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Chapter-27
The sun peeped in sluggishly from the clouds, making its rays wide stretched and visible to everyone, calling it a lazy morning. Well, Sundays are bound to be lazy. And for Ranveer, it was definitely going to be the best day in the week. Tugging him inside the blanket and comforting him with another strewn pillow he grunted slothfully and bit his lip softly, coddling him into another round of sleep. He never knew why he felt so; wanting to sleep for hours and days together sometimes whilst the other days are always spent thinking about the next dawn. Devoid of any sort of catnap or rest. And he never wanted to. A few days it was just him, his own train of thoughts travelling in the air and the other times, it's him along with his fear- the demons he had been combating with. And when nothing would turn out as expected, he would shout as much as possible, even after knowing the fact that she was down, sleeping. He never cared. With a bout of ill treatments from the society, as he thinks so and uncanny events, he never cared for anything. It's been three days since he became twenty five in age but sometimes, it's as though everything had just started. Twenty five was an unlucky number for him, he knew that. None of the things have gone right so far in his life, associated with the number. Rare instances trouble him now in the form of memories- his mother left him on the twenty fifth of October, cutting all the ties with him; his father left him, away from everyone when he was back a kid and it was again, on a twenty fifth. Or the number could be seven, too. He had his first accident when he was seven, back in his father's sugar factory which was now closed, forever. But then, today he was thankful for everything and the only reason could be her. So many things have changed in the past two months, he thought and it was only because of her. He would even die to save her but would die only in her arms, even if it comes to save her.
"Ranveer!" he heard her voice reach the rooftop as he snapped his eyes open, drifting back to Earth after the protracted reverie of his own line of thoughts.
"Hmm," he gave her a sluggish murmur, waking up from his slumber, opening his eyes looking at the shimmering light at the loggia.
"It's Sunday today," he now heard her voice, the sing-song one as he felt her hands troubling his thick blanket, trying to confiscate it from his hold.
"I know," he pulled her towards him as she directly fell over the latter, her brown warped hair falling over his sleepy face. He gave her a goofy smile before mumbling, "A lazy Sunday and there's no one here."
"Today is the Ninth of August," she reminded him, as though he was going to remember everything in an instant.
"Don't tell me that you have planned for the wedding today. I had planned so much!" he wailed girlishly before she hit him on his face and scrapped with him playfully, muttering her favourite word to him. Idiot.
"Haw!" he gasped, not much shocked with the tag as she got up, doing away with his childish antics, "You've got a meeting to attend!"
"Of which investor?" he asked honestly, removing his blanket form him in question. She wondered if she could slap him for his for his earnestness. Sometimes, she felt if he was going overboard.
"Stop being crazy, Ranveer. It's Mr. Yvon."
"Yvon? Yvon who?" he asked silently, stretching his arms and legs sluggishly as she hit him once again making him cry in pain.
"Didn't I tell you that you were going to meet a person on the other day? You had promised me that you would meet him as soon as we came back and it's the 9th today and you are still doing it. Why are you so careless and irresponsible, Ranveer? You don't take care of your health, you don't have the required amount of sleep, you shout unnecessarily for no reason at the twilight when everyone would be in their deep slumber, you-"
Oh well. She knew that he would shout unnecessarily at times. Sigh.
"Two minutes and I'll be down," he quickly got up from his bed, running to the washroom as quickly as possible. It was better to stay in the shower rather than listen to your wife's or in his case, fiancée's words. He always wondered how she was able to talk without any hassle for a whopping twelve minutes. That was her personal best so far, as long as he has known her. And the twelve minute lecture happened just two days back for declaring his marriage publicly in front of his staff. Being called careless, idiotic, was all simple and easy for him now and if it was from her, he'd love to hear more. He was her puppy after all!
"Dr. Yvon?" Ishani asked him anticipating for an answer from him as the latter asked, "When are you two coming to the Leas, Miss?"
"Another half an hour should go, sir. Have you dressed the same way I had told you?" she bit her lip in tension as she heard the latter smile.
