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Chapter-21

She now drove back to snooze, again, thinking about the same consequential problems that are surrounding Ranveer. Stirring slowly, she found herself on the bottom, the flooring accompanying her for sleep. Her features now looked placid, no strain befalling around her. Myriad number of minutes passed as Ranveer now squirmed around the bed in succession, stretching his leg and arms as he now sluggishly yawned, tears forming up in the junction of his eyes. He now got up from the bedstead in a rage, an ire that no one else has ever seen in him. He stood up, tucking his shirt properly before kneeling down, looking at her with his now-stern eyes. She is so dumb to believe that he was drunk. Well, having said that he was a good actor, acting drunk wasn't a task for him.

"You liar, bitch," he whispered to himself before palming her head with his hands. He now saw her slowly forming circles as she opened her eyes in a tranquil, her still lips curving for a goofy smile, her hands around his neck before he took her hands off him, "Coffee," he asked with a demanding voice, his tone hoarse as Ishani now looked at him with a confusion. He was fine all while, right? What was wrong now?

"Yeah, are you oka-" she began but Ranveer cut her short saying, "I asked for a coffee."

"I'll ask Abel to make one, don't worry," she now got up consciously, before Ranveer replied back hastily, "No. You will have to make it."

His actions were annoying for her now but she chose not to complain. She now sat comfortably and remarked, "I'll just change into my night pants, excuse me," she excused herself and took her night pants, rushing to the washroom. Shutting within an instant, she removed the sling of her saree and looked herself at the mirror. She looked tired, tensed and fragile. She slowly disengaged her fleets and shift, her body now free from any other piece of clothing, save for her blouse. Unhooking the blouse now, she looked herself at the mirror now, her voluptuous organs and her stomach warm, as she now held the clasp of the corner of the basin as she now let out an audible gasp. She turned away, her eyes brimming up now to let out hugest of cries, for her mind still hesitant to accept the fact of him being a psychiatry patient. No, this cannot happen. Not with her or Ranveer. She once again turned to look at herself at the mirror and gave a fainted smile for herself before she managed to check the time from the cloak room. It was seven in the evening already and she is yet to have her breakfast. She stroked her naked stomach now, which was growling in hunger as she quickly changed herself to her night pants and a printed tee shirt. Looking at herself for one last time, she splashed fresh, cold water on her face, letting the pain ease off. Hanging the saree near the set of robes which were kept for her, she unlocked the door and came back to her room as she saw Ranveer looking at her with a demonic posture.

"So much time to change a saree?" he asked, folding his hands in union, as she let him a soft gasp, "Sorry, I'll be back with the coffee." Ishani now shifted her position, striding slowly as she felt her head whirling. Holding it firmly, she walked sluggishly and made coffee for both of them, her eyes shutting automatically in hunger. Holding the slab in the kitchenette, she managed to open the refrigerator, indulging herself in a granola bar. She chomped the bar as her hunger now died, and so her dizziness. Quickly moving to the other side, she transferred the contents of the coffee in a glass mug before she reached her room. He was still looking at her room like a fantasy. She now cleared her throat in signal before he snapped back, "Ah, here you come finally."

She gave him an awkward smile and strode from the entrance to give him the coffee when he asked her to keep the mug aside.

"Sit down," he showed his eyes at the seat opposite to him as she sat down silently, without speaking another word. He now scrutinized her awkward smile before asking, "Do you lie a way too often?"

The question of his was startling, at least for Ishani as she now looked at him aloof. Why is he asking this now? She gave him an unscathed look before replying, "No."

He now got up with ferocity and pushed the glass away, breaking them into smithereens before his uproar, "That's a lie again!"

She got up in a shock and let out a distinct gasp as she remarked, "What the hell? When did I lie?" Ranveer now looked at her with disgust and shoved her aside resulting in her descent on the ground, one of the shards of the glass impaled on her left lower arm; making it punctured. She cried in throbbing as he now held her again, making her stand on feet before pinning her to the wall.

Ishani's eyes now looked red, all thanks to the torment and sting as the blood on her left arm bled profusely, making her membrane stung in red before she whispered, each word of hers fainting, "When the f**k did I lie?"

He left her clasp and shouted, tears gushing out from his eyes, "What? What do you mean by that? Who the f**k asked you to cancel all the investment plans and the meetings, you bitch? Do you know how important were they? Who the hell gave you the permission to do it? Can you imagine the amount of back work I had done late nights to fix these meetings? It's all gone. Shit!" she clenched the desk nearby and gritted his teeth in exasperation as Ishani looked at him intensely, and asked, "When there were already two projects lined up, who asked you to start with a new one? Who asked you to take foolish business decisions? You have to be glad that I saved your business," she retorted, words flowing from the mouth just like the intense artery blood.

