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lips.
    “Are you
feeling feverish, Gautam?” Sameera’s voice broke his trance. “Your face is
quite red. I wonder how I missed it earlier. Let me check your temperature and
blood pressure.”
    With his
heart beating as wildly as it was, Gautam was quite sure that if he allowed her
to check his BP, he would be spending the night under observation in a
hospital. “No, I’m fine, just feeling a little hot. Could you ask Gopal to turn
up the AC?”
    “Let me do
that.” Her perfume filled his senses as she leaned across him to get the
remote. “That should be better.”
    She pulled
her chair close to him and resumed her work.
    Not trusting
himself anymore, he just lay back with his eyes shut as Sameera gently attended
to his wounds. He was relaxed and for the first time felt no resentment. He
longed to know her better and decided to start afresh. He would apologize
for his previously moody behavior and caustic tongue and let bygones be
bygones. He had been completely wrong and hasty in his judgment. He did not
care for the past. She was here, with him, and strangely, that felt very good.
He opened his eyes and saw her looking at him.
    “What are
you thinking about? Your guest?”
    Gautam
blushed. “Nothing; just relaxing. Your treatment is very soothing.”
    If she was
keen to meet the rude Gautam, a polite and suave Gautam would surely be
irresistible. She was on sticky ground and needed to escape. “Let me not push
my luck and leave quickly before your special guest arrives.”
    “No special
guest. Why don’t you stay for tea?”
    She wanted
to bolt. “I’d love to, but I really need to rush. I’m late for my pilates
class.” She got up hurriedly and almost knocked the chair over.
    “Before I
leave, here’s some good news. Your leg looks much better and you can try
walking for some time if it does not hurt. Don’t overdo it initially. Take it
slow. We can try physiotherapy every alternate day. So I will see you day after
tomorrow now. Take care.”
    As always,
she left before he could say anything further.
    Gopal
entered the room bearing a tray with two cups of piping hot tea and a bowl of poha .
“She’s left and I don’t want to eat anything. Also, change the bed sheets. I
want the old one again.”
    ≈

 
    TWELVE
     
     
    Sameera
dashed out to get some fresh air and more importantly, a fresh perspective.
What had she just fled from?
    Tanya was
already on her exercise mat when Sameera entered the pilates studio.
    “Hi Sam, you’re
late again. Where are you coming from?”
    “Had a
session with Gautam.”
    “Was he
nasty again?”
    “Why should
he be nasty? Anyway, I don’t want to discuss my patients.”
    “That’s a
tectonic change of heart. What’s up sweetie?”
    The class
started just then and there was no opportunity to talk.
    As soon as
the instructor left, Tanya turned to Sameera.
    “On a
serious note, how is Gautam doing?”
    “Much
better, thank God. The poor guy was in terrible pain but he’s a tough cookie.”
    “Till last
week he was a complete pain in the ass.” Tanya winked. “Why this humongous
change? Is it his killer looks?”
    “Tanya, you
are absolutely fixated on Gautam’s looks. Wonder what Sanjay would say if he heard.”
    “That
reminds me, Sanjay’s coming next week. How could I forget to tell you? He’s
asked you to keep an evening free; we’ll have fun together.”
    “Why should
I be the kabab mein haddi ?”
    “I don’t
mind being left alone with him,” grinned Tanya, “but he wants to meet you as
well as Gautam. We girls can keep each other company while the guys catch up.
Come. It’ll be fun.”
    Sameera was
quiet. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to meet Gautam socially.
     
    ***
     
    Their
sessions continued. Gautam became chattier and more relaxed. He was impressed when
he found out that she played the piano. She discovered how passionately
involved he was in his work. They discovered a common passion for books and
music.
    She was glad
that