"I did, miss. And I'd be asking him to fill in a few hand-outs. There are around twenty questions, I guess. Will that be fine?"
"No problem, sir. But please make sure that he is alright and most importantly, don't disclose your identity."
"Never, miss. Take care and give me a call before you enter so that I can reach the place."
"Sure, sir, I'll leave a message," she hung up the call and looked at the surroundings in trepidation. Another few hours to go and she would know about his mental state. If there something which was right, it was definitely going to be nothing, in her case. Nothing was going right and she knew it. On the top of the whole shebang she has called over Nysa and she may visit the Valley any time after finishing the church work which was pending. She couldn't help but only live with the fear. The day Nysa comes to know about Ranveer's ill-health, she knew her connubial ties with him was going to be broken. Her life was going to be goners. She was going to be a goner if Nysa cancels the marriage. Ranveer will be an active corpse hanging over in the valley, in quest of the death to the God. She was ready to face everything. Anything for him.
Breakfast was a quiet affair for both of them with him asking her why she was petrified and troubled and her giving wild, long stares. He somehow agreed to himself that Ishani was no longer the quiet, innocent one. She had become a demanding woman, like any other and he couldn't help but only feel it hilarious. According to him, the demanding face didn't suit her and he did not know why.
"Are you coming or not, Ranveer? It's past eight already!" she munched the last piece of bread as he looked at her with a lazy scowl, trying to get away with the supposing interview with a medical student, as she had told him a few minutes back.
"Tell me why I should meet the student?" he folded his hands upto his chest, looking at her with the same, lazy look, his eyes' twinkle too being languid today.
"Look Ranveer, stop asking me silly questions. The guy is a student and he wants our help to finish his project! Why the hell can't you help him out?" she raised her voice slowly, getting up from the chair in a fit of anger, though she managed to meet his eyes while doing so.
"Hey," he caught hold of her grasp and whispered, "what's happening with you these days? Why are you always being angry for silly reasons?"
"Silly? Do you think its silly, Ranveer? Getting an appoint- I mean…well, chuck that," she muttered, clicking her tongue in a strong censure which didn't go unnoticed by him.
"Hey, what's wrong?" he made her sit beside him and rubbed circles over her shoulder, "Is anything serious?"
"It is," he heard her sniff as his tension grew up bit by bit, looking at her welled up eyes with a glare. He always hated that. He managed to scoot his arms over her shoulders, providing her with a warm, side hug as she felt the world dissolve slowly before her. She wished to be in the same hug for eternity and not live with the veracity. For her, the reality of life stung like the bees, sucking out the blood just like the latter sucks the honey. He scrubbed her tee shirt softly, as she let herself droop down upto his collar bone, clenching his chequered shirt tightly, pleading not to let go off her. Ranveer did nothing, but sat washed up, caressing her hair and shoulders, for a moral support. He did not know why she was behaving strange, according to him. All what he asked for was why he was supposed to meet the student and she is all cries. And he couldn't establish a relation between the two and he never minded too. But seeing her cry was something last on his list. That didn't do well and he couldn't help but only rub circles around her softly. After an infinitesimal amount of time, Ishani let go off his shirt and broke from the hug, her nose red just like her eyes. Ranveer looked at her gently as he felt his breathe crease, brushing against each other's nose smoothly, breathing her sniffs.
"Didn't I promise?" he said with his eyes closed, a truthful voice emanating from his embassy baritone, continuing to brush his nose against hers.
"I am scared that you would leave me," Ishani sniffed again, inhaling his oxygen as she felt him cup his cheeks softly, his nose not leaving hers.
"You're safe with me. I promise. And when you get scared, look me in the eyes, hold me a little tighter and smile," he whispered, his eyelids meeting with her wet ones and continued, "Because, I am not going anywhere." Ishani gave him a parched, drowsy look before he let go off her embrace unhurriedly, making sure that she wasn't distressed, again.
"You look desiccated," his hands made way to her dry lips as he winced at her condition, moving away from her at a leisurely pace to fetch a glass of water.
