"So…what's your decision?" I was invited to an annual national conference of neurology, out of town. Obviously, it wasn't something I could just turn down. I had to give a couple of presentations and also a speech there. It was just 3 days, but I thought it was important that Nidhi went along as well. It would be a wonderful experience to her. Nidhi was a bit reluctant, however, because she found conferences boring.

"I never learn anything…it's just information overload…" She answered me, while wrinkling her nose.

"Well I believe you need to attend this…you'll meet a lot of people from the medical world who've achieved great things…besides, you don't need to attend a long lecture, there will be plenty of workshops and panels…c'mon Nidhi, you're the future, I want people to know about you…"

She smiled. "I'm already married to someone who's achieved some great things, saved a lot of lives…but…you didn't really think I was going to let you leave me alone for 3 days, did you?"

She was sitting across from me in my cabin. She got up and kneeled down next to my chair, I turned to face her. She put her arms around my neck and brought me closer.

"I know of a lot of ladies in the medical world, who're more interested in what an achievement it would be to land Dr. Ashutosh..."

"Oh…c'mon, if I was interested in any of those ladies, I'd have shown it by now…"

"So you're agreeing with me then? Those ladies are like after you like a piece of meat…"

"Some of them showed interest but…it doesn't matter…because I'm happily married to the most beautiful doctor in the world…"

"Yes, you're sleeping with the intern…" She teased.

I kissed her. If only we were at home, then there would be no excuse not to turn this kiss into another session of "sleeping with the intern".

"So it's a yes, Dr. Nidhi?" I asked, with a smile.

"Yes, Sir…"

So the next day we were off. It was a few hours' drive from here. We didn't carry much with us. Nidhi packed both our clothes in one bag, along with whatever else she needed. I told her to choose which events she attends carefully, and that she in no way was obligated to attend whatever I was required to attend. Many of these doctors knew me, but I wasn't close with them, beyond the professional level, so they actually didn't know I'd gotten married. Only my close circle of friends knew this. I told Nidhi to try to keep that a secret unless we had no choice but to reveal it.

Thus, I didn't pressure her to sit through my long presentations. But she actually wanted to.

"But I wanna see my baby…" She said, adorably. She batted her eyelashes too. It was her playful and childish side, which she began to control because of her profession.

"I want to see you too…it'll be nice to look out into the audience and see my sweetheart…" We arrived at the conference. When we checked into the hotel, there was a strange surprise awaiting us.

"Dr. Ashutosh, room 401…Dr. Nidhi, you're in room 408…"

Nidhi's face fell. I looked at her and signaled her not to say anything. There were a lot of other doctors in the hotel lobby. I had already notified everyone that I would be attending, along with my wife, who's a doctor too. But obviously, they messed up. I tried not to suck my teeth. I couldn't even make eye contact with the receptionist. I felt bad for her. It wasn't her fault.

Nidhi's face went from shock to sadness. She was pouting.

I nodded at her and we both left the lobby and headed up to our rooms.

"Why didn't you SAY something?" She stomped her feet. That was one of the cutest sights. I tried hiding a smile.

"The lobby was full of other doctors…I didn't want to make a scene…the hotel is packed anyway, and who cares if we're in different rooms…this is a professional environment, so let's play along …" I squeezed her hand. She seemed more upset now than I was. It would end up being the other way around soon enough.

I had to make a speech in the opening ceremony in an hour. Nidhi went to my room first and unpacked my things.

"Do you know how much this SUCKS? I don't get it…you want us to be professionals here…but what about at night? You know I can't sleep without you…and…isn't it going to look weird if someone sees you coming to my room or if I go to yours…then everyone will know we're married…or, if not married then…ugh…" She was really upset.

"And then…you won't get to just absorb this whole conference experience just like any other intern…you'll be forced to shake hands with the 60 year old neurologists and explain how you fell for your boss and all…" I told her. It was the truth. People here actually loved to gossip. Nidhi and I had a beautiful relationship, but I wondered if these older generation doctors were ready to accept that I'd married my intern.

"So…then we can't sleep together?"

I sighed. "Just three days, Nidhi…trust me, I'm just as upset as you are…but we'll find a way around all this." I squeezed her shoulders. She half smiled.