Arpita's forgotten hours
Arpita was waiting for car. She knew that her Uncle would send nice car. Last time he managed to send wonderful car for her. She knew her Uncle always sent everything in style. Her Uncle was always important to her. Her parents were nice but they were never showed much affection. She didn’t understand why but they always appeared not so interested in her. It was possible that her sister was very smart so they always considered her wise & worth attention. But her Uncle was special. He always showered her with attention. She loved those gifts which she kept getting from him. Arpita was so excited today. Then after sometime one call came. It was her Uncle. “ Vicki Uncle when you are sending that car?” She heard one deep & sad breath. She immediately asked “ What happened?” “ Actually I am little busy this time.” She felt so sad. But she smiled & said “ It’s okay. I wanted to go in music class any way.” “ Great!” Vicki Uncle sounded relieved. She didn’t needed to go to music class. But her teacher always felt that she needed to do more practice so she could come any time. She was performing in their program as one musician. She knew that she would be behind curtain. It was impossible to see her. Still it was important that she would play right music. She decided to go for practice. When she went in her music teacher's house & rang doorbell she immediately opened door. Her Music teacher gave her usual unemotional look. She felt so stressed. “ I came for practice.” Her music teacher checked time & said “ You can practice for four hours. Now you must not go before that! I have arranged all just for you so four hour practice is necessary.” She nodded & went inside. She was so sad & nervous. When she came inside she began her practice. Soon she began to play one sad tune. It was not what she was taught she just began to play to get her emotions out. But her music teacher came inside running. “ What the hell you are playing?” She told about tune nervously. Teacher “ I told you to practice. But still I permit you to play different tune as favour but you at least need to play it correctly. If people heard this my reputation would be destroyed.” She stopped playing. Her teacher sat. Then her teacher began to explain how to do it. She felt so frustrated. Her entire holiday was wasted. She began to dislike even music. Her teacher was so odd & frustrating. She began to regret coming there. But she had no option so she kept trying again & again. Finally her teacher screamed “ Enough. You don’t have much skill. I feel I will keep teaching you forever. “ she felt so sad. Then finally her teacher told her to return to old tune. She was playing it properly she thought. But her teacher was not satisfied. Teacher “ My God! It seems as if you have already forgotten this tune,” Teacher kept singing old tune again. It was pleasant. She felt so happy. Her Teacher finally nodded. “ This is okay. Keep practising.” So for entire time she kept practising that tune. She began to sense that music was not right field for her. She needed to change it. She kept trying while watching time. She was stuck with music for four hours now. She began to feel she might had done some extra maths. She liked mathematics. She was good at it. But still she kept trying her best to sing. It was just not working for her. She felt so sad. She kept playing for four hours nonstop. She still couldn’t feel sure about anything. She didn’t feel that she didn’t play music in proper way. She began to feel so stressed. She needed to shift her career. She couldn’t manage to get soul of music. She kept doing it for four hours. But still she kept trying. She was so stressed. She needed to do it as her order of her teacher. But she didn’t feel any hope of success in her skill. She couldn’t go out before finishing. She kept practising until her teacher didn’t come finally. Teacher said in harsh way “ You can go home. “ she decided to do it. She sensed that she was not having much future in music. She accepted it. She went away. She tried her best to hide tears. It was so sad. She just didn’t feel happy. She went back home. Her home was full of noises. Her sister was planning some thing about her career. Her sister always planned it. But she never got chance to plan anything. She began to feel so upset. As soon as she entered her sister Tina began to scream on her. Tina “Where were you? I need one new yellow dress for my new project. Do you have it?“ She felt so upset. She said “No.” then she angrily went in her room. She began to feel so angry while from behind she heard her Dad saying “ She is so arrogant! I tell you she will never have any good future this way.” She didn’t look behind. She just went ahead in her room. She locked her room door & started crying. She didn’t want to talk to her sister. She was feeling so upset by entire incidence. She was feeling so hopeless. She was trying to think positively but it was not working. She was feeling so restless. She kept thinking with positive hope. But nothing was working in right way. They all wanted things from her. She was feeling so tense. She wanted something just for her. She began to observe her dresses. They were not just dresses. They were her hope & her dreams. She always thought about them. When she took one dress in her hand, she started to feel so happy. It was dress that was given by her Uncle to her. She was feeling so happy. She knew that if she gave that dress to her sister it would lost it’s magic. She didn’t understand why. She was so obsessed with those dresses. She kept watching them again & again. She began to feel so wonderful at thought. She began to observe dresses. With each dress she started to think about beautiful memories which began to form enchanting dream. She kept watching that dress. She began to become alive in that memory. It was just wonderful design. She started observing design carefully. It was creating different design. She started to form memories with that design. She began to shift in that memory. She started to create different world in her mind. She didn’t even sense that someone was knocking door. She was totally lost in her dream world. She totally lost sense of timing.