"Oh, give me a break, Ishani! Who the heck gave you the permission to do that?" his voice only grew in intensity as she now gave him a scrutinizing look before answering, "I don't want anyone's permission to do that, Mr. RV."

"Oh, that's great to hear!" he remarked sarcastically as Ishani now moved away from him to go for first aid. Quickly opening the first aid kit, she cleaned the wound and applied Neosporin over it, making it cool down. Sniffing, she now took a bandage and covered the wound in a fit of anger as Ranveer looked at her with the same stern. Placing the kit back in its place, she moved back to clean the glass pieces when he clasped her upper arm and pulled her, in the same force which he had pulled her sometime back.

"I asked you a question. Who the f**k gave you the bloody permission?"

"I said I don't need any permission. I am an employee and I have got the right to do it."

"That is not specified in the code of conduct, Miss. Ishani," his words pierced her when she looked at him with stiff eyes, "Oh really? What should I do now?"

"I will decide that."

"Go ahead," she nodded, being sardonic as he popped up again, "Leave the job, you bitch."

"What?" she exasperated, the decision for her shocking.

"I said leave the effing job! You are no longer a part of the Oakley's family. Get the hell out of my resort and do whatever you want."

For a moment, everything looked like a nightmare for her. She came to France to live her dream and now, all her dreams are broken, shattered into pieces. She now looked at him with bloodshot eyes and remarked, "Listen to my decision as well, Mr. RV."

He gave her a nod asking about her decision as she replied, "I am leaving your bloody mansion, too. I don't want to reside at your place from now on."

"That'd be great!" he rubbed his hands, trying to be happy as she turned away from him, packing her bags in a fit of rage.

"And please, don't forget to take your shaggy dog."

She gave him an enigmatic look before telling, "I'd never leave her alone with a cheapo like you. So just f**k off."

Pushing him aside, she walked towards the lawn, searching for Skits as she found her sleeping peacefully. It's not that she loved the pup so much. But the little creature gave her that solace which he failed to give her. Stroking its fur slowly, she whined, miming Skits as it got up from its sleep, whining slowly.

"Let's go out of this place, darling, c'mon," she held its collar and carried in her arms, slowly walking out from the house leaving trails of her departure. Walking for about on e and a half hours now, she reached the barn, flashes of their first meeting obstructing her view as she slowly walked over and called for the janitor, "Can she stay in the same place for a few days, please?"

"Why not, Ishani? She can," he smile and paved way for the kennel as Ishani made her comfortable inside. Striding slowly towards the exit, she asked, "Er, do we have rooms for rentals in this place?"

"What happened, Miss? Is everything alright? What about RV's house?"

"Look sir, I don't have time to answer these questions. I have got some important work to do as well. So please, I need your help."

"Uh, okay. You have rental rooms for lesser margins near the Knolls Bay. It's around a kilometre from this place," he answered pensively as Ishani spoke, "Thank you so much, sir. But don't tell this to Ranveer. I beg you," she pleaded as he nodded in understanding, "That's a promise, Madame."

Smiling, she slowly walked towards the Knolls Bay, one of the hubs of the Valley as she now saw the Sleb Stream, one of the prominent rivers in the valley. That was the first time she caught a glimpse of the river as she now slowly treaded and stood beside the flowing brook. Keeping her baggage on the ground, she rested her legs, stretching them as they were now in contact with the ice-cold water. Shutting her eyes in pleasure, she hummed one of her favourite tunes before she felt a pang in her arm. She let out a frustrated gasp as she now saw her wound. It was almost dried up, she thought as her eyes now brimmed up again, flashes of the past three hours in front of her eyes.

"I know; what I did the other day was wrong. I shouldn't have done that without asking him. But when he was taking foolish business decisions, I cannot simply sit laid back, can I? But then, he thought otherwise. Sigh, I shouldn't have done that. And, and...I was also very angry that I scolded him back with harsh words. What if he was crying now? What if he has his nightmares or demons attacking him? How will I go and shield him?" she mumbled to herself as she felt her throat dry. Quickly catching hold of some fresh water from the rivulet as she drunk them like a person who hasn't had anything for eternity. Looking at the moon which reflected in the water, glimmering in the dull light, she spoke, "I have to save this guy from all his demons and I know, I have to meet the doctor for it."

