THRILLS - 1 _ PATIENT(s)

PATIENT(s)

"Hello... Dr. Jacob speaking..."

"Hi Doctor, I'm Neeraj. I had called you a few days before''

'' Oh Yeah!!! Neeraj. How are you?"

'' Fine, Doctor...''

''Tell me Neeraj...''

'' Doctor, I wanted to know if I could get an appointment today?!''

'' Today... Yea... I'm free today after 6PM. You can come after that''

'' Thank you, doctor...''

'' Do you want to start the session? Or is this a pre-consulting meet?''

''I need to talk to you... Maybe we can start the session if you insist!''

''OK Neeraj, We will talk. Please come down''

''Sure Doc, see you''

The phone went off. One more patient into the list!!!

This was the third telephonic encounter with Neeraj; a fathomable case of paranoid schizophrenia. His words had a well-organized path of communication with a stint of intrigue. For a schizo; Neeraj was way too matured to be comprehending and aware of his condition. Moreover, the delusional representation was a human character; which had been a friendly phantasm to this guy. Generally, or at least in cases which I had referred to and dealt; the paranoid schizos had a gibberish line of delusions; with characters from the past; from their perused imaginations. Their mind would be projecting multiple characters and they wouldn't be friendly to their host.

Neeraj's case was different. He had a friendly parasite which had kidnapped his normality; and to my fear, he had developed a Stockholm syndrome towards his abductor. It would be challenging to make him believe that this is not a boon to him from destiny; rather a deteriorating mental syndrome; which could lead his sanity into a naught...

I was happy; above all of this. Being a fresher medic in psychology on a comparative scale; and having endured multiple changing of consulting centers, there was a dip in my career graph... I always needed a breakthrough to project myself in the psychiatrist's world; Neeraj was a good prospect to my strive... I took a general therapy book on Paranoid Schizophrenia; not to read but to keep my focus on the case I was going to deal with. And the name reverberated inside my head;

John...

Neeraj's delusional companion. The confidence of Neeraj speaking the name ought to be my starting point. A phantasmal affinity towards John was evident from Neeraj and unsurprisingly common for a schizophrenic... Time for a psychiatric execution!!! I was confident...

The sharp sound of the phone's ringtone woke me up from a deep siesta. I felt like a hammer shot on my head. The sodium fluorescence from the lamps above the couch on which I was lying; gave a pungent stroke into my eyes. Giving it a few seconds; I found stability to realize that it was already 7PM. I feared if Neeraj had come and at left, at no response at the doors. I rubbed my eyes, pandiculated to ooze blood into the limbs, and sobered back to the reality. Probably towards the last ring of that call, I reached towards my phone which was lying flat over the teapoy... Might be the taints of dizziness left within me; the phone slipped out of my hands and slid beneath the couch.

Damn!!!

The phone stopped its sound and light as soon as it hit the floor. A glimpse of the screen showed the caller's name; Sreekumar. He was a friend of mine and a Police Officer. I came to know him through my close friend; Bharathan; who was also in the Police Force. I slowly squatted and bent myself to find my phone under the couch. I could spot the phone; probably out of its working power; lying at an awkward corner. I might have to hug the floor and then stretch my hands to the full to grab it. The inertia from sleep and the stiffness of my muscles were holding me back, giving hardly any urge to overcome the state of rest. At last, when I finally got my touch on the phone, like a thunder, the doorbell rang. The sound startled me giving an involuntarily shake to my body; and pushing the phone farther away from my reach. I could feel a faint pain on my backhead; probably due to the secured hit resulting from my body shake.

What a mess!!!

But I was eager to answer the doorbell. Neeraj was finally here. And yes!!! I hunched it right... Through the uncovered window panes, I could see two genial eyes looking at me with a closed Chelsea Grin. Probably, John was also looking at me (smirks!!)

"Hello, Neeraj!!! Finally, we meet !!"

I leaned forward to hug Neeraj, but he moved back as he was drenched in rain...

"Oh!! Was it raining? I didn't notice at all!!!"

"Yea... It has been there, non-stop. I waited for long to see it stop, but it never did. Were you sleeping? Doctor?"

"Please come in, Neeraj... And call me Jacob... That is comfortable..."

"OK..."

I went to my room to grab a towel for Neeraj.

