30. Maya or Mohini
Present day:
All the flashback was played in the minds of Dipesh and Maya vividly when one-day Dipesh took Mittu for regular therapy with Maya and Dipika couldn’t accompany him as she was not keeping well. This was the first chance for them to discuss their past and this time when therapy was done, Mittu was handed over to a nurse while Maya took Dipesh to her house which was just on the upper floor of the hospital.
"Why didn't you just check even once about why did I left my family suddenly and where did I go?", Dr Maya asked Dipesh.
On the teapoy, glasses of juice were kept which were empty after both had already finished the juice in it.
"Oh, come on! Mohini... Sorry, I should call you Doctor Maya. So, Doctor Maya, what was our age at that time? We were too young to do these things like checking these things on our own. We even didn't know whether we felt physically attracted to each other or if it was real love. After you left, I spent many days recalling you in my mind. I was not able to concentrate on my daily tasks. Then later, this feeling faded away gradually and then I went to another city for my junior college and further education. Anyways, there is no point in discussing this now! But I can also ask you a question?"
She laughed sarcastically, "See. You just said that it's no point in discussing that and now you also want to know something from me, right?"
"No. I asked because you asked!"
"Oh, I see but then what about our story that we recalled just now? We both became emotional when we discussed it, right?"
Now Dipesh seemed to be answerless with her argument.
Then she continued, "Ask please whatever you wanted to ask me!"
Dipesh looked up and said, "As per your claim regarding what you had written in the letter, why didn't you come back even once to this city or try to contact me by any means?"
"The same answer which you just gave me applies to me as well. Our whole family was in great tension at that time, and it was even difficult to think for me about us!
"I agree! None of us is a mistake!"
She then continued, "My father sold out all our property in the town with the help of well-wishers and started a new business in Pune. Later I met Vishwanath who is the owner of the residence of our community in Pune and helped our family a lot in bad times. I became a doctor and also took a lot of effort to cure my sister. I applied all my knowledge at its best to cure her. And finally, she is almost normal now. Though she couldn't complete her dream, I found her a job also. She is earning her bread and butter. Vishwanath owed me a lot. He has done so much for us that I can't repay him in his entire life. Later, I married him when things got to normal. After marriage, my husband changed my name to Maya."
Whenever she mentioned the name of Vishwanath, Dipesh observed that she had some reluctance in her voice and her eyes were moving all over Dipesh’s body.
Ignoring that, Dipesh said, "You are great Mohini, sorry Doctor Maya! And I am sure you can cure my daughter's disease as you did for your sister. You are an expert. I saw 4- and 5-stars ratings of your clinic and especially for you on the internet."
Dipesh was trying to bring back the conversation intermittently to the present, however Mohini was still lingering in the past. He was concerned about his daughter and worried about his wife who recently started getting depressed. Mohini was an expert doctor in Pune, and he didn't want to displease her hence he was still showing interest in their past story. The only hope for him to cure his daughter was for her.
"You can call me Mohini. I won't feel bad and yes, I will do my best for your baby."
"Mohini, thank you very much for your kind words. Let us move out from all these memories before they catch us on the web! By the way, can you give me an idea about the expenses for all the treatments for Mittu?"
"See Dipesh, you are my friend but..."
"Please, don't hesitate. Tell me the amount. I know such treatments cost more. And even though you know me, that doesn't mean you have to do me a favor in terms of money. No! Please tell me the expense!"
"For the next 6 months, you will have to pay 5 lacks rupees!"
That was more amount, but he didn't show nervousness on his face and said, "Sure. I will arrange! Thanks!"
Dipesh had to leave now because it was his second shift that day.
Dipesh left with Mittu but realized that he didn't ask Mohini about her kids and her husband because he observed that there was no one at home when they sat together at her home.
What only he knew was that her husband was currently in Canada for his business work. Only Tarini was there with her. Sometimes Tarini would lose her mind because still some phobias were haunting her which she was still trying to overcome with the help of Her sister Mohini.