The Strings Of Heart

29

Sitara POV

I lean against the wall reading the book as I wait for mum. She is having an annual general meeting and I'm not interested to be a part of the meeting.

"Ma'am." I look up to see my mom's PA.

"Yeah? Is she coming?" I ask her.

"No ma'am, it will take an hour for the meeting to come to an end."

"Another hour?" I check the time on my wristwatch.

"The meeting is going on for four hours now, what they are talking so much about?" I ask her. My stomach is growling, we planned to have lunch together.

"The board members are talking and also the shareholders are going through the presentations, ma'am."

I sign closing the book. "Okay, tell my mum that I left when the meeting ends."

"Okay, ma'am."

"Yup, thank you." I pull the strap of my bag on the shoulder and walk down the hallway. I should've known that this would happen.

I could've attended my classes and went out for lunch with Kavya. Now I can't call her as she is in the middle of the class.

I don't want to eat alone. Taking the lower lip into my mouth I pull my phone out after keeping my book inside my bag.

I dial David's number, it's been what? A week that he ignored me and didn't come to the dinner.

I haven't sent him any messages knowing clearly that he needs space from me. And I don't want to make things awkward.

Now I want to see his face, he doesn't answer my calls.

I decide to meet him in the hospital, I know his shift ends in the evening. He will be available for the lunch break. I hope so...

I drove my bike without a licence, I need to get my driving licence before I get caught by the cops one day.

I stop at a coffee house to get myself a cold coffee and a coffee for David. It took me around 25 minutes to reach the hospital.

I park my bike in the parking lot and start walking. I look around as the hospital is busy with visitors, patients, doctors, workers, nurses and other people.

This is my first time visiting this hospital. I have never stepped in, I just dropped my sister at the entrance and picked her up from there.

I look around before going to the helping desk where there are nurses and a lady.

"How may I help you?"

"I want to meet doctor David," I tell her. The nurses who were busy looking into the files looked at me before looking back at the files.

"Do you have any appointment?" The lady asked.

"No."

"Without an appointment, we can't allow you to meet Dr David," the lady spoke gently.

"Then give me an appointment."

"I'm sorry, appointments are made a day before or in the morning ma'am. Appointments are closed for today."

Why is so hard to meet him...

"Hmm... I know him and I don't think I need an appointment," I tell her. The nurses share a look with the lady before looking at me.

"We can't allow you without an appointment. I hope you understand," I pull my phone out and dial his number stepping aside.

He doesn't answer my call but the nurse who was standing there walked towards me. I ended the call and looked at her.

"Do you have Dr David's number?" She asked.

"Yes."

"Can you show me?"

"Sure." I show her the number.

"Hmm, can you tell me your name? If you are Dr David's friend. I will go and inform him, he is actually in the operation theatre."

"Sitara... Sitara Chindam."

"Are you related to Elora?"

"Yes, she is my sister." The nurse smiled.

"Oh, you don't have to wait here. You can wait in Dr David's cabin. I will show you the cabin," she said.

"Thanks."

"She is Elora's sister, a family member," the nurse informs the lady. I follow the nurse as she takes me to the elevator.

"Dr David's personal cabin is on the third floor. He was in the operation theatre, he would be coming out of the theatre room."

"Oh, I guess that's the reason he wasn't able to answer my calls."

"Yes." We get into the elevator. The hospital is pretty big. I didn't know that Tanu aunty is pretty loaded.

"How many floors are there in this hospital?"

"Thirty floors and a penthouse."

"Woah."

"What's your name?" I ask her.

"Akshaya."

"Is it always busy with patients?" I question.

She chuckled, "yeah... It's very busy every day and today it's not like every day. It usually gets a bit crowded."

"This way." We walk down the right side of the hallway, the building is divided into two parts and it's a huge property.

I look at the name tag of David as Akshaya opens the door. "Doctor will be here soon," she said.

"Thank you." I nod my head getting inside the room or cabin.

