2 Sides

One Side

Palomi was sitting on the chair. She was feeling uncomfortable. While Sushant got her a glass of water, Kunal entered the balcony as well to see Palomi.
Palomi was crying endlessly. She couldn't stop. Sushant gave her the glass to which she gulped the water within seconds. She handed the glass to Sushant and said, "More."
Sushant nodded his head and gave the glass to Kunal who went to get more water. Sushant slowly knelt down on the floor and looked at Palomi.
He said, "Palomi why are you crying? He cheated on you. He should be crying."
Palomi shouted while she was crying, "I feel like... I don't know why I'm crying. I trusted him. I always trusted him."
Kunal got the glass of water along with a water bottle. He handed it to Palomi who gulped it immediately.
She cried silently for sometime. Both Sushant and Kunal didn't know what to tell her.
Palomi said sternly in a stable voice, "I fucking trusted that bastard."
Kunal and Sushant exchanged curious looks.
Palomi continued, "I never trusted anybody in my life like I trusted him. I... He should have told me right if he loved somebody else?"
She was looking at Sushant who nodded his head.
"I can never trust anyone now. People in this world are going crazy. Or maybe I'm the one who's the craziest."
Nobody spoke.
She had a sad chuckle and said, "What is wrong with me? What am I even saying? I can't make sense to what I'm saying."
Kunal interjected, "Palomi did you start taking your medicines?"
Palomi clicked her tongue immediately as if she didn't care. She started crying more and said, "I'm getting this uneasy feeling in my stomach. I'm feeling breathless. I'm not able to think straight. I'm just..."
Sushant kept his hands on her shoulders and comforted her calmly, "Palomi calm down. Don't torture yourself inside there. Just. Calm. Down. Trust me everything is fine."
"Don't you dare use the word 'trust'! It doesn't make sense to me anymore."
"Okay fine. I'm telling you that you're over reacting."
Palomi glared at him as if she were about to kill him. Sushant said, "Its okay to over react in such a situation. Its pretty normal. But do you think its helping you right now? Is it helping you?"
She didn't have an answer for that. Kunal came nearer and kept his hand on her head. He said, "Palomi, don't stress. You know you're creating a havoc in your mind."
Palomi was taking heavy breaths. Sushant saw that and ordered calmly, "Palomi close your eyes and lean on the chair. Take deep breaths."
Kunal made her lean on the chair and she closed her eyes. She was still sobbing. Yet she took deep breaths.
Sushant continued, "Now tell me what's going on inside your mind and body. Just tell me anything you feel like saying."
Palomi thought for a while and said, "I'm having a terrible migraine. Like the worst one that I've ever experienced. My head is literally vibrating. I feel like puking."
Sushant faced Kunal and said, "Get a calpol immediately."
Kunal hurried to get one. Sushant looked at Palomi and said, "What else do you feel like telling me?"
She shouted, "Kabir's an asshole! I fucking feel like ripping him apart!"
Sushant rubbed her shoulders which made Palomi to calm down. Sushant asked, "Anything else?"
"I think I want a hug."
Sushant gave her a tight and a warm hug. Palomi grabbed on to him and she didn't want to let him go.
Sushant said, "Don't worry. I'm here."
Palomi felt as if she had a spare body to share her thoughts and sorrow with.
Soon Kunal came running with the tablet and said, "Palomi, take this."
Palomi and Sushant stopped hugging. She took the tablet with water and swallowed it slowly. She had stopped crying. She wiped her tears and looked at the sky. She said in a monotonous voice, "Thanks guys."
Kunal said, "Screw that stuff Palomi. How are you feeling?"
She continued staring at the sky and said, "I don't know Kunal. I think I need to go home. I don't know what I'll do now. I'll go home and take those fucking medicines. I deserve them."
She got up immediately, with her eyes focusing on every step she took. Then she whispered, "Bye."
Sushant said, "I'll drop you home Palomi. Don't go alone."
Kunal added, "Yes Palomi. Let him drop you. Please."
She continued looking down and whispered blandly, "Okay."
Sushant followed Palomi, who was hiding her face from others in the party. She looked down and let her hair cover her face.
Soon both of them were out of the house and they reached the parking lot. Sushant got his car and Palomi sat next to him.
As Sushant was driving, he noticed that Palomi was engaged in her own thoughts. He asked, "Feeling better?"
Palomi leaned her head towards the window and said, "By 'better' you mean 'pain', right?"
Sushant didn't know how to answer that. He said, "You'll be fine Palomi. I just know that. It'll be difficult at the beginning but you'll be fine."
Palomi answered as if she didn't listen to what Sushant said, "You know I've decided that I'll go to my psychiatrist and start therapy again. I think I need it. I don't want to go back to my shell."
She recalled what Kabir had told her earlier about her shell. She did feel that he was correct. She said, "I want to date other people. I want to trust someone. I want to love someone. I want to depend on someone. I want to trouble someone. I want to be in a relationship with someone else. I want to do all this because if I stay alone and be isolated, I'll go crazier than what I already am. And I don't want to loathe myself more. I've already done more than what I should've done to myself. The damage has been done already."
Both were silent again. Sushant pointed out, "See, that's the most crucial thing to get better and you already found out by yourself. That's a great start. You have realized what is bothering you and you have recognized what you want to achieve. You will be fine in no time. I assure you."
Palomi nodded her head and felt lighter. She said, "Thanks Sushant. I really needed you at this time."
Sushant looked at Palomi who was still looking out of the window. He had a grin and said, "I'm happy you're feeling relieved."