Stupified by his question, Akira stood there for a while. unable to utter a word. She didn't realize how she had switched from calling him Jaby to Dr. Nelson. Probably it was her defense mechanism. Probably unknowingly she was trying to push him away.

Seeing her all embarrassed and stumped by his question, Dr. Nelson said,

"It's ok Akira. You don't need to answer that question," he said and looked at her with comforting eyes.

Lowering her eyes for some time, she licked her lips while flapping her eyelids out of nervousness. She wasn't expecting him to catch her in her own trap.

Seeing her still struggling with herself, Dr. Nelson said,

"Aren't you going to ask me how I am feeling right now? Do I feel pain or not? I hope you still intend to find out how I am doing, right?"

"Yeah, I was just about to ask you that," said Akira and then finally looked up at him.

"I am doing fine. Will be discharged tomorrow."

"Oh !!! That's really great," she said and finally a smile etched on her face.

But somehow seeing her like this, was hurting him. Because he never wanted her to be in any sort of issues because of him. He never wanted to be the reason why she couldn't sleep well at night.

So, taking a deep breath, he decided not to beat around the bush and said,

"Give me your hand Akira."

"What?", she exclaimed.

"Just give me your hand," he said and looked into her eyes with affection.

Akira hesitated for a while and then placed her hand on top of his palm. Then with his finger, he traced a the semi-circular heart line on her palm and said,

"This is your heart line. It goes straight, un-deviated anywhere till the root of your index finger."

"So?" Asked Akira, unable to get the point of that statement.

"So it means that in your life there would be just one component of love, an intense component of love. No deviation means, no matter what you will stay united with the love of your life till death will do you apart," he said and traced her heart line again.

"Wow, I didn't know that you knew palmistry."

Akira said and listened to him as he continued,

"Now look at mine and tell me what does it say?" Dr. Nelson said and showed her his palm. Akira looked at carefully, comparing that with hers and then after a few seconds she replied,

"It's exactly the same as mine. Single love till death...." and her voice trailed away.

"Yeah, you are right Akira. A single love story till death snatched her away from me," he said and sighed. She will always be the one for me, always. I know how you are feeling right now, but trust me, I have always seen you as a friend. Nothing more, nothing less than that. And believe me, when I say this, the day you walk on the altar along with him, I would be the happiest man alive, for I would love to see two people who are madly in love being together."

"I know Jaby, I know it all... But I just wanted to know if..."

"If what Akira?"

"Does it hurt you to see me? Does it hurt you when you see me in the arms of someone else?"

Dr. Nelson smiled and held her hand tightly and said,

"There have been times, that I wanted to ask God why he played with me? He could have created you and just let you be. Why he had to pull you in my life? I would be honest, I was really mad with my fate when I met you. But then I realized the only thing common between you and her is your face. But apart from that, you both are so different. You are a whole different person Akira. A kind but an equally confident one. I admire you as a person and thus wanted you in my life not because I have feelings for you, but because it's nice to have a person like you in life."

Her eyes welled with tears as she heard him say those words.

"Hey don't cry and please don't look at me with those pitiful eyes. It makes me feel like a charity case Akira."

And she giggled as she heard him say that. It was weird. He had the capacity to make cry and laugh at the same time.

Then taking a deep breath she asked the one thing that she was really hesitant about.

"Well, do you... Do you remember our dance together?"

And the moment she asked him that, his heart paused for a while.

"Yes, vividly. What about it?" He asked, trying to sound casual.

"Well, that night, now that I try to recollect, I felt like you had an untold emotion in your eyes. I can't decipher what it was, but there was something that you were feeling. I am pretty sure about it."

She said and looked into his eyes, expecting a genuine answer.

This question was the reason, why she couldn't come here with Raymond, becasue no matter what, he was still a hot-blooded man, and she couldn't have dared to ask it in front of him.

Dr. Nelson took a deep breath and looked at her for some time and then said,

"I think we have really become close friends. That night I was wishing that it wasn't you but her. I was wishing if she could just come back and replace you. I am sorry, I was there dancing with you, but in my mind, only her image was there. It was hard for me to concentrate. I couldn't tell you, but I am glad that you could notice the conflict within my heart."

Akira faintly smiled after hearing him say those words.

"I am now glad that I have someone with whom I can talk about all these things now."

"Anytime Jaby, anytime," said Akira, and then with a smile on her face she tried to divert the conversation to a happy note.

"I must say, your palmistry skills saved us from having an awkward conversation."

Dr. Nelson smiled a bit and then said,

"I was just bluffing. I don't know any palmistry Akira."

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[Author here - I have a new surprise for you guys. A new book - The rise of the saviour

Please give this book some love with your reviews and comments. I sincerely hope you will love this new book as well.]