A Tale As Old As Time - Page 10

Chapter - 14

“What a day!” Dev threw himself on his divan, letting out a loud sigh. Although his session with Ansh was rather brief, for some reason he couldn’t get his image out of his mind. The glint in his eyes was vastly different than what he usually saw in his other patients. Until he met him in person, he saw a common pattern and categorized his behavior, but their interaction made him question his own diagnosis; perhaps for the first time in his entire career, which only added to his frustration. What was it that he was missing?

He opened his bag and drew out Ansh’s sketchbook. He was awestruck by the meticulous detailing, “Gotta give him credit where it’s due, he is awfully good!” Just as he was about to turn the page over, Ansh barged into his apartment, “What the hell did you do with Piya?” Before he could process what was happening, Dev found himself lying in the other corner of the room, bleeding profusely as Ansh hit him with all his might. “For the love of God! Ansh stop it!” 

Karan rushed to Dev’s aid while Rishi stood at the doorstep, astounded at his cousin’s sudden outrage. Even an hour ago Ansh wasn’t well enough to walk properly. How on earth did he manage to run all the way up and then smack the psychiatrist so brutally! It felt as if he was possessed. And the sudden glow in his eyes! Was it real or did he simply imagine that? “Tell me what did you do?” Ansh punched Dev again, making the latter spit blood this time.

“Ansh please! You are killing him!” Karan shielded Dev from Ansh and tried to reason with him. “Why do you think I have harmed that girl?” Dev asked with much difficulty, angering Ansh further but this time Rishi held him from behind, protecting the young shrink. “Thank you so much!” Dev grabbed a tissue from the side table and wiped the blood off of his face. It wasn’t the first time that he had been attacked by one of his patients. However, never had it been so severe, and more importantly, what made the guy so violent towards him when they did not even interact properly? 

“I don’t have time for your games Dev. Last time, I fell for your trap, not this time. You may have succeeded to turn the wheel of time but you will never be able to separate us. One way or another, Piya will find her way back to me. I’ll make sure of that.” “I’m glad that you think you share a love so great that can defy the laws of time and space. But may I ask what exactly I have done to be treated as a villain in your story?” “Listen Sir,” Karan finally lost his patience, “I appreciate your dedication to your patients but this is insane. Stop this nonsense and tell us what you know for your own good.” “Alright,” Dev took a deep breath and faced the cousins, “Neha feels Ansh has schizophrenia.” 

“What?” “Schizophrenia - a disorder where a person slowly loses touch with reality.” “I don’t understand…” “I don’t blame you for that. It’s actually pretty confusing… All I can say is, it adversely affects a person’s behavior, often leading to isolation from family and friends; because they can’t differentiate between hallucination and reality.” He paused briefly, giving the trio some time to comprehend. “I suppose Ansh was in a relationship with some girl named Ruby and yesterday out of nowhere he dumped her which according to Neha is not something his brother would ever do…”

“And that made her suspect Bhai has schizophrenia! She has lost it!” Rishi was aghast. “That and this,” Dev handed him Ansh’s sketchbook. “Do you know what this is?” “It’s Bhai’s sketchbook.” “Yes, but not just any sketchbook. Take a closer look.” “It’s the comic book Ansh started writing for Vishesh.” Karan mumbled. “Wait, what!” Ansh was taken aback. “Please don’t tell me you have forgotten about it,” Karan got a little annoyed. 

“Last month when Vishesh’s favorite comic writer declared he was scraping off one of his favorite franchises, Vishesh was inconsolable and you promised him that you would write him a better one. We thought you were joking; at the very best you might write a few chapters and find something else to distract him. Guess we were wrong.” Appalled, Ansh took the book from Rishi’s hand and looked at it. On that particular page, Pralay Yudh (The Great Battle) was depicted where Piya took Goddess Kali’s avatar and he was lying before her.  

