Her Book Man

Chapter 8

Kabir paced restlessly around his library, the ticking of the old clock on the wall echoing through the quiet room. For the past two days, Naina hadn’t shown up. He had tried calling her several times, but there was no answer. She didn’t have a phone, so he had no way of knowing what was going on. He couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was wrong.

His thoughts swirled with worry as he stood by the window, staring out at the Dehradun streets. Was she okay? Why hadn’t she come? Kabir knew that Naina struggled with her dissociative disorder, but the episodes hadn’t been this bad before. He had to find out what was happening.

Without wasting another second, he grabbed his phone and dialed his younger sister, Meera. The phone rang several times before she picked up, sounding distracted.

“Meera, it’s me. Have you heard from Naina?” Kabir’s voice was tight with concern.

“Oh, Kabir… I was just about to call you,” Meera replied in a somber tone. “Naina’s been taken to the hospital.”

The words hit Kabir like a punch to the gut. “What happened? Is she okay?”

Meera paused, and he could hear her trying to steady her voice. “She’s not okay, Kabir. She had one of her spells—it's worse than ever. They had to sedate her to keep her from harming herself or others. She’s been… aggressive.”

Kabir’s heart started pounding faster. Aggressive? His mind raced as he tried to process the information. Aggressive behavior was something Naina had never displayed before. He couldn’t waste another minute. Without thinking, he rushed out of the library, heading straight to the hospital.

As he entered the hospital, the cold sterile smell hit him, and his stomach tightened. He had no idea what he would find when he reached her. He followed the signs to the psychiatric ward, his footsteps quickening with each passing second.

When he reached the room, the door was slightly ajar, and he hesitated for a moment before pushing it open. The sight that greeted him made his blood run cold.

Naina was lying on the hospital bed, her pale face turned towards the ceiling, her eyes wide and unfocused. She was strapped to the bed by leather cuffs, her wrists bound tightly, preventing her from moving or attacking anyone. She thrashed slightly, her body tense, as though fighting against the restraints. Her breathing was shallow and quick, her face contorted in distress.

Beside her, her mother, Mrs. Verma, sat in a chair, her hands trembling as she wiped her tears. Her face was a mask of exhaustion, fear, and worry. Kabir felt his heart break for her.

“Mrs. Verma?” Kabir’s voice came out softer than he intended, his throat tight with emotion.

Mrs. Verma looked up at him, and for a moment, her eyes seemed to brighten with a faint flicker of hope before they fell again, her shoulders slumping. She reached out to him, her voice shaky. “Kabir... She’s... she's like this all the time now. What happened to my little girl? What happened to Naina? She was always so gentle, so sweet, and now... she’s a stranger.” She choked back a sob.

Kabir swallowed hard. His mind screamed with helplessness. He didn’t know what to say. He knew that Naina’s dissociative disorder had been getting worse, but this—this was something else entirely. He took a step closer to Naina’s side, his eyes searching her face for any sign of recognition.

“Naina,” Kabir whispered softly, his voice barely a breath. “It’s me, Kabir. I’m here.” His heart ached as she didn’t react. Her eyes flickered for a moment, but there was no sign of recognition, just the wild confusion that he knew all too well.

Mrs. Verma reached for his hand, her grip tight, and her voice faltered. “She doesn’t recognize anyone anymore, Kabir. Not even me sometimes. She’s been getting worse... I... I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this. And who will want to marry a girl like her? She’s... she’s lost, Kabir.”