[KLEPTOMANIAC]
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[Sorry for my insane typing skills. ]
" Hit him...!!!Harder!" came a yell, while a boy merely 15 squealed in fear. His mom was busy guarding him. But of no one listened. They pushed them away and started hitting him as hard as they could his dad was out of his station. And his siblings were nothing more than mere spectators. His groans pained the air. But they kept on hitting him. " Please leave my son...! He didn't do anything,please stop...!" His mom kept on howling there was none to eavesdrop her cries.At last they left him bleeding and bruised. he was in ruins so was his mom,while his siblings had disgust in their eyes. " Bloody kleptomaniac!"groaned one of the neighbors.
Advocate Vardhan Bajaj and his wife Renu Bajaj almost visited all the established gynecologists of the town , but still their house and life were devoid of the honey coated cries of a child , for 8 long years they were in want of a child , when one day Vardhan placed a baby prince , and a bundle of joy on Renu's empty lap , " Our son Vardhan… " her cries, that smile , were enough to convince Vardhan that his decision is right ,that he has done right by accepting son of his alcoholic step brother and his brother's dead wife. That baby boy was nothing to them but can be everything to his wife and their family .. " our son renu " Vardhan kissed her forehead , that twinkling wonder was theirs , with time Rishab , yes Rishab ,as they named him started growing in the immense love and care of renu and Vardhan , he became Renu's life and Vardhan's smile , then when he was 2 years, Renu conceived , now this was a wonderful news for the Bajajcouple , " bhai bhai taayegaa " little Rishab used to clap eyeing his mumma's swollen belly , Renu used to kiss her baby's forehead and hug him tight, she was so happy and grateful, as GOD was finally generous and happy to her family , as time passed , she gave birth to their twins on one fine evening , ababy girl and a boy , Rishab's giggles and their cries sent their happiness to some other high , they named the boy Anurag and the girl Nivi. Nivi was closer to Anurag , while as they grew up, Rishab was very different from all other kids of his age group , at 10 , he would easily solve the math problems of university levels , he was the fastest runner of his school , with a tongue so clear and sharp , his brilliance and all powerful genius made him the youngest scholar to clear the matriculation examination at the age of 12 , well a massive achievement for the guys of his age , he was qualified to pursue engineering with 14 , thus becoming an object for pride and envy to some , Rishab was a staunch introvert , with less or no friends , Anurag and Nivi kept away from him due to his geekish and calm behavior, he was apple of Renu and Vardhan's eye .
As time continued to pass and flow some weird incidents started taking place in their abode, things started disappearing from their house,things became really worse, when Renu's diamond went missing, which was supposedly her wedding ring, they rummaged the entire house only to find it in Rishab's room, much to everyone's surprise!
Renu denied to believe that Rishab could have done anything of that sort , even Rishab denied that he has done anything of the sort , Renu then lied that she has left her ring there in his room , things were somehow back to normal , when Vardhan's phone went missing this time , and their fears came alive when they found it under the mattress of Rishab's bed , " I haven’t done anything ... !! I promise " Rishab howled that calm and composed child prodigy , Renu shed silent tears , while Vardhan was in shock , Nivi and Anurag had their nose twitched and eyes filled with disgust , with time it kind of became an open secret of their family that Rishab is infected with compulsive stealing syndrome , Anurag and Nivi started keeping their things away from Rishab. Vardhan went a bit stern with him.
There was Renu who was dying every second with her son's agony, Rishab wasn’t much allowed to come out of his room, he drowned himself in his studies, " I can’t see Rishab like this ??" Renu sobbed, while Vardhan made her understand that it was the only cure to his mental condition.
