Mitali Jain.

The doctors walked up to us and stood right in the middle due to the way all of us had surrounded him. though we looked a bit dramatic at that moment, it seemed the doctor had passed through various drama schools with the way he eyed all of us first as if asking for our un needed permission and said,

"With the reports and the previous medical reports we came to know that the patient is suffering from schizophrenia. The stage is quite difficult to predict as of now, but through the previous reports all we can say that though the symptoms were not that loud and visible, but thankfully it was understood soon. The Patient at this moment according to the last reports that were taken a month back is facing disorganized schizophrenia and Paranoid schizophrenia. Somewhere I would say it's quite dangerous, as we can't really tell at what time what is really going on in the patients mind and... "

The doctor's words failed to register in my brain as he kept on going and going about the terms that were so foreign to me. All I wanted to know was if Daksh was okay... will he make it through?

"How long is he going to be alive?" I asked, and though I might have sounded fool in a different environment, I am sure many out there standing might have been wondering the same.

How much more time did we had with him? That was what mattered. If he were broken we were ready to fix him back, there couldn't be any such thing that can't get well...and our love for him can surely do that.

"Schizophrenia is a mental disorder; we need to make sure that the patient is happy. He wouldn't die off due to issues like that of any cancer or other Sevier diseases, but him time is uncertain all because it's the brain here along with feelings that we are dealing with. If the patient is happy, willing to live... he can stay alive for as long as he wants... but I am afraid,"

The doctor once again looked at all of us, and took hold of the reports and went through them once again. At that moment everything seemed so silent and melancholy.

"We went through the reports, it would have really helped if his doctor in charge would have been here at the moment, but we are not able to get through her. According to the reports the patient's stages in the patient's case are quite unpredictable. It's quite common but what's more alarming is that the duration and the speed at which each of this is progressing. With these being the facts it really concerns me that if the patient goes into catatonic stage it will be quite difficult for us."

"What can we do then? Is there anything with which we could help him?" I asked. After such a long time it seemed the words had finally made their way through my mouth.

But that was the reality of the situation as well. If Daksh wasn't really into the giving terms, we will have to make him react in at least some manner. How were we to just turn our backs on him all because he isn't really interested? We had to create that interest in him. There had to be some way!

"First of all we will have to get in touch with his doctor. In any of the cases spending time with one's family at this moment helps a lot. People mostly give up on patients, they let them be in their own world in many mental cases, but that isn't how it has to be done."

He looked at all of us and said, "at times when the metal situation and emotional situation of a person is weak the best thing is a person's support, the appropriate amount of time that one gives to his loved one. Remember the days and memories which you have had with him."

The doctor took a deep breath and said, "But again this might be dangerous, because situations that are beautiful for us, might not be for them... hence choosing wisely is better. Love and care is what these patients care for and I guess any doctor be it a psychologist or a surgeon like me would suggest the same."

We all nodded at him. All of us were in a similar strain. Mom and dad though hadn't been in that close relationship with him then what we all had been, as well seemed a bit disturbed. Jai' mom had that forlorn look that any mother would have after finding their son sick.

My brother seemed to have traveled off to some other world; many times things with him are the most complicated. Jai still held onto Kaka as if his life depended on him and vise versa, as for me... my hand still held onto Shakti who was supported by Veer – surprisingly, giving us the much needed support.

It was at that time when all of a sudden, I remembered a painting that I and Daksh had came across while I was planning for the exhibition.

It was quite disturbing one. The painter unknown, where in two hands reached out to each other as if to hold onto each other, but somehow they couldn't. The picture was a still untold story of what might have happened.

Were they met together, was it the hold of love, humanity or assurance?

At that time Daksh had very smartly commented on it,

"The painter is quite smart, he knows what distress is very well."

"What do you mean?" I had asked him not quite understanding his words.

"If the painting wouldn't have had a black background, but colors it would have shown happiness, if any other color such as white then it would have showed at least a bit of sorrow... but black shows distress... the color itself makes you uncomfortable. He knows it very well what it like is to be felt distressed about something. When there is something right a few inches away from you, but you can't really reach out to it, all because it's just not for you."

