Namkaran Season 3 - AvNeil's New Beginning

Chapter 10 - Neil's Disease Part 2

Author's NOTE: I am not describing the Disease Schizophrenia in detail in this story because it will take a lot of time. But just for understanding, it is a very serious mental disease that can sometimes cause people to go haywire and assume things which are not at all real. You can read about it in detail here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443#:~:text=Schizophrenia%20is%20a%20serious%20mental,functioning%2C%20and%20can%20be%20disabling

Now start the story exactly from where we ended in the last chapter...

Avni: Uncle... Ye Schizophrenia kya hai?

Dr. Mehra smiled a bit after hearing Avni's innocent question, but did not give any answer instantly. He did not want to confuse her with endless medical definitions and symptoms. So, he chose the much more simpler method.

Dr. Mehra said: Beta medically samjhaunga to waqt lagega. Isse accha Hindi me batata hun. Ise hum "Wikhandit Mansikta" kahate hai.

Avni could not utter a single word for many minutes. She could not believe that Neil had gone mad and paranoid while she kept thinking that he was safe and sound.

Avni: "Toohh... Abhi wo theek hai na?.. I mean use dekhke to nahi lagta..."

Dr. Mehra: "Muskil tha... Bohot mushkil... Suru me humne sirf counselling se start kiya tha. Lekin wo bilkul respond nahi kar raha tha. Phir 5 sessions ke baad maine uski therapy and rehab start ki, and medicines bhi side by side suru kar diye.

Therapy ke pahale chaar mahino me hume koi change nahi dikha. As if wo wapas normal hona hi nahi chahta tha. Actually Neil ke saath aisa dusri baar ho raha tha. Usne pahale bhi ek baar apne pyaar ko khoya tha. Tab bhi wo mentally bohot weak ho gaya tha. Islie second time uski halat sambhalna aasan nahi tha.

Phir paanchwe mahine ek din ek karishma hua. Neil yaha ayatha mere paas, rehab ke lie, maine use bahar lawn me yoga ke lie bithaya tha. Achanak humne ek shor suna. And dekha ki ek chaar saal ki bacchi ke skirt me candle se aag lag gayi hai. Wo chilla rahi thi, koi mujhe bachao please koi mujhe is aag se bahar nikalo"

As Dr. Mehra was narrating the incident, Avni's eyes suddenly flickered remembering something, which did not go unnoticed by Dr. Mehra. But he continued his narration as usual.

"Neil waise to kisi bhi cheez pe bilkul respond nahi karta tha, lekin us bacchi ko dekhkar pata nahi use kya ho gaya. Aisa laga jaise use kuch yaad aa gaya. And wo apni parwah kie bagair us bacchi ki tarf bhaga. And bhagwan ki kripa se usi waqt kuch log pani lekar aye. Neil ne un logo ke saath milkar us bacchi ko bacha liya.

Us din ke baad Neil ne therapy pe respond karna suru kiya. Aisa laga mano usdin usne aisa kuch kiya ho jo wo saalo se karna chahta tha.

Lekin phir bhi, uski treatment utne tezi se nahi ho pa rahi thi. Use kaafi waqt laga. Saat saal tak uski therapy and rehab chali. And dawaiyan to aaj bhi chal rahi hain. Lekin han, abhi wo 90% normal hai, and lagta hai jaldi hi 100% normal ho jaega 😊"

Avni: "90% normal... Matlab?!"

Dr.: "Matlab abhi wo cheeze hallucinate nahi karta, abnormally behave nahi karta. Isilie wo sabko normal Dikhta hai. Lekin asliyat me he is suffering from severe depression, insomnia and suicidal tendencies even today."

Now Avni remembered how Neil used to risk his life just to see her once. And also that holi party where Neil had told her that he could not sleep for years. The more she kept thinking about it, the more clearer things became. And at last, something striked her mind.

"Uncle... Main aapse ek sawal puchu?... Thora personal"

"Han han pucho"

"Aapko kya lagta hai? Neil jab mujhe zinda dekhega to kaise react karega?"

Dr. Mehra thought very deeply for a few  minutes, and at last spoke...

"Normal nahi ho sakta... Depends on circumstances... Ya to wo deny karega, ya phir overreact karega... And ye overreaction negative hone ka chance jyada hai..."

By now, Avni's eyes were filled with tears. She kept thinking that Neil started hating her, but it was actually his mind which was guiding his heart the entire time.

"Now my turn..." - Dr. Mehera said.

"Hmm 🤔"

"Maine kaha tha sarth ke baare me... Yaad haina"

"Ohh haan, boliye uncle kya sarth hai?"

"Maine tumhe pichle das saalon ke baare me bataya, ab tum mujhe pichle teen mahinon ke baare me sab sach bataogi. Dekho beta, mere lie ye jaanna bohot jaroori hai, and Neil mujhse chupa raha hai, pata nahi kyun. So, please, help me."

Avni obliged and narrated everything that happened in these three months. After their conversation was over, Avni got up from her seat to leave but again turned back and said:

"Uncle, main jaanti hun ki Neil ki ab kisi aur se shaadi ho chuki hai. Lekin meri ek request hai aapse. Aap please uske progress ke baare me mujhe inform karte rahiega"

"Haan haan jaroor"

"Thank you"

With that, she left with a faint smile on her face.

From the hospital, she went to Khanna house to pickup Mogli from there. When she entered, Mogli was sitting at the breakfast table with Shweta and Bebe, while Neil was not present there.

She smiled while waving towards them. Mogli came to give her a tight hug while Shweta and Bebe gave her warm smiles and wished good morning. But Avni desperately wanted to meet Neil right now.

"Bebe, Neil kaha hai?"

"Wo upar kamre me hoga"

"Ohh, accha, main ekbar milkar aati hun, kal raat ke lie thanks bolna tha"

"Han han jaa"

Avni rushed upstairs.

While Neil was preparing for his checkup in his room. He was sulking and dreading this visit, as he was not ready to open up on the recent happenings. But deep within, he somewhat knew that this time, he had a very high chance of scoring a perfect ten in the mental ability and functionality test. He was sleeping well now, and had an amazing sleep last night too, as he slept with his son all over him for the first time ever.

Avni kept standing on the door of his room, which once used to be theirs. But the last time she had entered this room, Neil had reacted very violently and literally threw her outside with a warning to never ever enter this room again. So she was a bit afraid, though she knew that he would never do it again.

While Avni was in a dilema, she saw the door of the room opening from inside.

Neil was hurriedly leaving for the visit when he saw Avni standing right in front of him, lost in her own thoughts. Without thinking much, Neil came forward and gave Avni a bone-crushing hug. After a few minutes, he broke that hug and started pulling Avni towards his room. Avni had not responded to his advances till now, but now she started moving towards his room, as she wanted to talk to him.

Guys, big surprise coming after two chapters... So keep voting... And no, it won't be about Neil this time 😉