Standard disclaimers applied. See Prologue for further details.

Author's Note: I know that the last chapter wasn't what people were looking for. I hope that this one will generate a better response.


Chapter 19: Neela's Battles

She could never truly explain why she just ran away, but all she saw were her own tears. There was a conundrum of emotions, as her feet pounded against the concrete pavement of a Chicago sidewalk. She had thought about marriage numerous of times before this, but it always met by a mixture of bittersweet hopefulness and regret. Once upon a time, she could have been Mrs. Michael Gallant. For the longest time, she blamed her rejection as the cause of his death, but now, she could convince herself that Michael died serving his country.

She knew that her salvation came in the form of Ray Landon Barnett. He may have been Landon Rollins Carter at one point of his life, but to her, there were no pretensions, no gimmicks. He was just simply Ray, the roomie. On certain levels, their friendship became more complicated when they decided to have an official relationship. Though she herself got along with Ray's side of the family, it would take a much greater effort to convince hers.

As the firstborn child, she shouldered the pressures to become the best in everything - in academics, in her profession, in her choice of husband. It didn't help to have a young sibling who was always perfect. Parama was an accomplished dancer, who married early to a wealthy Indian businessman and was now a mother of two children, the oldest being a son.

For the most part, Neela avoided all talk of her marrying soon and then having children of her own. She believed in her own heart and followed it to the United States when she accepted the position at County General Hospital.

With Ray, she took a gamble. She never really told her family about him because she already know all the arguments that would undoubtedly follow. 'He is white, he can't be trusted. He comes have a different culture, different religion. He probably doesn't eat the same foods as you - what does he know about the Indian way of life?'

Those had been her fears as well, because he was everything that she was not. Yet, he had somehow managed to show her that they were compatible despite the differences, but that didn't mean that her fears were resolved.

-o-o-

He had a strange sense of deja vu as he stood on the deserted pavement outside the apartment. Once upon a time, Jamie Sullivan ran away from him after dropping the bombshell that she was dying of leukemia. At eighteen, he only stared at her retreating back. In retrospect, he kicked himself for not chasing after her that night, even though, he later managed to send her a banquet telling her that he was going to leave her.

His legs went into motion, following the echoing footfalls of the woman in front of him. Somehow, he had to get her to understand that he was for real and that he wasn't going anywhere. She stopped as she reached the El train station. Gasping for breath, she gave him time to catch up with her.

-o-o-

They stood back to front. Neela was facing the passing El train while Ray was standing directly behind her. More than ever, they were aware of each other's physical presence. Neela wanted to run but she knew that the moment that she took off again, she would take with her another piece of Ray's heart. In truth, she didn't have anywhere else to go.

"Don't go."

"Why do you love me, Ray?"

"You're important to me, Neela." Words that had been spoken many times before now brought fresh tears to her eyes.

"Why do you still love me after I ran away?"

"Neela, look at me." He took a tentative hold of her arms and swung her around until they were face to face. Lifting up her chin, he brushed away her tears with his thumb.

"I love you because you are Neela. I love you because we can be happy together and no matter how many times, we get mad at each other, we always find our way back."

"My parent won't accept us and my sister ..."

"The last thing that I want is for you to be separated from your family. You won't be happy that way. I'm willing to wait. I won't leave just because the going gets tough."

"So, you'll stay."

"Don't ever doubt that."

Like so many times before, she buried herself in the warmth of his embrace. Shamelessly, she soaked the front of his shirt with her tears, but he would never complain. His only response was drawing her closer.

Later that night, they made their way back to their apartment and fell asleep exhausted in this manner, with Ray's arms encircling her waist and her face upon his chest.

-o-o-

A few weeks later, they made plans to meet the Ragostras. Despite Neela's best efforts to prepare Ray for the encounter, it had been a disastrous start. Both Neela's parents were completely offended by the fact that Ray was not Indian. In rapid Punjabl, they expressed their firm insistence that their daughter rethink her decision.

"What is the meaning of this, Neela?"

"Ray is a doctor over at County and we have been seeing each other for some time."

"I don't care, Neela. I have raised you better than this and now, you have disgraced us."

"How could I have disgraced you when I choose to be happy?"

"How can you expect to know what real happiness is? You are young and naive, but you choose to live a fantasy and build your dreams in place that is far away from your home and your family."

"I love being a doctor. I like the fact that when I step into that ER, I feel wanted and appreciated. I know that when I am doing is going to make somebody else's life better. Ray is there for the good days and the bad and even the days when I feel the most defeated..."

"You choose this life, Neela. Don't expect either your mother and myself to accept this choice."

"You are my parents and I wish that you will take the time to know Ray. I may be young, but I am not being naive. You are right that it is me who chooses this life. I choose to be with him because he makes me smile..."

Ray had been right when he said that she wouldn't be happy without her parent's blessing. It was one of the hardest thing for her to do - the choice between Ray and parents. She yearned for at least their acknowledgement, even though, she knew that it would be hard-press to get their blessing. She cried into Ray's arms who could only murmur sweet things into her ear.

They were in the apartment, so they won't expect any company. It was with a surprise that a knock revealed Parama.

Before she could even take a step into the apartment, Neela retorted, "Did you come here to gloat, Parama? You always know ..."

"No, I came to congratulate you."

The very words stopped Neela in her tracks. Parama took the momentary silence to plunge on. "You heard me. I came here to congratulate you because you had the guts to do something that I didn't have the nerve to do. Within reason, you followed your heart. You made your own decisions because you felt that it was the right thing for you to do, not because our parents told you so."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"My husband and I are divorced. The papers just came through and finalized yesterday. I found him cheating on me with another woman because she was younger and prettier. Then it made me look at my life and found out what I was missing. I love the kids but I miss having to do something for myself. For you, it had always been medicine and for me, it was dancing. I want to go back to that again, because I couldn't before."

The sisters found their way into each other's arms and without another word, they both knew that Parama had at least given her blessing to whatever relationship that Neela had with Ray. The three spent the next couple hours getting to know each other and for the Ragostras to reconcile their past.

When it was time for Parama to go, Neela offered her sister a place to stay at the apartment. However, she shyly admitted that she was already sharing an apartment with someone. Upon further prompting, the young Ragostra dropped the surprising news that she was in fact living with Tony Gates!

End of Chapter 19


AN: lmao. I betcha you didn't see that one coming. Believe me, I am just as surprised as you are but hey, that's what the AU is for ;).

Remember, Gates' comment about being 'afraid of married women' and why he was so friendly with Neela all the time ... interesting, isn't it? However, I leave for you as the reader to infer your own conclusions. Anyways, r/r, I love to hear what you guys thought about this little twist.