********

The waves clashed right by the tiny rocks which as well held the capacity to splutter it everywhere before they retreated back to the depths. The sea seemed beautiful as well as disturbing.

Panjim was a beautiful place to leave in. may the best retirement spot for anyone. But surely it had a disturbing effect on souls like that of mine. The feeling of depression seemed to have worsened even more after sitting here for so long, or maybe it was all because I had time for myself, with nothing else but to finally acknowledge them.

"you have been sitting here for quite a while." Shakti's Voice got me out off my stupid thoughts. I straitened a bit and then shifted asking silently for her to sit, while a few bodyguards stayed put a few steps away from us.

"how did you got used to that ?' I asked, hinting slightly towards the group of hefty men.

"Don't know, it just came along I guess." Shakti replied, resting her head on my shoulders just the way she always did when she would be tired.

"I was a bit pissed off with you when I got to know that you had just left the place, I would have even ended up killing Veer if not for Jai and Naveen."

Shakti let out a chuckle as she said, "I know, that idiotic prince always reminds me of that, though I am thankful to you about it, I am as well indebted to that royal ass. Mitali you are not supposed to barge onto any royals the way you did. It might have costed you a lot if not for me and Veer."

I moved aside and gaped at her as if she had sprouted out two heads all of a sudden. And surely what she said at that moment I really felt as if I was talking to an alien. For a few long minutes I kept on staring at her, while she scowled, dusted off her dress and went back to gazing at the sea.

As if she hadn't spoken anything wrong.

"Things aren't always the way we see them... right Mitali?" she said. Her words as if hitting home, made me realize at that moment I wasn't sure with whom I was sitting with. the Shakti who was my best friend or the Shakti who was now the princess.

"you are right, things aren't always the way we see them, but then sometimes if we let people into a few matters, then situations might turn up ending in a different manner."

As yet another wave hit the stones splashing around it and went back, this time I let my head rest on her shoulder and let out a sigh the weather seemed to be as gloomy as my mood. Or may be ours, all together.

"A few minutes before we met Daksh I was wondering what was it that made me come here all the way to find him. I just knew him for what seems like months, yet I was there roaming around like a maniac, where as for you, all I did was blamed Jai for not letting me into more information."

"I could have called you, I could have walked up to you just the way I did for Daksh but I didn't." I let out yet another breath, scared to the bottom of my heart as to what was it that I was speaking. This wasn't what my rightful mind would agree...this was wrong. This was just so wrong.

"what are you talking about Mitali?" Shakti questioned as if her senses understanding the words of mine that weren't yet out.

"I think..."

"No you think twice before you sprout out that nonsense that you are going to speak. Mitali, the situations are different. You share a special bond with that person there...we two are two different people."

"But Shakti.."

"I just know that, till the time it is here in your heart its all good Mitali, the moment feelings and words like that are out from your mouth, it becomes a reality...and its better it stays the way it is right now."

Shakti stood up from there and dusted off her clothes and began walking back towards the house. It was as if a spur off a moment but I held onto her hand and asked her...

"Do you by any chance are in love with Veer?"

Naturally it would have taken her sometime to think about it, to progress the question... but when you teach the brain and your mouth a particular thing, it doesn't take long for them to react that way.

She quickly turned around and said,

"That can't happen even in a millennium Mitali... I am not supposed to fall in love with the Rajput Prince ever." Shakti stared right into my eyes for a few more minutes and then walked off from there. It seemed these few months had got a complete different storm in her life.

I stood there for a few more minutes, looking back at the waves as they splashed around the stones, smiling at what Shakti said.

She was surely in love with the prince, and it wouldn't be long for this story to have its own faze. 

A/n

A small question... 

who all think that Shakti and Veer can actually have a nice love story? and what would it be really like, what do you see them as? 

do let me know

till then 

Happy reading 

Yadni Bagwe