What A Beautiful Face She Has

Unexpected

Mathew's POV:

I was driving my car at high speed to reach that particular place. Even though I was focused on the road, my full attention was on her.

She was trembling and scared of something. Did I do anything wrong?

I stopped the car and went to her side. I opened the door and pulled her out. She looked terrified. Then I held her hand and dragged her into the building.

"I want to meet Dr. Catherine," I said to the receptionist.

Yes, I brought her to Catherine's clinic.

"Please wait, sir," she said.

After a short phone call, she told us to go and meet Catherine. I thanked her and led Stella to the room.

I knocked on the door and opened it.

"Mathew, what happened? Why... Stella?" she stood up from her chair and came toward us.

She looked at Stella and gently touched her shoulder.

"Ennachu, d? Are you ok?"
(What happened, dear? Are you okay?)
She made her sit on the couch.

I narrated the whole incident to her.

"Why did she behave like that, Catherine?" I asked.

"Theriyalaye. Seri, let's calm her down first. She needs therapy," she said.
(I don’t know. Okay, let’s calm her down first.)

I nodded.

"Okay, please wait outside. I have to begin the therapy."

"No, I'll stay here. I want to know what's going on in her mind. And yeah, please ask her what made her react like that when she saw the beach."

"Okay, but you must stay silent during the session and not interrupt," she instructed.

I agreed.

After some time, Stella became calmer, but her face was expressionless, and she kept gazing at the floor.

"Ivaluku enna vida tharai mela dhan love adhigam pola, epo paaru afhaiye uthu uthu parthutu iruka."
(Looks like she loves the floor more than me, she keeps staring at it all the time.) I thought.

Catherine handed her a tablet. She swallowed it.

Later, she was asked to lie down and Catherine began the session.

Therapy session:

"Your name?"

"Stella."

"How are you doing?"

"I'm good."

"How's your married life going?"

"Horrible."

"Why?"

"He doesn't like me."

"How are you so sure about that?"

"The way he treats me says it all. He loves fit women, not someone like me who's fat. He hates me because I'm fat."

Catherine looked at me in shock.

"Did he ever confess this to you?"

"Yes, so many times. He hurts me with such words, every single day. Even today, he hurt me by saying…"
She narrated the bakery incident.

I was baffled.
"Adi paavi, munnadi nadandhadellam ipo solriye, d."
(Oh sinner, now you're bringing up everything from the past.)

"Did he ever speak to you with affection?"