One day later...

"L-le...leave m-me, d...do-don't c-come n...near me!! G-go away... pl-please....please...!!! So-somebody H...help!!!"she started shouting and sobbing loudly on seeing me sitting near her bed as soon as she gained her consciousness. Her pupils started dilating in immense fear while again panic started groping her body!

"I think you should go outside of the ward, Mr. Malhotra! She's not comfortable to face you and it can create more psychological effect on her mind. Already she's is too much pain and trauma!! I hope you understand", the doctor replied seeing her worsening condition and I nodded my head instantly leaving the ward at once.

Will I ever be able to bring her old self back? Will I ever be successful in winning her broken trust? Sighing I went on the terrace of the hospital to have some smoke to calm my throbbing brain...

Lighting an insignia from my pocket, I started puffing out the smoke clouds from my mouth while leaning on the glass railing and started gazing at the Auburn painted enormous and endless space where the bright Şun was disappearing slowly below it's horizon while scattering it's golden yellow sunrays into the serene azure with tranquil sea of white puffy clouds turning golden yellow under it's heavenly bath...

Beep...Beep...

"Hello Mr. Malhotra! Sorry to disturb you at this moment but...",she replied a bit hesitantly when I abruptly spoke...

"It's okay Miss Kavya! I'm really greatful to you for helping me finding my wife. You're no disturbance!!", I replied sighing while exhaling the heavy smoke from my nostrils...

"She's my friend too Mr. Malhotra before she's your wife! How is her condition now? Has she made any sort of improvement yet?",she asked in a gloomy tone.

"Yeah! She's just now gained her consciousness but isn't ready to face anyone!!" What else should I say? She doesn't want to see anyone around her expect the medical staffs. She's feeling insecure even in front of her own family!! She's shouting and yelling like a madwoman whenever she's gaining her consciousness.

"Ca-can I see her for once? Just for once Mr. Malhotra!! Please...This is the time when she might be needing caressing hands and soothing words the most, to get over her dreadful past.

She might be feeling utterly scared and lonely at this moment and I can't see her like this!! She needs someone beside her who can share her grief and give her moral su-support.

Please let me visit your wife not as a friend but as her sister...",she pleaded in a very heavy and melancholic tone while I can clearly see that she's trying her best to muffle her sobs but eventually they kept leaving her lips...

"You can but not today! She's resting under temporary anesthesia",I replied sighing while looking away from the sky that has started turning dark and cold in the twilight.

"Ok-okay sir!", She uttered in a broken voice and instantly hangup my call...

Flashback...

"But I don't want to keep my wife here for so long!!! I have better private paramedical team and caretakers under my roof than the bunch of busy doctors here who can't give her that attention and care which she needs 24/7!!!"

"I understand your point Mr. Malhotra but it might turn out to be fatal and risky for the patient to discharge her when she isn't properly recovered! Though her physical injuries are almost healed but we need to run a checkup on her psychological behaviour as well! Often the rape victims tend to hurt themselves or others under traumatic stress and this is a serious issue!", Dr. Yash said frowning on listening to my proposal...

My heart sank in the bottom of my stomach on listening to his words!! Hurt herself?

But that she can try in the hospital too? Her condition would only get worsen on seeing the gloomy hospital ward and all. It would be better to keep her home safely under the supervision of best doctors and supporting staffs and in this way, I can keep an eye on her activities...um...I mean if she really tries to hurt oneself incase!

Often the patients try to pull out such stunts of taking their own life as Dr. Yash said and I can't risk her life!! I can't take the chance of losing Aranya once again!

"Fine Mr. Malhotra! If you insist then I'll discharge her by tomorrow after running all the necessary tests on her, ensuring if she needs any serious medical attention or not! It would be better if you can arrange any private psychiatrist and medical staff for her.

And if you want her to recover soon then don't go near the patient or face her directly for atleast a week or two because I can see that you're one of the reasons for her panic attacks and trauma. So it would be better to not face the patient for as long as she recovers mentally!"

Flashback Ends...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Next day; noon:

"Hey! Relax!! Shh...calm down! No one's hurting you, you're safe Aranya!"

Her trembling body started relaxing as soon as she recognised the person as none other than Dr. Sachith! Tears started welling up in her big doe eyes as the horrible traumatic incidents of that night started playing like reels in front of her eyes making it hard for her to breath...

Shallow breathings and elevated heartbeat because the free air was like a punishment for her that was reminding her of her how viciously her cruel fate had played the malicious game that had transformed the ever so confident and cheerful girl to a broken doll with no spirit in left in her!!

"Hey! do you recognise this idiot or not?",he suddenly asked Aranya who was blankly staring at him with wet lashes but no expression adorning her face. Her skin became too pale and dried with faded marks of cuts and bruises that for a moment, her face was unrecognisable by Dr. Sachith. He gasped on seeing her looking like a dead corpse that was staring at him with hollow eyes and no emotion making the room utterly tensed, silent and eerie!

His attempt to pull out a funny joke had no effect on her! Her facial muscles had not moved at all...

"Do you recognise me Aranya? If you're feeling uncomfortable around me then I'll immediately leave the room!!",he offered her a warm smile while looking at her stony face to read some expressions but when he found none, he sighed in disappointment.

"Aranya! Are you scared? Scared of my presence?",he suddenly questioned hoping to get some sort of response this time but again, she neither said a word nor moved a muscle and just kept staring at his face with no expression...

"Are you feeling discomfort on seeing me?",he again tried to ask but the response from the patient was same 'no response'.

"Fine Aranya!",he sighed picking up briefcase from the side table and looking straight into her hollow and tired eyes, he responded "I'll not come to you till that day when you'll feel free to talk with me openly without any fear and hesitation! But I need to make one thing clear to you that I'm here only to help you! I'll not hurt you at any cost. Till than take care and rest!", saying this, Dr. Sachith immediately left the room...

••••••••••••••••••••••××ו•••••••••••••••••••••

"One more sip for a tortured soul

Your diggin' my heart in deeper hole

And a thousand thoughts going through my mind

Cigarettes keep it occupied

Damn babydoll's got so much light

But damn babydoll's got so much fight

Your cold sometimes, with a lot of bite

Just one smile keeps me satisfied"