Akshat was walking in the garden speaking to someone on the phone when Guddan bumped on him. He saw Neeru following her as Guddan immediately hid herself behind him.

Guddan: Maayi, bas!!! Mujhse aur nahi ho raha hai.

She was heavily breathing as she was getting chased by Neeru who was ordering her to complete her breakfast.

Neeru: Saare bachhe milkar mujhe itna pareshaan nahi karte jitna tu akeli karti hai. Guddan mujhe doosre kaam bhi hai, tere peeche naashta lekar nahi ghum sakti mai.

Guddan: Ha to aap jaiye aur jo kaam hai kariye. Maine kaha mujhe kuchh bhi khane ka man nahi hai.

Neeru: Ab tum hi samjhao ise.

She said to Akshat as he passed a confused look to both of them.

Guddan: Ye kya samjhayenge mujhe? Aur aap ko kya lagta hai ki inke samjhane se mai samajh jaaungi?

Hearing her indirect challenge for him, he passed a smile to Neeru.

Akshat: Aap pareshan mat hoiye aur jaaiye. Mai ise hospital le kar ja raha hun. Maine doctor se appointment le li hai.

Neeru: Bhagwaan bhala kare tumhara.

She said with a mischievous smile while he couldn't understand the reason for her smile.

Guddan: Aapko kisne kaha ki mai aapke saath hospital jaane ke liye taiyar hun?

She asked keeping her hands on her waist as she looked at him narrowing her eyes.

Akshat: Mai tum se keh raha hun ki tum mere saath chal rahi ho.

Guddan: Mai nahi jaaungi.

Akshat: Chup chap se meri baat maan lo warna.....

Guddan: Warna kya?

Akshat: Apne sapne me job kar lena, office aane ki zaroorat nahi hai.

Guddan: Kya??? Maine aapse job ke liye shaadi ki aur aap shaadi ke baad mujhe job par nahi rakhna chahte? You....

She pointed a finger towards him and in no time he held her hand curling the finger into her fist.

Akshat: Maine kab kaha ki mai tumhe job par nahi rakhna chahta? Mai sirf itna kehna chah raha hun ki mai aise unhealthy employees ko kaam par nahi rakhta. So, you decide.

Guddan: Aap jo bhi kahe, mai aap ke saath nahi jaane wali.

Akshat: Then don't blame me for whatever happens next.

Before she could comprehend his words, she was lifted off the ground in his arms.

Guddan: Kya kar rahe hai aap? Neeche utariye mujhe.

She said wriggling in his arms but was equally afraid of falling down so encircled her arms around his neck.

Akshat: Zyaada hilo mat warna gir jaaogi, phir mujhe mat blame mat karna.

They reached the gate but the children present there blocked their way making Guddan smirk.

Guddan (clearing her throat): Ye bachhe, aapke ghar ke baahar khade un pehalwaanon se zyaada taaqat rakhte hai.

He glared at her as she was smiling at him.

Kid 1: Aap hamare Guddan Didi ko kahaan le kar jaa rahe hai?

Kid 2: Kahin aap unhe kidnap to nahi kar rahe hai na?

They said looking at the innocent face Guddan has put up making Akshat shocked.

Kid 3: Ham aapko kahin nahi jaane denge.

They blocked the gate holding each other's hands forming a chain.

Akshat: Tum logon ko nahi pata? Ya tumhari Guddan Didi ne nahi bataya? Unki tabiyat bohot kharaab hai. Isiliye to wo kuchh dinon se aap logon ke saath khel nahi rahi hai. Agar aap chahte hai ki wo aap logon ke saath khoob saari masti kare aur pehli ki tarah energetic ho jaaye to mujhe unhe hospital le kar jaana hoga. Hai na?

The kids passed an understanding look towards each other and nodded at him as they broke apart giving them way.

Kid: Aap jaise Guddan Didi ko le kar jaa rahe hai waise hi unhe waapas lana hoga.

Akshat: Done!

He moved ahead to his car while Guddan frowned on his act. He made her sit on the passenger seat and drove towards the hospital.