Arpita’s Mom was knocking door. She kept knocking for such long time but it was of no use. She began to get so depressed. Arpita’s Mom was observing that Arpita kept herself inside room for hours. It was not right. Mom began to hate it. Mom always tried to convince Tina not to irritate Arpita so much. Tina was over demanding. Tina was thinking just about herself. It was so wrong. Mom was trying so hard to convince Tina stop it. But all people just kept encouraging Tina to grab more. It was odd. It had bad effect on Tina. Until now Mom was not so much concerned about Arpita but she was. Arpita was showing too much attachment to Vicki Uncle. Mom never liked it that much. Vicki was her Uncle but that obsession of going out with him seemed bit too much to Mom. Mom knew that it would have impact. Until now Vicki was not engaged, but now he was engaged. Few days ago Vicki’s Mom informed them that Vicki was dating one of his colleague for sometime. They were planning to marriage. Indirectly Vicki’s Mom suggested that he would no longer go out with Arpita. Clearly his wife didn’t like this idea. Vicki was Uncle but still his wife didn’t like idea of his wandering out like this with young niece. Frankly Mom was shocked at this suggestion. Vicki was always best friend for Arpita. They always went to movie or restaurant but no one thought about it this way. But now Vicki’s wife was showing it in totally different way. Mom felt better to not stop Arpita from going. Mom was planning to explain today. But Vicki seemed to inform Arpita already that he was busy. When Arpita finally came home, Tina began to discuss her issue. It was wrong. Mom knew that Tina was important but for Mom Arpita was equally precious. Mom was so upset. Mom kept knocking on door for long time. Then she started slowly call Arpita. For long time Arpita didn’t responded then after sometime she suddenly came to her senses. Mom smiled so happy. But when Mom saw Arpita’s face, she felt tense. Arpita’s face didn’t have any emotion. Arpita seemed like some statue. Mom felt in her heart that Arpita began to look so emotionless. Arpita didn’t say anything. She neither invited Mom inside nor she told her to go away. She just kept watching towards Mom. She felt nothing. Her Mom finally decided to go inside. When Mom sat on bed, Arpita came to her senses. She began to sense that she was losing seconds. She didn’t remember when her Mom came inside. She went to door & whatever happened after it seemed like vanished from her mind. She needed to pretend everything was fine so she just smiled. Arpita “ Mom what do you like have?” Her Mom gave confused look. It was odd question. Generally this was something they asked whenever guest entered in their house but Arpita was asking it to Mom in her bedroom. Arpita didn’t have any fridge or kitchen of her own. Mom normally served them. They didn’t serve Mom. Mom asked “ What?” Arpita gave nervous laugh & just went towards window & opened it. “ This will bring more air & light. You like air in room don’t you Mom?” Mom was so stressed. She didn’t understand why did Arpita was acting like some hostess. Mom “ What are you doing Arpita?” Arpita gave strange look to Mom. Arpita “ I was just opening window!” “ But I thought you are upset!” Arpita tried to remember. She didn’t remember much. She was planning to go out with..she didn’t remember much. “ Mom it is not that important.” Her Mom smiled nervously. Her Mom “ I am happy that you are not so upset.” She nodded. Actually she didn’t remember what happened but she didn’t want to tell it. She began to lose some incidences from her memory. It was clearly not good news for her. She was so tense. She decided that she needed help. Suddenly face of Vicki Uncle came before her eyes, she always felt safe & close to him. She began to get so nervous when she decided to call. She didn’t understand why. She called him. Vicki Uncle “ Arpita I told you I am busy!” “ Did you? When?” He didn’t say anything. “ I just don’t remember it. I keep forgetting. Sorry I disturbed you! Actually I called to tell you same thing. I don’t remember incidences.. I mean I don’t remember some hours of day. You must have told me that during them. How are you? I mean I was thinking of going to coffee with you.” Vicki Uncle sounded very angry “ Are you inviting me for Coffee date?” She felt confused. She didn’t understand if Vicki Uncle meant true date or joke. She knew that it was not possible. She gave nervous laugh. She decided she needed to enjoy joke. She asked “ Do you truly mean it or it’s Joke?” Vicki Uncle didn’t answer. He just disconnected call. She began to get so tense. Her Mom was sitting before her, she totally forgot it. She was so nervous. Her Mom screamed “ Why did you said that?” “ Mom I was just joking!” Her Mom’s mobile rang immediately. Mom started saying “ She was just joking & don’t worry I was in room with her. I heard that joke & I was telling her that she was no longer child…I knew that she created a story. It was some stupid joke.” Her Mom kept convincing someone regarding her conversation with Vicki Uncle. Mom was so stressed. She began to get nervous. She was so frustrated. She didn’t understand what went wrong. Then when Mom disconnected call, Mom literally screamed on her “ What were telling him? Are you in love with your Uncle so much that you began to talk about memory loss to just attract his attention?!” She began to get so upset. She screamed loudly without thinking that her father & sister were in door. “ No Mom I really started to forget things. I don’t mentioned it since you are too busy with Tina. You just care for your only one daughter that is Tina!” After hearing this Tina began to scream loudly too “ Don’t drag me in this. You are unsound from birth. You never manage to make good impact on any field while I am always great. Mom she is mad. You really need to send her to some mental institute. Look towards her. She is after her own Uncle. She is mad.” Arpita got so angry. She lost her control. She took one showpiece from table & threw it on Tina. It hit Tina’s shoulder. She screamed. Her Dad went towards her. Soon Tina began to cry with pain. Mom told her to sit inside room & her Mom went away with Tina.
