adventure story2. Unknown Fear

                                                          Unknown Fear
Everyone was excited in the office because Reshma was going to bring her baby today. Reshma had left the job after getting married. But she was still part of the office. When ever anyone phoned her she was always there to help them.So even boss had special respect for her. That's why they got permission to celebrate her baby's birth. Every one was excited they hanged balloons everywhere.The office was fully decorated. It was looking very beautiful.Everyone was waiting for Reshma& her baby.When they heard any car stopped, they all ran out hoping that it was Reshma's car. They waited for many hours. But Reshma did not came. Finally Purnima decided that she was going to phone her. Purnima " Reshma dear where are you? we are waiting for you. Are you going come in next birth?" " Ohh!! I am so sorry. I totally forgot to tell you. I can not come today." "Why?" " guests are going to come." "Come on Reshma. What's wrong with you? last time you said the same thing. It seems that guests are forever coming to your house. You will have to ask your husband to stop this or it will take toll on your health." " Don't worry. I have servants." " But that doesn't mean you shall always have stay home. This is too much." " Purnima I do not want you to interfere in my personal life." " OK. So that's the way you are going to act with me. Then bye." Before hearing Reshma reply Purnima had banged the phone.Reshma told everyone about the conversation. Now all of them were angry with Reshma.They just cancelled the party and went back to their work.

           When everyone started working Charu suddenly made one suggestion " May be some of us shall go and meet her?" Purnima" And why shall we do it? When she insulted us like this." " Purnima!! don't you notice her change after her marriage." "What change?" " Before marriage she use to come and attend every party. She use to become soul of the party. But last time she just ran away from my party." " What?" "You were out of town that time. You know she was sweating. It seems like she was afraid of something or someone." "Why don't you tell me this before?" "I thought that I will speak to her personally today. But now since she is not going to come..." "Both of us go and meet her." Both friends smiled happily at each other.

            As soon as their office was over, they took riksha.Charu" Purnima sometimes I think that may be her husband is not treating her properly." " How do we suppose to know at the time of marriage every boy looks gentleman.The problems usually get started after some months." "You are right." " I think first we have to meet her then we can understand the problem." When they reached at the home, they were shocked to see the situation. Every window was closed and there were no noises which told them clearly that Reshma had lied to them about the guests. So they began angrily knocking on the door.Slowly after some time Reshma opened the door. Her face was so pale that they did not even recognized. Instead of welcoming them she just pushed them inside. Charu “ What happened ? Why are you pushing us inside.” Reshma “I was not pushing you. I just want to take you inside.” Purnima “ But we have came here to take you outside.” Reshma was started sweating. She was actually began to stammering. “ I..I …Can…” Charu “ What’s wrong with you? Look at your face.” Purnima “ Are you afraid of someone?” “No...No! Who told you that.” Charu “It’s written on your face.” “OK. I will go with you.” Purnima “Then bring the baby. We can take walk in garden.” Reshma “Garden! Which garden?” “Garden of your society.” “No! Not there. So many crowds will be there at this time.” “ So what’s wrong in that. Your baby is 6 months old. Surely she can go there now.” “ Of course! But let my husband come first.” “Why your husband is needed?" " I don't go outside alone." "But why?" "What’s wrong with you?” Purnima “ Tell me he is treating you badly.” “No. It’s nothing like that.” “Then why do you need to ask for his permission before going in garden also?” “Will you stop it? You  just do not understand.” After saying this she started crying so they both decided to drop the matter and started waiting for her husband. " I don't go outside alone." "But why?"   Before she could answer. There was knock on the door.

                Reshma's husband Rohit was outside.When they saw him, Charu immediately asked for permission for going out.Rohit was very shocked to hear her. "Reshma can't you go out with them." "But..." "Nothing is going to happen to you. Please go out and give me some rest." Now there was tears in eyes of Reshma.Purnima" Let's go out and where is baby?" Rohit "No.Don't take baby with you.I will handle her. It's hard to handle Reshma." "What?" Before Rohit could answer them.Reshma started pushing them towards door. But as soon as they came on street she literally started shaking. Charu"Are you alright?" Purnima"I think we should go back." Reshma was very pleased with this advice and actually ran in the home.When they went inside the home, Reshma actually ran inside. Rohit was shocked to see her running like this.The baby was in his hands.She was trying to reach to Reshma. But Reshma did not even look at her.Rohit" What happened?" Charu"We just went on the street and she started shaking like leaf." Rohit just continued cuddling his daughter and did not say anything.Finally they left the home but their mind was full of confusions.After some time Charu phoned Reshma.But she did not answer her phone.After that they decided not to pursue that matter.

                 After some months all office friends when to watch a movie.

This time they decided to call Reshma with her husband. Instead of informing them they made it surprise. When they showed the tickets to Rohit & Reshma .Rohit was very happy about it. But Reshma was against going there. She claimed that who would take care of their baby and baby couldn’t stay quiet in theater. But her mother-in-law took the responsibility of baby. Rohit “I am so excited about going to cinema. After so many days we are going to watch the cinema. Before marriage we watched many cinemas. But after that incidence…” Before Rohit could finish the sentence Reshma pinched him on hand. Then immediately he dropped the subject. But they all sensed that something important remained to be unsaid.

                When they were near the theater, Reshma suddenly started saying that she forgot her purse. Then she suddenly got out of car and took one riksha and went home. But Rohit sat there quietly. Charu “What is this? Why she need the purse with such emergency. After all you have the money.” Rohit “Money is not the problem. Reshma never goes in crowded places.” Purnima “What?” “ Ask Charu last time she actually ran away from her party. After that she was sick for whole day. Now there are no parties, no picnics and no cinemas for us. I have to go everywhere alone. All people looked at me very strangely. Even my mom started getting irritated by this. Even on our babies naming ceremony she was inside the room whole time. It was so insulting before relatives. Now the baby is growing day by day. After some time she also started asking what’s wrong with her mom. How do I suppose to answer her.” After saying this Rohit started crying. It was hard to believe but they have seen it with their own eyes.

                Purnima “ But from when she started acting like this? Before marriage she was not even shy.” Rohit “ One day when we were on honey, I went downstairs to get some things from market. Reshma was in hotel room. When I returned the entire crowd was gathered around the elevator. Then I heard Reshma’s cries. She was stuck in elevator. It took lot of time to bring that elevator down. Through out that time I was trying to consol her. But after coming out of it she started acting like this. When she went in any crowded place she started sweating. She felt that she could not breathe there. She never entered any crowded place. She was not even comfortable in the maternity home. That created lot of problems for us. After that doctor suggested a psychiatrist. But she is not ready. She is saying psychiatrists are for mad people and she is not mad.” Purnima “ Who told her that nonsense? Even I went to psychiatrist. People who go there don’t tell about it that doesn’t mean that they don’t go there. I will talk to her and settle the matter.” “Thanks a lot.”

                Next day Purnima and Charu convinced Reshma to come doctor with them. Rohit met them at clinic. After listening to their details doctor told them that Reshma was suffering from situational phobia because of  the elevator she started with it. But instead of taking treatment she started avoiding the places. The result was that she developed Agoraphobia because of panic attacks. She became afraid of going anywhere. At Charu’s party  she shown first sign of it. After that Doctor suggested that Rohit or her friends should take her outside and told Reshma what she suppose to do when she have the panic attacks. First they took her just in gardens. Slowly she even managed to go in theaters. On her baby’s first birthday party she had some problems but still she attended all the guest properly. Her happiest day was the one when she went down in elevator once again.

                                                           The End