bite her nails and then start pacing again. She and Rishabh were asked to be seated in the waiting room adjoining the selectors' office. Preeta had gone in first, showed Karan's medical report and they had seemed sort of convinced but they wanted to speak to Karan first before giving any decision.
"Preeta ji. Aap shanti se baith jayiye. Karan ko thoda time lagega." said Rishabh. He couldn't see her like that. If only he could listen to what was going on with Karan and the selectors but they had wanted to speak Karan alone. He even leaned against the common wall in a bid to eavesdrop and reassure her that everything will be okay. If, only if she knew what he would not give to see her happy, always. He handed her a glass of water and made her sit down with him. He was just about to place his hand on hers to reassure her of everything, to let her know that he was there for her, when Karan came into his periphery. He sat up straight as Preeta all but ran up to his younger brother.
Rishabh chided himself for what was he about to do. He couldn't let her know. He was so focussed on ensuring that she was doing okay that he had forgotten what they were here for. Karan, yes!
He looked up to see Preeta and Karan shake hands and she flashed her million dollar smile at Karan, the smile that Rishabh had come to love so much. The smile that he would never want to fade.
"Bhai! Aap kahaan kho gaye! Mera selection hogya!" he heard Karan and stood up to hug him.
"I am so happy for you Karan. Chal aja selectors se final details sort kar lete hain. He lovingly patted his younger brother's shoulder and looked at Preeta.
This was all because of her. She had once again helped his family.
As if on cue Preeta looked at him at the same time. A look of understanding passed between them.
"Preeta ji hum abhi ate hain. He stated and exited the waiting area.
Preeta took out her phone to let the Luthras know of the good news when she noticed Karan was still in the room and was looking at her.
He winked at her, put on his glares and motioned her to follow them.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she looked left and then right, to check if anybody had seen what had just happened. He really did have to embarrass her publicly.
Yeh ladka kabhi nhi sudhrega. She thought shaking her head in denial.
