I wondered if the documents belonged to him…
I pretended to ignore Dr. Monish, that’s what I guessed his name was…
I called up my dad and asked him anxiously if he knew anyone in Nadiad who could attest my documents…
My dad asked me to relax and said that he would call me back in some time…
I was getting that feeling that the guy was overhearing my conversation or perhaps I WANTED HIM TO!!
Rakeshbhai handed the photo copies over to me and I had no excuse left to stay back at the place.
I was waiting for the autorickshaw when suddenly I heard someone calling my name and that too not just Rimsha … “DOCTOR Rimsha”…
It was Monish…
He handed me one of the photocopies and said – You had forgotten this Rimsha…
I smiled….“Thanks a lot Dr. Monish…”
“So you checked out my documents…??????”
I felt a bit awkward but I managed to say --- “Yesss… just like you did…”
“Actually I also heard your phone call conversation… I could help you in getting your documents attested…”
I was finding it very odd talking to a stranger and asking for a favour from him…
I stood there silent and expressionless…not knowing what to say…
“Rimsha, we are in the same college… You seem to be new here.. I can help you out…”
I could not afford to deny it ‘cause I had to submit the documents by the next day…so I reluctantly agreed…
“Just give me the copies you want to get attested… I shall get it attested for you…”
“I really don’t know how to thank you… Thank you so much… When can you give it back to me??” I questioned hesitatingly…
“I shall give it to you tomorrow at college… I have night duty in the ward today and you can collect it from the ward at anytime…Ward No. 34 – Block No. 5…”
“Okay… 8:45??? 8:45 AM …would it be fine for you???”
“Yes no problem… You can take down my number in case you need ….”
Yeah it was a bit too fast but then I had no other option except noting down his number…
I saved his number, thanked him once again and left the place…
I called up my dad and narrated the entire incident…I knew he would be angry… and just like I had thought…
“Rimsha, HOW COULD YOU GIVE YOUR DOCUMENTS TO A STRANGER… A GUY YOU DON’T KNOW…. WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU… ARE YOU IN YOUR SENSES….!!!!!!!!!!” He scolded me…
“But dad…”
“Rimsha, how can you be so careless…” He had calmed down a bit by then…
“Sorry dad… I did not know what to do…”
“Alright.. forget it now.. We’ll talk about it tomorrow morning… Let me know if there’s any problem…”
He did not stay on line to hear me and disconnected the phone abruptly…
It was 5 PM… I had to collect my passport size photographs…
I got ready, collected the photos from the photo shop and came back home…
I was tensed about the documents…
What if I had done a mistake?
What if he was not the kind of person I thought he was?
What if he was not Dr. Monish?
What if dad’s suspicion proves to be right?
What if the number he had given me was not his number?
I did not feel like having dinner and I went off to sleep with all those thoughts hovering around my mind…!!!!
