I am walking slowly through a very beautiful garden. Its long past midnight, but not dawn as yet. There are a lot of crocodiles following me. I am not afraid of those creatures neither am I afraid of darkness. I just don't want them behind me. Ahead of me is a river. There is no bridge. There may not be a coming back. If I cross over to the other side, I shall leave behind all the crocodiles and the garden too. I will come upon a new place. I do not know what I will encounter there but there shall be dawn and that I do want.
Valli stirred from her light dreamy sleep. She heard voices. Her first reaction was panic. She began to hyperventilate. Fear and anger reared its ugly head again. The pain and aches weren't helping either. Her movements were jerky at best.
Shiva sat near her holding her hand the way their father did. His parents and sister were talking to the doctor, who was explaining her condition. Valli's eyes flew open. She jerked back her hand from his grasp and shrank back in fear. To elicit such a reaction from her a month ago would have given him a thrill, but not today. He tried soothing her in a calm and steady voice with words like "it is just me, Valli" , "am your brother", "relax". But nothing seemed to work. Her panic attacks and violent hysterical reactions only increased. She started throwing things randomly. Her parents and sister were shocked at her behaviour. Mrs Shanti tried pacifying daughter but that only earned her a shove..Valli pushed away from all others. Her reaction this time was not limited to panic attacks or hysterical crying. Her attacks were violent. Her behaviour was psychotic. Her father at the behest of the doctor herded them out of the room. The door to Valli's room wasn't bolted but closed. Jasmine had stayed behind in the room making herself discreet. Lest, valli should harm herself or others. For safety's sake.
Her mother couldn't see her like this. She crumbled like a heap of cards in the living room. She could hear crashing sounds from the room. She wanted to be near her daughter, comfort her daughter, but couldn't. Seeing her like this was the last straw. Was her daughter now mad? Was she to be admitted in a mental asylum? This was not how she wanted to find her daughter. What could stop this reaction? She was willing to do anything, just anything to calm Valli. But no luck so far.
********
By the time Vel reached the phone it went dead again. Who would call now? What time was it again? He felt as though he lost track of time. Was it today or yesterday when he heard that she didn't remember anything. She won't remember him
He was losing his mind. He wanted her. He needed her just like he needed his sanity. A sudden fear crept into his mind. What if her father took her away to some altogether new place? He may never be able to see her. May be he could keep her with him. If she was here he could at least see her. What if she didn't remember him? At least she would be in sight. But didn't he want to stay away? What's the harm is asking her father to let her be with him.
A lot of what ifs cruised through his mind. His resolve to stay away was crumbling. He couldn't stay away now. A new hope bubbled inside him. It said why not. Yes, why not? He could take baby steps, like getting to know her, or rather letting her know him, like him. .
In the ensuing battle between what ifs and why not, why not emerged victorious.
*********
"This was what I was trying to tell you. All of us remind her about the incident" the doctor said.
There was pin drop silence. Minutes passed yet nobody spoke anything as all were trying to process what was going on.
"What's happening?" Mrs. Shanti asked finally breaking the ear shattering silence.
The doctor silenced them again with a "What I see here is a post traumatic stress disorder coupled with a head injury".
"What remedy do we have for this? There should be some way to treat her, I cant seen my daughter like this" wailed her mother. Now she was in a fit of sobs. Devi and Shiva rushed to comfort their mother.
"I understand, but all that will take time and you have to be patient. We still do not know the extent of the damage. Yesterday, Chotu says she was calm. In the evening too before you came when she had the panic attack, it wasn't violent. This behavior of hers could be temporary or permanent or anything in between."
"Doctor! You are not helping us. Please do something." Devi begged the doctor. The sobs from inside the room had died down but there was no hope peeping from anywhere.
"As I just said please be patient. We need to take a series of tests to diagnose the problems and treat accordingly"
Just then a taxi arrived at the gates and in came Vel limping and bandaged but high with hope etched on his face. But all that hope was fizzling out seeing the worry etched on their faces. Wasn't this supposed to be a happy reunion. And where was she? Why was she not here? He turned looking for answers but all he saw was silent tears. Wordlessly Devi pointed towards the room in which was now eerily silent but held a yet another probable tornado. Before the doctor could warn him Vel entered the room
YOU ARE READING
DEPTH
RomanceHe was betrayed. She doesn't know who she is. She is in the dark. He would move heaven and earth if needed to bring her light. Or is he her light? Every relation, every bond, every emotion has a depth. While some are shallow others are deep. The...
