Dhi

Fraying Edges of Sanity

Nakul sat unblinking beside his wife. He was on his way to find Yuyudhana when a dasi informed him that Abhijishya had fainted while doing aarti.

He had never run so fast in his life. Bhabishree Satyabhama had caught her before she hit the ground. It was like someone cut her strings suddenly she had said.

That was in the morning. Now it was night time. The Vyadji said she could have collapsed due to weakness and not sleeping properly. Nakul cursed himself for not being more mindful about the state of his wife.

But that was hours ago too.

The Vyadji and Nakul himself had tried everything to wake her up. She needed to eat something. They had not been successful.

Bhabishree Rukmini had brought Bhratashree Krishna. He had never seen such a grim look on his face.

He had touched his Abhijishya's forehead once and left without a word.

As much as Nakul rather stay with his wife, Mata Devaki insisted he have lunch. Part of him protested that when his Abhijishya was lying unconscious without food, why should he eat. The healer in him knew he had to eat because no one needed him to fall sick when Abhijishya was in this state.

He never felt this helpless in his life before. To be simply put, Abhijishya was sleeping. They just couldn't wake her up. From trying to shake her awake to splashing water on her face, nothing worked.

Nakul had a gut feeling this had something to do with whatever was bothering her earlier. Her state was not something that any medical condition could explain.

He had said that much to everyone. Later he heard Mata Devaki crying and saying it was her fault for pushing Abhijishya to do aarti of Devi Ekanamsha.

Nakul had run to Bhratashree Krishna for answers. He found Bhratashree Balram and Bhratashree Krishna in a heated discussion. He knew that they knew what had happened to his beloved.

He tried his best to control his tone of speech. It looked like he wasn't successful much. Bhrata Krishna had said something cryptic about Abhijishya not waking up on her own and that he would go to someone who could give him the means to wake her up. Nakul hadn't questioned him anymore after that. He just wanted his Mohini to wake up.

He wished Abhijishya had trusted him enough to let him help her. He didn't even know why she was not waking up.

Over everything, Nakul sorely felt the absence of his brothers more than anything now. No matter what they went through, his Jyesth was there to guide him, Bhrata Bheem would try to distract him by joking, Bhrata Arjun would comfort him and Sahadev would always advice him and let him vent. He missed his Mata too.

Here, the people who knew what this was about were not telling him anything. He felt angry towards Krishna. He called himself Abhijishya's brother, her friend and he wasn't doing anything.

Nakul caressed Abhijishya's head trying not to shed tears.

"Wake up, love. I feel like I am drowning without you here," he whispered.

================================

In the early hours of the day, Abhijishya walked towards the police station with determination.

No one stopped her. She was about to enter the SI cabin when a constable called her.

"Hello? Madam? Where do you think you are going without permission? Sir is busy now. First tell me what you need then I'll ask Sir when he will be free. Then only you can meet Sir," he said.

Abhijishya deadpanned and said in a flat tone," Eat shit. You aren't even real."

She walked inside ignoring the indignant protests of the constable.