"Have this," he let his bigger hand to her with the glass as she gulped in half of the glass in a go, looking at him with her swollen eyes. Warm breathes came out from her nose as felt by him when she glugged the rest of the glass.
"Where should we go now?" he asked tenderly, handling the situation as a soft voice came out from her chords, "To the precinct of the Leas."
"Let's leave, c'mon," he gave her a half smile and let his left hand to her, the twisted band twinkling through her eyes with the tears as she caught hold of his stronger one with the maximum of grasps, holding him firmly, as he had told her.
The entire hour went silent, with him driving his Volvo slowly, the sound of the acceleration speeding up heard only once in ten minutes as they travelled along the Sleb Stream in the Knolls Bay, the sun iridescent at the river, shimmering its splendour. He curved the car slowly towards the left, making sure that his snoozing Ishani shouldn't be troubled and continued driving until he reached the Leas, the right precinct as she had told him.
The car came to a halt now, the wheels screeching as he pulled the brakes. Pulling his seat-belt he tilted to the right to look at a still sleeping Ishani. He wanted to call her but he wished not to disturb. He slowly moved forward, his hands stroking her hair gently as he heard her breathes snowballing at a rapid fashion, her brows crinkling in some fear that he wasn't able to fathom. He heard her heart beats thumping in rapidity amidst all the air blustered against them, as he felt a toting panic inside him; his face turning insipid looking at her face.
"Ishani," his voice shuddered, shaking her upper arm slightly as he saw the wetness along her face; her façade still whirling to and fro, her eyes crinkled now. A pang hit his heart as he called her name again, his voice rising in tension. Never had he ever seen her getting scared and today was unexpected. He didn't know why she was scared since morning and she was still getting awake from her apparent sleep. The next five minutes were spent only calling out her name, wailing in strain and dread as her phone buzzed. It was Yvon as the beam read. He gawked at it silently and gazed back at her, whose eyes never opened from the slumber. Picking up the phone hastily, he heard him say, "Are you guys here?"
"Yeah, we are," he replied dully as the latter stuttered, "so I am wearing a sports tee and a jean, if you can see me."
"I'll be there," he hung up the call right away looking at her silently.
"Will you stay safe?" he whispered to her ear as though she was going to hear it. His lips quivered as he parked his car to a shadier place, tucking her safely inside.
He kissed her forehead before moving towards the precinct of the Leas, searching for the jean and tee. He wished that the interview goes on smooth and quick. She was left behind alone and his heart did not take it. He can never take it.
Question-1:
Have you had episodes of clinical depression - involving a period of at least 2 weeks where you were significantly depressed and unable to work or only able to work with difficulty - and had at least 4 of the following:
Ø Loss of interest and pleasure in most things
Ø Appetite or weight change
Ø Sleep disturbance
Ø Physical slowing or agitation
Ø Fatigue or low energy
Ø Feeling hopeless and helpless
Ø Poor concentration
Ø Suicidal thoughts
If yes, proceed.
Question 2:
Do you have times when your mood 'cycles', that is, do you experience 'ups' as well as depressive episodes?
If yes, proceed.
Question 3:
During the 'ups' do you feel more 'weird' and 'hyper' than you would experience during times of normal happiness?
If yes, proceed.
Please complete the checklist below, rating the extent to which each item applies to you during such 'up' times as following:
HEADER
USUAL
SOMEWHAT USUAL
MORE THAN USUAL
1.
Feel more confident and capable
2.
See things in a new and exciting light
3.
Become over-involved in new plans and projects
4.
Spend, or wish to spend, significant amounts of money
5.
Notice lots of coincidences occurring
6.
Note that your senses are heightened and your emotions intensified
7.
Work harder, being much more motivated
8.
Say quite outrageous things
9.
Feel 'high as a kite', elated, ecstatic and 'the best ever'
10.
Feel irritated
11.
Feel quite carefree, not worried about anything
12.
Have much increased interest in sex (whether thoughts and/or actions)
13.
Feel very impatient with people
14.
