Shards of Love

Chapter 12: Icy Fire

July - August, 2020.

Arnav came out of the psychology wing and headed towards the parking. His mind was surprisingly at peace. Why? He was wondering.

Have I found solace in finally getting an acknowledgement that after all these years of ignoring my mental health and pushing on, something indeed had broken inside me?

What a weird heart!

"Arnav!!"

He stopped short and looked confused as he thought he heard someone call his name. He was extremely self-conscious when alone in a public place. There were two possibilities - one, he misheard the sound; two, he was identified by some relative who knows him. He prayed it should be the former.

"Machi!"

Arnav breathed a sigh of relief as he then confirmed it couldn't be for him.

"Hey machi, Arnav!!"

Arnav stopped again and this time turned around, utterly flummoxed. Someone called him by his name and added the casual bonding term "machi" that boys use with friends. Only Bharath used to call him like that. And the voice was nothing like him. He kept turning here and there, finding nobody at the space.

Then a car which was going out, stopped and went in reverse gear. It was coming and for some reason, Arnav felt he should stay where he was.

As his gut anticipated, the car stopped right in front of him and the window opened and he was face to face with a woman who was maybe a couple years senior to him, and most importantly he didn't recognise her at all. Then he understood.

As she settled into her seat and Arnav found Adarsh at the driver seat, waving at him with a grin that could put McDonald's to shame.

Arnav smiled and waved back. Adarsh got down and went to him.

"So, how did it go?" He asked.

Arnav became nervous and a bit withdrawn.

"Good", he managed to say.

"Okay, you have subsequent sessions?" He seemed to know Arnav was not going to be very open.

"Yes, one month from now", Arnav said as he thought Adarsh probably already knew the answers to those questions.

"Yes, thought so. Mostly they would give medication and session monthly basis. Rarely, fortnightly sessions will happen if something tripped up." He said coolly.

Arnav wanted to redirect the conversation to the other side.

"How about you? Done?" He asked.

"Yup, see, that's why my car was about to leave the hospital premises." He said and laughed a little. It was like filler laughters that Arnav had seen a lot of people do. It was part of their nature. He did it too.

"That's your sister in the car?" Arnav asked.

"Sharp!" Adarsh acknowledged. "That's my elder sister. She was the one who suggested this place and brought me here."

Arnav just politely looked at her and said, "Hi ka", and then she smiled and waved at him.

"So, see you next month machi. I got to drop her off at her home and get back to my home. Do you have your phone with you?" He asked.

Arnav just said, "yes", and immediately he asked him to take it out.

Arnav didn't know what to do. He took out his phone and Adarsh just took it out of his hands and seeing it locked, asked him to open it.