“Everyone in your family is aware that Ansh dotes on Vishesh, not that it’s a bad thing but has it ever occurred to you that his attachment with the boy is almost on an obsessive level?” “No, it hasn’t,” Rishi replied firmly, “Vishesh is our baby brother. Each one of us loves him to the moon. There’s nothing wrong or unhealthy about it.” “Is that so?” “Yes. My sister might hero worship you but to me, you are nothing more than a quack who is hell-bent on proving something is wrong with Bhai. You know what, we have heard enough. Let’s go Bhai.” “I respect your opinion Rishi, I really do. But before you leave, please answer one last question - can you tell me in full confidence that the fire incident didn’t shake Ansh’s core or affect his behavior in any way?” “Well, I…” “Your hesitation spoke for itself.”

“I have had enough of your riddles and honestly… I don’t even care. It was a mistake that I came here. Go ahead, plot as much as you want but if you dare to harm Piya or my family, you’ll see the worst of me. Let’s go guys.” Ansh was about to leave when Dev stopped him again, “I know you don’t trust me, fair enough. But you trust and more importantly love Neha, right? Then hear me out for her sake, you have a shot at a normal life, with people who love you dearly. Don’t toss it away; don’t let one accident dictate your life forever.” “What do you mean?” Ansh stopped immediately. He was least curious about any of Dev’s stories let alone believe in them. Nonetheless, he had to know what conspiracy Dev hatched this time to manipulate his family.   

“Neha told me a massive fire broke out in your apartment when Vishesh was merely six months old. Only Vedashree Ji, Vishesh a,nd you were at home. If she wanted, she could easily flee with her child. But she didn’t. She prioritized you and saved your life while endangering her own along with Vishesh’s. Ever since that day, you made them the center of your life, even if it came at your own expense.” He paused for a moment, “Tell me something Ansh, this girl you are so worried about - Piya. If something is really wrong with her, shouldn’t you be by her side right now? Instead, you are here, fighting me because in your imagination I’m some evil wizard who wants to come between you two.” “Interesting hypothesis. Still, what makes you so confident that all of these things are interrelated and Ansh needs help?” 

“Because I have gone through his books. Neha isn’t some idiot who would try and get Ansh treated simply because he broke up with his long-term girlfriend. But then it struck her, as per her, Ansh has been acting weird for the past couple of weeks. He does something and then he forgets, there’s been frequent mood swings and then sometimes he completely disconnects from his surroundings. I can tell from the look on your faces that you two have noticed this as well. But yesterday, it went out of hand when he attacked his mother and then got into an accident only to wake up to a complete stranger who he now considers the love of his life.”

Suddenly Ansh felt nauseous. How did Dev come to know about all these things? This was exactly how he behaved when he first began to experience his powers. At that time, he was clueless and Ruby with Mohana’s aid took full advantage of his confusion until Piya stepped into his life. Even if Dev got the upper hand this time due to his association with Kalashree, he couldn’t have known every single detail of their past. And more importantly, if he indeed was repeating his behavior, how come he lost his powers? Yes, at this stage he did not have any control over them but his Daavansh side always took over when he got injured or his life was at stake. Then why did it not work the previous day when Avinash hit him?

“Vishesh loves these stories and I guess that’s what triggered Ansh. The adoration in his little brother’s eyes made him want to become the protagonist of the story who ultimately becomes the protector of mankind.” “You are lying.” “I wish I were but I’m not; your love for your brother is so great that you would do anything to please him. It was endearing as long as it didn’t overwhelm your conscious but now things are going out of hand. I’m not saying you shouldn’t pamper your brother. But you should also understand that your Badi Maa made a conscious decision when she saved you because she loves you unconditionally. That makes you a fortunate young man, not a culprit.”

Ansh couldn’t decide how to react. Every cell in his body warned him of Dev’s treachery. Yet, somewhere deep down he felt there was some truth in his narration. Just as Piya was the light in his life, Vedashree was the one who truly gave life to him. He could understand certain changes in this timeline considering someone went back decades ago. But how was it possible that both of his parents were alive and Mohana was a normal human being? 