"Is your friend also with you?"

''I came alone.. in my two-wheeler"

I realized Neeraj didn't understand my pun, intended...

"Oh!!! Did you refer to... Yea, He is with me..."

Damn!! That was a mild shocker to me!! He did realize and the reply is not as expected.

''He is here? Great!! Can he hear me?''

"Why not... He can... In Fact, he hates you as you are going to treat me against his favour.."

I could only give an obnoxious smile as a reply to Neeraj. He seemed to be so homely attached to his ghastly delusion. Completely Stockholm!!! Lot of work to do...

"Coffee?"

"... Tea... I will have tea"

"OK, then let's have black tea..."

" Yea, that is fine. If a tinge of lemon is available, then it would be great!!"

This guy seems to be a jovial smart ass. What was he doing here, with a mediocre person like me?? Hope his problem is not as smart as him.

I took a poise to study the mannerisms of an unattended Neeraj, while the tea was getting prepared. He was sitting in the dining room. He was reading a magazine and was mono-sensed at that poise. No signs of a John presence in his maneuvers. The stove was in its sim position. I needed time and probably a moment to see his involuntary reaction towards John... I waited and waited... and waited...

The water had dried a bit and i was forced to reduce my cup of tea into a half, but Neeraj didn't give up to my surveillance. He kept on reading the magazine...

"Tea.."

"Thanks, Do... I mean, Jacob!!"

''... Are you staying alone ?"

"Yea... I'm working here, in the city. My parents are settled in Chennai"

"So, you are Tamil?"

"No. I'm a Malayalee. But settled in Chennai since I was 10..."

"You're in Kochi since..?"

"3 years..."

''... OK... Are you a bachelor?"

'' Yes..."

"And friends and acquaintances... Or a ... Girlfriend??"

"I have few colleagues in my office. But my buddies are all in Chennai... It is more or less a solitary life in Kochi... And no girlfriend, at least nothing live for the moment"

So that could be it. A solitary mind seeking company. And the aid comes from within...

"Where do you work?"

"QMantra... A networking hardware company"

"OK... Do you feel any problems in socializing with people?"

".... I didn't get you"

''Like, why are you staying alone? You are leading a bachelor life!!! You had a choice of staying with friends. Why did you opt for a stay all by yourself?"

Neeraj kept the cup of tea, half drunk, on the table. He took a breath, probably doing an introspection before opening up...

"I was staying with my Uncle and Aunt at Palarivattom (a commercial space in Kochi) when I joined my company here. I stayed there for 1 year. When my cousin got married, and when the family strength got increased; I changed my place..."

Now that is convincing... And nothing to be suspected in the story.

"While taking a new home; you could have sought company from your circles... I know, your friends are in Chennai; still, people from your job circle are fair enough to share an apartment right?"

Neeraj was silent for some time. The introspective breaks from his side were intriguing and nervy.

"... I shifted to an apartment, thinking of getting a suitable roommate, in a while. But didn't get one... Until..."

John... I completed his sentence in my mind. I wanted to clear one more permute before I dissect his tryst with John.

"Neeraj, did you have any relationships in Kochi? I mean, an affair?"

..............

Oh my God!!! another spree of silence!!! This is truly unpleasant. I was not taking his interview for a job change. What was he thinking? I needed a YES or NO!!!

"Neeraj, please reply to me quickly-"

He cut me abrupt in between showing his hand to stop!!! Another shocker to me in the night... Was he ??? Really ???

HE WAS CONVERSING WITH JOHN!!!

"..... Neeraj....... Neeraj?"

No response... This is getting interesting. I am seeing a schizo who is not feared of his condition, but diligently breathing through the delusion. He is not even willing to get help from me!!! What am I doing here???

Patience... The first lesson taught in my graduation; the most subjective boon one can acquire in his life. I was searching for that... I pretended my best to be in the stance...

After a 3-minute silence; or rather a demeanor of silence; Neeraj spoke;

"I happen to be in a relationship with a girl in my college. I continued the relation, while I was working here. Last year, she got married to someone from a similar race of her's. I did try to convince her and my parents. But in vain. A common pre-marital affair of a young Indian male..."

I didn't speak a word. I wanted to show my distaste on his lack of courtesy... I took the tea-cups and walked to the kitchen. While washing them, I squinted to see if he was realizing the discourtesy. He regained his Magazine perusal...