Sleep less and not feel tired
15.
Feel angry
16.
Have quite mystical experiences
17.
Sleep more and still tired
18.
Increased addiction to alcohol
Top of Form
Done! Simple, right?
Thank you!
Name: _
Place: _
Ranveer filled the details and gave it back to Yvon, gritting his teeth in irritation which wasn't noticed by the latter who was busy examining the hand-out received back from him. He read each answer of his keenly, the azure eyes of his sauntering around the paper.
"So you feel irritated sometimes?" he asked, tilting back to his original posture.
"Yes," he replied in the same approach which the doctor had just asked.
"How do you feel now? Low, happy, thrilled, irritated, gloomy, nauseated?"
"Irritated." Ranveer gave the second a bland answer, his eyes not meeting the latter's.
"Why?"
"Don't know…just. I am afraid, actually." His mood changed within a fraction as the doctor gauged at his mood levels, sieving through the hand-out.
"Afraid, why?"
"Ishani…well, my fiancée," he bragged looking at his platinum band gifted by her and continued, "she's unwell. So…"
"Okay. So here we go to the next question. He tried to keep the consultation as smooth as possible without giving even the slightest of hints that he was his doctor. Son, please answer honestly, that is necessary in this meeting."
"Excuse me?" he cocked his eyebrow, "What did you just say? Son? I am older than you, chap."
"Er, I am…well, sorry sir. But this is necessary."
"Five minutes," he signed him with his fingers, showing the five of them.
"Suffice. More than suffice," he grinned. "So do you have the alcohol addiction?"
"I don't know if its addiction, but yeah. I drink…once, twice, thrice sometimes even more."
"In a month?"
"Nah, in a week," he winked at him and hit him on his shoulder which made the latter wince slightly in pain.
"Oh," he looked at his actions carefully and asked the next question, carefully. "Do you feel very high or very low?"
"Most of the times, I feel low. There are swings, you see.."
"And how are you feeling now?"
"Moderate, if you ask me. I was okay all while until I saw Ishani in the morning. She is scared since the first light. Don't know what's wrong with her."
"Okay. So now a few more questions."
"Hey, please stop this!" his voice rose as he got up from the bench stiffly which made Yvon shudder in reflex.
"You asked me to come for your effing project and I did. What kind of thesis do you have to submit? I'll help you. But not today. It's been fifteen minutes and you're not leaving me! Ishani is not oaky and I have to take care of her, dammit!"
"Okay, okay. Cool down. Just two more questions, please sit, sir."
Ranveer sat down in disgust as he heard Yvon say, "So you have an interest towards sex more than usual, right?" He looked at the sheet once again to check if he asked the question right.
"Yeah," he mumbled whilst Yvon let his next question, "Thoughts or actions?"
"Thoughts, as of now. Only thoughts, yeah. I don't loiter with girls uselessly though I want to spend some quality time with the one I love."
"Oh, okay. Now the last question." Ranveer nodded as the latter continued.
"Mystical experiences?"
"As in?"
"Like, have you ever seen someone before you, threatening you and which can't be seen by others? Have…have you?"
Ranveer's tension grew once again as he had the usual flashes of him and his demons, forming in different shapes and fading out within seconds, sometimes hours. His pulse grew exorbitantly as he sealed his lips in agony that he is used to.
"Sir," he never forgot to call him by it again, "Are you okay?"
"no, no, no," he scowled, "Please don't ask about them!"
"So you did have them?"
"Yes, but don't ask about it, please! I am leaving," he ran through the exit of the precinct, leaving the Leas in an instant, the flashes not leaving him, as he now jogged to the parking to see twenty people crowding his car as his heart skipped a beat. His feet came to a standstill as he realized that his heart was thumping at a faster rate than usual. God, the boy cannot take too many shocks and surprises at a single moment.
"Hey," he hit a man, far away from gentle as the latter winced in pain, whimpering, "Ouch, why did you hit me?"
"Why the heck are you looking at my car?" his eyes reflected a fury, the chocolate ones turning into red as he grit his teeth once again, "I asked why!"
