Paranoia..

“Good Night madam!”, said the doorman opening the door for her. She gave him a customary nod. She could sense him staring at her as she hurriedly left the building. It was late. She checked the time..it was 15 minutes past midnight. Not a cab in sight. 

The roads were eerily silent at this time of the night. She decided to walk towards her home..maybe an auto or a cab would pass by and she could take a ride from there. There was not much street light as well. She walked in the little light which fell on the footpath. Her mobile torch was useless. There was no battery anyway. 

She wanted to distract herself from all the thoughts in her mind. Ever since she left office, the fear of being kidnapped, raped or hit-run cases filled her mind. Her pace quickened as these thoughts took control of her mind. ‘This is crazy. I’m being paranoid. Just a few blocks and I’ll be home in no time’ she said to herself in an effort to calm herself. The only sound she could hear, was from her own jewellery. Her bangles made the clanging sound as she swung her arms to walk. She removed the bangles and kept them in her handbag because she didn’t want to scare herself with it nor did she want unwanted attention from the people who were sleeping on the footpath. 

She could hear a dog bark at a distance. She liked dogs she thought, trying to distract herself. She had to turn left at a corner. When she did, she felt strange. She thought she saw someone at a distance behind her. She took a few steps back and look around the corner to see only an empty street barring the few people on the footpath. ‘I’m imagining things now. Great. Or am I?’ , she was literally jogging now. Just one more block and she would reach. 

She heard a bike at a distance behind her. She took out her phone and began talking. The bike slowed down next to her, and then sped away. ‘Phew. That was close’, she said to herself. There were two guys on the bike and both stared at her thinking maybe she was a call girl. Her thoughts have now become assumptions. She knew she was losing it. 

She reached her apartments. The watchman was asleep. She pressed the button for the elevator. As soon as she entered, she pressed the close button. The doors were closing, when suddenly an arm came in between to stop the doors from closing. She let out a deafening scream that echoed the ground floor. She closed her eyes and swung her arms around so that the person could not get a grip on her. She knew she lost the battle when someone had held her hands firmly.

 “Pooja !! Stop screaming.. it’s me, Varun !”. It was her husband. She hugged him and began sobbing. “I was worried” she said, now crying heavily. “I know. I know”, he said brushing her hair. They reached their flat. She took a sleeping pill and lied down, watching her husband close the door. Soon she was asleep. 

Varun closed the door and took out his phone and dialled a number. 

Varun : “Doctor, it’s me, Varun. Sorry to disturb you at this hour.”

Doctor : “Its okay Varun. Tell me.. is Pooja okay ?”

V : I am afraid not Doctor. Its happened again.

D : What do you mean ? Its almost a year since she had a breakdown. She takes her medicines on time, doesn’t she ? 

V : Yes Doctor. I left the apartment to have a smoke. She left the apartment in the meantime. I didn’t realize the building had a new watchman as well. The previous one knew about Pooja’s disorder. He wouldn’t let her out. Luckily she came back into the building.

D : *sigh* Okay. I guess we have to start the treatment all over again tomorrow. Bring her in tomorrow. Take care then. Good Night Varun. 

V : Will do. Good Night Doctor. 

Varun kept the phone on the table and went to bed. He saw his wife sleep peacefully. Poor Pooja has been suffering from paranoia ever since our son was killed by a truck right before her eyes. He kissed her on her forehead. He closed his eyes and went to sleep knowing tomorrow was a big day.

The End.