Unreal Reality

Reunion

The officer took a sip of his coffee, looking lost and distressed. Jerry, imaginary friends, loneliness...things have started to make sense now, thought the officer.

Mr. Evans smiled to himself as he recollected those days spent with Sam and went down the memory lane. Sameer was a special case. Living all alone with his mother and no siblings at all, it was only natural for him to have imaginary friends even at the age of nine.

"Now officer, since I have told you about Sameer, please tell me what has exactly happened?", questioned Mr.Evans as he carefully studied the officer's face. Something serious is going on, I have never seen him look this worried and stressed.
The psychiatrist lazily gazed at the officer, shaked his head and said, "So--", before the psychiatrist could complete his sentence he was interrupted by the officer.

"Doctor, you say your wife was sameer's class teacher for two years, right?"
"Right", came the reply.
"Could you please call her? I would like to ask her a few things."
"But, before that, tell me what has Sameer done. I thought he was in London, living with his uncle",questioned the doctor curiously.

The officer smirked and gave out a cold laugh."Oh, only if that was true. Sameer is lurking in the streets of Mumbai. He is a wanted criminal!"shouted the officer, banging the desk hard. He stared wide eyed at the psychiatrist.

"The bomb blasts, the kidnapping, Sameer is behind it...he is behind it all..."

The psychiatrist for a second thought that the officer is playing some sort of cruel joke on him. But, as he looked at the officer right in the eye, he realized the officer was telling the truth.
No...this can't be true...Sameer...so innocent, so sweet... I feel my world just turned upside down...

"Sameer, meet Dr.Evans. He will be your friend",said Rhea to her nine-year-old son sweetly.
"Mommy, you can tell the truth. He is my psychiatrist",said Sameer. Rhea gaped at her son.

"How did you get to know?"

"I overheard both of you talking to each other while I pretended I was fast asleep",replied Sameer, with a poker face.

Mr. Evans was genuinely impressed. The boy is smart. He is not aware of his own smartness.

"So, I have heard that you recently shifted your house to a nearby local colony?",asked Mr. Evans to Rhea in a hushed tone as he turned his back towards Sameer.

"Yes",replied Rhea with a sad and remote look. She looked like 30 going on 40, lines on her face very clear and sharp. The charm and fragility she had back in her youth was gone. The spark she had in her eyes was long gone after her husband's death. But, her son kept her going. He was the reason behind her existence.

Dr. Evans didn't feel like bringing up the subject he desperately wanted to discuss about. As a psychologist, he very well understood the state of Rhea's mind. The case was still going on. The Indian judiciary system is a disgrace to the country. Nine years and the woman is still seeking justice, thought Dr.Evans on seeing the frail, haggard looking Rhea.

"Sameer, do you like the new locality?", asked Dr.Evans with a genuine smile.

"No", replied Sameer with a cold tone. "It stinks everywhere. Guess what? I will be going to a government school from now on. We finally ran out of money, didn't we, mother?"Sameer growled as he glared at her mother.

Rhea looked broken hearted. He has never addressed me like that. He has always called me mommy. Oh, I'm sorry, Sameer, thought Rhea. She looked like she might break down any moment. Her lips quivered and she rushed out of the room.

Dr.Evans felt helpless. He couldn't help the family in anyway. He was not a rich man himself, philanthropy and goodwill would cost him a lot.

Psychologists in India, after all, were not in demand when compared to countries like the US. If you are seeing a psychologist you are treated like an insect and an outcast. Society refrains itself from talking to you. So, in India, seeing a psychologist won't help you much, but instead, it will make the matters worse, thought Dr.Evans. Probably I should head back to USA...

"Doctor, are you listening to me?",asked the officer frantically with a trace of annoyance very much evident in his voice. Dr. Evans was dragged out of the flashback all thanks, again, to the officer's achingly loud voice.
"Yes. I'm right here", sighed the doctor dejctedly.

"We have a bad news", announced the officer grimly. Dr. Evans for a second thought of asking the officer if he was anaemic. But then he chucked that thought away as he thought of the consequences. He knew better.
"What is it?"asked Dr.Evans, mimicking the officer's expression.

"I just called up Rhea. Hoping she would know the whereabouts of Sameer. I know, she wouldn't but it was worth giving a try and guess what? She is in London right now."

"London? What is she doing in London?"

"She has gone to London to meet her son."

"Must have been a nasty shock for her to find that her son is not in London but right here in Mumbai", stated Dr.Evans and chuckled darkly with absolutely no trace of humor whatsoever.

The officer paused for a moment, fished out his phone and showed him a photo. Dr. Evans was bewildered after seeing the photo. He could not believe his eyes.

"This is not possible...how...", murmured Dr.Evans, at a loss for words.

How could Sameer be in London and Mumbai at the same time? Sameer, who are you?