The Rathores in Therapy: A BCHD Epilogue

Chapter 8: Unraveling

Last time: Shobha hung up and turned to Sandeep, her expression serious. "It's Kabir," she said, her voice urgent. "He's fainted, it was a panic attack. They are bringing him in now."

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February 10th, 2023, 8:30 am, Jain Counselling Centre, Jodhpur

After what felt like an eternity, Dr Sandeep left the treatment room and approached the duo sitting in the waiting room. A visibly shaken Banni immediately leapt up to meet him. Her eyes were filled with worry, and he did his best to reassure her.

"Banni," he said softly. "Kabir's going to be okay. He's stable now, but we need to keep him here for observation, at least until he wakes up."

"Why, why did Bhai faint Doctor?" The man standing next to Banni asked him. Based on his method of referring to Kabir, Sandeep guessed this was Viraj, Kabir's cousin.

Sandeep turned to Viraj, his face etched with concern. "Kabir had a panic attack, Viraj," he said, his voice gentle. "It's a common reaction to trauma, and it can be intense and overwhelming. During a panic attack, the body's natural "fight or flight" response kicks in, releasing stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. This can cause a rapid heartbeat, shaking, sweating, and shortness of breath, among other symptoms."

He took a sip of water before continuing. "In some cases, the symptoms can be so severe that the person may faint or lose consciousness, as Kabir did. This is due to a sudden drop in blood pressure caused by the body's reaction to stress."

Banni looked up at Sandeep, still worried. "Can we see him?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Sandeep nodded, leading her into the room. The room was dimly lit, with only a few rays of light filtering through the curtains. Kabir was lying on a bed, his eyes closed, his breathing shallow. Banni immediately rushed to his side, taking his hand in hers, and stroking his hair with her free hand.

"I am here now, your Banni is here." She whispered. "I... I came back to you, just like I promised. I came back..." Her voice trailed off as she looked at Kabir's pale face.

Sandeep stood by the door, watching the scene unfold with a sympathetic expression etched on his face. He could see the worry and fear that Banni was experiencing as she sat by Kabir's bedside, holding his hand tightly. Sandeep knew that Banni had been through a lot, and seeing Kabir like this must be difficult for her. He took a deep breath and walked towards the couple, his footsteps echoing in the silent room.

"He's stable, Banni," Sandeep said, his voice gentle yet firm, hoping to bring some relief to Banni. "But he needs rest. It's important that he has a quiet and peaceful environment to aid in his recovery."

Banni looked up at Sandeep, her eyes filled with tears. She was only half-listening to Sandeep, still lost in her own thoughts. Sandeep could see that she was struggling to process what had just happened, and he knew he needed to provide her with more reassurance.

"Kabir is in good hands, Banni," Sandeep continued, his voice soothing. "We will do everything we can to help him recover, and he will be back to his normal self soon. You just need to have faith and be patient. We are here for both of you, and we will take care of everything."

Banni nodded absentmindedly, still lost in thought. Sandeep had wanted to ask her what had caused Kabir's panic attack, but he refrained, seeing how shaken she was. Sandeep could see that she was not fully present at the moment, and he knew that she needed some time to process everything that had just happened. Instead, he turned to Viraj and asked, "Can you tell me what happened?" Viraj nodded in response, ready to share what he knew about the situation. Deciding that it was best to speak to Viraj privately, Sandeep turned to Banni again.