"Hmm... He got a big cabin," I tell strolling around in the room. The whole cabin is dark with dark brown furniture.

I keep my bag and cover on the table going over to the bookshelf. There are picture frames.

"Why does he have so many picture frames of my sister and Aarav." There isn't much to see in the cabin so I sit on the sofa and pull my book out.

"Send me the files and also take special care of him. I don't want you to leave, keep him under special observation," I heard David's voice as he opened the door and entered with two nurses following him. He hasn't seen me as his gaze is fixed on the files in his hands.

"Should I call Dr Priya?"

"Hmm, yes. It's her night shift and that would be better."

"What the fuc-" the second nurse said startled when she saw me. David looked at her before turning his head and looking at me.

"Hi," I greet him closing the book.

"What are you doing here?" He asked.

"I came to see you," I answer him while the two nurses look at me with wide eyes. They are curious to know me.

"Hmm... You two leave, I will talk later." David turned around telling the nurses. They snapped of their bubble.

"Hmm okay, doctor."

"Okay doctor." They left closing the door behind.

"Why are you here?" He asked again keeping the files on the table.

"I want to have my lunch with you," I say.

"No, I have appointments waiting. I can't come out with you for lunch."

"I said I want to have my lunch with you not come out with me. We can have our lunch in the hospital cafeteria."

"I only have twenty minutes of break."

"That's more than enough." I stand up and pack my bag. He looked unsure and is searching for something to say.

"David... I won't utter a word. Don't be uncomfortable, I'm here because I felt like having lunch with you when mum couldn't attend our lunch date."

"Okay."

"And I got coffee, I don't know if it's warm or not." I take the cover and raise it for him to take. He looks at me then at the cover.

"I don't drink coffee," he said looking at me. I give him an amused smile even when I'm amused before rolling my lips into my mouth.

"Sure." I nod my head. He looks away and I pick my bag. I follow him outside, I keep looking at him as he speed walks.

"Hi, Dr David."

"Hello." The other doctors greet him as we enter the cafeteria. They look at me but doesn't question.

I do what David does, pick the plate and spoon, go to the serving area. After filling our plates we sit near the window wall.

"Is it because I confessed my feelings you are behaving like this?" I ask him. After a period of silence. He looks at me without breaking eye contact.

"Yes... I don't know what to say. You left me speechless and I don't have feelings for you Sitara. I have never thought that you among everyone would like me. It makes me awkward to talk with you."

"David... You don't have to like me back. Just be you, I will do what I want to do. Eventually, it will break my heart if you be you. And I will give up," I tell him the truth.

"Exactly! I don't want to make things in between us awkward. I don't want you to get hurt, I can't face Elora if I hurt you. I don't want to hurt Elora or you. Stop whatever you want to do. It's better for us both if you give up your feelings on me."

I guess this what most of the one-sided love people feel when the other person they like reject them. Ugh... Rejection sucks...

"You don't have to make things awkward between us. You don't have to tell my sister about this. I can't give up on this before I try for it. Ignore me like I used to ignore you. Ignorance will make me move away. I don't want to give up on you unless I try to win you over. It totally depends on you."

He signed shaking his head, he was about to stand up and leave. He didn't even touch his food.

"Stay and have your lunch, I will leave now." I stand up.

"No... No... You sit and finish your lunch. I don't want you to leave without eating," he spoke.

"Relax David, I already had my lunch. I decided to see you and have lunch with you again so I came. See you next week and be the same, it will make me move away." I lie smoothly...

I smile and give him a two-finger salute before turning around and leaving.

My stomach is growling, I will just go home and have something. I'm not interested in eating outside anymore.

"Fuck... When did I become this soft? Am I being too soft?" I ask myself.

"I guess you can't stay cold towards the people you like."

I pull the coffee out of the cover and drink it. "Hmm, tastes good."

I had thought of throwing it but I value my money and that would be such a waste if I threw it just because he rejected my coffee.