Despite my continuous therapy and medicines there was no significant change in my health. Yes, I had started talking a little, I would even smile when everyone laughed, I would listen to music without actually listening. But Aashi would still catch me talking to Rahul, she would still find me awake at all hours of the night. Even the medicines could not make me sleep. Seeing my state day in and day out finally brought an end to my dad’s patience. After a lot of thought he decided to take severe measures for which he went to the doctor with Aashi.
“Doctor it has been three months now. I know it is the biggest loss ever. We have not been able to get over it ourselves. But I can’t see Mira dying everyday. I hear her talking into thin air every night. She doesn’t sleep despite the medicines and she has still got Rahul as alive as ever. I won’t say there has been no change because there has been, she does speak say three or four words at stretch but that is all. She won’t smile or laugh or cry. I would even be happy 111
seeing her cry now. Please we have to do something to break the ice she has buried herself in. I am desperate now and will do anything and everything to get my daughter back alive.”
“Mr. Kapur you do know extreme measures can have adverse effects too. Not that I don’t agree with you because it is worrying seeing her like that. I have Aashi updating me everyday and yes we have come up with an idea or two but the effects could be either good or very very bad. The experience could be traumatic to your daughter’s mental state. The idea could make or break her totally or we may not be able to get any reaction out of her at all.”
“I do not care now. I want to do something constructive and get my daughter back one way or another. I am tired of seeing her roaming around or sitting as still as a porcelain statue in a corner of the room. One thing I do know I am ready to risk everything for her and on the belief that Rahul will help us get her back to life. It may sound strange to you being a psychiatrist but I do believe that Rahul is there with her and trying from the other side what we mortals are trying here to help her but failing.”
“Okay, then Mr. Kapur this is what Aashi and I talked about.”
The doctor explained the plan of action. There were many loopholes and possible deviations, but alternative treatment and precautions were discussed and being prepared for immediate treatment. Aashi was told to be there with us at all times and to face the situation as a professional and not as a 112
sister. She was to monitor all my actions and reactions at all times especially at the place where the plan was to be executed.
Two days after meeting with the doctor dad announced that he was taking me out for a drive. I kept insisting on not being in a mood, about having a headache but he refused to hear me and forced me into leaving the comfort of the house. As discussed with the doctor, dad and Aashi were going to drive me to all my favourite haunts with Rahul and finally he was taking me to office so that I would speak to the bosses to start work again that is if I still had a job.
He and Aashi both seemed unusually tensed and worried about something but wouldn’t say. We first drove to the cafe where Rahul had proposed. Dad insisted on us having a coffee there and made me sit at the same place where I had been proposed and shared my first kiss, all witnessed by dad. I was unusually tense and barely sipped the coffee. After what seemed like a life time but could have been only 15 minutes dad paid and took me to the station where Rahul would wait for me. On pretext of some work he left me outside with Aashi to ponder and hoping for some reaction.
Sitting outside that station I saw people rush by to reach somewhere but among them were students too.
Seeing them brought tears to my eyes, especially young jovial couples all waiting and enjoying their youth and romance.
Even though I had tears running down my face now I could not react more than that. Something deep within had a hold so strong that I couldn’t break through it to accept what my mind was trying to tell me but my heart was refusing to believe.