Page 216 - Till the Last Breath . . .

‘No, I am going out with friends for a movie. The new Avengers movie is

out. People are saying it’s hilarious. So, I might go catch that. Plus, Robert
Downey, Jr is really nice looking,’ she said. Her mother was still perplexed
at her daughter’s sudden chatty mood.

‘And what about the guys we have chosen for you? Beta, you’re anyway
too busy on the days that you’re working. At least meet them? There is this

really nice guy—’
‘Oh, c’mon! She is still young. Let her live her life for now. She can get

married later!’ her dad interrupted.
‘See? At least someone has the sense!’ she said and laughed with her

dad. Her mother’s face contorted in utter bewilderment.
‘And who knows, maybe she has already found someone she wants to be
with? Zarah, is there somebody in your life that you really like?’

‘As a matter of fact, I do,’ she said with an evil smirk. ‘Though I am not
really sure about it.’

It looked as if her mom was struck by lightning. She froze like a mother
from an ’80s shoddy Hindi movie who had just learnt that her daughter had

been impregnated by her college sweetheart.
‘What?’

‘I am just kidding, Maa. There is just this very cute patient in my ward.’
‘So, you like someone who is not well? Whoever he is, he is sick. How
can you like him? I hope he is not a Christian or a Hindu. Oh, God. Why

didn’t you tell me that before?’ she asked frantically. ‘You knew about
this?’ She looked at her husband, who shook his head vehemently.

‘Maa. Calm down. It’s nothing but a crush,’ she clarified.
‘God knows what I have done to deserve this,’ she grumbled. For the rest

of the meal, she found some or the other reason to curse her life, which
Zarah found adorable. After a while, both she and her dad ignored her and

talked about other aspects. Since her mom was never interested in her work
—in fact, she never wanted her daughter to be a doctor and be around
diseases—it was a relief for her to actually discuss her work with someone

from her family.