Sidharth was in his cabin when the intercom buzzed, informing him about an emergency. A 25-year-old male was transferred to the ER after a high-energy motor-vehicle collision. At first evaluation, he was haemodynamically unstable with sinus tachycardia. After a bolus infusion, the patient responded rapidly to the infusion of 1 lt of Ringer's solution and his hemodynamic condition was stabilized. 

"Heart rate 90 and blood pressure is 80 mmHg.." the nurse reported Dr. Sidharth. At the physical exam, he had a mild left upper quadrant abdominal pain without signs of peritonitis and mild pelvic tenderness without instability. His airway, lungs and brain presented no clinical radiological damage. Further evaluation for injuries showed a complete displaced right femoral shaft fracture causing deformity. 

"He's stable now.. We'll evaluate him one last time before going for NOM.." he announced. Non-operative management was an option to treat patients who had normal blood flow, which meant an evenly pumping heart and good blood circulation. Surgery wasn't necessary in such cases. 

"Are you sure you sir? There's still bleeding in the pelvis!" a junior asked, considering the fact that NOM could be challenging too. 

"Can be controlled.. Interventional radiology.." he answered. 

"Sir.. Ummm.. Liver bhi injured hai.. Baad me blood pressure badh gaya toh?" the junior doubtfully asked. Sidharth had a small smile behind his mask, for this quick observer, but too late to ask in the ER.

"That's why we'll be doing continuous angiography.. ye arteries ke blood flow ko check karega.." he answered again and the procedure began. Keeping an eye on the angiograms, Micro-coils were infused to stop bleeding. On the check angiography, the bleeding had stopped and the patient remained haemodynamically stable. The duration of the procedure was 80 minutes. The procedure was well-tolerated, successful and without any complications. 

Done with his day, Sidharth left in time to pick up Shehnaaz from her academy. It was 8, he wished he didn't make her wait too long. Also, on unlocking his phone he found that she hasn't texted him since afternoon. He had just pulled his car into the road when her name chimed on his phone. 

"Hey.. I'm on my way.." he answered before she could ask where he was. 

"Nahi! Mat ja.. Mai academy nahi gayi aaj.." she replied urgently, feeling bad that she forgot to inform him. 

"Bataya kyu nahi?" he asked, she never forgot to inform him. Actually, she used to text him all the time, so she never really forgot to inform him about anything. 

"Hmm.. Bhool gayi.. Sorry.." she mumbled seemingly lost somewhere. Strange. 

"Sana! Tu kaise manage isko? And whom are you talking to? Answer me!" he heard a sharp and shrill voice over the phone, while he was turning his car. It was her roommate, shouting. 

"Arohi mu band rakhegi do minute!" Shehnaaz replied, grunting against her high pitch. 

"All okay?" he asked when it seemed like the two were fighting. 

"Ha.. Mai teko baad me batati hu.." Shehnaaz answered, back in her low voice. 

"Is that Sidharth? Did you tell him? Meri baat karwa ussey!" Arohi demanded loudly. 

Before he could ask what was happening, Shehnaaz immediately disconnected the call. What could it be? A thought crossed his mind to call her back but he dismissed it. It could be something between the girls, they were roommates and they could fight over their issues. Or was there anything serious he should have known? Should he text her at least? He simply drove faster home to get a clearer picture. 

It had been somewhat 10 minutes, when he got a call from her, "Sidharth.. Sorry vo Arohi ke wajah se disturb hua.. Bahut overreact karti hai vo.. Tu bata..ghar aa gaya?" she said. 

"Is everything okay? Why did she want to talk to me? And yes I've reached home.." he replied, walking across his bedroom towards the living room to see if she was on the balcony and she was there, in her comfy top & shorts. 

"Arey.. Vo.. duffer overreact kar rahi hai.. Actually mujhe tere se ek favour chahiye tha.." she said and waved at him when he emerged in his classic T-shirt and shorts. And what did she say? Was she requesting something? 