I was angst. Totally displeased with the new patient. It was a mockery. I should have done a detailed study on the cases of Schizophrenia; mocking could be an idiosyncratic feature... Anyways, I should be a professional now. Smarter... and adept... I gulped a mouthful of water and walked back slowly towards Neeraj...

"... Neeraj, what was her name?"

"... Jon-... Sorry, whose name? Of my ex-affair? Nihaala"

"A Muslim?"

" Mm-hmm"

"Who is the other name? Which you were going to speak?"

Silence.......

I kept looking at his face impregnating into his mind that I demanded an answer... He peeked at me; skewing his cornea into the uppermost right corner of his eye... I was abstinent...

"I was saying the name of my friend... Who is with me..."

"Why is the look in your face shouting at me that you are telling a lie???"

His facials accentuated my hunch. He was lying... Now it was time to show my disgust. I stood up and walked across the room in a medium pace, with my hands tied behind. My to and fro promenade evidently gave restless chills to Neeraj. He careened his head towards my walking direction, without making eye contact. I could see sweat beads on his forehead; with his fingers waiting to get knuckled. The pressure was building up inside him. It was necessary to take out the coziness within his head to cure his delusion. You cannot allow someone to be stable in his schizophrenic world; unless he doesn't want to lead a social life...

I allowed the pressure to soar. I wanted his vocal cords to be in real-time, and resonant to his thoughts. He would speak up the real problem and the aid required from me... And more than him, I wanted to know that... And my stress therapy worked; He spoke...

"Doctor... I want to talk to you something...."

He looked at me for concurrence...

"Tell me..."

"I want to share my friend's problems with you..."

"John's?"

"Yes... He had been seeking help from me for a long time... I want to do that for him. And I need your aid..."

I nodded. Neeraj switched back to his paranoia for a second and then started to talk about his friend...

"He came to my apartment on a Sunday night... A few months after Nihaala's marriage..."

I remained emotionless...

"I had no incline to superstitions and stuffs like after-life. I am God-fearing in my deeds, but not a blind believer. But his intervention in my life had disturbed by principles... He came to me, dressed like a delivery boy. a black shirt, rugged jeans, with the very common multi-color hat. When I told him that I had not ordered for anything, he made me believe that the parcel; essentially a sealed envelope having some gibberish in the credential's space, was addressed to me from their courier service. There was no invoice, and my address on the cover was half-baked. When I was inspecting the package, he left in haste in the elevator. When I opened the package, it had a letter and was written by him;

'Hi...

I need your help... I'm lost... And somehow I'm not being noticed by people... If you are reading this letter, it means you can see and hear me... Need help...

Thanks...'

This was the content of the letter, not the exact words, but this was the gist... "

It was time for me to react;

"Do you have the letter with you?"

"I have it. It is at my home..."

"OK... Did you happen to share this information with anyone? With your friends or neighbors?"

"Yes!! As soon as I read this letter, I opened the door to see if he had left the place. I was somehow mentally affixed that he was a fraudster, and was acting a decoy... But he had left the place. I showed the letter to the watchman and to the people who were present at the gates of the apartment. But they never saw a delivery boy passing by them across the gates... The watchman searched the premises and the CCTV footage. He was nowhere seen..."

I listened to him, parallelly looking for a paranoid activity, in-between the narrative...

"The incident had shaken me a little, at least the thought that why would a fraudster resort to such a weird modus to probably rob my place... I was also amused by the fact that he escaped from all CCTV angles in his advent. Or was he...?

Things were strictly common in the next days, my repertoire office work, maneuvering the traffic, cooking my own food... The stuff normalized my mind... until he came to me, again...

I was having a coffee sip with one of my colleagues in the smoking zone of my workplace. I saw him coming towards me; from a fathomable distance; but didn't show my recognition in the facials. He came and stood near me, without uttering a word. he kept looking at me, in and out; only to see if my eyes met his, and whenever it met, he smiled cordially... I left the place without giving a bother. But the night awaited me with the same procedure of him coming as a delivery boy and giving the sealed envelope!!! I shouted at him in sheer derogatory accent, that the whole floor opened their doors to see the chaos... I was shocked!!!........"

I guessed it but waited for his elucidation...

