Her Innocent Gaze ⁴ °^•^°

Himani's study room. It's slightly less suffocating than before, thanks to Kartik's 'patient' example. There's a half-eaten mango on a plate near the whiteboard. Kartik is drawing silly stick figures of doctors and patients to explain concepts, making the usually grim NEET physics look almost fun. Himani is actually following along, a small, genuine small on her face.

Who knew NEET physics could be about pushing wheelchairs or explaining diagnoses??

Kartik had this way of explaining things that just... clicked. And his smile, when she finally got something right, was like sunshine. Way better than any exam mark. He really was going to be a great doctor, explaining complicated illnesses simply.

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*drawing a stick figure doctor struggling with a large, reluctant patient on a bed* Toh dekho, ye doctor kya kar raha hai?? [So look, this doctor, what is he doing??]

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

He's trying to move this patient. Now, if the patient is heavy, and he's not strong enough... Kya hoga?? [What will happen??]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*thinking then eyes widening* Woh gir jayega!!! [He will fall!!!]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

And the patient won't move!!! Because his force isn't enough to overcome the friction!!!

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*clapping softly, his eyes sparkling* Bilkul sahi! Shabash!!! [Absolutely right! Well done!!!]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*thinking in mind* He just said Shabash to me(⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠) *Inner child was doing a happy dance💃🏻*

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

See?? You do get it. It's not so scary, hai na?? [Isn't it??]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

When you explain it, it's not. But when the NEET book.....

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*waving a dismissive hand* NEET books are boring. We'll make NEET fun. Mazaa aayega. [It'll be fun.]

A sudden, loud noice from downstairs. It's Bua, but louder, accompanied by another, equally booming female voice. Footsteps approach the stairs.

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

*from downstairs* Arre Shanti!!! Kitne saalon baad aayi ho!!! [Oh, Shanti!!! After how many years you've come!!!]

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Upar aao, dekho humare ghar mai kon aaya hai. [Come upstairs, see who has came to our house.]

Shanti Massi, Bua's sister. The family gossip queen, who believed every piece of news was her personal property.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*eyes widened in dread*

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*thinking in mind* Shanti Massi, great ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

Now the whole neighbourhood would know about her NEET struggles, Kartik's arrival, and probably predict their wedding date within the next hour. Himani felt her face heating up already.

Upstairs...

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*to bua, but her eyes fixed on Kartik* Lo, maine to kaha tha na, yeh ladka bohot hoshiyar hai. [See, I told you, this boy is very smart.]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

Kartik beta, Namaste. [Greetings.]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*turns her gays, almost like a lazer to Himani* Aur Himani?? NEET ki padhai kesi chal rahi hai?? Sunna hai, tumhare liye khaas tutor bulaya hai. [And Himani?? How is your NEET study going?? I heard, a special tutor has been called for you.]

Special tutor. As if she was a special needs care. Massi's eyes seemed to dissect her, then Kartik, then back to her. She wanted the floor to swallow her whole.

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*muttering, avoiding eye contact* Ha...hanji, Massi ji.... [Y...yes, Aunt...]

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*stepping in smoothly, a polite smile on his face, sensing Himani's discomfort* Namaste Maasi Ji, yes, I'm just helping Himani with a few concepts of NEET. She's actually very quick at picking things up.

Kartik Shekhawat [ml]

*look at Himani and smile* Future doctor banegi naa!!! [She will become a future doctor, right!!!]

Himani Kaushal [fl]

*cheeks getting red*

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*her eyes narrow slightly, a playful glint* Aacha, bohot jaldi seekhti hai?? [Oh, she learns very quickly??]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*look at Himani and then Kartik* Bua ne bataya tha... Tum MBBS kar rahe ho Delhi se?? Koi hospital mai internship wagera?? Future mai apni clinic kholne ka irada hai?? [Bua told me... You are doing MBBS from Delhi?? Any hospital intership or something?? Any intention to open your own clinic in future??]

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Arre Shanti, kya MBBS, kya clinic!!! Abhi to bas padhai kar raha hai!!! [Oh, Shanti, what MBBS, what clinic!!! He is just studying now.]

Rishika Kaushal [fl's bua/paternal aunt]

Chalo tum chai piyo. Maine garam pakode banaye hai!!! [Come, you drink tea. I just made hot pakodas.]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*still eyeing Rahul and Anya with a specious amusement* Pakode?? Hmm. Theek hai. [Pakode?? Hmm, Okay.]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

Par yaad rakhna beta, padhai pe dhiyaan do. Aur NEET bohot mushkil hai, aache se padhna. [But remember child, focus on studies. And NEET is very difficult, study well.]

Shanti [fl's distant Aunt]

*gives Himani a wink*

Himani Kaushal [fl]

............

That wink feels more like a threat than encouragement ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

The door closed behind them, but a heavy scent of Maasi's perfume, and her loaded questions, lingered. She felt exposed. And yet... Kartik had defended her, subtly. And. She saw the brief, professional look in his eyes when Maasi mentioned his medical studies. Her heart did that silly flutter again, NEET?? What was NEET compared to this new, confusing, wonderful problem, and the future doctor infront of her??

Total 815 words😉

To be continued....