THE EMOTION, FOLLOWED BY SCAR.

WRITTEN BY NANDA NAIR A

PART 1:

The gap began when she asked her dad, Anand, to correct the broken hinge of her bedroom door.

“But Tanisha, why? It’s not that I don't want to correct it but if i’ll ever have to do that, I should change the entire thing.”

“Yeah, i know. It’s too wrong- I mean the door, but please do that.”

“Tani.. you know i don’t interfere in your work. I never check your drawers. And if ever did a bang on enter, it’s because I might have been excited about something and wanted to tell you immediately. Remember, last time i was in the washroom and all of a sudden a joke out of the blue occurred to me and i wanted to tell you and so..”

“Dad! Yes, yes. You remind me of that often. Sorry but now i don’t have the patience to hear all that. Please within a week fix that damn thing. Please dad.”

For Anand, it was not the money that mattered, rather it was the fact that his eighteen year old daughter is building up a cleave all by herself. He wasn’t even contributing to the damage. The very next day he hired a carpenter to fix it. It was done within a day.

Now, it wasn’t often that she came out of her room. It seemed like she didn’t even need fresh air.

It was like she practiced this in her past life and now she had to continue it due to some curse. Sometimes she even asked her dad to bring in food, as if she was ordering a waiter in a five star restaurant. Finally, the soft spoken Anand inquired, during the once in a blue dinner they had together,

“Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Dad, sorry, i wasn’t listening. What were you telling?”

“I asked if you have something to tell me? “

“Mm… well yes. Believing you would understand me.”

Now Anand was keen and went sharp,

“Yes, Tanisha. When did I not listen to you?”

“Dad, I feel despondent throughout the day. It’s like I don't want the sun, moon or air. Just sit in my room, day dream. Think nonsense and feel sad. And dad, you have no idea, I have these voices telling me inside to search for the pyramid of Giza and all. Also I see these weird creatures all around me with hideous faces. I’m sure i didn’t hit my head anywhere. I wish i could draw and show you these creatures. But then my hands shiver.If you think I study 24x7, I don't. I just can’t. Last night, I saw my dead mom speaking to me. In a very loud voice as if there were amplifiers to amplify every single thing she told me. Dad, I just can’t bear to hear all these monstrous voices talking shit to me! I thought if I locked myself in a room to meditate and turn spiritual, this would stop. But it doesn’t. I just can’t escape from all the chaos. Last month, I literally saw these blue creatures with ugly, hairy legs coming out of the door hinges. I thought it was because the door was open all day and some rare species laid eggs and now it has hatched and that’s why I asked for it to be fixed. But now they arrive from the drawers. From any holes, any crevices, all I find is these creatures coming towards me. Every time I open the drawers all I see are these creatures. Dad, please do something!”

Anand was not a guy with surprises. He led a normal life, raising up his only daughter. His wife ran away with her lover after their marriage. Initially she had refused to marry Anand. But since everything was decided by elders, she was forced to marry Anand. The issue was that her liver was a christian and not even in their wildest dreams can they accept her marrying him! After their first daughter was born,Sangeetha confronted Anand with her love affair. She had said,

“I was never allowed to decide, let alone think. But now, if I don't, I might die full of pain. The man that i love isn’t married yet. And he wouldn’t unless it is me. I have gifted you with a daughter, now I need your permission to go away with my lover. I am sorry for duping you.”

Though initially Anand was infuriated, he thought it wouldn't be wise to force Sangeetha to stay. Years later, through word of mouth, he heard that she with her lover had died in an unfortunate accidental house fire, though it is believed that the fire was triggered by her jealous lover for having a kid with Anand.

After hearing all that Tanisha had told him, he being a Physics professor in the Delhi Physics Research Academy, could relate to a proton spiraling inside a cyclotron.

Even after a much sought reply, Anand was silent. Finally, unable to bear the silence, unable to think that the creatures might come out of the drawers anytime to attack her, she screamed.

“Tani… i am so sorry. I couldn’t just digest everything that you narrated.”

“Dad! Nobody, absolutely nobody can understand this, other than me! I thought you had act normal. I expected you to give me a pat on my shoulders and find a solution. But all you did was silence! hell! “

It was the first time Anand ever saw Tanisha this frustrated. It was only then did he notice that Tanisha grew eye bags around her eyes. He knew she hadn’t slept for days.

Anand wasn’t a good pacifier, so he thought of bringing everything to normal the next day. The following day was a Sunday, and Monday was a holiday due to Diwali. So he practically had two whole days to bring everything back to equilibrium. Neither Anand nor Tanisha slept that night.

TO BE CONTINUED...