“What excuse me? You did not let me buy those gold tea lamps last week!”
“They were not real tea lamps, they would not light up.”
“Still. It’s Diwali shopping.”
“Then shouldn’t it be about diyas that actually light up?”
“Don’t use that stupid logical tone on me…”
“Ok, ok, I am out of here,” Ritu got to her feet and grabbed her tote.
“Wait, I can drop you, Ritu.”
“I am going to Horniman Circle.”
“Oh… I’m off to Juhu.” Gautam reached down to look at his daughter, still sleeping. “Who would believe she was howling sixty minutes ago?”
“How are you going, Maasi?”
“Uber, it’s already on its way.”
“Cool, then come back before 1. You too, G. It’s Saal Mubarak lunch.”
————————————————————
“Let’s look at your lipid profile next time and we will take it from there, hmm?” Ritu smiled at the old couple. Mr. Agarwal looked happier today, probably because she had allowed him one piece of kaju katli this weekend in honour of Diwali.
“Thank you, Doctor,” his wife grinned. “We don’t have to think about bypass now?”
“I am not writing it off yet. We may need another scan. If things come out cleaner, then maybe it’s better to let the surgery be. At 98, quality of life matters more, isn’t it, Uncle?”
The man laughed feebly — “I have seen everything but the inside of an operation theatre. I would like to keep it that way.”
“It’s in your hands then. Eat well, walk, avoid fried and sweets. Keep this new dosage going.”
“You talk like my granddaughter now.”
“Then you listen like that, we are both talking for your healthy heart and a century.”
“They want to organise a cricket match for my 100th birthday.”
“Good, start prepping to score a century.”
The couple laughed, getting to their feet and walking out slowly. The door was left half-ajar behind them. Ritu grabbed the carafe of water on her table, poured a glass and pushed to her feet. The laptop screen pinged with the details of the next patient. She had tipped her glass up, so she just reached out and hit enter.
Her eyes went to the clock. 11.20. She hoped this was the last patient. If she were to reach back by 1, then she would have to leave here by 12 at the earliest.
A knock sounded on the half-open door. She glanced up, and her eyebrows shot up.
“So it’s true. You are still here.”
“You are welcome to take an about turn.”
Please just go. I can leave early.
“You can’t keep your professional and personal lives separate, Doctor?”
“There is no personal life with you. Come in.”
