The three of them stepped into the physician's office together.
Aanya went in first.
Aditi followed.
Sagnik closed the door behind them.
The physician looked up from the computer and smiled when she saw them.
"Good morning."
"Good morning, doctor," Aanya replied.
Aditi smiled.
Sagnik nodded.
"Please, sit."
They took their places.
Aanya sat in the middle.
Aditi beside her.
Sagnik on the other side.
The physician looked at Aanya first.
"So. Examinations are over?"
Aanya nodded.
"Yes."
"Good."
She glanced at the file in front of her.
"How have you been feeling since we last met?"
"Better."
"Better how?"
"The pain isn't as bad as it was."
"How often are you getting it?"
"Not very often. Mostly if I eat too much or if I don't rest properly."
The physician smiled slightly.
"Have you been resting?"
Aanya hesitated.
Aditi answered for her.
"Sometimes."
Aanya turned toward her.
"Excuse me?"
"You know I'm right."
The physician laughed softly.
"Any vomiting?"
"No."
"Nausea?"
"Occasionally."
"Fever?"
"No."
"Appetite?"
"Normal."
"Any change in bowel or urinary habits?"
"No."
The physician nodded.
"And the medication?"
"Taken regularly."
"Good."
She made a few notes.
Then reached for the reports.
"Let's see what we've got."
The room became quieter.
The physician went through the previous reports first.
Then the more recent ones.
She compared the findings carefully, occasionally scrolling through the images and looking back at the written report.
Aanya watched her.
Aditi watched the physician.
Sagnik remained quiet.
After a few moments, the physician leaned back.
"The inflammation has come down."
Aanya's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"That's good, right?"
"It is."
Aanya smiled.
Then the physician continued.
"But it's still more than I'd like to see."
The smile faded a little.
She turned the screen slightly toward them.
"This is much better than where you were during the acute episode. You're clinically stable, and the inflammation has reduced."
She paused.
"But the underlying problem hasn't disappeared."
Aanya nodded slowly.
"So..."
"I would still recommend surgery."
There was no alarm in the physician's voice.
She said it as a medical decision.
Calmly.
Clearly.
Aanya looked at the screen again.
The physician continued.
"Because you're young and otherwise healthy, you're a good surgical candidate. Doing it electively, while you're stable, is generally preferable to waiting for another acute episode."
Aanya listened.
"What happens if I don't?"
"We can continue to observe you."
The physician folded her hands.
"But there is a risk of recurrence. Another episode could be more painful, and in some cases complications can develop."
"And if I do it now?"
"You deal with the operation and recovery now, while you're stable. There are the usual surgical and anesthetic risks, but those are relatively low in an otherwise healthy young patient."
Aanya nodded.
"So basically..."
She looked at the physician.
"If I wait, I might be fine."
"Possibly."
"And I might not."
"Correct."
"And if I do it now, I get it over with."
The physician smiled.
"That's one way of putting it."
Aanya looked down at her hands.
There was no panic.
She simply seemed to be weighing it.
Aditi finally spoke.
"So you would recommend doing it now?"
"Yes."
Aditi nodded.
Sagnik had been silent until then.
He looked at the physician.
"If we want to schedule it, how soon can it be done?"
The physician glanced at the calendar.
"There's some flexibility."
Sagnik looked at Aanya.
Then back at the physician.
"Tomorrow?"
Aanya's head snapped toward him.
"Sagnik."
He ignored the glare.
The physician checked the schedule again.
"Tomorrow would actually be quite convenient."
Aanya stared at him.
The physician continued.
"The surgeons have availability. There aren't any major prior engagements on the list, so it shouldn't be difficult to schedule."
Aanya's expression became increasingly unimpressed.
Sagnik remained completely calm.
"Then tomorrow is fine."
Aanya looked at him as though he had personally betrayed her.
"You didn't even ask me."
He looked at her.
"You were going to say yes."
"I might have wanted to think about it."
"You've already thought about it."
She narrowed her eyes.
The physician smiled quietly.
Aditi, meanwhile, looked relieved.
"Tomorrow is good."
Aanya looked at her too.
"You're both against me."
"No," Aditi said.
"We're trying to get you better."
Aanya sighed.
The physician entered something into the system.
"Alright. We'll schedule it for tomorrow."
And just like that—
the date existed.
Tomorrow.
Aanya stared at the floor for a few seconds.
Then exhaled.
"Okay."
The physician smiled.
"Good."
She closed the file.
"Before you leave, I want you to meet the anesthetic team. They'll go over the pre-operative instructions with you."
Aanya nodded.
"Okay."
They left the physician's room a few minutes later.
A nurse directed them toward the anesthetic department.
The corridor was quieter there.
Aditi walked beside Aanya.
Sagnik followed.
Nobody spoke for a while.
Then Aanya looked back at him.
"You really didn't hesitate."
"No."
"Why?"
He looked at her.
"Because you need it."
She stared at him.
Then turned around again.
"I still don't like you."
"That's fine."
Aditi laughed.
"You'll survive."
The anesthetic department was less crowded.
They were asked to wait for a few minutes before being called in.
Aanya sat between Aditi and Sagnik.
She looked at the clock.
Then at Sagnik.
"You know, tomorrow is very soon."
"I know."
"Like... tomorrow tomorrow."
"I know."
She sighed.
Aditi patted her knee.
"It'll be okay."
Aanya nodded.
When they were finally called in, they met the anesthetic team.
The anesthetist went through the basic medical history again.
Current medications.
Allergies.
Previous anesthesia.
Any history of medical problems.
Recent investigations.
Then came the instructions.
"From tonight, you'll need to follow the fasting instructions exactly."
Aanya listened.
"No food after the specified fasting time."
"Okay."
"And no water or other liquids once your fasting period begins."
She nodded.
The anesthetist explained that the exact timing would be given according to the planned operation time, and that she should follow the hospital's instructions precisely.
Aanya nodded again.
"Understood."
"Take only medications you've specifically been told to take."
"Okay."
"If you develop fever, worsening pain, vomiting, or any new symptoms before the procedure, let us know immediately."
Aanya nodded.
The anesthetist looked at all three of them.
"Any questions?"
Aditi shook her head.
Sagnik didn't have any.
Aanya thought for a second.
"No."
"Good."
The instructions were handed to them.
The appointment was over.
They stepped back into the corridor.
Aanya looked at the paper in her hand.
Then at Aditi.
Then at Sagnik.
"Tomorrow."
Sagnik nodded.
"Tomorrow."
She sighed.
"You're both enjoying this far too much."
Aditi smiled.
"We're enjoying the fact that you'll finally be done with it."
Aanya rolled her eyes.
But she was smiling too.
And that was enough.
The clinical part of the day was over.
The date had been fixed.
There was nothing left to decide.
Tomorrow would come.