Enchanting Hearts

Ayansh ~

Tears gathered in my eyes as I saw my car and my bride burning in the fire of agony in front of my eyes. I tried reaching her, to save her but those with fire hydrants on their back stopped me from moving. I pushed them aside and cut through the crowd I made my way towards her, my Trisha. I cried aloud after seeing her burning figure in front of my eyes. She couldn't leave me.

I tried opening the car's door which was covered with a hot, burning fire. But two people grasped me in a stronghold from behind. I cried her name but there was no response. She was unconscious, her clothes caught fire. Those firefighters were not even saving her, nor were they allowing me to save her. Why was this happening to me, god please let her live, she is not like me, she is kind-hearted and she cares about her family. Please let her leave instead and take me with you.

"Trisha", I screamed, my eyes opened up. I woke up, my whole body was covered in hot sweat and trembling in fear. Was that a nightmare again? I have been having this same nightmare for the past few years, but this was the first time I screamed someone's name. Who is Trisha? I didn't know any Trisha and I had no idea why I got these nightmares.

I gulped some water on the nightstand and stood up. My whole body was shivering moments ago but now I feel better. I had the same nightmare so many times that now I didn't even give it much thought.

I got ready for work in the usual shirt and pants combo. I took the keys to my Porsche and walked out of my house.

I lived in an apartment near the hospital in which I worked as an orthopaedic. The apartment was neither too small nor too big, but someday I would like to buy a good house with an infinite number of rooms and so many doors that whoever enters the villa gets lost inside, like a maze.

I sat right in the driver's seat and turned the engine on. I looked outside the window as the words got out of my mouth "What an ugly morning". Clouds covered the whole sky and there was no ray of sunshine in this darkness. It may rain today. The hospital was not far away from my apartment it took only 10 minutes to reach there. I slid off my seat and walked inside the hospital. Nurses stood up from their seats and left their work to greet me, this morning, but I walked straight to my cabin ignoring their greetings and light whispers going around.

I sat on my chair and checked my phone while I waited for today's appointment reports from my manager. Yeah, doctors too have managers. She managed all the reports and appointments. She was very helpful, without her it would have been a pain in the ass to manage all the things on my own.

I am the youngest doctor in this hospital. At first, no one took me seriously, as I was too young to work here according to them but my seriousness towards the work and the positive responses from my patients made them recognise me. My father also worked in this same hospital as a neurologist. So, everyone saw me as his kid and I didn't have my face. They always called me a product of nepotism. But I am here today because I worked and studied my ass off for years not because I am his son. Being his son never did anything good to me, he was always busy with his work and I never got anything like father's love, it was my mom who was there for me every time I needed someone. I have a huge respect for him as a doctor but as a father, he failed at his job.

My phone rang with a notification and I saw today's appointments. It was a free day today compared to others so, I relaxed on my chair and sighed as I waited for the patients.

I would be lying if said that I love my job. There was nothing to love about my job. The only thing good about it was that it made me loads of money other than that there were only cons. Seeing sad faces all day long, seeing people in pain and working at odd hours whenever there is some emergency. It was a tiring job and there was nothing to enjoy in this. I became a doctor to earn money but I never took into mind the cons that come with being a doctor.

After dealing with multiple patients I walked out of my cabin as I saw Dr. Anya standing in the reception. She was getting an early off today I guess.

I got to the reception to tell the receptionist that I was going. I stood beside Anya, her face looked stressed and her heels were clicking on the ground anxiously. She mumbled, "What do you think will they allow me a week's holiday?"

She asked me? We never got into any conversation so, it was weird for me that she initiated the convo. She is arrogant and rude, I never thought of getting into a fuss to talk to her.

"Why are you taking a week off?" I asked.

She turned towards me and looked into my eyes, "Because it's my wedding"

"How unlucky" I shook my head and leaned on the counter.

"Who?" Her brows frowned.

"Your husband" I replied.

Her face turned red from anger and her expressions switched.

Ignoring her, I told the receptionist that I was going and to not take any appointments for tomorrow morning.

I walked out of the hospital towards the parking lot and sat inside my Porsche.

As soon as I drove outside the rain started to drip from the sky as expected. I looked out the window and my eyes moved over a girl standing on the roadside under a shade. Her clothes were drenched in water sticking to her figure and water droplets dripping down her hair.

I felt like I had seen her somewhere, maybe she was my patient but it felt like I knew her well. Without giving it much thought I drove home.

Getting inside I saw Mom and Dad sitting in the living room discussing something. Going to the room seemed a better option to me than joining them for the chit-chat.

I changed my clothes and the thought of that girl erupted in my mind again. She looked beautiful nonetheless but it kept hitting me that I knew her somehow even after hunting my brain for her information nothing came to my mind. I gave up and lay on my bed, watching the ceiling.

Soon after my mother called me from downstairs. "Ayansh, khana ban gaya hai."

I joined my parents for dinner and after a long silence papa cleared his throat to say "tumhe nahi lagta ki ab tumhe zimmedar ban jana chahiye"

(Don't you think, you should become responsible now)

I ate another spoonful of dal- chawal and another, and another until my mouth was full. Dal-chawal is the best and most comforting food of all time.

"Tumse hi bol raha hu Ayansh" his voice was harsher this time.

(I am talking to you Ayansh)

I looked up towards him and gulped the food, I choked on my food and coughed repeatedly before mom passed me some water "Araam se khao beta khana bhaag nahi jayega"

(Eat slowly kid, dinner will not run away)

I gave her a nod and got my attention back to Papa trying to understand his words. What could it possibly mean to be responsible?

