14th Jan, 9.00 pm:
“Where’s Dev?” Suraj questions Heena at the dinner table.
“He is having a video call with all his friends; will have his food later...”
“What does that mean? There has to be some discipline in the house. He knows very well that this is our dinner time; ask him to end the call and join us right now,” Suraj does not attempt to hide his anger.
“Mama, why can’t I have dinner late just for one day? I have not met my friends for so many months now, please let me talk to them….” Dev pleads with Heena in a futile attempt to win her over.
Shortly later, Dev joins his parents and finishes his food in silence, choosing not to respond to the barrage of remarks from his father.
25th Jan: 11.00 pm
“Dev why are you watching TV now, don’t you think you should be preparing for your Boards?”
“Papa, I have been studying for several hours, so thought of taking a break…..” Dev responds feebly.
“What study, you know how you have fared in your first Pre-Boards, I don’t believe you studied enough…” Suraj could feel the anger welling up within him.
Dev recollects the discussion he has had several times with his Dad to explain why he didn’t have enough time to practice, and that he would fare better in the second Pre-Boards, but he realizes those were in vain. Choosing silence once again, he switches off the TV and retires to his room.
7th Feb: 10.00 am
“Mama, can I buy a guitar for my birthday this year?” Dev asks as he enters the kitchen where Heena is busy preparing the Sunday breakfast.
“Why guitar?” Heena questions without taking her eyes off the oven.
“Mama, the whole day I am at home doing nothing but studying. I feel learning an instrument will act as my stress buster and help me focus better on my studies.”
“You talk as if we have never studied in our young days and appeared for exams,” Suraj comments as he overhears the conversation. The sarcasm in his voice is obvious.
“I don’t want any distraction now, first ensure that you get through one of the good IITs and then we will talk about stress busters,” Suraj walks off ending the discussion. Dev looks on silently towards Heena and walks back to his room.
14th Feb: 9.30 pm
“Papa, can I request something?” Dev enquires timidly at the dinner table.
“Yeah, tell me…”
“Papa….I am preparing for JEE Mains and Advanced, but at the same time I want to explore the option of studying MassCom...”
“What, are you out of your mind? After studying Science, do you want to pursue MassComm? Seems you are watching too much TV. Getting inspired by Arnab Goswami, huh? Heena, am telling you this guy is incorrigible. He simply gets on my nerves,” Suraj storms out of the room as Dev watches on helplessly.
17th Feb: 8.30 am
“Doctor, doctor, please help… please help my son, ”Suraj begs as the emergency staff wheels out Dev’s unconscious body from the ambulance. Choking on her tears, Heena runs with them as Suraj implores the doctor on duty.
“Look, we shall do our best. First I need to check him, you wait outside and let us do our work,” the doctor mildly admonishes Suraj as he hurries off towards the Emergency room.
Waiting outside on the sofa, the parents helplessly look at each other, praying for their child’s life.
“I don’t know why he did this, where it all went wrong? Do you think he is having some relationship with someone which did not work?” Suraj tries to control his sobs, as Heena clings to him, for support.
17th Feb: 10.00 am
“Mr Gupta, good news, he has gained consciousness, out of danger now, but you must understand that he is in a state of trauma. So, just go and see him from a distance, but don’t talk to him. Also, I think it would be good to consult a psychologist…” the doctor gently pats Suraj on his back before he walks down the corridor.
20th Feb: 6.30 pm
“I have heard both of you, now I would like to talk to Dev alone. Understanding his side of the story is important for me to be able to guide him on recovering from the trauma that he has gone through, Hope you will cooperate...”
“Yes doctor sure, we will wait outside,” Suraj moves out of Dr Geetanjali’s cabin and sends Dev inside. One of his colleagues suggested her name. On research, he found that she indeed had an impressive track record with her patients.
22nd May: 7.00 pm
“Good evening Mr and Mrs Gupta. I am pleased to inform you that over the last three months Dev has progressed really well. I shall be taking him off some of the medicines now. And, thank you very much for cooperating with me, without which this would not have been possible.
“We shall remain forever thankful to you doctor. You not only gave us our child back but also helped us realize where we were going wrong. By God’s grace, our mistake was not fatal and we have been able to recover from the loss,” Suraj was surprised at how the words came out gushing from within and he actually felt good about it.
“Yes Mam, you have been a saviour. In fact, you know…the atmosphere in our house feels so much better now. I feel so light. Earlier, I stayed in a constant state of fear and anxiety that there would be some friction between Dev and his Dad. We are thankful that we have him back, we just now want him to be on his own, it is his life – let him live his own…..” Heena adds as she gently reaches out to touch Geetanjali’s hands to convey her deep gratitude.
“Dev is a very loving child; it was a pleasure working with him. I have asked him to meet me in two weeks and I should be able to discontinue all his meds,” Geetanjali responds with a smile.
“Sure Mam, good night.”
“Good night and take care”
As the Guptas close the door behind them Geetanjali slowly opens her purse and takes out a photograph. “I have saved one more life today Krish, hope you are happy. It is really painful to see how many parents make the same mistake that we did five years back with you… stay happy beta wherever you are…” she wipes her tears as they blur Krish’s face smiling back at her.
