G GAZETTE | Page 17

Cliff Hanger..- HIMAJA CH ECE-B( 2 / 4)

A Beautiful Mind

“ Hello” a groggy voice said.“ Dr. Vikas? The painting winked. The painting winked at me! This can’ t be happening, no, not again. How could this happen? I was so careful, so punctual, how could I let this happen again? I took all my medications, I’ m sure of it; I’ ve never missed a single day since they were prescribed. This is horrible. I don’ t want to fantasize, I hate being a schizophrenic. Why can’ t I just be normal like others? Is that really too much to ask?” I quickly said into the phone.“ Calm down my child and tell me what you see”, he said. Dr. Vikas has been a family friend for a long time. And he is the only one who was not afraid to talk to me when I disclosed that I hallucinate. Initially, when my family was informed about my vivid imaginings, I was treated very differently. The love they had showered on me all my life slowly transformed into hatred. They were embarrassed to take me out to social events and usually left me home alone. Finally, they decided to abandon me. Dr. Vikas is the only family I have.“ Other than the painting? I see...... see Hans playing with a remote-controlled car in my bedroom. He comes to the TV room sits in front of me for some time and returns to his play. I can feel heavy breathing on my neck from time to time, but when I turn around I find no one. Today morning I saw an old lady preparing breakfast for me but I could not eat the food.”“ Are you absolutely sure that you haven’ t missed a dose?” Dr. Vikas asked.“ I’ m sure, I took it in the morning”, I said as my voice panicked.“ Lilly, calm down. We will figure out why this is happening. Did you take the pill I prescribed?”“ I’ m sure I did”, I said with a doubt.
“ Now, we need to be absolutely sure if you took the right pill. Will you check your medicines again just to confirm?”“ I understand, will check right away”. I got up from my couch from where I could see the little playful boy Hans enjoying his time with the toy car. I made my way to the desk in the study room and opened the drawer where I usually place medicines.“ Cetrizine”, I said.“ What?” Dr. Vikas asked.“ Cetrizine. That’ s what the bottle says”, I said“ that’ s what I took this morning”.“ No, Lilly. That’ s allergy medication”.“ What?” I asked. I had heard him clearly, but I couldn’ t believe I had made such a stupid mistake.“ Cetrizine is used to treat allergies”. He said.“ I prescribed chlorpromazine”. Looking closer into the drawer I noticed a fallen medicine bottle tucked in the corner. I must have knocked it sometime yesterday. I picked the bottle and put it back in its place. I usually put my allergy pills on the right and schizophrenia on left.“ I see the mistake I made. Thank you, Dr., Vikas, I’ m going to take it right away”.“ Good luck, Lilly. Call me if you need anything else” he said.“ I will, bye”“ Good bye” Keeping my mobile into my pocket, I shoved a pill on my hand and grabbed a water bottle. After taking the pill the noise of the remote-controlled car fainted but Hans stood in front of me slowly fading. He smiled at me and waved a good bye. I waved back as he disappeared.“ Everything‘ s going to be fine”, I told myself. In mere seconds a cold breath swept across the back of my neck.

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