“Both Vedashree Ji and Vishesh are well aware of what they mean to you. You don’t have to prove your loyalty as a means of repaying your debt. You need to forgive yourself for a tragedy that did not even take place. You must know where to draw the line, where love becomes obsession and easily one can blur the line separating fantasy from reality.” Ansh blankly stared at Dev. Could he be right? The memories that gave him strength, were they all mere his imagination? 

“Are you thinking about what Dev said? There was nothing true or logical about his statement… Look at me Ansh, we haven’t reunited after six years to be separated again. We are made for each other; that’s why we are together despite so many problems and misunderstandings. No one can come between us. 

“He’s a Daivik Piya.” 

“I don’t care who he is. And his identity should not have any effect on our relationship… As long as we are together, we can face anything. Just don’t ever think our separation is the only solution to this problem.” 

“I’m not concerned about this problem Piya, it’s about the connection between two Daivik.” 

“I am connected to you Ansh... And this is how it’ll forever be… You are mine and I’m yours, there’s no place for a third person between us, not even another Daivik…”

No, it was a trap. All those moments he spent with Piya, their love, their loss, her unwavering faith in their connection - he couldn’t let them go in vain. He had to fight with everything in his being to come out of Dev’s spell. “I don’t believe you.” “Ansh…” “You have been talking about my obsession with Vishesh. Fine, I agree it explains some of my actions. But what about Piya? How could I describe her entire family with such perfection when I met her only yesterday?” “You are a creative person. Do I really need to spell it out for you? Inspiration comes in many forms. Maybe you had seen her before with her family and something about them resonated with you. Perhaps that’s why you named your characters after them.”

“So your theory is my characters are very much real but I’m living in an imaginary world where their stories pan out differently?” “Yes.” “You are insane. A delusional person would want to escape the bitter reality not the other way round. Nothing about this book is pleasant. In my sketches, Piya is abandoned in childhood and my character grew up without his biological parents. Why would I want something like that when we both have a complete, happy family in your so-called version of reality.”

“Because tragedy has its own charm Ansh. How many people care about Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”? It’s funny and has a happy ending but people don’t fondly remember him for his comedies as much they fantasize about his tragedies. Be it “Othello” or “Romeo and Juliet”, even kids are aware of them. I told you before also, you have woven a compelling tale here. Two people whose destinies were intertwined for the sake of the greater good, came across and found their missing pieces in one another; two soulmates whose love transcended the barrier of the living and the dead and emerged triumphant; who wouldn’t want to be consumed by such love? I know I would; and so should you. If this Piya girl truly makes your heart flutter, then you should be with her no matter what. Just remember, you should be with a person because you love her, not because you feel compelled to fulfill someone else’s fantasy.” 

Ansh was about to say something when Rishi’s phone beeped. “It’s from the hospital Bhai. She has regained consciousness.”  “Thank God!” Ansh heaved a sigh of relief and smiled. “We better be going Ansh. This entire Q and A session has been nothing but a waste of time.” Karan faced Dev and folded his hands, “I apologize on my brother’s behalf. But we are done here. Let’s go Rishi.” “I wish you all the best Ansh. May Goddess help you find your way. I just hope you don’t come back seeking my help when it’s all over.” 

His last words sent a shiver down Ansh’s spine. What did he mean? Was it some sort of foreshadowing? He turned around again only to see Devs smiling at him. “Your Piya is waiting for you Ansh. Decide with a clear mind how you want her story to end.” “Bhai!” Rishi’s voice startled Ansh, “What’s taking you so long?” “I’m coming.” He closed the door on his way out and took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter what Dev says. I won’t let him get inside my head. I won’t squander Piya’s efforts because of my baggage. This time, when she opens her eyes, she’ll find the Ansh she always deserved...