Vardhan told her tha the has consulted some of his psychologist friend and they want to want to examine Rishab , and told her that kleptomania is normal with prodigies like Rishab, as weeks kept on rolling things were back to normal , now things were really going good , Renu even caught her son smiling a couple of times , and Vardhan allowed him to go out of the house as well , it was all good for a week , then one day their neighbours started reporting about things that went missing from their place , there wasn’t much stir with the disappearance of the normal and not that much expensive but then when cash and jewellery went missing from Mr.Singhal’s house, by then the fact that Rishab has a habit of stealing things was much prevalent , one evening they barged inside their house and dragged Rishab out , Vardhan wasn’t in town then , Nivi and Anurag was scared beyond their wits , while Renu screamed for her life to guard her son , they started beating Rishab at the threshold of their house , as they found Mrs. Singhal diamond set in his room , "I haven’t done anything , please don’t beat me , trust me please " he kept on howling , Renu screamed , and screamed until they were done beating her son , they left Rishab unconscious, his condition was enough to move a stone to moisture.
" Bloody kleptomaniac " They mouthed in disgust. Rishab lost his normalcy completely post that incident, his career got ruine, even the counselling sessions were not of help, cooped up in his tiny room, Rishab would scream for hours, " mujhe maat maaro ... haar nhi li maine " , His screams dropped down a whisper over the grinders of time, They grew up, As time passed Anurag became an ideal son, he became a lawyer like his father. Nivi gotmarried to the son of Mr. Singhal’s son, and there was Rishab drowned in his abnormality,mumbling " maine haar nhi li ". Every second , there wasn’t a soul to eavesdrop his mumbles , not a kind heart to drag him out of his mental condition.
It was a convention that Rishab was a jinx and a thief, he was a social taboo, not allowed to the world out of his room. The food served to him was only to sustain life when there wasn’t any life left in him. Renu died several deaths a moment to witness her son like this, while Vardhan shed his silent tears, amidst all such happening Anurag's wedding got fixed with his college sweetheart, Prerna Agarwal. Anurag never told her about Rishab or that he has another sibling other than Nivi.
Post their engagement, Prerna dropped into their place once.While crossing Rishab's room, she heard few mumblings. She became alert, as she turned around to open the room, Anurag hugged her from behind, " Not that room sweetheart " he murmured in her ear. She flinched back and turned around to look into Anurag's eyes. " Don’t hide anything from me Anurag" she demanded. " That room is not for us " Anurag chipped straight." Fine don’t tell me. I will ask aunty " she gulped. Prerna was a lawyer herself, and Anurag was scared of his interrogation skills. " Fine,let’s move to my room " he breathed out.
" Rishab bhai is a kleptomaniac. Our family has suffered massive public humiliation cause of his mental illness. It’s better to keep him away and stay away from him Prerna!" Anurag narrated the entire thing to Prerna and explained why Rishab and his presence was considered a jinx, Prerna kept mum for a minute and chipped, " Can I see him “, Anurag held her forearms and shook her hard, " No Prerna !! he isn’t stable mentally!!“, " he is in pain Anurag. It’s his mental state! why the hell are youguys punishing him for something he isn’t responsible for! " Prerna triedto explain it to him.
" No means no Prerna!Plus, I’m concerned about your safety too " Anurag clenched his jaws. Prerna kept mum and they kept their discussion on hold.
Days kept on rolling, and the date of their engagement neared. Anurag was happy that he has a partner who at least listens to him. " You like grapes " Someone mouthed holding a grapes bead before Rishab's mouth with a bright smile. " maine haar nhii li " he shuddered holding her hand,thus trying hard to convince her, " tum maarogii tohh nhi na" he blinked innocently. While Prerna shed tears for reason unknown.