He stepped out of the car while she was sitting inside the car not willing to go inside.

Akshat: I won't mind taking you in,  the same way as I brought you here.

Glaring at him, she opened the door of her side and came out following him reluctantly.

When they reached the doctor's cabin, he started speaking to the nurse while Guddan was shocked looking at the name plate on the door of her cabin. She immediately turned back, hiding her face in her palms and was about to leave the place but Akshat caught her when he saw her moving away from there and was not by his side.

Akshat: Kahaan bhaagne ki koshish kar rahi thi?

Guddan: Nahi.... nahi... mai...... mai kyun bhaagungi? Mai to bas aise hi dekh rahi thi.....

Akshat: To apna ye chehra kyun chhupa rahi ho?

He asked her removing her hands from her face.

Guddan: Kuchh nahi...

Nurse: Sir, aap ja sakte hai.

She said to him when the patient walked out of the doctor's cabin. He nodded at her while Guddan looked at him horrified.

Akshat: Chalo!

Guddan: Aap ko nahi lagta aap apne naam ka galat faayda utha rahe hai? Aise ham sab se pehle kyun ja rahe hai? Baaki patients bhi to wait kar rahe hai na.

Nurse: Ma'am, Sir saare appointments ke baad hi aaye hai. Ye patients doosre doctor ke hai.

She pointed at the other doctor's cabin just next to the one they were standing at.

Guddan: Oh!

Akshat: Ab andar chalogi ya aur kisi topic par behes karna hai tumhe?

She shook her head as he entered inside and the door was closed but she was still standing outside. He opened the door and glared at her making her walk inside reluctantly. She stood behind him so that she could hide herself from the doctor.

Akshat: Kya kar rahi ho, baitho!

He scolded her as she was following his every move so that she could perfectly hide herself from the doctor.

She hid her face with her palms and sat on the chair across the doctor while he sat beside her.

Akshat: Ye kya drama laga rakha hai tumne?

He removed her palms from her face as she immediately turned around on the chair not wanting to face the doctor.

Akshat: Guddan, behave!!

He turned her chair so that she could face the doctor.

Doctor: Guddan?

Guddan: Good night, doctor!

She stood up but Akshat held her hand forcefully and pushed her back into the chair.

Guddan: I mean Good afternoon!

She said looking at the wall clock and not daring to look at the doctor.

Doctor: So Madam ko atlast time mil hi gaya apna checkup karane ka.

Guddan: No, I am very busy. Ye mujhe zabardasti yahan le kar aaye hai.

Doctor: To Akshat, tum yahaan isi patient ko le kar aaye ho?

Akshat: Ha, but what happened? Any problem?

Doctor: Ha, there's a problem kyunki mai aise patients ko treat nahi karti.

Guddan: Ha to mai bhi aise doctors ke paas nahi aati jo apne patients ko aise faaltu me darate rehti hai.

Akshat: What's going on?

Doctor: Ye ladki.....

Guddan: Bohot achhi hai. Yehi kehna chahte the na aap?

Doctor: What? No!!! Ye ladki bilkul bhi apne health ka khyaal nahi rakhti. Tumhare parents ise checkup ke liye mere paas laaya karte the lekin ye itni ziddi hai ki na hi kabhi apni medication legi na hi preventions, kuchh nahi, bas apni manmaani karni hoti hai ise. Aur jab se tumhare parents...... I mean tab se ye ek baar bhi apna checkup karane nahi aayi hai. I hope ki koi zyaada serious problem na ho.

Guddan: Koi problem nahi hai mujhe. Wo to ye zabardasti mujhe utha kar yahaan le kar aa gaye hai isiliye aana pada warna mai to aati bhi nahi. Aur kyun aaun? Aap to aise hi darate rehte hai mujhe. Mai bilkul thik hun, zinda hun, saansein chal rahi hai meri .

Doctor: Saansein chalne me aur zindagi jeene me fark hota hai Guddan. When will you understand that? Jaa kar dekho hospital me..... Coma patients, brain dead, heart failure, saare patients ki saansein chal rahi hai lekin wo apni zindagi nahi jee rahe hai. You don't only need life but a healthy life.

