Adventure story. 547. Pratap’s unknown fear

                                                   Pratap’s unknown fear

Pratap started to count his money. He knew that it was perfect but still he counted it again. It was so his job to keep it perfect. He was cashier. He counted them third time. Now that was enough after it. He closed it. He knew that he supposed to count for three times after it he supposed to stop counting. He needed to feel that relaxed. He did as per routine. He counted three times then he stopped. He was so happy. He needed to relax himself. He wanted to feel happy. But today he kept feeling something was wrong. He kept getting restless. He didn’t understand cause of that restless feeling. He began to sense that he did all in right way. This started since the shop next to his shop robbed. He kept feeling as if someone was following him. He was feeling so upset & restless. He kept looking back & he saw no one. It was so upsetting. He was holding these notes of receipts strongly. It was so stressful. He could see his fingers were getting red. It was so stressful. He was holding those notes as if they were his life support. He needed to keep them to make himself secure. He knew that they were not weapon but he kept feeling same security from them. He kept feeling same satisfaction in having them in his hand. He was so scared. He immediately called Cab. When Cab came, he carefully observed name of driver. He wrote it down & messaged it to his daughter. He sat in Cab after it. He was so scared. He made sure that every window & door of car was locked. He didn’t want to take risk. He knew that when he would go away from shop he would start to relax. It was happening every day. He couldn’t control his fear when he was inside shop or near shop. He felt as if someone was watching him. He never told this to anyone but today he was planning to tell. He needed to tell his wife. He hoped that she would be awake today. Mostly he managed to come so late that his wife fall asleep by then. She always slept early. It was her habit. She needed to take care of entire household. She was working so hard to make everything right. He knew that she was hard worker. She managed to get everything in right way for them. She needed to take rest too. She was house wife but she was pillar of his life. She always supported him on every worst time. He had his worst days too. When he lost his first job, he was so tense. He didn’t got any job for six months but she managed house. Then finally he got this job. This was a treasure for him. He cherished this job. He loved it. He wanted to earn good salary & this job was giving it to him. His owner even gave him some imported quality stuff time to time. It tasted so nice. He knew that kids enjoyed it. It was not outdated stock. His owner valued him. He gave him some part of all imported quality stuff. He always did all for his family. He loved his family. He wanted their happiness & he could do everything for them. He wanted his family to be happy. He knew that if someone was following that one could harm him. Even this person could murder him. He shivered. He was feeling so tense. Suddenly Taxi driver asked “ Sir are you alright?” He sensed that today even after going away from that shop he was tense. He began to sense that it was increasing. He needed to share his fear. He looked towards Taxi Driver. He was so confused. He could trust him. Then he decided that he could. He said slowly “ I feel that someone is following us.” Taxi Driver looked shocked. Taxi driver started looking in mirror for some car. He laughed & said “ Not to Taxi. When I entered in it that person stopped.” Taxi Driver took breath of relief. Taxi Driver “ Nowadays we don’t know what will happen where! Do you know how did that shopkeeper got murdered in that shop?” “ I don’t know much.” “ On this road normally such incidence never happen. But that day this man was walking. He didn’t have costly things. He had just some Cash. It was enough to kill him. They were saying that they saw him in blood on floor. It was horrible. They all wanted to forget it but still it was giving nightmares to them. It was creating worst effect on them. On each day they were talking about it. In fact I have started to avoiding those friends. It was getting worst every time.” Pratap began to feel more scared & upset. He started to feel that he needed to stop going to that shop. But he knew that he couldn’t get job better than this one. He started to feel so upset. He began to sense need of new job. He immediately began to search for other job offers. But then he sensed that it would look odd he started to close mobile. He couldn’t