Chapter 46 - Rachel Brown, Doctor's Call

Chapter - 46

Leaving Theation, Alex didn't hurry back home. He had something else to take care of on priority. Zooming past the traffic, Alex soon parked his bike in front of the city's biggest hospital, 'Eleanor First Hospital'. His mother Martha works here, but today Alex is not here to meet her. He is here to meet her friend and his doctor Rachel, Rachel Brown. Alex got to know Rachel during his stay here after his accident. After that, she became his permanent doctor, and he would visit her at the beginning of every month for his regular check-up. There was still a week left for his check-up, but he had to meet Rachel and talk about a few things.

Alex walked straight to the Neurology department. He jolted down his details for the appointment, got a number and sat there in the lounge, waiting for his turn. Alex didn't really like the hospitals. Maybe because he was himself battling between life and death in this very hospital not too long ago, or there is something in his entombed memories that inherently makes him avoid the hospitals. Whenever he came to pick up Martha, he would wait for her outside instead of going in himself.

For Alex, walking down the corridors, all one can see is people bellowing in misery. Someone who lost everything looking at a piece of paper, people hoping for a miracle and devastated families going through the pain of losing their loved ones.

Miracles do happen, true. Doctors and nurses give it their all to save any life possible. They save a lot more than they lose, but that loss is what counts. That loss is what leaves a long-lasting scar on people. People celebrate life, but the mourning of a loss leaves a family crushed.

While Alex was busy looking at people walking in and out of wards, his name was called out by the receptionist. His turn was finally here.

Alex slowly opened the door and walked inside. Rachel was busy writing something on the report in front of her.

"Good evening, Doctor Brown," Alex greeted the lady in front of her as soon as he walked in.

The lady, hearing the voice, looked up from the report she was working on. With her hair done in a braid, minimal makeup, and white, radiant skin, Rachel looked amazing despite where they were. With her glossy red lips, she smiled at Alex and then picked up her phone.

"Lisa, send the next patient in. We are done here," Rachel called outside to the reception.

Listening to her, Alex rushed in front of her, bent on her table, held on to the phone, and looked at Rachel with pleading eyes, "C'mon doc, don't do this to me."

"I told you to either call me Rachel or aunt. But you are still so formal with me, addressing me as doctor Brown," Rachel said, getting hold of Alex's ear and giving it a twist, "Your mother and I have known each other for about a decade. Even the younger one calls me aunt."

"I am sorry, Aunt Rachel," Alex said, finally realizing what he did wrong, "You are just so beautiful that I can't bring myself to call you aunt," Alex tried to flatter her.

"The only thing good about you is your glib tongue," Rachel said, smiling and letting go of Alex's ear but not before giving it one final twist, "Sit down," Rachel said, adjusting her white coat.

Alex readily complied with her order.

Now that the fun was over, Rachel got down to business, "Tell me what brings you here ahead of your monthly examination date?" Rachel asked.

"Aunt, I recently got a job," Alex started off. Rachel nodded in response. Martha has already told her about it.

"You see, before getting that job, the dreams were getting more frequent. I am sure, mom would have told you about it, but for the last couple of weeks, I haven't had a dream, a dream I won't like," Alex told Rachel.

"Well, that's a positive indication. This means that you are finally letting go of those buried memories you don't even remember, and other things are becoming more relevant in your life," Rachel said as she wrote something on the notepad placed in front of her.

"That maybe so, but there is something else bothering me more," Alex said.

"Hmmm... And that would be?" Rachel said, putting down her pen.

"You see, sometimes I am doing things against my nature, and I am even enjoying those moments which I never dreamed of," Alex told Rachel.

"Tell me in detail," Rachel asked.

"A few days back, I got into a fight with some guys. You know, I don't even argue with someone, but that day I was talking with my fists. In the beginning, it was all about me dodging their blows and just trying to defend myself. But the moment I hit him back, I felt my blood pumping, something like an adrenaline rush. And in no time, I was enjoying every blow I took and every punch I landed on him," Alex told Rachel and narrated the whole incident to her. After that, he also subtly, without going into the details, mentioned his night with Susan and the vivid imagination he had during the presentation.

Rachel keenly listened to Alex while jolting down the details from time to time on her notepad. After Alex was done narrating all the events, there was a complete silence that followed. Rachel was pondering over all the information Alex has dumped in front of her while Alex was staring at her in expectation.

Rachel took her time, and then with a grave look, turned towards Alex. She opened her mouth and tried to say something a few times, but every time, she could not utter a single word.

"Alex..." Finally, she said, "I think this is more serious than we thought," Rachel broke the news.

Alex was suddenly on the edge of the chair after hearing her, "What is it?" He asked nervously.

"It's not something I can explain to you in just a few words," Rachel said, fidgeting with the pen in her hand. She looked torn between whether or not she should tell him.

"Take your time. Think of a few nice words, but do tell me what's wrong with my body, " Alex urged Rachel to speak.

"I am not sure how to say it," Rachel continued to beat around the bush.

"Don't keep me hanging, aunt. Just say it and get done with it," By now, the room was echoing with the tapping of Alex's shoes.

"You see..." Rachel said and gave Alex a long look.

"Yeah..."

"It's 'Over the top-hyper imaginative-boredom' syndrome,"

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