"I-I don't know. I just saw people standing here and I just…just stood, that is it," the guy let go off Ranveer's clutch and ran away, saving his life from him as the latter now stomped to the car, shouting at the rest of them.
"Get out all of you, Get the hell outta here! I don't want anyone to be near her, please get away!" he shooed everyone from the place, his Adam's apple moving to and fro as he shouted, his voice screeching like an engine not lubricated as he saw everyone leave simultaneously. His hands were now holding her face as he stood by his knees, waking an unconscious Ishani, according to him.
"Ishani," he slapped thrice on her right cheek, hard and harder each time as he felt her eyes move. His heart had a satiated relief though it hadn't stopped beating faster from usual. He cared for her, he knew. But why is his heart thumping so fast when she was not opening her lids? Why is his fist sized organ not trying to lose her? Why can't his heart take when she is hurt? Why is his heart bleeding when he finds her in such a painful condition? He didn't know why, but an excruciating pain was felt by him, the blood oozing out from his shirt uselessly, as he quickly grasped his shirt, to check if he was really bleeding. No, he was not.
His eyes once again drifted back towards Ishani who was slowly opening her eyes as he saw her only to witness her eyes red, the tears flowing like the blood dribbling down.
"I-Ishani," he gasped, "-are you okay? Why weren't you getting up? What's wrong? Tell me!" he begged, his hands cupping her cheeks passionately, whilst tears rolled down from his eyes too, the paleness in his face ebbing away but Ishani's just front slid, as he glanced at her pale façade, sweat spots seen over.
He felt her pushing him away from her as he fell on the ground, his knees dropping the balance as she blenched loud, "Blood! There's blood!" she looked at her hands and legs in impulse, her breathe complex as he stood back, opening the door of the car, sitting on the driver's seat.
After a three minute protest Ishani and his hands were trying to get in contact with the former's eyes and cheeks, he managed to pull her face with his hands and held her tightly, whispering, a bit louder than usual.
"There's no blood here, candy!"
"No, I know, there is! The blood is trickling over my hands, do you see it? And look at you, you are bleeding, let's go the hospital now, you need treatment. I need to save your life, at any cost. I cannot leave you as it is, can I? I cannot let you die under the sun, can I? I am your wife and saving you is the most important thing. People are like this Ranveer. Look what have they done! Don't-Don't wince! I am here and I'll save you, okay?" she mumbled the words incoherently, tears gushing from her eyes till her lips, dribble impending out from her orifice, as they stuck out from her lips which were quivering.
He held her closer and shouted at her, making her realise what had happened, "Honey! There is nothing! You have just lived another nightmare, that is it!: he shook her hard, making her come back from her long reverie as she stared in silence for the next few minutes, her lips still quivering. She slowly took her hands and held his cheek quietly, rubbing it tenderly as she muttered, "You're okay?"
"I am," his hands were now holding her face tightly, as he heard her mumble, "I-I cannot believe, no, no. I saw—"
He took her hand swiftly and placed it over his torso, making her hear his heartbeats. Ishani gave a dazed look before she cried again, "But you don't know. It was such a bad accident, you never…no, you'll never know."
"Baby c'mon. My heartbeat is perfect, did you hear? Okay, come forward," he let her hug him as her ear was over his torso now, her hearing his blood pumping at a rapid pace.
"Did you hear?" he whispered lightly to her ear as she moaned softly, tugging him closer, cuddling him with sensitivity, her nails clenching his shirt tightly. His hands travelled to her back, hugging her tightly, providing with all the warmth and affection as he kissed her hair softly.
"I want to just be in your arms, Ranveer, don't go away," her voice came out, a stifled one as he gave back the response in the same fashion, "You can, but now, let's get back home, you need rest." Ishani slowly got up, her hair wedged along with his stubble, as her gaze locked with his who was already looking at her. They didn't know why, but there was something magical they found in each other's eyes, each and every time. The lock enlaced with a passion and an appetite to savour each other's body and soul.
Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D :D