Upon reaching his room, Abhi instructed, "Close the door".
Oh no, why is he asking me to close the door?Tulasi panicked. She knew that whenever he asked her to close the door, a major scolding was usually about to commence. "What mistake did I make now? He's going to start scolding me," she thought, nervously closing the door. Is he going to ask about the class doubts again? she wondered.
"Why were you looking at those girls like that earlier?" he asked.
"Huh?" she replied.
"Why were you looking at those girls like that ?" he repeated.
"How was I looking, sir?"
"You were looking at them in a certain way... with pity?"
"Oh, that, sir!" she said with a chuckle and looked at glaring Abhi and got nervous,she is trying to form an answer which he would love to hear.
Abhi looked at her seriously. "Look, don't try to make up a lie. If you lie, I'll know. Just tell me the truth quietly," he said.
Oh no, how did he know, does he know black magic "No, sir, it's nothing. They just had so many doubts…" she tried.
"No. tell me the truth?" he pressed.
"I mean, sir, they were coming with doubts, and you were scolding them, sir, so I felt a little pity for them, sir," she admitted.
"No. Last chance. Will you tell the truth, or shall I get up from this seat?" he asked, his voice low and serious. He threatened.
Oh god,he really knows dark magic. How can he read me? God Please save me
"No, sir, it's nothing. I just felt bad for them, sir," she insisted.
"Why feel bad? "
"You are deceiving them, sir."
" I am deceiving them?" he asked in shock.
"Yes, sir. Poor things, they see your imposing figure and think you're some great Greek hero, a Knight in shiny armour came to rescue them. But they don't realise what a big DEVIL you are, sir!" she blurted out.
"What?" he demanded.
She was on a roll. "Poor things, they wish to be in my place, sir. This is such torture, sir, hell feels better. And they want to come to my place, sir? Silly faces!" she finished, only then realising the gravity of her words. Abhi was staring at her, his eyes wide in anger. Fear gripped her. "Sir, it's my lunch time, sir!" she quickly declared, opening the door and escaping.
Abhi stared at the closed door. "How dare she? This little bird, how can she call me, Abhijit, a demon? This is it for her today!" he thought. Yet, he couldn't help but smile, finding her reactions amusing. He knew she would be in the canteen, so he headed there. She was already seated, opening her lunchbox. He went and sat opposite her.
"What did you bring today?" he asked.
"What, sir?"
" What's in my box today"
"Sir? Tomato Dal, sir," she replied.
"It's fine. Give it here," he said, taking her box and spoon and starting to eat. "Go and get canteen lunch for yourself," he added, placing his wallet in front of her. Tulasi looked at him seriously, pushed his wallet back towards him, and went to get her own lunch from the canteen. By the time she returned with her plate, Abhi had emptied her box and left. "Hmm, he's fast at everything," she thought. She sat down, drawing patterns on her plate. Soon, her friends arrived. "What, didn't you bring your lunch today?" they asked.
"Why wouldn't I? I did, but that demon ate it!" she exclaimed.
"What? Dr. Abhijit ate it?" they asked, shocked.
"Yes! What is this? This canteen lunch is terrible, absolutely no good," Tulasi complained, pushing her plate away.
"What to do? Just eat something. Oh yes, you have to jog too," they reminded teasing her.
Tulasi tried to take a bite but couldn't. She knows she is a picky eater. Canteen lunch is terrible. "Why don't you all give me two bites each? I'll eat something," she requested.
Her friends each put two bites on her plate. "Me bringing lunch, him eating it, me begging everyone for two bites... God,he made me into a beggar. this is hell for me," she thought. "Oh no, it's time, I have to eat fast!" she quickly finished her meal, then headed towards Abhi's room, fearing another scolding for being late. But on the way, she was stopped by the sound of Abhi's voice, furiously scolding someone. "What is this? What's happening?" she wondered, stopping behind a wall and peeking. Abhi was scolding two assistant doctors, who were relatives of the Dean.
"Don't you even know basic questions? How could you call yourself a Doctor? You know nothing! And you don't even bother to learn! You don't even know why you come to the hospital. Do you know your level? You are completely useless, you can't even check a patient's BP correctly! With your talent, you'll get that wrong too. This is not a family resort for Dean's relatives or MLA's daughter to come. They bring people like you and dump you on our heads! Get out, all of you!" he thundered. Tulasi watched, thinking,
"They deserve this. They come to the hospital only to gossip, not to see any patients. Why do they even come? They deserve it!".
She then followed Abhi into his room. He had opened the door for her. After she entered, he closed the door. She didn't realise then that she had just entered a lion's den.