"An elderly neighbor came towards me and enquired... When I told him, 'this man was making me crazy with this envelope'... He skimmed through the envelope asking a question which left me in awe!

'Which person?'

I looked at the person of concern with my eyes popping out. But he was sober as if this had happened many times with him. Before uncle could read the note, I snatched it from him; blabbered a silly, plausible lie and closed the door... The realization plummeted in its most blatant manner, he was speaking the truth... The mental chaos was more than something I could handle...

I didn't go to the office for the next two days. Sanity was missing in my thoughts. Most of the time, I spent my time in bed. I ordered for food; the only time I opened my apartment door. And each time, I could see him; waiting at the corner, where the stairs of my floor end. He smiled at me, probably hoping for a positive response. I didn't budge from my conscience. The two days of idleness induced a thought within me... 

What does he want from me?

I gave it a number of thoughts to finalize on the decision to give him a chance. After all, he didn't do any harm to me. Even if, the total farce was some kind of an apparition, he happened to be a courteous one. I was affirmative; or rather didn't find an alternative..."

I stood up to get some water; automatically stopping Neeraj's narration. I was parallelly introspecting his story-so-far. Well, he was an individual of taste. He had a good imaginative power. Schizos to an extent find it difficult to find logic in their condition, but Neeraj was content and stable. He had a well-educated brain, capable of finding logic in the commotion. Also, he must have a palpable inclination towards reading novels of the Agatha genre. Or rather, he must be a Cinemaholic. Some interesting video content from the arthouse world or the Netflix World should have influenced his lonely life. Some character from these movies would have invested in his idle time. In a busy day-to-day corporate life, the present working generation is likely to bestow themselves on this online stuff... And, social media also plays a vital part in publicizing these contents, irrespective of being a connoisseur of their moral values. An instance would be a series of teenage suicide attempts in Trump-owned America, after watching the protagonist of a highly acclaimed home-video, who resorted to suicide against the mental depressions faced in her life...

It was 9PM. I wanted to close the session. Even though I had saved enough leads, in Neeraj's view, nothing had really been done in the sitting. I wanted to make sure he would come back for a follow-up before we parted for the day.

"Neeraj, I am going to order dinner. Would you like to have something?"

"Sure!"

That was unexpected. I thought he would refuse! And it also indicated that he wanted to stay for more time. Sometimes you get such unpleasant perks of being a doctor...

"Let's have a working dinner. I would like to talk a bit more for the day..."

Neeraj probably read the displeasure on my facials... Shucks!!! A doctor should be always ready for his patient. And here, it was patient(s)...

We ordered for a heavy dinner. The exhaustion from the session was demanding it. In 10 mins, the delivery boy brought the hot food. Neeraj was annoyingly persistent to pay the bill. Even if I paid, I would have charged that in my fee. And his courtesy was extended in unpacking and serving the complete food package and preparing a fresh, sweet lemonade for me. While we had the food, Neeraj continued his avowal; 

"He was working as a caretaker in a residential apartment at Vallathol Nagar. Though, based in Kottayam, his family had shifted to Kochi when he was 6 years old, in search of a livelihood. The emerging smart city gave a lot of unversed job opportunities to his father and mother; in construction, housekeeping, janitorship in schools, colleges, and commercial spaces. Both of them managed to send their children to govt. school; Oh Yeah! he has a sister.

When he was studying in 9th, a mishap occurred in his family, when his father was killed in the stampede that took place in Sabarimala. Though his father was a Christian, he visited the temple every year with his working colleagues. The family received a death compensation of 5 lacs, but the shocking news left his mother to derail from her sanity. She had a history of mental disturbances, and after the incident, she became completely silent and asocial from her previous life. My friend had to stop his schooling and get into working shoes, to take care of the survived family. With the compensation money, he opened a small confectionery shop. With the help of his sister and the presence of his mother, he served hot chai and snacks to the working class of the emerging city. In the off-time, he would work as a paperboy, a car-washer, a janitor, and what not!!!"

I sipped a quarter of the glass of lemonade to quell the spice in the food. Also indicating Neeraj to increase the pace of the story.

"He joined the janitor crew in the apartment after his mother was substantially capable of running the shop on her own. His sister continued her education. A consultancy managed the janitorship for the apartment franchise, and he managed to get a job near his house. He opted for night-shift, as he can help to get the necessary stock for his shop, and also help his mother in setting up the same. Life was getting stabilized slowly for him, when...''

