The Rathores in Therapy: A BCHD Epilogue

Chapter 9: The Weight of the Past

Last time: "And who will he wake up as Doctor?" She asked quietly. "Will it be Kabir? Or Yuvaan?"

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February 10th, 2023, 8:40 am, Jain Counselling Centre, Jodhpur

Shobha was stunned by Banni's question. "Banni, did Kabir switch during his panic attack?" she asked gently.

Banni nodded, her tears falling freely now. "By the time I got to him, he was Yuvaan," she said, her voice breaking. "He was Yuvaan when he fainted. He was Yuvaan when he..." she trailed off, unable to say further. "I never thought I would see Yuvaan again" she ended, quietly, and a little wistfully too.

Shobha's heart ached as Banni spoke. She knew that Kabir's dissociative identity disorder was a complex and challenging condition to manage. She could only imagine how difficult it was for Banni and Kabir to navigate the complex web of emotions and experiences that came with it.

Shobha took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. She knew that this was a delicate situation, and she wanted to handle it with care. She turned to Banni, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Banni, I need you to stay calm," she said, her voice soft. "Everything is going to be okay."

Banni nodded, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Shobha turned to the door, her heart racing with worry. She saw Sandeep standing there, his face grave.

"Dr Sandeep," she said, her voice steady. "What brings you here?"

"I had come to check on Kabir," Sandeep said, taking a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Banni. "I overheard what you just said," he said, his voice low. "Is it true? Did Kabir switch during his panic attack?"

Shobha hesitated for a moment, trying to think of the best way to respond. She knew that Sandeep was Kabir's doctor, but she also knew that this was a sensitive issue.

"Yes, it's true," she said finally, her voice soft. "Kabir switched to Yuvaan during his panic attack."

Sandeep's face fell, and Shobha saw the concern on his countenance. Despite only working with Kabir for a week, Sandeep is already highly invested in his treatment. He had seen firsthand the challenges that come with Kabir's condition and was committed to helping him navigate them.

"I had a feeling that something was off," Sandeep said, his voice tinged with concern. "Kabir has been under a lot of stress lately, and I was worried that it was taking a toll on him. But I had no idea that he was switching again."

"I think it was the first time this happened after the last switch a year ago." Shobha theorised.

"Exactly a year ago," Banni confirmed in a low voice. On Sandeep and Shobha's questioning glance, she explained, "Yuvaan last switched to Kabir on the day Tulika died. That day I was told that it was extremely unlikely he will switch back again. But today..."

"What happened today Banni? Can you tell us?" Sandeep asked Banni urgently. "Viraj has already recounted what happened, but he doesn't know what happened after he left with the boys. Can you tell us what happened?"

"Yes... After Viraj asked me to go to him..."

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February 10th, 2023, 8:00 am, Shiv Gauri Temple, Jodhpur

Banni rushed out of the temple, her heart racing with worry. She had felt uneasy ever since leaving Kabir outside, and she knew something was wrong. She had tried to ignore the feeling, to push it away, but it had only grown stronger with each passing moment. And now, as she ran towards the banyan tree where Kabir was supposed to be, she knew that her gut instinct had been right.