CHAPTER: 21 Planning
After they went to the hospital that day, everyone noticed Abhi's eyes still couldn't leave Tulasi .Who can miss his intense gaze. As soon as Tulasi was free, Shashi called her aside and told her, "Tulasi, Dussehra is coming, right? It's considered extremely auspicious to do Pooja at the Chamundeshwari Devi temple. Would you like to get it done?".
"Yes, I would love to, Even my mother said about that.but it's very far, isn't it?" Tulasi replied.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of everything. Will you come with me, my dear?" Shashi pressed.
"Oh, that far? By flight? how many days will the trip be?" Tulasi asked, intrigued.
"But hey, it's just a few days, right? You could literally leave this evening and be back by Sunday night to start at the hospital again. The hospital can wait, let's just start with the evening flight!". Shashi explained."They have the Kumkuma pooja and so many others. I've heard the goddess there is seriously powerful. You totally lucked out! My dad has major connections there, so we managed to get a spot," Shashi explained.
"No way! Seriously? Okay, I'm in! Could you please help me with the accommodation?" Tulasi asked, her heart fluttering with anticipation.
"Already on it, bestie! I've sorted out your flight tickets and your stay," Shashi said with a grin.
After some deep thoughts and debating to herself, Tulasi agreed with smile.
"Oh, Shashi, you're an absolute angel! Thank you so much!" Tulasi squealed, pulling Shashi into a tight hug. Just then, Abhi emerged from the operating theatre, his gaze on their embrace. His expression immediately hardened, and a thunderous look clouded his face. A suspicion sparked in Abhi's mind; he was sure Shashi was up to something again.
Tulasi, completely oblivious and bubbling with joy, practically skipped over to Abhi to tell him her grand plans. Abhi's already serious face contorted further, his eyes blazing with a barely concealed fury as he shot daggers at Shashi. Shashi, however, just stared back at him, completely unbothered, as if she didn't have a care in the world. Without uttering a single word, Abhi stormed off into his room and slammed the door shut. Tulasi's heart sank; she knew instantly that he was unhappy about her leaving. Following him, she quietly entered the room and closed the door behind her, while all their friends shamelessly peeked through the frosted glass window to watch the drama unfold.
Tulasi approached him gently. "Abhi, what's wrong? Why are you so angry?".
"Why am I angry?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I had this whole long weekend planned for us. I was going to fly you somewhere, just the two of us. What am I supposed to do with those plans now?".
"You did? Oh... but Abhi, I really have to go and do this pooja," she pleaded softly.
"Ugh, you and your poojas," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Fine, whatever. You've already booked your tickets and set for trip, haven't you? Just go. What does it matter to you? You do what you want," he said dismissively. he burning inside with anger.Four day without her….
"Abhi, please don't be like this..." she whispered, her voice trembling.
"Just get the hell out before you annoy me even more!" he snapped. This dumb girl never understands his feelings for her.
Tears immediately welled up in Tulasi's eyes, shimmering like tiny diamonds. She stood frozen, her heart aching. Abhi glanced at her and saw the unshed tears, and for a moment, he stopped, his anger faltering. He felt a pang of guilt; he had hurt her again. His mind raced with all the beautiful things he had planned for them, all the places he wanted to show her. Now, it was all ruined. A heavy silence fell between them. Abhi tried to leave the room, but Tulasi swiftly caught his hand, stopping him in his tracks.
"I'm sorry, Abhi," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "Please... please, please, please don't be angry," she begged, her eyes pleading with him.
Without another word, he simply said, "Do whatever you want," and walked away, leaving her standing alone.
Once he was gone, Tulasi composed herself and went to her friends, confirming that her trip was still on. She took a half-day leave and went home to pack. Abhi didn't say anything, silently taking over her remaining duties at the hospital. When he arrived home later, he found Tulasi in the kitchen, having already packed her suitcase. He slumped onto the sofa and began untying his shoes.
"Abhi, I've made your favourite chicken curry and some Rassam for you to eat tonight," she said softly. "I showed you how to turn on the rice cooker the other day, right? I made extra curry so it will last for tomorrow too. Just eat out the day after, okay?".
Abhi remained silent, taking out all his frustration on his stubborn shoelaces. Tulasi walked over to him, her heart aching at his coldness, and stood there, watching him with gentle eyes. Abhi finally managed to control his storm of emotions and looked up at her.
"Will you drop me at the airport, Abhi?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
"What? Won't your friend come and get you?" he retorted sarcastically.
"She was going to, but I told her not to. Please, can you take me?" she asked again. Abhi's gaze drifted from her rosy cheeks to her soft lips, and finally met her soulful eyes. He found himself completely unable to say no to her.
"Fine," he grunted, grabbing her suitcase and heading down to the car. He placed her luggage inside, and they drove in a tense, heavy silence. After a while, Tulasi broke the quiet. "Make sure you eat on time, Abhi. And don't stay up all night playing video games. You need to sleep. Look at yourself, you already look so tired," she chided gently. Abhi glanced at her as he drove, his heart softening just a little.
He pulled over at a supermarket and returned with fruit juice, fruits and snacks for her. "Why all this?" she asked, surprised.
"Are you even going to eat tomorrow?" he questioned, knowing the answer.
She paused, thinking about the pooja. "No,I mean if there is pooja, I'll be fasting tomorrow...If not I will eat"
"and the day after? "
" one meal in the evening... "
"and then ?"
"it's the festival, so fasting ..." she trailed off.
"Exactly. That's why you need to eat all of this," he insisted. "And you need to cut down on all this fasting, Tulasi". She clutched the food he gave her, a small, sweet smile gracing her lips as she looked at him. Abhi noticed her gaze and felt a sudden fear that if he turned to look at her, he wouldn't be able to resist and debated whether to kiss her right then and there. Just then, Shashirekha called.
"We're almost there," Tulasi said quickly and hung up.
"Thank you for the fruits and juice, Abhi," she said gratefully.
"Just make sure you eat them, or you'll faint," he mumbled.
"I will, I promise," she replied.
He then asked, "Do you have those tablets with you? The ones I gave you when you felt dizzy that time?".
When she looked confused, he sighed, stopped the car at a medical shop, and came back with them. "Here. Keep these safe inside your bag. The prescription is in there too, just in case they ask at the airport check-in".
Seeing his face still etched with seriousness, Tulasi tried to explain. "They say the Kumkum pooja during Dasara is very special, Abhi. That's the only reason I'm going all this way. It's not because I want to leave you alone," she confessed, her fingers nervously twisting the end of her chunni (scarf )as she looked down.
Abhi glanced at her but said nothing. Soon, they arrived at the airport. As Tulasi reached for her luggage, Abhi got out and handed it to her.
"Bye, Abhi," she said, her voice choked with tears she was desperately trying to hold back. Leaving him like this felt like ripping a part of her soul away. But Abhi didn't even say goodbye. He just got back in his car and sped off.
"What a monster! Does he even have any feelings?" she thought, wiping away a stray tear.She took a deep breath and walked inside, where her friends were waiting. Seeing her gloomy face, they cracked a few jokes to cheer her up, and soon, they were all laughing as they boarded the flight together.