It’s been more than week that Prerna has been sneaking inside Rishab's room albeit with Renu'spermission and a promise that she won’t tell Anurag about her visits , " Aunty please don’t tell Anurag about this , he might blast on me " she requested and Renu agreed for the sake of her son, cause Prerna just wanted to help and she was happy cause Rishab will be getting such a caring sister in law. Whereas Prerna was curious to balm those cries. She came almost every night after that Renu gave her permission to see Rishab. Prerna was thrilled at the sight of him as shewalked inside that gloomy room devoid of light, she switched on the lights tohear his yell, " maarna mat “, her throat pained as she noticed her fearstricken gaze, " please dukhtaa haii ... maarna mat " he joined his palms , well next what she did was much awkward and inappropriate for a first time meet , Prerna ran to him and gathered him in her arms, well it wasn’t planned but that was all she felt right , Rishab shivered in her embrace , Prerna broke the hug only to witness the most handsome face the universe had , his cheeks were stubbled still he looked like a prince in an exile , " maine haar ni li " he shuddered , " nhi li…pta h mujhe.. " she smiled wiping his tears and hugged him back yet again.
The way Rishab crumpled himself in her embrace, it felt like he has been yearning for that loving touch since an era. Now it was routine for Prerna to visit him even once a day To hug him tight and kiss his forehead, and quite surprisingly she neverfelt like cheating on Anurag. Rishab would cocoon himself in her tiny frail arms." tum tum tumahara naam hai??" he trembled thus guarding his face ashe feared that he might get beaten up again. When Prerna removed his trembling hands and inched forward to place a care dripping peck on his forehead. "mera naam Prerna hai !" Prerna smiled meeting his hazel gaze. He tried to smile and mouth his name. But stopped anticipating a blow. " aap mujhe baadmein maarogiii...!" he shivered in fear.
Prerna knew the rootcause of his trauma, but his condition was too fragile and soft to be dealtwith nonchalance. Rishab claimed the lion’s share of her brain waves, to anextent where she started taking care of his diet and hired a psychologist for him. Anurag was yet to know the recent developments in their life, while Renu was happy that Prerna was such a loving sister in law. Vardhan stayed away from home mostly due to his hearings. It’s been a month since Prerna has started growing a care bone in herself for Rishab.
" Maine nhi li i!" one afternoon he again started convincing her and showing her the places where the neighbours had beaten him. " Rishu!! " well she started calling him that." woh log gande hai naaa!! Nhi liyaa Rishu ne kuch.. Rishu bohot aachaa haii!!" Prerna mouthed feeding him Paranthe dipped in dahii.
He was hold her freehand as if she will disappear in the thin air. " tum main aapko tum bolo...Aap marogee toh nhi!" he shivered again. His words made her grunt in pain a number of times. " nhi na! Kabhi nhi !!" she smiled fighting her tears.
Prerna knew there was some glitch in his back story, evenmental conditions like kleptomania can be cured. But the way Rishab was treated,it was something understating the term pathetic. Her meetings with Anurag decreased considerably much to Anurag's irritation. Prerna wanted to spend time with Anurag then her mind was always with the soul trembling and waiting for that hazel eyed prince lying in the tiny corner of that huge bungalow. He was just like a scared baby doe with eyes ever so divine, Prerna, well in her subconscious mind died every day to take him in her arms and feed him with utmost care. She loved how he used to listen to her obediently and would point at his forehead each time he finished his food without any fuss. Prerna felt like she has known Rishab since an age and they have been like this always.
" Ma! Priyu!" (Yes Rishab has shortened her name for his own convenience). " haan Rishu bolo...!" she mouthed popping grape beads inside his mouth. Rishab has grown healthier than before. " Ma ko Rishu ki yaad nhi aatih!" he asked with an untouched innocence thus melting her heart for the umpteenth time. She leaned in and kissed his forehead. " Rishu ko room se bahar jaana hai!"she asked caressing his hair when he hugged her tightly.
" Prerna woh woh.. Bahar hi hai.. Mujhe. maar... Main haar ni Li.! Nhi Li...!" he mouthed hysterically.Now his chants started bothering her. Prerna desperately wanted to talk to Anurag about Rishab and wanted to treat his mental ailing. More than kleptomania he was moved the mental trauma.
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[Sorry for my insane typing skills. ]
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