"Bolna na! Puchh kyu rahi hai.." he said, she didn't need to request and rather ask him directly! 

"Uh..okay.. Just come over then.." she said, shrugging her shoulders. He nodded to her, shoving his phone in his pocket and making his way out of his apartment after locking out. 

Shehnaaz opened the door when he rang the bell, "Hi.. Aaja.." she said and stepped aside. She asked him to have a seat and sat beside him. 

"Sidharth.. Aaj na jabhi mai school ke baad ghar wapas aa rahi thi.. Tabhi bus stand pe ek 3-4 saal ka bacha akela dikha mujhe.. Ro raha tha vo.. Matlab bahut zyada ro raha tha.. Uske idhar (pointing at her left knee) chot bhi lagi thi.." she immediately began reciting the incident and took a pause when she ran out of breath. 

"Toh yeh madam usko ghar leke aa gayi! Can you believe it!?" Arohi appeared suddenly, cutting her words in between. He didn't like the way she talked but wait a minute! He looked at Shehnaaz for elaboration, surprised with the new information. 

"Abey mai bata rahi hu na!" she hissed at her irritating roommate and continued. 

"Mai us bache sath kuch der baithi.. Ke shayad uske Mummy -Papa aayenge.. Kho gaya hoga shayad.. Lekin koi nahi aaya.. Toh.. Toh mai usko leke Police station gayi thi.." she revealed further and noticed his expressions, surprised definitely but there was something more. His lips forming a straight line, he was probably getting mad. 

"Vaha pe inspector ne bola koi missing report toh nahi aayi hai.. Toh maine apna phone number diya unko.. Aur ghar aa gayi.. In sab me academy nahi gayi aur tujhe message karna bhi bhool gayi.." she said. He felt anger rising within, why didn't she tell him this earlier? He could have helped! Usually she never missed any chance to spam his chatbox but today she had to take charge and walk into the police station alone. Anyways. 

"Toh tu us bache ko ghar le aayi?" he asked. 

She nodded, "Ha.. Vaha police station me chhod deti? Kaise kaise log aate hai vaha pe.. Chor.. Murders.. Isiliye ghar le aayi.." she answered, honestly. 

"Where's he?" he asked again. 

"So raha hai andar.. Khana bhi nahi khaya usne.." she pouted. 

"Toh tujhe kyu padi hai uski? Uske maa baap dhund lenge na usko!" Arohi interrupted again. 

"Have some humanity! 3-4 saal ka bacha hai vo..you stupid fuck! Why are you overreacting so much?" Shehnaaz stood up and turned to face her roommate. 

"I'm not overreacting! Just being practical okay.. Kyu faltu me khudko involve kar rahi hai..?" Arohi asked, for the nth time since the evening. 

"Kyuki mai usko rote nahi dekh sakti! Aaya tere samajh me? Kaha chhod ke aati usko!? Tu bata? Us bus stand se koi isko kidnap kar leta toh?" Shehnaaz charged at her, letting out why she brought that kid home. Sidharth for a while sat stunned at their verbal fight, until he felt they would start scratching off each other's faces the next second. 

"Cut it out girls.. Shehnaaz you did a good thing by informing the Police.. but who's going to look after him? Tu subha subha school jati hai phir academy.." he said, slowly easing a hand around her shoulder to calm her down after the heated argument. She heard him intently to realize that she didn't even think about it. That kid, he's hardly 3-4 years old, who'll look after himself? He hasn't spoken even a word yet, nor did he eat anything she offered. 

"Ye toh maine socha hi nahi.." she mumbled. 

"So?" he asked. 

"Lekin bahar se zyada safe hai nah vo yaha? Vo bahut dara hua hai Sidharth.." she replied. 

"Here we go again.." Arohi commented, tired of explaining to her dear roommate that they should not keep this unknown child at their place. Getting involved with the police didn't seem right, minding our own business was much better, she thought. 