just left his Boss like that. It was totally wrong. His Boss was wonderful person. His Boss always helped him in every thing. He couldn’t say no to him. It was frustrating. He didn’t meaning it. He kept concentrating on his work but still he kept feeling restless. He began to think about complaining to Cops. But he didn’t have any logical proof. They would consider him mad. He decided that he would first need to get some proof. Then suddenly Taxi stopped. He looked out & asked “ What happened?” Driver smiled & said “ Nothing.” He was so confused. “ Why did you stopped Taxi if everything is okay?” “ Since we reached to your destination.” He looked out & started laughing “ Ohh I reached home.”He made payments & went towards his house. He was so happy. He went in lift. He didn’t feel scared even in that lift. It was truly strange that why he felt scared in that shop. He didn’t understand. He began to sense that it was so confusing. His mind was not moving in right way. But he knew that it would vanish in few days. It always did. He finally reached to home. He suddenly began to feel so relaxed. He wanted to rest in bedroom. He wanted to feel relaxed. He went in bedroom. His wife Mina was sleeping peacefully. He couldn’t tell her all on that day too. She was sleeping. He was not hungry. It might be that snacks which he ate with tea. Any way he didn’t want to eat. He just went for bath. Then after brushing his teeth he slept. He immediately fall asleep. His night was totally dreamless according to him. He felt so relaxed. He knew that his day was perfect. He slept peacefully.

    Next day Pratap woke up, Mina was already awake. She was cooking something in kitchen. He was feeling so restless. It was uneasy vomiting sensation in his body. His throat was feeling so uneasy. He didn’t understand what happened. It was acidity. He didn’t have any doubt about it. It was so frustrating. He had problems of acidity but they never reached to this level. Actually many times he had trouble but today it was different. He was feeling as if he was sick with fever. He called Mina to check his fever. She checked & said “ You are fine. What happened?” “ My head is so heavy & I feel as if I want to vomit.” Mina gave him angry look. “ Yesterday you didn’t eat dinner in night. Did you sleep on empty stomach?” “ I was not hungry. I had snacks..” “ Tea & Wada Pav or Sandwich at afternoon doesn’t replace dinner. You need to eat dinner properly. You are not child. You need to sense I can’t keep telling you that you must do lunch & dinner properly don’t just eat snacks you like. We need to eat vegetables, salad, rice, chapatti..” he knew that it was his mistake. He smiled & said “ Okay now what you suggest me to do Mom?” She started laughing too. She sometimes needed to replace his Mom. He felt so nice when she acted like that. She needed to do it to make him feel confident & happy. Specifically when he was feeling sick. He nodded. “ You are right so what I should do now?” “ Nothing! Just take pill of acidity & it will reduce.” He nodded. He felt that it was easy way. He was so happy when he began to feel little bit normal after sometime. He didn’t eat much. But Mina insisted on eating some salad. He tried to eat but he couldn’t able to eat much. He felt like vomiting on every bite. It was really frustrating. He was trying so hard to feel healthy & normal but he was getting restless & upset. He tried to laugh & joke about matter. But he could see his daughter Priti was very tense. She didn’t have time to hide her emotions. When she sensed that he was watching she smiled. She asked “Dad I have deleted yesterday’s Taxi Driver name. I don’t understand why did you send it?” “ Ohh I was thinking about fixing that driver but then I changed my mind.” Mina “ Don’t do it. You didn’t need to tell your information to some unknown person. Just keep calling Cab service. I prefer different drivers.” He nodded. After all it was a lie. He was not planning to fix any driver. It was little bit frustrating. He needed to find first who was following him. It was so upsetting. He didn’t want to scare his daughter but he didn’t have option. He was scared himself. He didn’t understand how to pretend everything was right when it was not. He was so stressed. He decided that he needed to talk with his family. He said slowly “ Actually I was trying to avoid telling you for long time..” Mina stopped working & sat beside him. He didn’t want so much attention. But he knew that it couldn’t avoid it. He was so tense. He said slowly “ Actually someone is following me.” Mina didn’t look scared. She gave strange smile & said “ I was waiting for this confession. Why you are hiding