Dheeraj Sharma
“Dhee, thi...this is your....your fr...frie...friend ya?” Mr. Jay Sharma asked with a mix of confusion and surprise. He already knew the answer but wanted to hear it from Dheeraj and not assume anything, at least for now.
Dheeraj released the breath he was holding, swallowed hard and closed his eyes preparing himself to face anything that would follow said loud enough to not repeat again “Meet Akarsh Talpade, my husband”
How did a 26-year-old doctor, Dheeraj Sharma, who just went to a medical camp for 2 weeks, come back home married to a complete stranger Akarsh Talpade, who seemed barely 21 ?
Dheeraj Sharma was a simple guy, not that his life has always been fair to him, but his life for most of the part was smooth. He has loving parents and due to their jobs the family had to go to Europe. He studied in the UK from the time he could remember, after that he studied medicine in the best university in the Czech Republic. Dheeraj was that person who, though Indian, barely had any connection to India. He rarely flew to India with his parents to visit his grandparents and Uncle Jay Sharma, that was it that he knew in India.
After his medicine, he decided to go back to his motherland to work for a while for experience which his uncle has suggested, and as his parents were about to retire, they wanted to live with their son in India and wanted Dheeraj to find a job and settle down there with them, which Dheeraj had no plans or even was interested to do. He wanted to go back to the UK or settle down in the Czech Republic. He knew nothing and no one in India except for his cousins Piyush Sharma and Yamini Sharma and uncle Jay Sharma and aunt Jia Sharma. His whole childhood was in the UK and he wanted to work there badly. He thought it would be best to not argue with his parents for the time being as they always stood by what they wanted and thought they did the best so there was no use and he wanted to be prepared enough for it. So he decided to go back to India as it would also benefit him in experience.
“Dheeraj...Dheeraj...”
Dheeraj turned to see Piyush running towards him as he walked out of the airport.
“Piyu.....” Wuxian ran to him almost jumping on him and hugged him tight.
Piyush wasn’t the one to be fond of physical touch, but even he himself has forgotten about it seeing his dear cousin. They were just an year apart, Dheeraj was an year elder to him. Being closer in age they could talk about anything with each other, they were more like friends than cousins and now they were seeing each other after 4 long years.
“Let’s go quick, everyone’s waiting for you....lemme help you with the bags.” Piyush said as he took both suitcases from Dheeraj and hurried towards the car.
Both of them didn’t even realize they were almost home as they were busy catching up on things that happened in the past 4 years.
As Dheeraj always remembered, the house was still the same. A two-storey luxury villa lit bright and looking beautiful under the dusk sky.
“Dhee....” Yamini ran to him wrapping him in a tight hug “I missed you”
“I missed you too didi....”
“How are you? How is aunt and uncle?”
“Everyone is doing great....they’ll be here in a few months”
“I have made your favorite biriyani, come le...” she was cut off by another voice.
“Let him take a shower first, he might be tired. Isn’t it Dhee?”
“Uncle....” Dheeraj gave him a warm hug and was about to ask him about his well-being when he heard another voice.
“Dheeraj....how long are you planning to stay?” he heard a sound say in a not-so-pleasant tone that none would want to hear the day they arrived. It was Mrs.Jia Sharma. She wasn’t a bad person but wasn’t fond of Dheeraj for some reason. Not like he hated her either but just felt a little uncomfortable as she always makes sure to make the other one shut up by saying something a little bit mean. Dheeraj never thought she was doing it intentionally, it is just how she is and has always been and will probably be. She had a sharp tongue that could make anyone dumbstruck by the things it said. It’s just that some people are born like that and Dheeraj never blamed her for not even trying to soften it at all.
“Ma...he just...”
“Piyu... I’m just asking him, he is grown up, of course he must have a plan”
“Ma...Dhee don’t know anyone else here, you know right?”
“Yami, I’m surprised about that too. Dheeraj, why is it just your mother’s brother that you know? What about your father’s family?”
“Hi, aunt....” Dheeraj said, forcing a smile as he didn’t know what else to do, the whole situation was so uncomfortable and it’s just been minutes since he entered. But to be honest this was her way of welcoming him. “I’m just....” and then they all heard his stomach grumbling.
Bad, this is really bad, such bad timing. He has been hungry for some time now but this seemed...
