goody bollywoody

she couldn't believe her eyes. she was seeing him after something like ten years. and he still had the same smile - the same winning smile that endeared him to everyone. and it was clear the children loved him too. they jostled around for his attention as he tried hard to talk to everyone all at once. he had always loved kids so much. he would stop and ruffle the hair of every kid that he passed. and she had always teased him for this.

"if you love strange kids so much, how much will you love the ones that will be your own??"
"just wait, you'll have to compete very hard if you are to have a chance with our son."
"wait a sec !! what's this about 'our' son ? we have a great way to go before we even think of marriage. and anyways, why should it be a son and not a daughter ?"
"coz i want a son!!"

he lifted a boy and carried him on the shoulder while the others formed a train behind him. the engine got off to a sudden start making the carriages rush ahead to catch up. she tried hard to concentrate on the sick girl on the bed before her but she couldn't take her eyes off him.

"why can't i take my eyes off you ?"
"coz you love me."
"duh, love is a crazy thing. look at the time i end up wasting."
"ah!! the ever busy medical student."
"hey, i'm no longer a student. i passed the exams a month ago, if you remember."
"okkay, the ever busy DOCTOR !! happy now ??"

"who's that man? " she asked the girl. "that uncle ?? he's the sweetest person of all who come to meet us. he brings us chocolates and toys whenever he comes." "poor fellow, he doesn't have kids of his own," the nurse chimed in. and she immediately felt a pang of sadness for him. he'd wanted too have kids so very much. there was a sudden commotion outside. it appeared that the boy had fell down in all that running around and had skinned his knee. he was trying his best to console the poor kid who was bawling at the top of his voice. seeing the kid cry, he was almost crying himself.

how much he had cried when she had informed him of her decision !! he had pleaded with her, cajoled her, had tried all that he could. but she didn't want to go against her parents' wishes. she wasn't prepared to hurt them. but she also didn't want to hurt him. she tried to explain things to him, but all in vain. he would have none of it.
"i can't imagine the rest of my life with anybody else."
"you'll have to. there's no other way. do you think i would be doing this if i felt there was some other way?"
"please don't do this to me!!"
"i have to. please let me go."
"but i'll always love you."

she felt a tap on her shoulder and saw her husband. "do you really need to work sundays for this community service thing ? look at you - isn't a week of work enough?"
"aww, come on. it's just a hour or two. and besides this orphanage needs it." she scribbled a few medicines for the girl and handed the nurse the slip. through the window, she could see him carrying the boy back to the infirmary. her husband followed her gaze.
"poor fellow. the matron was talking to me about him a few minutes ago. seems he couldn't get his love. and the idiot never married. they say he can't let go of her even though she's been gone a long time now."

and their eyes met in one brief moment of recognition and connection.

she turned away and walked off with her husband.

but her lips were quivering.