Unreal Reality

The last day

The sun was shining down, in all its glory, forcing everybody to seek shelter under the fresh, green mango trees.

It was the last day of examinations for the children of fourth standard and everybody could be seen smiling, running and frolicking around the school campus. It would have been an ordinary and happy sight if the boy sitting all alone and grim faced was thrown out of the picture.

The principal of the school, Mr.Chatterjee, looked haggard and worn out. Finally the term is coming to an end. I desperately need a break, thought the principal. He was about to doze away in his comfortable leather chair when he heard a knock on the door. He groaned and told an authoritative 'come in' and sat upright the moment he noticed Mrs. Evans come in. Beautiful woman, thought the principal. Mrs. Evans was an ambitious lady of 30, who had recently married one of the most successful psychiatrists of the US. An exotic hair colour, curvaceous figure and dark blue eyes, she could have easily been mistaken to be a model or an actress.
Mr. Chatterjee was day dreaming when he was snapped out of it by Mrs. Evans' voice.

"Sir? Sir? Can you hear me?" asked Mrs. Evans' sweet voice.
"Oh yes, what were you telling, ma'am?"
"Sir, this is urgent. Sameer..Sameer was hallucinating again," she replied, a fret on her face.
"What happened to that boy?" asked the principal, faking a concerned look.
"Sir, he..he..fainted."

He noticed that the room was dimly lit and the atmosphere was warm. He could smell antiseptic creams. There was even a faint sickening smell of injections, which he had always hated. I'm in a hospital, he thought. He looked around and noticed his mommy sitting on a chair, looking tired and pale with head buried in her hands.

"Mommy..." said Sameer in a barely audible voice.
"Oh my god, you're okay!" said Rhea as she looked up on hearing Sameer's voice. "Do you remember what happened to you?" she asked with a concerned look.
"I remember seeing Jerry before..before..I fainted" said Sameer with a puzzled expression.

That Jerry guy again. High time he stops having imaginary friends, thought Rhea as she sighed.

"Yes, I remember being beaten up by some 12-year olds just because I refused to reply to any of their questions." continued Sameer as a spasm of sudden pain in his head contorted his face.

"Yes, those bullies will be taken care of by the school authorities. Are you okay?" asked Rhea on noticing the pained expression on his face. I'm so worried about him.

Rhea was very much aware of whatever had happened to her son. Apparently he was talking to himself, again. What's wrong with him. He needs to see a psychiatrist. Normal 9-year olds don't talk to themselves and pretend as if they're talking to their so called imaginary friends.

She knew her son was a brilliant genius and that he had a bright future, but with these kind of strange habits? She doubted it. He always stood out of the crowd because of his habits. He never socialized with anyone but Natasha. He always sat alone because the seat next to him was reserved for...Jerry. It was cute till the age of seven. But he is nine now. He needs to see a psychiatrist.

"Why did you beat him up?!" bellowed the principal as he glared at the four boys standing in front of him.
"Sir, he was talking to himself" replied a boy meekly.
"So you will beat him up?" he growled.
"Sir, w-we asked him w-who h-he was t-talking to, he a-asked u-us not t-to disturb him, h-he h-had a very dangerous l-look i-in his eyes," stuttered one of the boys.
Suddenly all the anger drained away from the principal's face.

"And then?"
"Then, somebody smacked me on my face" said another boy.
"Who?" asked the principal as he leaned forward on his desk.
"Somebody invisible. We couldn't see the one who smacked me," said the kid with a desperate look on his face.
Liars, thought the principal.
"Oh, then?", asked the principal mockingly.
"Then we lost it and beat him up", said another boy.

Excuses.

"You all will have to attend the summer classes, no vacations and your parents will be informed about you misdeeds as well. You're dismissed", said the principal without even looking at boys.
They just stared at each other, feeling hopeless and despaired because they knew nobody was going to believe them. The loner made the first move, they didn't.

"So, how're you feeling, Sameer?" asked the doctor who was examining Sameer.
"Better" smiled Sameer.
"Alright, would you like something to eat?" asked the doctor.
"No," replied Sameer.
The doctor smiled at him and went away. A few minutes later Sameer started to feel tired and didn't even talk to himself, as his mother noticed. Soon, he was sleeping soundly.

The next day, Sameer had a guest. A girl cladded in pink clothes and pink accessories walked towards him haughtily. He smiled at the sight of her. Here comes the drama queen. The only person after Jerry who can understand me.

" Oh Sam, are you alright?" asked Tasha as she was popularly known by everybody in the school.
"Yes, thanks," replied Sam drily.
"Oh don't you dare show that attitude to me," warned Tasha, pointing a finger at him as she pouted.
"Did you come with Lily?" asked Sam eagerly.
Tasha didn't reply. She licked her lips and said,"Who Lily?"
Sam gave her the are-you-kidding-me look and said,"Oh don't act so ignorant. You know who I am talking about."
Tasha sat at edge of the bed,looked at Sam and then looked away.
"Lily was an imaginary friend",she said without meeting Sam's eyes.
"Not you, too!" groaned Sam.
"Grow up, Sam. We're soon going to be ten. Act like a ten year old, not seven year old".

Grow up? She is asking me to grow up? She, who still plays with Barbie dolls? What's wrong with her.
" Go away. You're not the Tasha I knew." said Sam, with a cold look.
Natasha gaped at Sam angrily. She felt insulted. How dare he ask me to go away, thought Natasha.

"You're a weirdo! So childish you are! I stuck with you because I genuinely thought you were a nice person. I always thought you acted cold, but I was wrong. You are cold," shouted Natasha angrily.

Drama queen, thought Sam.

"Oh really? Well, fine then. Nobody asked you to stay friends with me. Anyway, you're too dumb for me," replied Sam with a cool yet cold tone.
"Oh yes, I'm dumb. But, you, you're sick. Mentally ill. Hah! I just overheard your mom talking to the doctor saying you need to be treated by a psy...trist..something like that!"

She means psychiatrist. Mommy thinks I'm not mentally well. I need care. Why does she think that? I'm absolutely normal! This is happening because of Jerry...all because of him..he threatened me if I don't listen to him..he will make terrible things happen..terrible things...

"JUST GO AWAY!" screamed Sam at Natasha. With tears in her eyes and lips quivering, she hurried and got out of the room. I'm never talking to him again. Never, thought Natasha.

"You lost me the only friend I had, Jerry, the only friend I had. You lost me my Tasha. She cannot stand being disrespected and I did exactly that to her," said Sameer to himself as he felt a tear or two drop down and run all the way across his cheek and down. My world is shattered. I won't be able to lead a normal life unless and until Jerry walks out of my life..

For the first time in his nine year old life, Sameer felt scared. So scared he just wanted to go under the bed and never come out again.