“Kid, what are you waiting for now? Aren’t you hungry? Go take a shower and come down as soon as possible.” Aunt Jia said looking at Dheeraj and then turning to Piyush she continued “Did you make space for his clothes in your cupboard?”
“Yes Ma...”
“Then carry his suitcase upstairs. Yami, help arrange his clothes.”
Dheeraj stood there surprised at the sudden change in conversation but it’s not like this was completely unexpected as his aunt has always been this unpredictable.
Noticing him still standing and staring at her, Aunt Jia continued “Dheeraj Sharma, did you forget where the washroom is? Or are you waiting for an invitation? No one’s gonna wait for you to eat, so make it quick before the food gets cold, or else we’ll just start without you.” to which he nodded and hurried.
As all five of them sat down in the dining room to eat, Dheeraj looked around and smiled seeing all of the dishes were of his liking. He was confused about what he should be trying first when Aunt Jia said “No one is gonna walk around the table serving anything, I’m old to do that so help yourself.” her tone still remained the same as before, unpleasant.
“Dhee, give me your plate, I’ll serve for you...”
“Yami, didn’t you hear what I just said?” Yamini immediately took back her extended hand hearing her mother and started to serve for herself.
“What your mother said is right,” Uncle Jay agreed “Dhee hasn’t been here for years now, we don’t know what he’ll like and what not. So let him decide and take it himself.” then turning to Dheeraj he continued “I heard from my sister that you lost your spice tolerance. You have had a very bad tolerance to spice since childhood, I remember the first time you came from UK, you refused to eat anything cause they were all spicy and only had sweets. Now it’s even less after you return from college, how bad is it? So it’s better to choose dishes yourself.” he said laughing. To which Dheeraj laughed too, he remember those times he had trouble with food whenever he visited his grandparents, they were literally eating chilies in the name of food.
“Have the biriyani, Yamini made it as it’s your favorite. Start with it....” Dheeraj quickly got the biriyani when he heard his aunt and it was just amazing. It was clear from his face that he was enjoying it.
“Dheeraj, how is it?” Piyush asked smiling.
“As amazing as always, just the way I like, the best biriyani ever.” he said blowing a kiss to his didi.
“Have more....” she said pushing the soup bowl closer to him.
“Dheeraj....when is aunt and uncle coming?” Piyush asked.
While having the biriyani he replied, “In a few months, I don’t know when exactly though. They didn’t say yet.”
“I think by the time you finish your practice here they’ll come, you are gonna work for 6months ya?” his uncle asked.
“Yes uncle, they are planning to retire and settle down in India. We have to find a house here soon.”
“Ya, she told me. They might be missing their homeland. What home feels like, you’ll never feel it no matter which other part of the world you go to. Don’t you wanna settle down here?” he asked to which Dheeraj just forced a smile that turned out to look awkward, of course he didn’t want to stay there. His parents had nostalgia for this place but he didn’t. Without waiting for his reply, Uncle Jay continued “Why should they hurry to find a house? Isn’t it better to stay here? And then once when they find a suitable house at a reasonable price they can move in there. We aren’t strangers.”
Aunt Jia who was quiet till then was triggered by this “Stay here? Does our home look like a lodge? I mean it has always been a vacation home for them, now you wanna ask them to stay here? Isn’t it better to find a house soon? They have got 6 months and as Dheeraj is also here, why not you both search for a good house or might be a good plot for the house and build one on it? 6 months is a long time.”
“Why should they? This is her house too. It belongs to our parents. We have just renovated it and are staying here, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have any right to come home.” Mr.Jay seemed like he wasn’t having it today. But hearing this the only thing Dheeraj could think was ‘Why am I always a part of their fights? Why can’t uncle just hold it in a little longer? I just came and they have already started that too for something unnecessary.’ Finding a house in that area was expensive, Dheeraj knew it and they were all middle class, but they knew it would only trouble his uncle and family if they stayed there so it did make sense to buy a new house as they owned no other property in India.
“But your parents have written it under your name, and WE renovated it? Do I have to remind you who did?” saying that, aunt stood up from her chair and left to her room.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself down, uncle looked at the three and said “Continue eating, don’t waste food.” and left only after he had finished his food.
Laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling, Dheeraj was thinking about his plans for the next day when Piyush entered with an extra blanket. He threw it to Dheeraj “You can have it, I washed it yesterday for you.”
“Thank you...” Dheeraj said getting up to hug Piyush who sat beside him.
“What are you doing?”
“How’s your girlfriend?”
Piyush rolled his eyes giving Dheeraj a little push “Not yet...”
“Seriously? Not yet....Piyu, you are so damn boring. Hey, being honest, your girl is cute. I’m sure someone will be hitting on her. Is she even single?”
“She is focusing on her career...”
“Is that what she said? Hahaha...” Dheeraj laid back on the bed laughing “You better try harder or else I might.” he said continuing his laugh, but stopped immediately as he heard Piyush take a deep breath.
“Dheeraj, do you really mean it? Do I have to compete with you for love too?”
Dheeraj clearly knew where this was going now “Oh, Piyu...give me a break I just came today. Aanya is all yours, she is my sister-in-law and she always will be. I would be the happiest one if I could help get you both together.”
“Hmm...” Piyuh said laying beside him. Dheeraj and Piyush were always compared by Mr.Jay since the time they remember. Dheeraj was brilliant from a young age and had a very good memory so it wasn’t tough for him to be top of his class but when his uncle started asking Piyush to learn from Dheeraj and be like him, comparing them both, it was poor him who had to work his ass off. He would study for hours, Piyush was a hard worker and everyone knew it but for some reason no matter how hard he tried, he could never be Dheeraj, which disappointed his dad.
Dheeraj knew all these and felt bad for Piyush, he also kind of knew this was from where his aunt’s hate towards him started. Mrs.Jia didn’t care about Mr.Jay favoring Dheeraj more than his own son but when she saw Piyush working hard and him still being disappointed, she as a mother couldn’t be at ease. She always stood up for Piyush and took his side but Mr.Jay still wasn’t happy. Piyush only wanted his dad to be proud of him, and talk highly of him at least once the way he did for Dheeraj every single day.
Piyush stood up, switched the light off, and as they laid down to sleep he said “Dhee...” Dheeraj turned to look at Piyush, he rarely called him ‘Dhee’ and whenever he did, he usually said something that really bothered him.
“Hmm?”
“Please don’t hate my mother, she....”
“Piyu, aunt is like my mother to me, I know she didn’t mean anything bad and that was an unnecessary argument. I’ll never be able to hate her.” I said ruffling his hair “Sleep now, you have to wake me up early in the morning, I have to go meet someone.”
“Haha, then I really need to sleep and get enough energy to be able to wake you up.” He said with a light laugh as he turned around his back facing Dheeraj and soon they drifted off to sleep.
Piyush had only succeeded in his fifth try to wake Dheeraj up, he was 15 minutes late but Piyush somehow managed to get him to the hospital where Dheeraj was to meet Dir.Nathan Bhatt about his internship. From the time Piyush got to know about it, Dheeraj had to keep ensuring him for like 50 times that it wasn’t due to Aunt Jia that he was hurrying up and that it was because he really wanted to work soon.
Once Piyush dropped him off and left, he went inside and now was standing in front of the huge cabin, staring at the signboard outside, Dr.Nathan Bhatt, Director.
He had heard about him by accident from the staff downstairs and that was already scaring him. Especially now that he could hear some cries coming from inside. ′Was he really a monster as they say?′ He gathered courage and knocked on the door thrice.
"Come in.”
He walked in to find two other doctors inside, one who was almost crying and the other one with dimples, who stood in front of him with a concerned look.
“Bhaiyaaa.....” one cried.
“Bhaiya, I’ll make sure he doesn’t make this mistake ever again.” the dimple one said.
“Gunav, next time the warning won’t be for him but to you for supporting him and Hiran, keep in mind that this really is your last chance. Get out now.” Dir.Bhatt said sitting down as the one crying ran out the door and looked at the newcomer.
Feeling his eyes on him, Dheeraj said “Dheeraj Sharma, I have applied for an internship here. I have studied....”
Before he could complete Dir.Nathan said “I read your CV, I know. Usually, we don’t take interns at this time of the year as we will mainly be focusing on medical camps in the next few months but as Mr. Suvin Sharma is my father’s college mate and has himself asked me for his son, I agreed. I hope you won’t disappoint us.” he said with a straight face.