Finally... The crux is here. The spice in the food was probably at a higher side. My stomach was crumbling with a slight ache. The inner tongue was also enjoying the tinge of spice. But I didn't want to break him now;

"What happened?''

''The apartment was inhabited by prominent personalities of the society. It had realtors, builders, retired business magnates, councilors, higher ranked police officials, Chief Execs of technology giants and so on. It was plush, with facilities ranging from kindergarten to VR gyms. Inside the premises, there was an indoor stadium, spaces for basketball and volleyball; and a party-hall. All internal functions of the residents were celebrated there, and the whole clan gathered in the hall; mainly to show-off their attires and affiliates. In previous summer, a birthday celebration was held there; on a Friday night. All janitors and caretakers were also invited to the party, they might continue their housekeeping job, and have food and drinks. It was a grand function; birthday of a big shot's one-and-only daughter. Her 13th birthday. Every year her birthday was celebrated in grandeur. Outsiders; friends of her father and their families also joined the celebration. 

He was in food service that night; at the buffet corner, as well as in taking food parcels to old people and mothers having neonates and babies, who had difficulties in attending the night party. After the usual cake-cutting-ceremony and the dramatic string of birthday wishes, the professional DJ party kick-started. Elders boozed, women chattered, and children played between the mash-ups... All were care-free; moonlighting from their busy life; living the joy to the fullest; forgetting their surroundings and baggage...''

He had a fire in his eyes and was looking into mine with an eerie conviction.

''When DJ got over, most people had completed their dinner and batteries. It was time for the in-house performances; rhymes, Group performances, and solos of children and elders of the apartment. The coordinator called out names of the performers and one-by-one came to the pedestal to sing or dance. Towards the end, it was the birthday girl's turn to come on the stage... The coordinator; boasting a long prelude, called out her name-''

"Can you pass the AC remote... in the spoon stand. The food was so spicy, I'm sweating badly...''

He intensified stare on me, controlling his displeasure on my interruption. Without a budge in the eye-contact, he got the remote from the stand and gave it to me... I pressed buttons in the remote directing towards the AC, the AC remained silent. I refrained and signaled him to move on;

"... She was not there. She didn't show up when the name was called. Her mom; who was busy with her friends, started calling out her name. Others also joined her in a jiffy. The hall echoed the name... and only the name... Aviii!!! Aviiii!!! Aviii!!!.... Avantika..."

The name brought a huge boulder of weight in my abdomen. The slight jerk in my poise was welcomed by Neeraj; with an evil smile. He had explained the agenda of his visit in that smile... I couldn't control the shiver of the shock to his smile...

"... Avantika... Daughter of Mr. Akhilesh IPS, colleague and best friend of your long known friend; Bharathan. A small-term patient of yours for general depression. Do you remember him? Do you still remember his daughter? Avi?"

I didn't budge... Rather, felt too heavy to budge. The fire in his eyes and the freeze in his words turmoiled my senses. I was feeling dizzy. Sweating at an irregular pace. I didn't speak a word or did anything stupid. I knew he was determined...

"Mahalakshmi Iyer, age 86; who didn't want to miss her daily soaps in the TV, called for food from the party to her room. The pure Veg. parcel was brought to her by my friend. He served it in the plates for her, filled a glass of mildly hot water and set her dinner ready. When he left the room and moved towards the elevator; he happened to hear a mumbling lament; born out of fear and pain; emanating from a room, whose door was slightly ajar... 

A poor soul had been brutally raped... She was suffering a severe genital bleed in front of his eyes. He repelled his face from that vignette, but the muffled mourn was seeking help. His heart broke, when he realized the face... Avi... Avantika... And that was the bday present for her; from her very own 'doctor uncle'; the famous... Dr. Jacob!!!"

I remained silent, unfazed, and stern. I had expected that...

"He was a pure soul. He didn't hesitate to enter the crime scene. He grabbed her from the bloody floor and carefully took her to the bed. Then he ran into the kitchen to grab a glass of water. When he poured water into her mouth; she vomited it out as blood!!! He was shivering in frenzy but again poured water. In that attempt, she could finally have some water... He saw her gratitude in those blood-red eyes, and it closed for one last time... to rest in peace..."

