You had no reception , why? " Akash questions on the other side of the call as I go through the reports of my recent patient.

Right now I am in the hospital and I feel so much better. My new house has been a little suffocating lately.

" Because Dhairya didn't want it. " I mumble.

This week is a quiet passerby. There are aren't many appointments nor therapy sessions to attend.

Yet somehow I am bound to work because of a serious case that has just unfolded in front of me.

" What? What does that mean? " He questions in an angry tone and I sigh saying , " I have work , Akash. Let's talk later. " He is speaking something.—— Atleast that's what I hear before I cut his call , keeping it aside.

Taking a brief look of the brown cover of the file , I flip it open and see a face with its information written in bolds and italics.

Name - Yuvraj Singh

Age - 28

Diagnosed with - PTSD and Schizophrenia

Occupation - IT employee

Marital status - single

Last few relationships didn't work out because of his suicidal tendencies that scared the partners and his schizophrenic behaviour pushed them into dangerous situations where he tried harming them.

I hear a knock on the cabin's door to which I reply with a ' come in please ' before closing the file and then place it on the table.

The same face from the photograph walks inside my cabin and I ask him to sit across me.

People need a cozy environment to settle and feel comfortable in and it's my duty to make them feel safe and warm as they pour their secrets and emotions out to me. That's why I have light blankets , soft scarfs , indoor plants , creepers , soft colors and small and simple accessories around my cabin.

There is a table and a chair for my files and for when I work alone but whenever there is a patient , we talk face to face , in the middle of the space with two couches facing each other.

The couch that I sit on is of navy blue color with a long velvety and big scarf that I cover myself in , because it's very cold these days and for the other couch , it's a blanket that has white roses printed on it. It's soft and silky. Best for them.

" You want me to turn on the heater? " I ask and he shakes his head.

" Okay then. Make yourself comfortable." He sits in there with unease and then a few seconds pass without a single word.

In this time , I observe him and his actions.

His eyes are irritated and swollen with heavy dark circles. His lips are brusied - probably from continuous chewing. His cheeks are sunken , body starved and there are his hands placed on knees.

Uneven and shredded nails. Nervous and anxious people mostly bite their nails but he has bitten them too much ; I can see blood clots around them.

" So ..... How are you doing? " I ask and get no reply from him.

" You can use that blanket if you're feeling cold. " He remains frozen in there.

Sigh*

Maybe this isn't going to work.

Okay then.

Let's do it my way.

" You tried physically hurting your ex-partner. " I speak. My voice softly echoing in the silence.

" Physically hurting you say? " He laughs out dryly and coughs out the other second.

Fucked up mental state fucks you more than you can think.

It not only mental - it's physical , emotional and social.

" I tried killing her. " He interjects and I shift in my seat and take another observant look of him.

" What's the difference in both the terms , Yuvraj. " I call out his name loudly , calmly and clearly.

It's important to call out the person's name to make them feel known and understood.

" Don't know. But I tried killing her. In fact , I almost killed her. "

" Did you do it on purpose? " I ask and he opens his mouth to speak but closes it when no words come out.

" See? You didn't do it on purpose. You never wanted to kill her now , did you , Yuvraj? "

His body starts to tremble and I see his eyes turning hazy. The grey metal color turning into cloudy haze.

" I....." He tries speaking. He tries it a few more times but fails.

" It's fine. We can talk about it when you are comfortable. " His lips start to wobble.

" I-If I don't speak today , I won't ever be a-able t-to. " He whispers breathlessly and I give a nod.

" Want some tea? I make good green tea. " His eyes which never looked up at me , finally did and then I add. " Not my opinion though. My in-laws always tell me. "

" You.....you are married? " He asks and I grab the Magalsutra that hangs down my throat like a collar of some dog.

" See. " I show the black beaded pendant.

" But you aren't w-wearing Vermilion. " He points out and I glance at myself in the large mirror that sits in a corner.

" Yeah..." My hair are tied in a bun. " ..... Probably I forgot it. " And nod to myself before turning to face him and pass a smile at him.

" Leave about me. You tell me , Yuvraj. Why did you do it? I know you didn't do it on purpose. "

Hesitation cries out from his expressions and we both wait in a long silence before he exhales a deep shaky breath.

" It t-told me to. " he mumbles and suddenly everything about his behavior shifts. His expressions turn worse , eyes scared and hollow , knees shaking and hands trembling.

" Who told you what , Yuvraj? "

His eyelashes blink rapidly and those sunken shoulders tense , his eyes turn active and breathings faster.

The most simple thing that could happen to him right now is to get into a panic attack but that would ruin things.

" Calm down , Yuvraj. " I say and pass a glass of water to him.

" Calm down. " Physical touch is prohibited while having a session --- well its not prohibited but the best way to communicate is without touching the client because this gesture can make them seriously emotional which can lead to confused emotions and filtered answers.

" Come on , Try to focus. " He gulps down the entire glass of water before wiping the sweat that dampened his forehead.

I sit back in my place after few minutes when it feels like he is back to himself and then he starts to speak.

" There is this voice in my head that t-told me to k-kill her. " He says. " It told me that she wanted to h-hurt me and that I should push her away. "

" You could've told her to go away , Yuvraj. " I speak in a suggestive tone and make an eye contact with him which he matches with much difficulty.

" I-I tried to.....but she wasn't understanding. " he shrugged.

" You should've tried controlling , dear. Your previous therapist gave you exercises to practice control over your thoughts, didn't he? "

" Y-Yes. It worked for sometime as well." He says and I nod thoughtfully.

" Then what happened? " I ask him. Why was he losing grip of his control even if he had practiced it earlier.

Out of the blue , his expressions turned rock hard and eyes darkened. I couldn't blink while staring at him. He had suddenly turned in what resembles a psycho.

" Then , the girl provoked me. I warned her. She didn't listen. And I had no choice. "

THUMP

" ...................."