"I am a doctor now, isn't that enough to become responsible?" I asked.

"I am talking about having a family" his eyes were closed as he chewed on his food.

"You both are my family aren't you" I frowned.

"Get a wife, have kids" I choked again and this time on my saliva. Where it came from. Getting a wife? Having kids?

"I am a kid myself Papa" I said while coughing harshly.

"Look at your friends they are already married and have kids" This time Mom also joined Papa. What happened to them suddenly?

"Meri abhi umar hi kya hai?"

"29" They said together.

"28 and 9 months" I corrected them.

"You should get married before turning 29" Mumma said.

"Is that some age limit after which we can't get married" My brows furrowed.

"Yes" they said.

"I am not getting married right now and that's final" I stood up from my chair and walked to my room.

The food was so good but they didn't even let me enjoy it in peace. Getting married? Having kids? That's not my forte. I don't want to get into some unnecessary relation which will cause me pain and headache only, later on.

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Two days later....

After working hard in the hospital I returned home. I opened the door and saw a girl sitting on the sofa with her parents possibly sitting beside her. Her face looked familiar, I had seen her somewhere. The more important thing right now was, who are they and why are they here? I walked inside and loud voices spread inside the room.

"Are dekho Ayansh bhi aagya"

(See Ayansh is here)

Everyone's gaze was on me but mine remained fixed on her, her soft gaze rolling over me. Her brown eyes and black hair looked familiar and suddenly I remembered she was the one I had seen two days back while driving home. I am sure, she is her.

Mumma stood up from her place and walked close towards me, her eyes more cheerful than ever. She held my hands and walked me to where everyone else was sitting. I was completely clueless about what was going on here. Mummy introduced me to them and then she introduced herself. "I am Trisha"

Trisha, that name, I have heard that name but where?

Mumma stood up from her seat and said "Mai aap log ke liye chai naashta lekar aati hu"

I also stood up and announced, "I will just help her"

I followed her behind leaving Papa and those guests alone.

After getting inside the kitchen while helping her with snacks and tea I asked her "Who are they?"

She smiled and kept her hands on my shoulder "Vo log tumhare rishte ke liye aaye hai Trisha se"

(They have come to fix your marriage with Trisha)

"What?" I screamed.

"Araam se bol vo log sun lenge"

(Say slowly, they will hear)

"Mera koi rishta nahi hoga kisi se maine uss din bhi bola tha na ki abhi shaadi nahi karni mujhe fir bhi ye sab"

(I am not getting married to anyone, I already told you that a few days ago, but still all of this)

"You should talk to her once then you will ask me to get you married to her" She said.

"That day will never come," I said.

We took the plates of snacks and tea out and served everyone.

Papa said from the other side of the sofa, "Ayansh and Trisha". Grabbing our attention towards him. "You both should talk alone"

Everyone nodded and we got up from our seats to talk alone in the kitchen.

Why we chose the kitchen though, but it would have been too embarrassing to go in the room to talk. Our parents might think of us doing some dirty things inside the room. But if we think like that, the kitchen is not safe either. I looked at her figure, she was wearing a blue Anarkali, soft waves of her hair flying against her face, a small bindi on her forehead and those red nail paints on her long and pointy nails.

The urge to push her onto the kitchen counter and devour her increased and imagining her pointy long nails digging into my back, and scratching me, made me feel heavy inside.

I shook the thought out of my head and looked at her confused face. The image of her from that rainy night played inside my head making my throat dry.

"Let's start by introducing ourselves," I said, breaking the long-gone silence.

She nodded and forwarded her hand "I am Trisha"

I ignored her forwarded hand and said "I already know your name Ms. Trisha and I hope you already know mine"

She took her hand back and her whole face turned red through embarrassment.

"I am a psychologist," She said.

I leaned on the kitchen counter and looked her up and down, her hands fiddled with her dupatta.

"Maybe then I should also try reading your mind Ms.psychologist" I walked close to her and whispered in her ear, "My proximity is making you anxious?"

She found her way away from me, "Your name is sweet Mr Ayansh unlike your personality"

"Was that supposed to mock me?" I asked.

"You asked me, that means you definitely got mocked", she said while fixing her dupatta.

I smirked, "I like your attitude"

She smiled, it was more of a mocking smile than the sweet one which she gave to everyone else in the hall.

"You didn't tell me what you do Mr. Ayansh, is that something you need to hide?"

I laughed, "I am an Orthologist"

"So, you fix broken bones" Her high heels clicked on the marble floor as she walked close to me.

"Kind off yeah" I said, not understanding her point.

"Ohh, now I get it--" she stood close to me and each of our breaths collided with each other. "That's why you couldn't fix your broken brain"

She was good with her words, but as soon as she got to know that I am no sweet kind of person her whole attitude changed. What else could I expect from a psychologist?

"Now, you can fix my brain or, you don't have the capabilities to fix them?" I said.

"For that, you need to make an appointment Mr. Ayansh"

"Hone vaale pati ko bhi appointment ki zarurat padegi ab?"

(Your groom has to make an appointment as well)

"Shaadi abhi fix nahi hui hai, don't get your hopes too high just like your attitude" She said.

(Marriage is not fixed yet)

Her attitude was turning me on and pissing me off at the same time.

"Let's wait till the marriage then"

I said.

After ending the conversation, more like a competition on who could roast the other one better, we both walked out of the Kitchen.

I didn't even find it important to ask her the basics like what's your favourite colour, what's your favourite food, do you like going out blah blah blah. It has now become a competition and Ayansh Thakur doesn't like to lose.

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