My throat was piquant with enzymes. Something was brewing inside me. A peculiar cough had engulfed my stature. I was coughing for multiple times and at one last cough, I felt a dollop of liquid gliding across my throat. I had to vomit it... And it was blood!!! Neeraj widened his cheeks. Now the smile had gone wider... and evil...

"He couldn't move. Her last breath was hovering around him. His tears were flowing without a stop. When death arrived, he was there with her. Even though he gave her the last relief... the two drops of water; at that moment, and he felt guilty and sinned. It was the remorse that he couldn't save her. Do you understand that feeling, doctor? You won't!!! That is meant for humans, for those who understand humanity... And you are a ruthless beast!!!"

I coughed more and more blood. I realized it. The sweetness in the lemonade was not sugar, It was my death tonic...

"When you have an experienced law enforcer beside, and a reputed profession to cover, you can easily frame a 22-year-old Janitor as the culprit in raping and murdering a teenage girl. Unfortunately, that is the trend in our country!!! The great Bharathan can easily fabricate circumstantial shreds of evidence and reword the CCTV footage as he wished, to protect his bosom buddy. My friend died in jail, getting attacked by the inmates; for them, he was a rapist who killed a small girl... And your police friends again embellished it as a suicide!!! Doctor... he would never suicide... Because his mother and his sister never believed he would do such a deed... And he just needed that trust to live his entire life in the prison..."

I had reached into some stability after a series of pukes and coughs. I knew I didn't have much time. My legs had already gone numb...

"What did you gain, doctor? Pleasure??? Or fulfillment?? You would have got that in a brothel!!! You're a maniac!! A sick pedophile!!! Your friend; Avi's father... killed himself after a week of her death. Her mother is bed-ridden for months; awaiting her turn... What in the world did you gain???"

For the first time since he started his narration, I reacted to him... I laughed... I laughed, pushing my limits to hold my cracked throat in one piece. I was cringing in pain, with blood oozing out like water... But I kept laughing...

"Shut up!!!''

I looked at his eyes with a smile of confidence. It was discomforting him like anything. Probably the last weapon of mine against my slayer before death

"So you're friend's name spells J-O-N. Not J-O-H-N... Short of Jonathan..."

I could see his clenching teeth and tightening veins. But he was relentless.

"Angel Mariam... Remember???"

The name triggered more blood out of my mouth... I could see a good amount of groundwork done by the host and the parasite... The poison had turmoiled my innards. My eyesight had gone vague and colorless. I was only feeling my throat in the body, which was bleeding. Rest, everything was cold... numb... dead...

"You had been tried for a very small stint for sexual harassment against her. And more women came into her support, asserting her claims against you. The news came in a few newspapers, and also only for once... Your Police friend would have intervened; as always. And he settled it and destroyed the FIR against you... And who knows!!! There could be many others who were preyed by your cure...

Before coming to you; I met your all-time partner-in-crime. You are soon going to join him..."

He stood up from his squatting position.

Now my friend can rest in peace !!! I have avenged for his salvation...

Good Bye Doc!!! I hope you rot to death; as you deserved!!!"

He tightened the transparent gloves in his hands. Something which I noticed very late. I looked at his feet, and I could see a coated layer over them. He had eaten the food within the foil in which it was parcelled. He had carefully washed the cups and the tablespoons which he had used... A smart bloke. But not enough!!!

He took a final look at the whole surroundings; gave me a victorious, sinister smile and started to leave the place, when I---

"Neeraj!!! I might need a minute..."

...............................................

He was taken aback for a moment in surprise. An unexpected intervention to spoil his glorified walk. He turned slowly trying hard to hide his anxious facials...

I waited; looking at his face, enjoying his dazed expressions!!!! Aahh!! My final moments of joy!!!

"Joneeta, right???"

"What???"

"Jonathan's sister... Her name is Joneeta, right?"

The bulging eyes and shrinking neck was accompanying his silence. Hell of a sight to behold!!!

"She was doing her 2nd Year diploma in electronics when I met her the last time... Hmm... By now, she should have joined some company..."

His eyes never met mine; which was not the case a few minutes before.

"Probably she joined a networking hardware company... And might have met a lonely Chennai-based Malayalee; who is suffering from a break-up... And both might have become the perfect solace for each other!!!"

