Sarthak's POV
"Doctor said...this is not her first time cutting her skin. She has a history of self harm."
My chest tightened at the painful revelation but I held onto my grounds.
My eyes never left the scars on Prerna's calves. I knew about her anguish, but I was not aware of the depth of it. The problems I saw were only the tip of the iceberg. There was so much more she was keeping to herself.
Judging by the number of scars Prerna had on her leg, her agony must be years old. Years.
"History of s-self harm?" Bhabhi's voice cracked and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. "How come I never found out?" She cried softly and Mahima aunty embraced her.
"She always seemed so...so unfazed by everything and everyone. Just focused on herself and work. I talked to her this morning. She said she was okay and asked me not to worry. Then now this..."
"Shh. It's not your fault, beta." Mahima aunty explained, but she herself looked upset. "Prerna was never someone who shares her vulnerability. Not even with the people closest to her."
It hurt. Looking at Prerna in that weak state hurt. Watching Bhabhi cry hurt. Listening to aunty stating the truth hurt. Standing there, feeling so incapable hurt.
I leaned against the wall and the door besided me swung open and the nurse entered.
"Uh, hello. Is everything okay?" She asked sensing the thick tension in the room.
Did anything look okay to her?
"Yeah."
"Oh, good. Umm...Doctor wants to talk about Ms. Prerna's medical reports and health. He is asking for the patient's family." Nurse informed and I chose to stand quietly.
"Where are uncle and aunty?" Bhabhi inquired about Prerna's parents and I felt an unexplainable rush of irritation in me. I do not know why, but their mention was somehow triggering.
Prerna was their only child. They must have known about the mental torture she had been going through all this time. They should have helped her, but they did not. If they did, she wouldn't have ended up in a hospital.
Prerna was stubborn and persistent. She would never herself admit that she needed professional help to regulate her stress. But she would also never deny her parents if they insisted. And they did not.
"I informed them. They will be here in twenty minutes." Aunty said. "I can meet the doctor, as Prerna's guardian."
"Okay. Please follow me." They left and Bhabhi tagged along, but not before asking me to stay with Prerna.
I replied with a curt nod. Only after everyone left, my feet moved. I inched toward the bed and sat on the low surgeon chair.
I stared at the scars. Her calves were filled with the slashes of blade embarked on them and it looked so painful. They were stacked over one another like a bundle of lines.
How could she hurt herself?
My finger itched forward and grazed the newest cut. It was treated and wrapped with dressing bandage. They other scars shone with the oily ointment applied on them.
My vision blurred and I felt something wet track down my cheek one after the other. I took a shaky breath and clutched onto Prerna's ankle and wiped my tears with the other hand. My chest heaved up and down with uneven inhale and exhale.
"What a sight." My head snapped up at the powerless comment.
Prerna stared at me with half opened eyes and smiled weakly when she saw my sorrow filled face.
YOU ARE READING
Passion & Dilemma
Storie d'amorePRERNA MATHUR is a beautiful and successful businesswoman, but the shallow world has reduced her existence to just looks and richness. Being the only earning member of her house since a young age and choosing the hard path of sacrifice was an inspir...