Getting up slowly from the place, she took her baggage and tread towards the other side of the road, as she now saw the hoarding Seaylvie Lodging hung out. Sighing in exhaustion, she quickly got inside and booked a room for herself before keeping the bags in the lounge.

"Comment pouvons-nous vous aider vous, madame?" she heard the receptionist say whilst she looked at her baffled, trying to comprehend the words. After three minutes of trial, she conversed, "I need a room."

Understanding the situation, she smiled and said, "Sure ma'am. Peter," she called one of the staff, "Veuillez aider avoir sa chamber," looking at Ishani now, she breathed, "Ma'am, please fill in these details so that we can accommodate you inside. We'll have a complimentary breakfast at the caf every morning which will have a lavish buffet and a set of fresh drinks. For the noon and dinner, we'll have package coupons. Hoping that you'll have a good time, ma'am," finishing her monologue, she managed to fill in the details and leave for her room before she asked, "Where's the caf?"

"Straight and left, ma'am. Have a good time!" she gave her best smile before Ishani moved towards the caf.

She now looked at the time and the hoarding Tranquil Groove Cafeteria. It was 10 p.m. It wasn't an odd time to have dinner, she thought and went inside, her stomach growling in hunger. She had never felt so hungry in her entire life. But she had to do this for Ranveer. She had to look for a doctor tomorrow and she had to do this and she did not mind about her relationship being broken, too.

"Hello, Madame. How can I help you?"

"What's for the dinner?" she asked him slowly, slower than her usual self.

"Soups, Pretzels, Raviolis, Rolls, Toasts. What would you like to have, Madame?"

"One French onion soup and a cheese corn toast," she replied.

Thinking for some time, she asked him, "Do you mind giving me a bottle of wine?" She knew that she will really have to drink today to forget about all her worries.

"Sure, Madame," the waiter left with the order. Twenty minutes later, she ate her dinner like a fanatic food lover as she now got the packed bottle of wine. Paying him the tip and the bill, she departed for her room, laying down in tiredness, the bottle in her grasp.

"I don't have anyone beside me here. I can go and meet the doctor tomorrow and know about his problem." Ishani thought for herself and opened the bottle, drinking up half of the bottle in a gulp. She never knew that she was used to drinking wine. Getting up from her cot, she slowly walked towards the balcony and stood on the ridges of the wedge. Throwing her hands up in the sky, she looked at the moon and shouted, "Why did I do this?" She felt the air sultrier now and her grip on the ridges loosen, her knees now trembling out of fear.

There was an awkward silence in the entire surrounding as she now drunk the other half of the bottle, throwing them into pieces. Swallowing the remains, she mumbled, "Why did I make him angry to...day? I a...m st...upid," she got down from the ridges and fell on the ground, luckily the shards of the bottle lying on the other side of the balcony. Gazing at the stars quietly, she slowly stirred and slept in the same place, her heart scarred that she had made Ranveer feel bad.

The sun threw occasional beams on Ishani's face as she stirred again, trying to skip the morning. She didn't know why, but she wanted to sleep in the embrace of the Mother Earth and wished not to get up. But the chirps and morning squeaks of the birds and the glimmer of the Sun straight on her eyes made her feel disturbed as she now got up from the floor, her hand holding her head.

"Ouch!" she cried in pain as she now saw her wound. Thank God, the blood is not oozing out, she thought and looked around the place, the blurred images hiding the clear view.

"God, why did I drink so much? I have to do something really important today," she mumbled to herself and got up to check her phone. She saw the gleam on her phone screen which said Three missed calls from Ranveer.' She blinked thrice to check if it was for real and yes, it was. She was at least happy that he had called her, no matter about the situation. But she chose not to call him back as she had another important meeting today.

Quickly checking for the doctor's place, she called the staff of the clinic, "Hello Madame, how can we help you?"

"Pearl River Medical Centre?" she reassured the place's name when she heard from the other line, "Yes, ma'am."

"May I have an appointment with a psychiatrist, please?"

"Today?"

"Yes," she exhaled as the voice spoke, "Sorry ma'am. The appointments are fixed already and there's no slot left."

"But please, its urgent, Miss. Even half an hour would be suffice," she pleaded her as Ishani now heard, "Give me some time, ma'am."

She now waited on the line for the answer, hoping that the appointment would be finalized at the end; however late it might be, however far it might be. She just wanted to diagnose about his erratic behaviour and she was ready to anything for it.