He wiped his sweat from the forehead... I felt the beads as an elixir for my poisoned body...

"The intermittent silence, the candid sharing of expressions, and the confronting smiles... your act was nice; but too genuine to trap yourself. After all, I'm a psychiatrist with a good track record; experienced enough to realize a faking Schizo act..."

I could see a low-frequency shiver between his legs. Hahaah!!! The young generation... But I didn't have enough time to enjoy it...

"Kluver-Bucy Syndrome..."

"What???"

"Have you heard that before???"

"No..."

"You should have asked me... Anyways, as I have very little time, it is a mental condition occurring mainly in women due to a disorder in their temporal lobe... let's say, brain. It is not something visible 24*7 in the patients but it will lead to many dangerous side-effects in their acts. 

One of my patients was diagnosed with this syndrome. She was a divorcee. Her husband left due to her mental troubles. Once, during my session with her; a highly stimulated libido took over her senses, transforming her into a totally different person, demanding physical pleasure. I concluded my diagnosis with her act, but I was also forced to do sex with her. When was she got back into her normality, I became a culprit; obviously... 

It took me some time to enlighten her about the condition. And my friend, Bharathan also helped to keep everything discreet. You know her, right???

Angel Mariam??? Now she is in NIMHANS..."

I could see the disbelief in his eyes. And that was my victory...

My fingers had gone bloodless, lips struggling to meet each other, the tongue was getting rigid each second... Death is here... I was feeling it. It's time to end this... I took the remote which Neeraj had given me to operate the AC. I again clicked the buttons pointing to it. AC remained silent. And this time, Neeraj did notice.

"Do you see that? The small cylinder above the AC? It's NVR. An IP Camera. Most psychiatrists use it, to relive the session. It helped in Angel Mariam's case too. When she brought her paid women activists to cleanse her social image; I showed them what happened that day, from my phone. Yeah!!! It stores the data online. And it is always connected to WiFi... More importantly, it records the sound that is hovering around it..."

A very late alarmed expression was there on his face... Now he couldn't stand still. He took the glass jug from the dining table and threw it on the camera. His anxious brain couldn't locate the camera; the broken glass and the water splashed on the wall with a deafening noise...

"No use... It is already saved in my drive. Unless you hack password to my drive, you cannot do anything''

He came running to me searching the phone in my pockets. It was nowhere seen... He went on searching the place insanely, creating a ruckus to the order at home... He was creating a perfect crime scene involuntarily... After a series of commotion, he squatted on his knees; caught my collars and gave a tight slap on my face; barking at high altos,

"Where the hell is your phone??? Give it to me!!!"

I smiled... It was his deed that sent my phone under the couch... 

"Where is it???"

I replied---

"I didn't do it..."

"What???"

"It was not me... I didn't kill Avi..."

He untightened his hold on my collars... The disbelief had engulfed him totally. He somehow knew that my words were true; untainted...

"You should have asked her mother. In your whole history digging, you missed the vital element..."

He broke down from his squatting position to the floor. The remorse had hunted him down.

"I can never do it. Indeed, I was her own doctor uncle. But I'm guilty... I couldn't save her!!! If I had time, I could have saved... I would have cured------------- No, too late to talk about that...

I'm also guilty in not protecting your girlfriend's brother. I hid the truth. I had to be a passive element in the whole policing process and Jonathan suffered a disgraceful death...

I'm guilty... Guilty enough to deserve this blood-spitting death...

But I did that to save my friend... It was an unknowing mistake from him. In a way, I also did that for Avi... And for her mother..."

Neeraj sat like a baby in front of me. Yes, my friend... Life is very complex...

"Neeraj... Get on your foot and run. Even if I delete the storage, the Police will retrieve it. But they will come to know about you after some time. Use it. Run!!! Go far, and never come back... And take care of Joneeta..."

"Who was it? If not you; who did it?"

"That is a secret I hid with my life... It will dissolve with my body..."

"Please !!!"

"THINK!!! ..................... THINK!!! ................... 

It is time or you to go..."

He left, closing the door without making a noise...

Peace... It was peace everywhere. And I was happy. I successfully cured my last case. And the long holding emotional baggage was levied...

Thank God, 

''Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me

AMEN''