Rhea called her name Sakshi..
Sakshi didn`t respond nor did her eyes flicker even for a moment as if she was some kind of a Robot and her only task was to finish the ice cream she was having. Rhea got a little nervous. This time Rhea called her a little louder, Sakshi…. and suddenly almost stumbling and startled by her voice Sakshi got up and the ice cream can dropped from her hand.
She was trembling and almost fainted. Rhea ran towards her and caught her midway. She managed to drag Sakshi to her bedroom and made her sit on the bed. She hurriedly ran back towards the kitchen and got a glass of water for Sakshi.. Sakshi gulped the water down and started staring towards Rhea. Without blinking, Confused she opened her lips to say something but words didn`t came out of her mouth. Her body was covered in sweat and she was shivering. Rhea put her hand over her forehead and asked her to lie down,covered her with a blanket and told her to relax. The talking would have to wait for the morning after Sakshi got some sleep.
Rhea went to the other room and tried to sleep but she was worried and a little afraid that Sakshi might wake up again. Tears welled up in her eyes and sobbing she went to sleep unknowingly.
In the morning Sakshi entered the room where Rhea was sleeping carrying a tray of hot coffee. She said, “Good Morning!! Rhea, now wake up my buddy”. Rhea got up from her bed straight like a spring being released against the force. She held Sakshi by her shoulders and expectedly was looking towards her face. Sakshi just blurted out; What? releasing herself and placing the tray on the side stool.
Rhea got confused and for a moment thought that she might have dreamt last night as she was drunk heavily. But then, Sakshi told her that kitchen was a mess, ice cream was splattered here and there and the whole can was on the floor. The bugs had a wholesome treat last night and Rhea should not drink so much and that her friends were so careless blah blah..
Her words had stopped reaching her ears, tears came running down her cheeks and crying she told Sakshi; you did that, you were eating that ice-cream and when I called you, it fell from your hands. You do not remember a thing. Didn’t you realize in the morning how come you had been sleeping in my room while you went to sleep here.
Sakshi collapsed on the floor. She knew that something was not right with her. She had gone through some unexplained scenarios at her home also but she had conveniently ignored them. She didn’t want to accept the facts and usually made up stories to dismiss the incidents occurred.
“The presence of anxiety, of a depressive mood or of a conflict within the mind, does not stamp any individual as having a psychological problem because, as a matter of fact, these qualities are indigenous to the species”
Sakshi was suffering. She was ill. She had to accept this and seek medical help.
Rhea embraced her, her eyes were all wet. Sakshi was also crying. She was afraid and terrified. She hugged Rhea back tightly. Rhea decided and made a promise to herself that she would not let her friend down and that she would help her to come out of all this. Whatever this is.
FRIENDS: Only those who care about you can hear you when you are quiet.
Requiem for a Dream 