Abhira Family-Volume 2

Bullied - iii

Aaira is sitting on the couch and anxiously pulling the invisible lint from it. It's been 10 minutes since she came to this cabin. She looked upwards and saw, Dr. Mrinalini looking at her expectantly. Her parents requested her to see this counsellor. They told her she would help her to get out of this trauma. Aaira didn't understand how a stranger would help her when her family and parents couldn't get her away from this. But she followed her request and sat in front of the counsellor.

"So, Aaira do you want something? Water or juice", Dr. Mrinalini asked her. Aaira shook her head. Except hello she didn't say anything to the doctor.

"You know, Abhimanyu was my medical college classmate, " Mrinalini told her. Aaira jerked her head. She didn't know that this doctor knew her father.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Mrinalino asked slowly. She saw a glint of shine in her patient's eyes for the first time in this session. Aaira nodded her head slowly. She loves knowing people's secrets.

"Abhimanyu failed in first-semester Pathology class. He scored the lowest marks in the class", Mrinalini said slowly. She is trying hard to stop herself from smiling.

"No way, my papa is always the topper. He never fails in anything ever in his life", Aaira said loudly this time. She couldn't believe this doctor's words. She is lying. Her father can never fail in anything.

"Trust me, I am telling the truth. I have so many alibis who can confirm this", Mrinalini said confidently. Aaira's eyes became as large as saucers.

"Really? Papa also failed in school", asked Aaira unassuredly.

"Of course he does. Everybody does Aaira. Failure is a part of life. Agar hum kabhi fail nhi honge toh yeh kaise pta lagega ki success kitni meethi hoti hai. Agar aap kadwa nhi khaoge toh meethe ko kaise pasand karoge", the good doctor told her. Aaira is listening to her with rapt attention. For the first time, someone in her life said to her that it is ok to fail.

"So, how did Papa become the topper in the medical school when he failed in his first semester only", asked Aaira.

"By hard work. He studied really hard. Jo bhi uske weak subjects the, he studied them more thoroughly than before. He finally knows what happens when you fail and he doesn't like it. So, he worked hard not to repeat that result", Mrinalini told her earnestly.

Aaira agreed with the doctor. Her father is like that only. If he fails, then he works harder so next time he will not repeat that result.

"So, Aaira you know why your parents sent you here today? Why they wanted you to see me?" asked the doctor. Now, she got her patient's attention so, she is asking direct questions from her.

"They said you will help me in getting better", she replied meekly.

"What happened to you?" asked the doctor curiously.

"You don't know what happened to me?" replied Aaira in an annoying tone. She thinks the doctor is making fun of her.

"NO, I don't know. I wanted to know people's problems from their mouths only. I don't ask from anyone except the person who was sitting in front of me", the doctor told her.

"So, you really don't know anything about me", asked Aaira in a surprising tone. The good doctor shook her head.

"I want to hear everything from your own mouth. So, tell me what happened to you?" the doctor asked her the same question again.

"I.....tried to.....kill....myself", Aaira stuttered.

"Why?" asked the Mrinalini.

Aaira contemplated for a few minutes and then said, "I was bullied in school. Everyone made fun of me. They mistreated me. They played pranks on me. They joked about me. A girl even hit me and others were laughing while she was hitting me". She sobbed while telling the doctor about this. The doctor handed her a glass of water and a few tissue papers. The doctor patiently waited for her to calm down. After some time Aaira calmed down a little bit. 

"Are you feeling Okay, now?" she asked. Aaira nodded her head.

"Do you want to take a break?" the doctor asked again.

"Yes. Mumma and Papa said you will help me to get out of this thing. But aap toh meri help nhi kr rhe ho", AAira told her innocently. As an 11-year-old, she didn't understand the counsellor or mental help concept. She thought the doctor would give her some medicine and she would heal eventually while taking that medicine.

"Aaira, nothing changes instantly. Things take time. Do you know who I am?" the doctor asked Aaira.

"Yes, you are the doctor like my dad", Aaira replied instantly.

"Yes, I am a doctor but not like your father. I look after people's mental health. Aapne apne school mai jo bhi face kiya woh apko mentally zayada effect kiya rather than physically. Mai apki help kroongi us mental burden ko door krne mai", the doctor explained to her in the simplest manner she could. She didn't want to scare the child by using big psychological terms. So, she keeps it as simple and easy as possible. Aaira nodded her head.

"Aaira, mai aap se ek baat poochu?" asked Mrinalini. Aaira nods.  "Why did you try to kill yourself? Aap aur bhi toh measures le sakte the na. You can complain about them to the teacher, talk to your parents, or even leave the school. You have so many options why do you choose only this option?" 

Aaira had no answer to this question. She scrunched her forehead thinking deeply about what the doctor had asked her. 

"I don't know. Mujhe lga ki agar mai iss world se chali jaoongi toh mujhe yeh sab kabhi face nhi krna padega", she replied earnestly.

"But what about your parents?" asked Mrinalini.

"What about them?" Aaira asked her. She didn't understand where the doctor was going with this conversation.

"I  mean to say, isme unki kya galti thi. Preshan apke school mates nhi aapko kiya. Aapne yeh decide kiya ki you will not tell anyone about this issue, apne decide kiya to kill yourself phir isme aapke parents kha fit hote hai. Because if you had succeeded in killing yourself then they would have lost you", Mrinalini tried to explain to Aaira about this rash decision of hers. Aaira shuddered listening to this. She had no answer for this. She never thought about what would happen to her parents, her family, and her bhaiya if they lost her.

"Kya woh log aapse pyar nhi krte hai", asked the doctor.

"No, they love me so much. My parents are the best. Unse acha koi nhi ho sakta. They are always with me", said Aaira hurriedly. Tears started glistening in her eyes. The doctor looked at her smilingly. She is successful in putting a thought in Aaira's head. She wanted her to think about her parents whenever she was thinking of taking some drastic step.

"Ok, I get it. Our time is up. But I will give you some homework today. Will you do it?" asked the doctor. Aaira thought for a moment but mumbled a small okay.

"Good. Your father told me you are very good at art. Will you draw some drawings for my cabin? It is so boring. So, I am thinking why not use your art to brighten this room", she told her gailily. 

"But you have to follow one condition. You have to draw whatever is coming into your mind. Tum khi se dekh kr kuch nhi banaogi. Just draw whatever comes into your mind. Got it". Aaira was sceptical about this unusual homework but she agreed.

"See you soon, Aaira. Byee". The doctor said to her. Aaira said goodbye to her and went out of the cabin. 

TO BE CONTINUED

A/N This chapter is very difficult for me to write. I still remember my first therapist appointment with this. I was 20 years old when I attended my first counselling session. My therapist made me so comfortable at the same time asked such pertinent questions from me that I still shuddered to think about. But the most important thing that she asked me to do was to think about my parents whenever I felt depressed or anxious. At that moment, I didn't understand her but after so many years I finally understood what she wanted me to do. This chapter is for you, Dr. Mrinalini. Thank you so much for coming into my life. I know I am a tough patient but you handled me with such ease that I admire you so much.

Whoever is dealing with any kind of anxiety, depression or anything please talk to someone. I am sure they will definitely help you. I am so thankful that my mother sent me to Dr. Mrinalini and pleaded with me to talk to her. Today I am standing here, it's only because of them.