I published this story as a guest columnist here, a few weeks ago.  The owner of that blog being a nice guy, would permit me to use his space. His blog delves on relationships and music. Now onto the story!

Déjà Vu

Ma and papa were fighting again. I was a mute spectator all the time watching them throw accusations which I never comprehended. The fight finally ended and ma leaves home in a fit of rage. Papa shows his anger by smashing the photo frame to smithereens. The photo had ma, papa and me huddled together near a cozy fireplace. Papa walks furiously back and forth for a couple of minutes. He then approaches me and holds my hands.

“Listen, Revathi. The things I am going to tell you might shock you.” said papa. “I never wanted you to know this. There is a man called Srikrishnan. He has done very bad things to us….How do I tell this?….That guy has bewitched your mother. I think he gives some kind of freak drug which makes yours mother swoon.” said papa. I was flabbergasted. Papa rants on, “He is a Biotech scientist…..cooks up drugs in the lab…his next plan is to brainwash you…”

Papa continues to tell an unbelievable story for 10 minutes and sobs. Every teeny weenie thing he talked about seemed ridiculous to me – a 10 year old kid. Despite the story appearing seemingly way out of the world, my eyes were slowly welling with tears.

Papa also leaves the house for the day. He said he has some business to take care off. I didn’t see him for the rest of the day. The next day after coming from school, ma says we are going to the hospital.

Revathi: Is papa coming with us?

Ma: That is exactly why we are going. Papa is in the hospital.

Revathi: Why? What happened?

She never replied. At the hospital, I saw papa on the bed wearing a patient’s gown. His hair is disheveled. He appears very groggy due to sedation. He beckons me to approach him. Ma pushes me forward knowing that I was reluctant. But, I felt the scene was too overwhelming and I make my way out of the room. Ma follows me out.

Revathi: Ma! What happened to him?
Ma: Dear, I don’t want you to get scared. Pa will be ok. He is just unwell. The doctors will cure him

I was scared. I didn’t know who to trust after the crazy story pa narrated. Do I confront ma? Ma seemed to read my mind. She hugs me.

Ma: Pa is very very sick, sweetie. He has schizophrenia.

Revathi: Schizo….?

Ma: It’s a psychiatric disease and it makes him hallucinate. He imagines incidents that would have never happened, but he will believe that it did happen in reality.

Revathi: (Sniffing) Ma….

Ma: Papa was not his usual self during the past few weeks. I observed him doing queer things when he was alone. He used to talk alone. Sometime he just stares at the blank wall. After yesterday’s fight, I approached our family doctor……..Oh, Revathi..I know it’s hard on you.

I must say that I was badly traumatized. It had been an emotional roller coaster ride for the past few days. I visited papa a lot in the hospital. His lips were swollen. The tongue was blistered. One of the side effects of taking lot of pills, I presume. I overheard the doctors telling ma something about the shock treatment giving good response.

After 2 weeks, papa came back home. He never talked about the bio tech scientist ever again. It was difficult, but slowly our lives returned back to normal.

2 years later

Revathi: But ma, I don’t want to come.
Ma: Will you stop fussing! Mythili’s family will be hurt if you don’t come. They are all eager to see you.
Revathi: *mutter*
Ma: Let’s have a deal, shall we? If you come with me, I promise that I will buy that dress which you wanted a lot.
Revathi: Mmmmm. Ok.

So, I tag along with ma. Sigh! Life did come become back to normal after pa’s treatment. There were fights between ma and pa, but it was never like the one they had 2 years ago. These days the fights usually revolve around relatives. But, why did I have a weird feeling about this. I am pretty sure I heard the name Mythili before. When ma and I reached the house we were supposed to visit, I saw the owner’s name etched in front of the house. “G.B. Srikrishnan. B.Tech (Biotech) Illam”