The Shy Extrovert

Chapter8

Those nine months were no less than any examination. I was struggling with Divyashree to make it at top again plus I was also struggling with deterioting conditions of Ashu's mental health. Everything was going like a daily television drama. Initially Ashu's parents and I were thinking to keep ashu in a proper asylum or so and then Mrs. Raichand thought of appointing a personal doctor at home. I disapproved both the ideas because I knew that would not work. I knew he was not mad or over thinking stuff was with him; he was deeply in pain and needed to express himself to come out of that trauma. I had to make him extrovert from Mr. Shy.

First month was pain. The day two days after holi was first day of his treatment. My extra subject in college was psychology and I had studied that the people you know from childhood have more impact on you. And I had to make an impact on him. I shifted at Samarpan, there is so much room that I could shift there with family but I didn't. Anyways, I had to work double and I was ready for the challenge.

I used to be in office during days and then returned home in evening. Evenings were even more difficult. I used to sit beside ashu and kept on talking about Vrishti. Yes this was the strategy. I had to remind him of Vrishti and keep on prompting him to cry. I wanted him to cry. He had not cried for months and he was self dissolving in his pain. Unbearable it was he was numb now. So the task was time-taking but not impossible.

It had been a week doing this, he finally spoke. "Don't you feel tired making useless efforts? This won't cure my loss. I loved her so much."

"Don't you love your mom? And don't you love your dad? And me?" I replied in a second.

He did not speak. He was mute again. No signs of any emotions. But I was satisfied that he spoke. At least he spoke. I continued my story, "You know Ashu, once I and Vrishti went to an exhibition and she was stalking guys out there. I don't know whom she saw she followed him throughout the day and I could not see that person whom we followed. I laughed at her for a month." And I started laughing. Ashu had a smile at his face but not evident enough to cover his pain.

Next day, I narrated about the deal. I started sharing my experiences with Divyashree and compared myself with what Vrishti would have done. He smiled evidently. "You are so stubborn. Well owing to your deal, why don't you use calligraphy posters in your theme?" he suggested. "It's your deal Mr. Raichand." I replied. I wished I could pause time at his smile. "I don't do anything. You're working. It's your deal." He said with a bit of sad expression.

Straight for a week he had started responding frequently and within a month he responded everything but restrained sleep or medicines.