it? So when we are planning to go to Cops?” He gave her uneasy look. He didn’t want to go to Cops but clearly he didn’t have much option. He began to get restless. “ I don’t have any proof!” “ Stop this nonsense. We need Cops! I know this.” Priti supported Mina too. “ Dad let’s call Cops.” He said slowly “ Maybe I should change this job?!” Their faces looked shocked. Priti “ Dad you can’t change such good job just because someone might be following you. Let’s call Cops.” Mina “ If you want to leave that job then you can do it but before it you must tell your Boss truth. You can’t just quit without telling. Your replacement need to know this too. I mean that man could harm him or her too.” Priti nodded too. Now this started to get exciting for them. But he was scary & frustrating for him. He began to get restless. He was feeling sick from his mind. He screamed “ Stop it. I am totally scared.” They both looked towards him. Then Mina said “ I will talk with your Boss.” Mina was friendly with his Boss. His Boss treated her like his daughter. He nodded. She called & told everything. Then his Boss said “ Let’s keep detective to catch this thief.” They all agreed. After that Pratap started to feel relaxed. Pratap felt that now they would catch that criminal & entire problem would be solved. Pratap was so happy. From next day he started going in shop. He was feeling same stress & tension. He was so upset. He wanted to feel relaxed but he was not feeling it. He kept sensing that someone was following him. It was stressful for him. He was so scared. He didn’t want to come out of shop alone. But he didn’t have much option. He began to take name of God every time when he came out of shop until he reached to house. He was acting so strange that Cab Driver slowly started to complaint about him. He sensed it when one Cab company was not ready to book Cab for him. It was stressful for them. It was so complicated. He began to sense that he was not normal. That Detective told his Boss that no one was following him. He was watching behind where no one was existed. He felt so upset & stressed. He needed to understand why he kept searching for someone behind him. He didn’t understand what was cause. Slowly he began to decide that he would find some job on computer. He managed to find one too. He started to sit in his house. He was earning good even in this job. Mina didn’t complaint. Even Priti accepted his decision with smile. They all felt that he was happy with it then why they needed to interfere. It was okay for him at beginning but then slowly he began to feel stressed. He started to feel restless. He wanted to feel happiness in his heart. But he was missing his job. He wanted to do his job again. He knew that last job was gone but he needed to find new one. He didn’t understand why he was so much scared. He began to think about it. One day he finally told Mina about his fears. He knew that he needed to do it otherwise he wouldn’t stop.

   Mina was so shocked. Mina “ You are still scared?! But now you are not even going out to work.” “ But I love to find new job...this fear is stopping me from getting new one.” “ This is frustrating.” He screamed on her “ I know. You must be regretting marrying person like me.” She looked shocked. “ What are you saying? Are you out of your mind?” “ Yes I am. I am mad man.” He began to hit his head on wall. Mina tried so hard to stop him. But it was not working. She started crying & screaming for help. Priti came running. Priti tried to stop. But she was thrown away too. Then they called security man. He was not coming in control. He was throwing everyone away. Finally after hard efforts they managed to tie him on bed. He started crying. He knew that his entire life was destroyed now. He was declared as mad man. Soon Doctor came. Doctor advised to call Ambulance. Soon Ambulance was called. They took away Pratap. Mina & Priti literally ran after him. Mina sat in Ambulance. Mina told Priti to go back in home. Priti agreed. It was sad news for her. She was feeling so restless. She wanted to be with her Dad. But she was hurt by him. He pushed her away. She hit on cupboards. Her forehead was hurt & full of blood. It was paining. She was scared of her father. Then with help of her neighbour she went to Doctor. They did all treatment on her. She didn’t want her father to come back. She wanted him to stay away. She went back in her home. She noticed so many broken things. She noticed that her grandmother’s gift was broken. Her drawing which did with affection was destroyed. She began to get upset. She sensed that her many precious treasure were destroyed. Then she slowly sensed that if she needed