"Mai tera mu tod dungi.." Shehnaaz replied, raising her voice. Even he was irritated about how she wasn't even listening and kept on ranting. The next moment they heard a softly crying voice from the adjacent room. Arohi went to her bedroom, tired of that baby's wailing, while Shehnaaz paced into her bedroom, feeling guilty for making noise that woke up the kid. He followed her inside and saw an innocently pale white face, stained with tears spilling out endlessly and his baby hands wiping them off his big almond eyes. Sitting in her lap, his sobs reduced as Shehnaaz rubbed his back and began talking to him in a childish tone. 

"Kya hua puttu? Mai yahi hu baby.. Aap ko bhook lagi?" she asked. The kid just stared at her, he couldn't understand a word the lady carrying him was saying but he could get that she wasn't going to harm him and her hands rather comforted him enough to stop crying. Sidharth walked closer and smiled when the kid turned his head to him, noticing another person's presence. The tall and broad he was, he unknowingly scared the baby making him hide behind her. 

"Oye.. Tere se dar lag raha hai isko.." she chuckled, cradling the kid again in her lap and the lil one fisted the collar of her top with his right hand trying to hold himself to her. 

"Ye 3 saal ka hoga na?" she asked Sidharth, hugging the baby. He nodded, standing at a distance. 

"Tu bata? Maine kya galat kiya isko ghar laake? Iski shakal dekh.. Isko kaise chhod deti mai police station me.. Jab tak iske parents isko dhund nahi lete yeh yaha rahe toh kya problem hai?" she asked, unable to figure out what wrong she did. She couldn't help how suddenly she felt like protecting this little child. Maybe because she knew how alone and how unsafe a child is without parents. 

"You had the right intentions sweetheart.. Lekin iska dhyan kon rakhega?" he asked again, trying to make her understand that what she's up to isn't easy. 

"Mai rakhungi.." she answered, determined. "Mai try karungi school se jaldi aane ka.. Aur academy abhi jana zaruri nahi hai.. I've just given a performance.." she said, calculating how she could take out time for the kid. 

"Shehnaaz you cannot put your work aside just like that.. Bolna aasan hai lekin manage kaise karegi?" he questioned again, she was so leaking into emotions for that kid, it wasn't good if she got attached to him because he wasn't going to stay for long. 

"Dekhti hu.. Kar lungi manage.. Kuch din ki baat hai jab tak Nonu ke parents nahi mil jate.." she answered. 

"Nonu?" he asked, had she named him already? 

"Ha.. Acha naam haina.." she giggled and kissed the kid's cheek. 

"Ha toh Sidharth maine puchna tha ke.. Tu ek inspector ko janta hai na.. Operation kiya tha tune.." she began. 

"Ha.. Inspector Singh ke unit constable ka.." he replied. 

"Unse bolega please.. Aj mai jab Police station gayi.. Vaha kisi ne seriously nahi liya missing report ko.." She informed only adding fuel to his fury, he had forgotten for a moment that he should be mad at her for going to the station all alone. 

"Pehle toh tu ye bata.. Tu akeli chali gayi police station! Aise toh din me 50 bar message karke pakati hai.. Aaj ek bar bhi tujhe nahi laga that you could call me.. Mai aa jata na!" he scolded. 

"Tu busy hota hai na din ke time.. Isliye nahi kiya.." she pouted. 

"Sorry na! Abhi gussa mat kar please.. Ye uth jayega.." she added, nudging her head towards the baby almost asleep in her lap. 

"I'll talk to Singh about this.." he said. 

The next day, Shehnaaz had requested Arohi to take care of Nonu for a couple of hours before she came back from school but she had clearly denied, saying that she wasn't good with kids and she had lots of work. After staying empty stomach from last time Nonu didn't deny that when Shehnaaz fed him parathas for breakfast, he was definitely hungry. 