Akshat: You are right!

She glared at him when he took Doctor's side.

Doctor: Anyways, come here, I will examine you. Tumse behes karna bekaar hai.

Guddan stood and sat on the stool next to the doctor's chair. The doctor placed the stethoscope on her chest examining her breaths.

Doctor: You are wheezing.

Guddan: I know!

She glared at Guddan while she shrugged as if it doesn't matter.

Doctor: Since when?

Guddan: One week.

Doctor: Aur tum aaj aa rahi ho?

Guddan: Maine inhaler liya tha.

Doctor: It won't work every time.

Guddan: Whatever!

Doctor: Tumhara kuchh nahi ho sakta.

She said to her angrily and gestured to stand on the weighing machine.

Doctor: You even lost your weight. Kuchh khati piti ho ya nahi?

Akshat: Nahi.

Before Guddan could answer her, he answered making her glare at him.

Akshat: Kya? Aise kyun dekh rahi ho? Aaj subah dekha maine tumne kya khaya aur kya nahi.

Guddan: Wo aaj subah ki baat thi baaki din to mai kha hi rahi thi na.

Akshat: Achha, aisi baat hai kya? Theek hai mai Neeru Aunty se hi pooch leta hun.

He was taking out his phone to call Neeru but she immediately spoke denying him.

Guddan: Nahi, nahi, nahi. Fine, pichhle kuchh dinon se maine kuchh meals skip kiye the.

Doctor: How many times should I tell you not to skip your meals? Weakness ki wajah se hi tumhe aur problem ho sakti hai.

The doctor scolded Guddan but Akshat felt guilty because he was the one who created the problem for her which made her careless towards her own health.

Doctor: Akshat, these are some tests needed to be done as soon as possible. If possible, tum abhi ye tests kara lo aur reports aate hi Guddan ko lekar mere paas aao kyunki ye Madam to doobara yahaan aayengi nahi.

Akshat: Ok, Doctor.

He left the cabin along with Guddan and asked the nurse about the pathology labs. She informed him that it's on the 2nd floor. He thanked him and moved towards the staircase looking at the doctor's prescription when he noticed that X-ray and CT scan ahould also be done along with the other tests. He turned around to speak to Guddan about it but he didn't find her by his side. He looked back only to find her on the 4th step while he was on the last step.

Akshat: Poora din nahi hai hamare paas jo tum seedhiyan chadhne me hi waste kar do.

He said going towards her while she angrily huffed at him.

Akshat: Tumhare ye bahane mere saamne nahi chalne wale. Jaldi chalo.

Guddan: Bahane nahi hai ye! Aur aap jaise fit and fine nahi hun mai, bimaar hun isiliye to aap mujhe yahaan le kar aaye hai na. Aap ko kya hi pata ki kaisa feel hota hai jab saans gale me atki huyi ho. Matlab insaan ka chalna bhi mushkil hota hai aur aap chahte hai mai kuchh seconds me seedhiyan chadh jaun. Ye to mujhse na ho payega.

She leaned on the wall taking deep breaths as it was really being difficult for her to climb the stairs.

Akshat (murmuring ): Chalne phirne ke liye taakat nahi hai lekin behes karne ke liye zaroor hai.

Guddan: Kuchh kaha aap.....

Hearing his murmurs, she asked him but the next words didn't leave her mouth as she gasped on the sudden action as he carried her in his arms. She immediately coiled her arms around his neck to steady herself. He silently climbed the stairs with her in his arms as she kept looking at him. She didn't move this time unlike last time as she was really exhausted to even argue with him. Her eyes were shutting down on its own accordance as they were finding its peace as she slowly rested her head on his chest.

Akshat: Guddan...

Feeling her head on his chest, he called her trying to know if she is sleeping at which she just hummed in response.

Akshat: So mat jaana.

Guddan: Hmm.

She again hummed and tightened her hold around his neck.

They reached the floor and he made her stand as she opened her eyes with a jerk. He lead the way towards the lab and she followed him rubbing her eyes to eradicate the sleep.

