The Heart Specialist
By Shuvayon Mukherjee, first published in Reedsy Short Story Contest
A closeted gay Indian cardiologist in his forties ventures into a romantic relationship for the first time in life.
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Plot Summary
Everyone loves Dr. Ravi Maharaj. He is a doctor from Kashmir, at the top of his field in cardiology, has an outstanding bedside manner, is popular both with his colleagues and patients. However, he has never been in a romantic relationship in his life, and he is in his forties. A few obstacles lie in his way. He is closeted about his homosexuality. He is an incurable workaholic. While it has made him advance to stratospheric heights in his career, it has left him single for forty or so years. A man speaks about meeting the workaholic Ravi, and slowly beginning a clandestine romance with him. Ravi is secretive about it first, showing affection only in private. The two break up after Ravi's parents come to visit, and Ravi is unable to come out to his parents. They remain separate for ten years, as Ravi continues to climb the career ladder. In the next decade, they reunite, still very much in love with one another, even in their fifties. Ravi's parents have died. While Ravi still works tirelessly as ever, they are still as affectionate as they were before. When an opportunity arises for Ravi to move to Kashmir and become director of a hospital, Ravi turns it down in order to stay with his love.
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