"Ma'am, the clinic opens at 9 in the morning. The first appointment is at 10. So if you are free, you can take the first slot because that is the only time free."

"Sure, I'll be there at 9 sharp. Thank you so much, Miss."

-x-

Ishani had now arrived at the medical centre, waiting for the clinic to open. She checked the time from her watch. It was 8.55 a.m. She had come a few minutes early and she never cared. Her phone once again beeped ass eh checked the beam. It was him again. After constant thoughts between her mind and heart, she chose her mind this time. Refraining from attending the call, she now looked at the gatekeeper, who was opening the clinic. Quickly treading towards him she asked, "When is the doctor coming?"

"Five minutes, Madame. He'll be here."

"Thank you," she claimed one of the benches in the nearby park and waited for the doctor to arrive.

-x-

Ranveer now sat upon the couch, his hands clenched to his forehead, thinking of where would have Ishani gone. He might be angry at her, but losing her was something he never wished. Whatever might happen, he just hoped that nothing should have befallen her. Checking the phone frantically for every two minutes, he bit his nails in exertion as he found no heed from her. Getting up quickly from the couch, he moved to and fro before getting inside her room, opening all the drawers and desks like a lunatic, with full force. Frustrated, he claimed the floor now, his legs half bent as he now noticed the blood stain from a distance, in rotten dark red. He felt his eyes now brimming up when he slowly crawled through the floor to reach the other side of the room. Rubbing the bloodstain in a fit of rage and guilt, he shouted his lungs out, calling out for her name. Getting up from the floor, he felt a pang hit his heart as he now checked her cupboard hoping that he would at least find her photograph. He now clenched one of the drawers and pulled it hard to find a notebook, its pages in slackened form. Quickly taking it, he opened the notebook as it read, Falling Seeds. Gazing at the title for a few minutes, he tried to read the rest of the pages which had nothing but notes.

"What's this, now?" he thought; his grip on the notebook only going firmer.

"No, let me think about this later. I have to find her now," he changed his mind immediately before leaving the mansion in a newfound grit.

-x-

Walking over to the clinic now, Ishani got inside, her mind getting tensed with each step of hers as she saw herself standing outside the doctor's cabin.

"God, make the doctor say that he's fine. I cannot take his illness. Please!" she mumbled to herself before entering to the cabin.

"Excuse me, doctor," she said, more to herself as he let out a soft smile, asking her to sit down.

"Your name, Miss?"

"Ishani."

"Tell me, why was it so urgent?" he asked Ishani, his serene eyes meeting her tensed ones.

"Look, Miss. Share anything with me, I can handle your problem, trust me," he assured her looking at her slit in the arm as she now stuttered, "No, no. The problem is not with me. It's, it's," she fell silent, flashes of his demons attacking him stopping her from saying anything.

"Okay, cool yourself, please. Take two three breathes and then continue."

Ishani now did as directed by the doctor as she now narrated the entire incident which had been revolving around both of them for the past one month. Giving him Ranveer's diary now, she gave instances of various scenes as the doctor now listened to her carefully, his eyes and ears heeding the fullest attention to her. Having a full-fledged conversation with her for the next forty minutes, he asked, silently.

"Why didn't you call him to the clinic? It's something mandatory that the patient should be present during the diagnosis."

"Er, well...He is not here, sir."

"Look Miss, I can diagnose anything only if he comes. A personal conversation with the patient is a must. But I can tell you one thing, with cent percent assurance."

"What?"

"He is either suffering from Bipolar disorder or a Mood disorder. That's the only thing I can make out from all the details you've given me. Because, with the symptoms that you quote and I see from the patient's diary makes me think only of these two."

"Huh?" she let a gasp, the revelation shocking as the doctor now gave her back the diary, "Fix an appointment as soon as possible, Miss. It's something to have a look at."

"T-Th-Thank you, do-doctor," she now got up from the seat, her mind whirling around in succession. How will she go and face him now? How will he ever accept to come for the treatment? Nothing seemed to have an answer now as she turned back, her mind now completely blocked.

"Is it possible to do the treatment without the patient?" she turned towards the doctor with an instant as he saw her remote before answering.

"How's that possible?" he let out a gasp as she answered, "But doctor, I am afraid."

"Trust me, Miss. He'll be alright. Don't jump into conclusions even before the proper appointment."

She now nodded with a faded smile and turned around, leaving for her room. Making him understand and come for the appointment is going to be a task for her.

Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D:D