to adjust with her father. He was so frustrating & scary. She went in her room & started crying. She needed to adjust with this now. Priti was staying alone for few days. Then Mina called her to meet her father but she started to create excuses. She finally asked “ Did we need to bring Dad back in home? Can’t you just divorce him?” Mina got so angry. She started scolding Priti which was making her more angry. Priti “ He took away everything from me including my Mom.” Then Priti disconnected call. Mina didn’t call some days then finally one day she called Priti & told her “ Your father’s Doctor want to meet you.” Priti shivered with fear. She began to feel that Doctor would blame her for everything. She slowly asked “ Why?..” then she added with sweetness “ I  was unnecessarily screaming on you about Dad yesterday. We must..” Mina “ Just come & meet Doctor Priti! No need to pretend. He hit you by mistake. I can understand your anger. He is not coming back home so soon. First he needed to complete some treatment. Not at least for week.” Priti took breath of relief. Then she asked when she supposed to meet this Doctor. Mina told her. She went there on fixed time. She waited for some time then she went inside. Psychiatrist welcomed her. Then Psychiatrist slowly started explaining her that her Dad was suffering by paranoid disorder. He started to explain her step by step. She began to understand. Psychiatrist told her that it happened since her Dad was scared due to that incidence of murder but he tried to hide it from all. Slowly it began to create impact on his mind. He started feeling as if that murderer was following him. He began to get restless. He started to imagine that murderer in every shadow. That Psychiatrist explained her every trauma of her Dad. She began to understand her Dad. She was no longer angry with him. She started to feel sorry for him. Then she decided to meet him. Her Dad was looking so weak & nervous. He kept apologising to her. Then her Dad told her that he wouldn’t stay with them. “ When I get discharge I will stay in different flat.” “ No..Dad..” he said “ I insist. I want to confirm that I am fine then only I will stay with you. I don’t want to cause harm to you or your Mom.” She tried to convince but it was weak. She still was not sure that she could trust him. Then her Dad started staying separate. Mina kept visiting him but Priti was not so interested. Pratap sensed that he lost place in his daughter’s life but he accepted situation. After sometime he came back in house. Priti didn’t object but she was not even interested in chatting with him. But he was happy that she was not objecting. He started to stay in his house. Then he searched for job. He was scared that no one would offer him one. But luckily his old Boss gave him his job back. He was scared at beginning. But when he reached there he was so happy & normal. He didn’t feel scared about it. He started to feel returning of his happy memories. He started to enjoy his life on those days. He felt so happy by those memories. He wanted to feel that happiness from his soul. He smiled happily when he looked around in that shop. He started working once again with same spirit & strength. He began to create plans to improve that shop. Step by step he started spending his all time in that shop. One day owner gave him offer of purchasing it. He decided to go for it. When he told Mina she agreed too. Priti didn’t like idea. Priti felt that it was waste of money. Priti “ Dad what if you lose your mind again, we need to repay that loan.” Mina was so angry. She screamed “ Shut up.” But Pratap smiled & said “ It’s okay. Priti this is my money too so I can use it as I want too & don’t worry. Mom will not cut your expenses if I become mad.” Pratap just left room. Priti didn’t discuss anything further. Pratap never went to talk with her. He began to work for that shop. All arranged in perfect way. Finally that shop became his life. He repaid loan. He owned it. He knew that Priti didn’t care for him but he didn’t mind. He was happy with what he had. Mina was happy for him too. Soon they fixed marriage of Priti with boy she loved. With hope she would settled in her life. But Priti kept coming back with complaints. Mina handled her but she was happy that Pratap was living his life happily with his dreams. Due to his treatment he never get upset due to Priti. In fact he helped Mina to smile. They were happy with their life since they learnt to be happy with what they got. Pratap thanked always his treatment for it. He was happy with his life & he kept telling it to everyone.

                                                                  The End