It was around half past nine o’ clock when Mr. Dixit decided to bless Dr. Rehaan with his presence in the well-organised cabin of Dhanvantri. Entering with his friend Dev made sure that his aura was something that no one would remain unaware of. It was his regal presence that made Rehaan look up as soon as the door guaranteeing the privacy of his cabin shot open.

“Sorry doc, got caught up in the work at the last moment.” Dev said as he took the seat in front of the tired looking doctor.

“Not today Mr. Dixit.” A very exhausted Rehaan replied.

Dev was taken aback at the condensing tone of the doctor he had known for almost three years. Never in the life had Dev or Vishal heard Rehaan talking to them in such a, what Vishal would call a disappointed voice.

“What happened? Why so serious?” Vishal asked, trying to curb the doctor’s anger, for he knew that something they had done or should he say, the have done has irked Rehaan for him to respond in this way.

“As I said Rehaan, I had a last moment information about a pre-scheduled meeting which I couldn’t delay. So, I got a little late.” Dev said. Vishal did a mental face-palm on his friend’s egoistic blindness that prevented him from accessing the seriousness of the doctor’s mood.

“Well you can then as well go back to your office or wherever you please to go.” Rehaan said.

“What?” Dev was taken aback on hearing his words.

“C’mon man, we have been through this so many times. You know how workaholic Dev can be. Just let it pass, and do our check-up.” Vishal tried coaxing the doctor.

“Yes, I know, and so I decided to appoint another doctor for you both. One, who is not flexible as me and who surely is not a workaholic. She loves work, she prays it, and so she doesn’t disrespect it. I had to actually ask her to wait for you guys after the working hours but what did I get?”

“we are just a little late.” Dev tried to reason.

“What is a little late for you is in reality late by freaking three and half hours, Dev Dixit.” Rehaan said in a higher tone.

“It’s not like doctors can have a stipulated working time. They need to be there 24x7 for the patient.” Dev said arrogantly.

“That is where you go wrong. Not everyone is Rehaan to allow you to continue moving around with head in air. You need to come in terms with facts and realities, Dev.”

Looking at the brewing argument, Vishal decided to intervene before things got out of hand. “Okay, guys chill. Dev we are the ones wrong here so just sit down quietly. Rehaan can give us another appointment?”

“Come day after tomorrow. At eleven o’ clock in the morning.” Rehaan said.

“Why not tomorrow?” Dev again pipped in.

“I said day after tomorrow 11:00am.” Rehaan answered with a tone of finality.

Being the realistic of the two, Vishal understood that there was no room for any bargain and so he just nodded and signalled Dev to make a way out of the upset doctor’s chamber.

Outside the Dhanvantri Hospital, Dev continued complaining about the rude doctor and finding a new doctor. Having enough of his friend’s grumbling and rude attitude Vishal shouted on top of his voice, “ENOUGH DIXIT! YOU KNOW YOU ARE THE ONE AT FAULT HERE. SO STOP BEING A GRUMBLING OLD MAN AND WEAR THE PANTS THAT A BOY OF YOUR AGE SHOULD! GET IN THE CAR, AND MAKE SURE TO BRING YOUR EGOISTIC ASS AT 10:30AM ON DAY AFTER TOMORROW. GOOD-BYE!”

Stunned at his friend’s outburst Dev sat in his car as he made his way home.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meera Dixit sat on the couch in the living room of the three-storey luxurious building, when Dev entered with a scowl ornating his face, informing her of her son’s foul mood.

“Dev, what happened?” she asked as he settled down on the couch near her.

“Nothing Maa” he said avoiding her question.

“Dev?” she asked again in the tone that would make her son confess everything.

“Rehaan and Vishal, both shouted on me today, all because of a damn doctor.” He complained.

“Why?”

“Just because I was late for the appointment.”

“Appointment?”

“Yes, actually I was feeling agitated, stressed, frustrated, irritated, and all that again. Thought it was something with the diet. So, decided to pay another visit to Rehaan.”

“Why didn’t you inform me?” a mother’s worry was evident in her voice.

“I didn’t want you to worry.”

“Get up, let me make you some tea for you.”

“Waiting for it in my room.” Dev said as he got up to change.

Once Dev was out of the hearing length, Meera picked up her cell and called someone, “He is losing the control, again. I am almost out of the herbs, I will need more, soon. I don’t think I can help him control for long. We need to think something before everything goes out of control. Try contacting them, soon. We need them, and more than that they need us.”

She took a deep breath after ending the call and proceeded to make the Tea for her son and to help him.