CHAPTER 68

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Three nights later, Eifad's treatment had finally started. Fearing Farhan, she quietly sat through her sessions with Dr. Malthi but she didn't give in much details. Malthi is still in step one. On the fourth night, Eifad decided to step out from her room for some fresh air. Now, she has accepted that she will only get out from here once her treatment is done, and to meet Shad as quick as possible she will be have go through this as quick as she can.

The night is unusually cold, so she wrapped a shawl around her before stepping out from the room. It's been nearly two weeks since she has been away from Shad, she didn't even speak to him nor did she see his photos and this is suffocating her.

Eifad frowned when she saw a man standing near the railing of the terrace. She walked cautiously towards the man. When she came closer she realized he is Farhan. Her eyes widened. Fearing he will think she is trying to run and scold her, she turned around and hurried to leave. But she tripped and fell.

'Ahh...'she winced massaging her ankle. Farhan turned around, alarmed.

He hurried to her and kneeled next to her.

'I swear I wasn't trying to escape.' Eifad said innocently. Farhan smiled.

'I know.' He placed his palm on her ankle and she trembled.

Farhan held her forearm and helped her stand. Eifad winced, she fell sideways. Farhan quickly wrapped his arm around her waist to prevent her from falling. Eifad shivered with his touch and pushed him. Farhan is startled. He didn't respond, nevertheless.

'Come.' He said extending his hand.

'No, thank you. I can walk.' Eifad said and limped towards the railing. Farhan followed her, he is ready to hold her in case she fell.

'Beautiful night sky, right?' Farhan said looking up at the clear sky. Eifad on the other hand looked down. For one crazy moment she contemplated suicide. But Farhan's words distracted her. She looked at him and then at her fingers, that rested on the railing.

Farhan sighed 'I was ten when my dad passed away, thanks to alcohol abuse. My mom, I and my little sister were dependent on my Uncle. (Eifad turned to look at Farhan, he isn't looking at her but up in the sky) I graduated from top University in Pune as an Engineer. A failed engineer. Soon after graduation, I fell into deadly trap, drugs. I was into drug abuse, destroying myself in the process. I lost my family due to the abuse and then I decided I had to do something before I die. A drug Rehab gave me a new life. One year and I was a new man. I started an NGO and together with this Rehab I started to work to help people like me...like you...people with depression...trauma...and other issues.' Farhan turned to look at her.

There is silence between them with soft rattling of leaves from nearby trees by the gentle breeze. Eifad and Farhan stared at each other. Eifad realized looking into his eyes, that he held so much pain. She felt a connect with him.

'Everyone has problems, Eifad. But we must overcome it. Not only for ourselves but also for our loved ones. You are lucky that you have Shad and your mother with you. I had no one, i have no one. Eifad now everything is in your hand.' Farhan said, seriously. Eifad blinked at him. Farhan smiled at her and then turned around to leave. Eifad looked down, for the first time she is talking to man who understood her and like her, he too has gone through a traumatizing experience in life.

'I love Shad. He was my only friend since I was five.' Farhan stopped on his track when he heard her voice. He turned around. She has her back to him. She turned around. They looked at each other. Farhan walked back to Eifad.

He stood beside her, there is silence 'No one wanted to be my friend. They said I was weird. I was psycho. (Eifad sighed) but no one bothered knowing why. Shad is my everything. I have only him. He is mine; only mine and he was...then that Rhea came in between....'

Eifad clenched her fists in anger as she recollected Rhea's smiling face. Remembering Rhea and Shad's hug boiled her blood. Farhan placed his palm on her shoulder and she closed her eyes exhaling loudly.

'I don't think you are a psycho. And I am there to listen to you,  if it makes you feel better.' He said sincerely. Eifad looked at him with her eye brows raised.

'You are? Or you are just interested in a gossip.' Eifad said in disbelief. No one, not even Shad had offered to listen to her, her side of the story. It is hard to believe.

'You think I need a gossip?' Farhan asked instead. Eifad simply looked at him. Farhan sighed

'Why you have so much trust issues? Trust me, you can trust me.' Farhan said. Eifad turned her head and looked down.

'If a girl aged 4 is molested by her own cousin brother, someone who she thought was her well-wisher, will have trust issues. (Farhan inhaled sharply) If a girl aged 15 is raped repeatedly by her cousin brother, she will have trust issues. A girl whose own mother doesn't believe her and rebukes her, she will have trust issues. Only two people meant the whole world to me. My father, whom I lost when I was nineteen and second Shad.' Eifad turned to look at Farhan, he stared at her. His heart aching hearing her story.

'Shad is the only person I have. I don't want to lose him. I will be lost then.' Eifad said sadly. Farhan shook his head

'You will not lose him. He really loves you. Not as a lover but as a true friend. You know, every day and night he calls me in my personal number, asking about you. He is worried for you.' Farhan explained.

'But I love him. He should love me, like a lover.' Eifad said slightly annoyed.

'But he doesn't. You can't force him.' Farhan said calmly.

Eifad looked at him 'Don't you think I deserve love?' Eifad said. Farhan is numb for a moment. Eifad stared at him.

After few seconds, Farhan said 'Look around you Eifad. Everyone loves you. Shad, your mother. And from tonight you have a new friend, me.' he extended his hand.

Eifad looked at him and then at his hand. 'I swear I don't bite.' Farhan joked. Eifad smiled little but quickly covered her mouth with her palm.

'You have beautiful smile, you should smile often.' Farhan said. Eifad lowered her gaze and looked away. His compliment touched her heart.

'So, friends?' Farhan said, his hand still out for a hand shake. Eifad nodded and shook his hand. Eifad accepted his friendship, she felt a connect with him and somewhere in her heart she trusted him.

The night after, Eifad woke up to a new morning as a new person. Farhan's words did what no one could in all these years. Eifad became serious about her treatment. Dr. Malthi stopped sulking, she is impressed. Eifad missed Shad but slowly she adjusted here. Her friendship with Farhan strengthened and they often met up at the terrace. At times joking, at times randomly talking and at times talking about the past and the future.

Things began changing for Eifad, she began changing.

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