After all the tests were done, they were informed that the reports will be ready within an hour or two so they decided to have something to eat.

Akshat: Kya khaogi?

He asked as they entered the canteen which was on the same floor.

Guddan: Hospital me aur kya milega, wahi patient wala khana.

Akshat: To tum bhi to patient hi ho na, to tum wahi khaogi.

Guddan: Meri problem ka khane peene se koi lena dena nahi hai. Isiliye mai kuchh bhi kha sakti hun. Waise yahaan to kuchh special milne wala hai nahi isiliye sandwich se hi kaam chala lungi.

Akshat: Tum yahaan baitho, mai lekar aata hun.

She sat on the chair surfing through her phone as he came after a while with food for her and just juice for himself.

Guddan: Aap kuchh nahi khayenge?

Akshat: No.

Guddan: Kyun? It's lunch time aapko kuchh kha lena chahiye.

Akshat: I am full. Ghar par breakfast bhi kar liya tha aur Aunty ne bhi zabardasti khila diya tha. Tum khao.

Guddan: Ok, waise aap ye Doctor ko kaise jaante hai?

Akshat: She is our family doctor, mai bachpan se inhe jaanta hun. I didn't know ki tum inhe jaanti thi.

Guddan: Kaise nahi jaanti, Sir aur Ma'am... I mean aapke parents mujhe bachpan se inhi ke paas le kar aate the jab bhi mai bimaar hoti thi to.

Akshat: I guess they really cared for you.

Guddan: Hmm, wo sab ke saath aise hi the, lekin unka beta....

He looked at her as she looked away hiding her smirk.

Akshat: What do you mean?

Guddan: Nothing. You have your juice.

She snickered and continued having her food.

After receiving the reports, they went back to the doctor's cabin as she carefully studied the reports.

Akshat: Is everything fine, Doctor?

He asked witnessing the serious look on her face which didn't affect Guddan a bit.

Doctor: Lung infection hua hai.

Akshat looked at Guddan concerned and was about to ask something to the doctor as a worried expression was etched on his face.

Doctor: Don't worry, it's a mild infection. Proper Medication aur healthy diet se khud thik ho jaayega.

Akshat: Thank God! Nothing other than that, right?

Doctor: Wekaness bhi hai, hemoglobin level in blood is low which will lead to decreased oxygen levels and ultimately breathing problems.

Akshat: She will be fine, right?

He was worried for her condition while she was chilling as if it wasn't something to be worried of.

Doctor: Yes probably if she will follow regular diet and medication, jo ki inse to hota hi nahi.

Akshat: Don't worry about that, I will take care of it.

Doctor: Ok then, these are the medicines and this is injection is necessary. Nurse se keh kar abhi dilwa do.

She passed him the prescription and looked at Guddan who was sitting idly uninterested in their talks.

Doctor: and you Guddan, take......

Guddan: Take your medicines, don't skip your meals, do yoga, breathing exercises, don't go in polluted areas, don't exhaust yourself too much and bla bla bla... Ye sab sun kar na mai badi huyi hun ab ye sab mujhe yaad ho gaya hai.

Doctor: Ye sab sirf yaad hai lekin kuchh karti nahi ho tum.

Guddan: Ab kar lungi, Ok. Ab mai jaaun, mujhe bohot neend aa rahi hai.

Doctor: Leave you Dramebaaz.

She immediately left the cabin while Akshat apologized for her behavior and  thanked her.

Doctor: Take care of her.

He nodded and came out only to find her sitting as if she will fall anytime soon. Asking her to wait for him, he wemt to the pharmacy and bought the medicines and injection prescribed by the doctor. He came back to her and handed the injection to the nurse to inject it to Guddan. After she was injected, he asked her to come with him while she sat at the same spot. She held his hand stopping him in his tracks. He turned around only to find her hands extended as if she was asking him to carry her. When he kept his expression blank, she made a pout requesting him. Shaking his head in disbelief, he carried her in his arms as she coiled her arms around his neck amd rested her head on his shoulder finding her solace.

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Sorry for making you all wait this long but just yesterday I completed all my assignments and today I got time to write this chapter.