Hallucination - I

Alok was in the waiting room, waiting for his turn to come at Doctor Varun’s Chamber. It was almost 8 O’clock in the evening. Alok was the last person in the chamber. Hewas impatiently shaking his leg while waiting for his turn to come. In between he would check his watch to check for how long the last patient entered the cabin of Doctor Varun.

Finally the door opened and a young lady of around 24 years came with a smiling face from inside the Doctor’s room. Alok did not give much attention to the lady. He did not even wait for his name to be called by the compounder who was busy surfing through his mobile.

“May I come in Doctor?” Alok took the permission as he opened the door himself.

“Yes yes, please.” Doctor replied.

Doctor Varun was at his age of around 35, well-built physically wearing a spec which perfectly suited his doctor personality.

“Please sit down.” Dr. Varun smiled and signaled Alok to seat.

Between them was a table equipped with all the requirements required by a Psychiatrist. Few heavily sized books and their condition says they were not that new.

“How may I help you?” Dr. Varun grinned at Alok.

“Doctor my name is Alok. And I came here for one my friend.” There was pain in Alok’s voice. He stared at Varun’s eye for a while. “He is mentally sick and don’t know how to help him.”

Sensing the situation, Dr. Varun offered him a glass of water which was kept on the table.

Alok took few sip of water.

“Relax. First you relax yourself, take few deep breaths and then tell me in details.” Dr. Varun said and took his diary and pen and got ready to note down what Alok was going to describe in few minutes.

Alok kept his glass and closed his eye, took a deep breath and looked into Varun’s eye.

“My friend Irfan, hallucinates his ex-girlfriend.” Alok took a gasp.

His eyes were widening.

Doctor Varun lean forward and extended his hand to touch Alok’s wrist, “Relax Alok. Tell me in details what happened?”

Alok sighed and leaned back at the chair.

“Well Doctor, Irfan is seeing his girlfriend who left him few months ago. He was in a relationship with her for two years. And due to some family issues she had to leave him. He could not bear it. He called her daily. But she changed her number. She even blocked him in all social media. Irfan re-read their old messages. He left eating. His health became worse day by day. He would spend hours browsing through their pictures clicked when they were together. He did not talk with anyone. One day he fainted. We took him to hospital. After few days he was released and took him home. He seemed normal. But he started talking in air. Initially it was just once or twice a day and we did not take it seriously. But from last few days he has been seeing her almost entire day.”  He paused and took a sip of water and continued, “And yesterday it was too much. He said he was going out with her. He went to a restaurant nearby and ordered food for two. He talked with the empty chairs. He had an argument with the waiter when denied to take another order for two. Later people in that restaurant panicked and few left the restaurant. The manager came and had to force him to leave the place. Luckily one of our friend was passing by and he saw Irfan. He called me and took him home.

“When I reached home I saw Irfan was in a complete mess. His parent declared he is mentally sick.

“But I know he is not mad. Just he needs a little treatment.”

He looked into Dr. Varun’s eye. Dr. Varun was giving a patience hearing till now.

Alok continued, “I know you are good at such case. I have read your article on Hallucination which was published last month in a monthly magazine. Doctor please save my friend.” Alok pleaded.

Dr. Varun removed his eye glasses and put his elbow on the table.

“Listen Alok, Such cases do exist. He is not the only one. And most of them have been cured.”

“Most of them?” Alok inquired.

“Yes. In few cases patient does not respond to treatment. ”

“What happened to them?”

“Well to be honest with you those who were not cured, their condition got worse. And some of them were sent to mental asylum,” Varun could read Alok’s worry.

Varun leaned back into his chair and said, “Tomorrow is Sunday. Normally Sunday is an off day for me.” Varun look into Alok’s eye, “But for you I will see him tomorrow.” he smiled at Alok.

“Thank you, doctor, thank you very much.” Alok shake Varun’s hand.

“Call me Varun” Varun grinned at Alok.

“Sure Varun.”

“But I will not open my chamber. So let’s meet somewhere else? Coffee Corner? At 4 pm?” Varun offered.

“Sure doctor, I mean Varun.” And both exchanged a smile

Alok left the chamber with a relief in mind that his friend will be in a good hand. He entered the chamber with lots of questions and worries in his mind. But after meeting Varun he was relief from his worries, though not completely but to some extent.

Part 2