“I’ll try my best doctor.” Dheeraj said bowing down to him.
“This is Dr.Gunav Das, he’ll guide you with everything. You’ll have to start tomorrow itself, I hope I’m clear. Now you may leave.”
Dheeraj walked out of the cabin as the dimple Dr.Gunav Das followed out.
“Hi, welcome to the team.” he said with a bright dimple smile, extending his hand.
As Dheeraj shook it he replied “I’m looking forward to working with you, by the way, Dheeraj Sharma.”
“Gunav bhaiya...”
He turned as the one he saw before was now hurrying towards Dr.Gunav.
“What now? Hiran, I’m not gonna have your back next time.”
Hiran looked at Dheeraj and with a smile said “Hi, I heard you are the new intern. Myself, Dr.Hiran Bhatt.”
Dheeraj was confused now....“Director Bhatt is your....”
“Brother” he said smiling.
“Dr.Sharma don’t mind what you saw today, you’ll soon get used to it. This almost happens every day.” Dr.Gunav said frowning giving side eye to Dr.Bhatt.
“Bhaiya...I’m really sorry I won’t repeat this.”
“You say this every single time but.” Dr.Gunav's phone rang. It was clear on his face that the one called was special.
“Your boyfriend....go pick up, I’ll give a hospital tour to Dr.Sharma and will be there in the Cafeteria in an hour.” Dr.Bhatt said hold Dheeraj's hand and pulling him along.
“Hiran, don’t you have to assist Dr.Kumar in OR now?”
“Next time..... it's not like Dr.Kumar will run off anywhere.” Dr.Bhatt said walking as Dheeraj noticed Dr.Gunav keeping a hand on his forehead behind them.
“Don’t worry, Dr.Das is gonna be in his dreamland for a while now, by then let’s go around. You can ask me anything you wanna know.” Hiran said looking at Dheeraj, excited to meet someone similar in age to accompany him to the camp that he didn’t wanna go alone to.
“Tomorrow? Isn’t it a little too soon?” Yamini asked looking at Dheeraj as they all sat down for dinner.
“He came here to work not to enjoy so it makes sense he doesn’t wanna waste time.” Mrs.Jia said sternly.
“Dhee, rest is equally important, you know that right?” Mr. Jay asked and then looked at his wife shaking his head.
Seeing this, Piyush sitting beside Dheeraj leaned closer and whispered “It’s not due to what Ma said ya?” looking worried. He didn’t want his mother to be the villain and Dheeraj has already assured him like 100 times now that it’s not due to her.
“My Papa has asked me to join soon and I didn’t wanna waste time, Piyush, didi, the sooner I start the sooner I’ll finish and then let’s have some fun.” Dheeraj said flashing his best smile.
The more he stays here, the more he’ll trouble them. It wasn’t completely his aunt’s fault but partly the reason was also what she said. His uncle until a few years back wasn’t successful in business, no matter what he tried. He had used all the savings both he and his wife had. As he kept failing as the businesses he started were all causing him loss in the end, it was Mrs.Jia who earned and ran the family. It was only with her earning Yamini and Piyush completed their school education. She was the one who renovated Mr.Jay’s house which was in a very bad condition. She has always been on his side all the while when he was at his lowest. One reason no matter how rude she behaved, Dheeraj's mother Mrs.Suja Sharma and Dheeraj couldn’t hate her as they thought what she said was reasonable when thought about from her point of view. After not doing anything for his kids when Mr.Jay started comparing Piyush to Dheeraj, she tried siding with her son and later started to point out Dheeraj's mistakes. Whomever Dheeraj hid his mistakes from, it could never be not found by his aunt, who wanted to show her husband that even Dheeraj Sharma had his own strengths and weaknesses like their son Piyush Sharma.
Soon Dheeraj along with the help of Piyush and Hiran were in search of a good 1bhk for rent near the hospital which they found within the next month and Dheeraj soon moved out and settled there.
Piyush or Yamini would visit him most of the days bringing him snacks or meals and Hiran would be there every weekend. Dheeraj again was leading a smooth peaceful life there preparing himself to tell his parents that he wasn’t ready to settle down in India yet....YES, he better go with that first for the time being.
