LIFE.... AS IT COMES (CHAPTER 25)

There was pin-drop silence in the room. Tam did not have the courage to go on. She was staring at blank and shocked faces. Why am I telling them the truth, she thought. It was so much better not to tell anything. But a voice whispered to her that her friends deserved to know the truth. Since they too had unwittingly become involved in all these.

Tam continued with her story.

“Danny always thought that he had this imaginary brother called Rohit. The moment it started somehow, my parents understood that it would become serious if not stopped now. So they along with his parents took him to this doctor. She has been there for him ever since. We used to take him there once a week. And Danny would relate to her that how Rohit occupied most of my tie and that he was lonely. Her therapies started to work when we turned 11.

Danny made Rohit disappear to the States. Things started getting better. But Danny was never completely cured. His doctor told us that the seed of the disease was planted deep inside him. It could be kept dormant for a few years but it would raise its ugly head again. And she was right. Though Rohit never returned and none of his imaginary friends did, he would have lapses. He would end up somewhere else and would have no memory of reaching that place. When we tried denying it, he would get violent. His doctor then suggested that for his sake we too partake in his fantasies with a healthy dose of reality. Bring him back to reality at times.

We started doing that and for a while it did work. He started becoming more and more stable. Then he shifted to Punjab and we were praying that things would be fine with him. For a year or so it was ok. Then he would start relating stories of his days. At times we would laugh it off. He turned violent then. It was then that we understood the disease was coming back. He disappeared for a week. And came back as the new Danny. As in, modern and hip Danny.

His doctor said it was no harm as long as he changed himself. But there were times when he lapsed back into the old Danny. He came to Kolkata then. And told me that story of Rohit. I played along like I did before giving him doses of reality. Shell when you met him, he was the new and improved Danny. And all that he said was lies. I got the shock of my life when I discovered what he told you guys. I never wanted any of you to know the truth. So I pretended in front of you. But hearing everything I decided that it was time to take him to the doctor again. That is why I went there, And------”

Tam broke down completely. All the while she had telling the story, silent tears were falling down her cheeks. Now the dam burst. Kunal scooped her in his arms and rocked her back and forth till her sobs subsided.

Sheila patted her arm and said.

“You could have told us you know.”

Tam wiped her tears and sat up straight.

“No. I didn’t want you guys to know him like that. It hurts. A lot. To see his mind eroding the man underneath. Plus I didn’t want anybody to feel pity for him. I wanted you to know him the way he appeared. I wanted you to cherish and preserve the image that you had of him. Not taint it with the news of his illness.”

Ryan came up to her and gave her a big hug. Tam broke down again.

Ryan began whispering in her ears.

“Its all right, dear. He is at peace now. He is in a much happier place now. No disease will ever trouble him again. But your tears will. So wipe your tears and give him a dazzling smile so that his peace returns.”

Tam smiled at him and looked around at the whole room. She was so lucky to have friends like that.

“Tam, but you did receive a call from Rohit---”

Tam cut Kunal short.

“It was Danny. It chilled me to the bones realizing that he had lapsed.”

“But then how did he die?”

“I guess that is one of the many mysteries of life, Ryan. I don’t exactly know. I don’t want to know. But I have a theory. After calling me as Rohit, the fact that Rohit was coming back stuck in his mind. And he got scared. Scared that he would loose me to him---”

“Tam I think we should leave it at that. For whatever reasons Danny took his life, died with him. Don’t try to resurrect it. It will spoil his image.” Said Kunal cutting Tam off and hugging her from behind.

The four of them sat in silence when a thought struck Sheila.

“Hey! But you guys are getting married in a month! Wow! Congratulations dear! But why a month?”

“That is a bit complicated!” exclaimed Tam.

“What?” Ryan asked, skeptical.

“Actually am getting transferred to London in 2 months.” Announced Kunal.