It has been four months since he married an obsessive menace and his world turned upside down. Everything slipped from his grip like sand. The more he tightened the grip the more he lost it. He is sitting with his brother in the doctor’s cabin. Things have deteriorated to the worst from the next day of his overly hyped marriage. When he finally realized his insanity, it was already too late. Things are obscure since that point. He knew things were bizarre; something is off-base but he can’t comprehend what is going on.
He also knew he is losing his mind slowly. His only anchor is the alcohol that kept him detached from reality. It happened one morning when everyone was settled for breakfast and Karan lost his movement of his right hand. It came as a shock. It was assumed that he was stressed and it occurred momentarily but he had been visiting doctors for four months now. Rishab would bring him by force to see doctors. Karan himself has no interest in anything regarding life. He has been cocooning himself from the rest.
Once again, he is here forced by his brother to visit the physiotherapist. The physio is Rishab’s good friend and on Rishab’s insistence, he took Karan’s case. But four months went by and nothing changed.
“Rishab, he doesn’t need a physiotherapist. There is nothing wrong with his physiology”
“What are you talking about Ravi? He is unable to use his right hand for months now. He can’t even hold his bat let alone play any cricket. We have tried everything but nothing worked…… I’m so stressed I don’t know what to do……. You of all the people should know how much cricket and his career mean to him and all of us.”
Rishab said in frustration as he rubbed his hands over his face. Karan was still sitting beside him but he was spaced out, a bottle of rum in his left hand, which he swigged occasionally. His younger brother was a playful flirt, yeah easy to anger but a good man at heart. He used to dress up to impress and would smile, lighting up their house. But now he is just a hollow of his former self, his eyes do not have that light. A frown is permanent on his face and his lips are always pressed in thin line. He just went quiet. He would disappear from their house for weeks and would appear abruptly to lock himself. Everyone was used to him bringing chaos and happiness wherever he goes but now it seems like he lost his happiness, his capacity to love or care, and his reasons for life…………. Since he lost Preeta.
“Rishab, I understand your feelings but there is nothing that I can do man,” Ravi said in resignation
“No, you cannot understand, you can’t” ……... Rishab said and felt Karan’s eyes on himself.
“Karan……” Ravi called to gather his attention, he looked up with his dull eyes covered with his messy long bangs, which were used to jell up, now looked so un-kept.
“Karan needs a psychiatrist…… His problem is all in his head” Ravi said keeping eye contact with the Luthra brothers. Rishab gapped like a fish while Karan was still unimpressed. Karan tilted his head, gave them a mocking smirk, and proceed to the door. Rishab slumped there, and Ravi continued talking about sharing Karan’s case with a few fellow psychiatrists and the diagnosis.
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Karan was sitting in his car, looking out at the rush of the world. He finds himself numb to everything. In the continuously moving city, he was still. He was breathing and his heart was beating, he was sure but whether he was alive or not, he can’t confirm yet. He vividly remembered how he waited for her on his wedding day. He was sure she will come; she always did, she was always a constant in his life since he knew her but she didn’t come.
His wait was answered with silence. After the rituals, he left home to roam around the city. He unexpectedly ended up in front of her house, which was dark by now, as if everyone was asleep. How can they do this, he suddenly seethed. He felt betrayed because they didn’t come, she didn’t care. When the sun peeked again, he realized the night of his despair has ended and the sun of his darkness raised.