"Kinna nona tu.. Bhook lagi thi na tujhe.. Mai aaj tere liye chocolates aur biscuits le aaungi.. Thik hai?'' She was talking to Nonu while he was sitting on her lap and staring at her. She wondered if he could speak or not because he looked grown up enough to do that. It was almost 8 in the morning now, she had returned

from the ground half an hour ago and had to get ready to leave for her school. 'Kab tak free ho jaungi..' she thought while looking at her time table, she had two classes before the lunch break at 10am and one afterwards. So, she'd be free before 11 and could take her leave before the school ended. Cool. Her subconscious mind recalled Sidharth's words, that she shouldn't be keeping her work aside and it wasn't going to be easy keeping this kid at her place. It's just for a couple of days! She told herself. And came up with an idea to keep an eye on Nonu and dialed his number. 

"Ha bol'' he picked up. 

"Sidharth sunna.. Tai hai abhi ghar pe?" she asked. 

"Ha..kyu?" he replied, the cook was preparing his breakfast, like everyday. 

"Mujhe unse baat karna hai please.. Ke vo Nonu ka dhyan rakhe thodi der.. Mai 11 baje tak wapas aa jaungi.." she replied, this was the idea she had come up with. 

"Okay..come and talk to her..'' he said. He could now totally notice how she was behaving indifferently with regard to that kid. Maybe she was relating to him, his condition. She didn't want him to feel as if he didn't have anybody, that could be the reason she was going out of the way to reach his parents. Sidharth admired her even more for this, her beautiful soul and heart. Hence, he had asked the maid if she could look after the child across the building for a couple of hours for a few days. He was having his breakfast when the doorbell rang, he opened it to a freshly showered Shehnaaz. 

"Aaja.." he welcomed her. 

"Tai!" He called out for the cook cum maid. A lady in her early 50s came out wiping her hands with a napkin,

"Ho.." She answered. 

"Mi bolat hoto tich ti aahe.. Baat karlo.." he said, walking past them to continue with his breakfast. While Shehnaaz asked her to look after the kid during the day time from 8 to 11 for a few days, feed him and help him in the washroom and that she'd be paid accordingly. He was watching the whole conversation in front of him when Shehnaaz would tuck the slightly wet strands of her hair behind her ear and glanced at her wrist watch from time to time, probably getting late. 

"Mujhe drop karde please.." she said, done with the work she came for and sat opposite to him on the dining table, when Tai left. He gave her an irritating look, what was with her and 'please'? He didn't like how she'd start requesting all of a sudden. 

"Yaar meko late ho rahi hai.." she pouted. 

"Chup-chap car ke paas ja.. aa raha hu mai.." he replied, getting up from his seat and carrying his phone along. 

"Yaad se Inspector se baat karlio.." she reminded him, breaking the silence in the car. He hummed to that and focused on the road, when she was clicking herself a selfie again. She suddenly turned the camera towards him and giggled. 

"Kya kar rahi hai?" he was surprised when she did that. 

"Jab mai teri car me baith ke snapchat stories lagati hu.. Mere friends ko lagta hai meri car hai.. Mai aaj unko driver se mila rahi hu.." she answered, giggling. 

"Driver?" he cocked up his brows, challengingly. 

"Obviously.." she laughed. "Driver bolne me kya galat hai.. Tu drive kar raha hai.. Aur mujhe lene chhodne aata hai.." she added, mentioning the fact. 

"Toh mai driver hu?" he asked, getting offended. 

"Nahi.. Tu toh mera pyara sa padosi hai.." she answered, pinching his cheeks. 

"Mazak kar rahi hu yaar! Teri photo is liye li aaj humne matching ki hai.. Dekh.. Green-green!" she informed him. Well, he had already noticed her parrot green kurti and his dark green shirt, but nodded to her anyway. 

"Chal selfie lete hai.." she suggested, strangely they haven't ever clicked one yet. He looked at the selfie camera as she raised her phone and adjusted their faces, moving closer. He took a scan of how her cheeks burned up on their own, when she smiled. 

"Idhar dekh!" She brought him back and tapped on the button. Clicking a selfie, their first one. 

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