Arpita was so confused. She was sitting in her room alone. She didn’t remember why. She went out. She saw that Tina was crying. Her Dad was applying ice pack to Tina’s shoulder. She asked “ What happened?” Tina screamed “ Keep her away from me! Next time she would damage my beautiful face.” Arpita didn’t remember anything but she was so happy that Tina was scared due to it. Arpita just kept standing in corner. She stood near table without sensing it. Tina began to scream “ She taking flower vase in her hand.” They all began to observe that flower vase carefully. She began to sense that they were really thinking that way. She started laughing. Her Dad started to scream “ Call Doctor..no..no call mental hospital..” her Dad was screaming & she started to laugh uncontrollably. Finally her Mom called Doctor & told about situation. Then Mom told her “ Go inside your room now.” She nodded. She decided to obey Mom. She went inside & her Mom locked her from outside. At beginning she ran towards door. But then she sat. She kept looking at her hand. She was trying so hard to remember but she couldn’t. Then finally some nurse & Doctors came. They told her to come. She obeyed. She didn’t wanted to stay in that home any way. When she came out she began to feel so stressful, she wanted to forget all. But slowly it started to come back. She began to cry. Then Doctor gave her some medicine. She took it willingly. She woke up on bed. She was on bed. She looked around. There were two more patients. Both ladies were busy in their thoughts. Nurse came & told her to come with her to Psychiatrist. When she came before Psychiatrist he began to ask her what happened. She began to tell him how did she started forgetting. Then she told slowly “ Now I remember all. But when I went in that house, I feel I will forget. I remember…” she was so confused. Soon she sensed that she just remembered nurses & Psychiatrist. It was so strange. She began to forget all faces. She started crying. She slowly told Psychiatrist that how did she was beginning to forget all. She started to tell all about different things which were positive. Then she suddenly began to remember face of Vicki Uncle. She remembered how much she admired him. Then she remembered sudden rejection. She told all to Psychiatrist “ Are I criminal? I done sin?!” “ No. You just admired your Uncle since he paid attention to you when your father ignored you.” She felt little bit relaxed. But still she didn’t remember. Finally her Psychiatrist told her to go back to her room. She went away. After some time her parents came. Her Dad “ Can’t you keep her here? I mean I feel scared she might kill my other daughter.” Her Mom gave angry look. Her Mom “ Don’t worry. I will shift in my parent’s home with her. No need to take her.” Her Dad screamed “ Just shut up! If you went away who will cook for us?” Psychiatrist said angrily “ Why don’t you do it yourself?” “ Then what is use of wife?” “ Then divorce her & give her alimony! You can’t escape your duty like this! She is not your maid. She is your wife.” Her Dad didn’t say anything further just kept sitting in chair . Mom gave nervous look. Psychiatrist immediately told Her Dad to go out. Then Mom step by step started telling all. Psychiatrist “ I sensed all. Arpita was sensitive by her nature. She kept feeling hurt by all rejections. She began to shift all affection towards Vicki. He was Uncle so it was okay at beginning but as she started to get young. She began to look like someone who could be his girlfriend then other started pointing. It is common. In such cases normal girlfriend did what Vicki’s fiancée did. She objected this friendship. Normally it goes smoothly since normally girls are attached to some different person too. But Arpita was not attached to anyone. Tina kept grabbing attention. If you ask me your other daughter Tina have mental issues too. But I don’t feel she agreed to treatment.” Then Psychiatrist thought for sometime then said “ What if I arranged some good hostel for Arpita after treatment did your husband pay for it?” “ I will insist!” Then Psychiatrist nodded. Psychiatrist “ I will arrange it. Now I will start her treatment. Don’t worry she will be fine soon. But I don’t feel your house is suitable for her future development so I suggest Hostel.” Her Mom nodded. Psychiatrist smiled & called her Dad. When Psychiatrist asked about hostel, her Dad immediately agreed. He was scared of Arpita he kept feeling that she might kill him one day. Her Mom smiled happily too. Then Psychiatrist started treatment. Finally after sometime Arpita’s treatment was over. After it Psychiatrist suggested hostel. She agreed willingly. Her Mom came to meet her. But Arpita didn’t want to meet. She just wanted to forget all. She wanted to start new life. She told this to Mom on phone. Mom agreed. From that day Arpita never met her family. Mom kept calling her time to time. Arpita answered her but Arpita never invited her Mom in her home & never visited her parent’s home. That bond was broken completely. Her Mom told Arpita once “ Can I tell you one thing frankly? I am glad you went to Psychiatrist & shifted. Tina is having big mental issue & she is not even taking treatment.” Arpita changed subject after it Arpita never discussed about family & Mom never bought subject. She met them only on Uncle’s funeral. She was shocked to see the way they were looking. Clearly all needed mental treatment except her Mom. She invited her Mom but Mom rejected that idea & said “ Be happy that’s enough.”
The End
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