Ram vs Ram - chapter 4

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*** 

"What's happening here?" Ram asks Kalyani. She is in the middle of a make up session. 

"Yeah, you're right. I also don't know what's happening here. I actually thought it will take less time" Kalyani answers while the makeup artist gives final touchings for her.

"Common Kalyani - this is not a joke."

"What happened?" Kalyani stops the makeup artist and looks at Ram.

Ram takes her aside to a corner. "I know it doesn't make any sense. But please answer me. Are we getting married?" asks Ram.

"Yes. What happened to you? Are you alright?"

"I don't think I am. I am not understanding why we both are getting married."

"I am sorry, what?" Kalyani shakes her head in confusion.

"No, I am sorry, Kalyani. I know it may seem completely strange, but I honestly don't remember how I ended up to have a wedding with you. I don't know what is happening to me" Ram says with his eyes validating the helplessness of his words.

"You don't remember?"

"Yes. I don't remember, like.." Ram suddenly holds his forehead with his hands and lets out a scream. "Ahh... something is happening in my head. I am having a severe headache."

Kalyani informs others to leave the room, and asks his father to check for any doctor in the guests and also to call for an ambulance. Kalyani holds Ram, "I am here, Ram, I am here. We will see what's happening with you." 

Ram struggles to speak anything as a doctor in the guests observes him. "We need to get him screened properly. Even though I can't see any visible damage, something seems wrong. Especially he is saying he doesn't remember any of the past events."

Kalyani then calls her father - "Cancel the wedding for now father." 

"What?" her father is shocked.

"I am sorry, but that's the best decision we can take", supports the doctor. 

"I will do it myself", Kalyani says, wiping the tears off her face. 

As the ambulance arrives and takes in Ram, Kalyani personally goes to the wedding stage and apologizes to everyone and announces about the Ram's condition. Without any time to wait and check the guest's reaction, she runs towards the ambulance in her heavy wedding attire and stumbles upon a carpet piece. Then a hand catches her before she falls - it is Shiva. 

 ***

"Thank you so much for helping out with the hospital procedure and getting him treatment." says Kalyani.

"No mention - I saw how affected you are. It's the least I can do." replies Shiva. "So, is he alright? What are the doctors saying?"

"They are saying that he might have some internal brain injury, that might have triggered a memory loss. Like, he might have slipped in the bathroom or hit his head. They suggested to visit a psychologist as well. Yeah, he is at least stable now, even though his still is struggling to recollect his past."

"Oh, is it? Yeah please do the necessary. You need not think about the cost. If you feel it is hurting your pocket, just let me know. I know really good hospitals and good doctors."

"Thank you. By the way, may I know who you are? I don't know anything about you."

"I will tell you all the things. But not now. I am leaving to get some rest, just ensure you also get some. You look very tired." saying that, Shiva takes her leave.

***

"When I came to know that the groom told Kalyani that he could not remember anything, I just wanted to kill him. I thought he was just cheating and trying to get away from her." Shiva told Bhai.

"So, did you control the anger?"  Bhai smiles.

"Yes. I realized that his headache was real, and the doctors confirmed something genuinely wrong with him. Maybe we also have to see what the psychologist tell about him."

"Yeah, that's true. We can't just believe yet that he is right and genuine. But also, ask yourself this - what is important to you? Getting revenge on that Ram for hurting Kalyani? Or Supporting Kalyani through this time? Imagine what Kalyani is going through right now."

"That's true as well."  Shiva realizes. "I can't describe what she is going through."

So Shiva starts visiting Kalyani regularly. He arranges treatment for Ram, and whenever possible, be with Kalyani. As Ram starts recovering, he keeps on saying the same thing - that he has never seen Kalyani as more than a friend. Kalyani breaks down every time she hears those words. Her Ram has somehow disappeared. It's not the Ram she knows. Her Ram does not make her cry.

The psychologist has confirmed that Ram has a multi personality disorder - to be precise, the doctors confirmed there are two personalities of Ram that are completely contradicting with respect to Kalyani. The present Ram has no feelings for Kalyani; As per Kalyani, the Ram who loved her was the other personality. Ram has no control over these personalities. Since her wedding event, Ram personality has not changed. He is consistent in the claims about never intending to marry Kalyani. 

Almost everyone who knew Kalyani suggested her to move on. Even Ram himself asked her to let him go. Shiva did not suggest anything. "Do what you feel right."  

 ***

While Ram starts to learn and accept his problem, he has moved far away from Kalyani. He has been struggling with frequent headaches. He sent some letters initially to Kalyani but later he stopped doing that. He decided not to be involved in Kalyani's life anymore.

Meanwhile, Shiva has helped Kalyani by starting a new business in a new area of the city upon Kalyani's request. Also, Shiva revealed about his work, that too, upon Kalyani's request.

"So, you are like mafia? or like vigilantes? You do murders and robberies?"

"Well, I can't say we are vigilantes. We are not perfect and good people. We are not much into robberies, but we commit killings, that's true. But we are not psychopaths. It's just that we have many generations of groups, trying to protect our legacy and loyalty. If we feel we are threatened, we don't think twice to show our strength." Shiva kept his head low.

"Hmm, I see. So killing people is like a normal thing, huh? I think I missed when and how it became one." remarks Kalyani. "Aren't you afraid of getting caught and spending rest of your time in prison?"

"Yes, I am afraid. I don't even plan to do this forever. Even I want to quit and do some business. Like you. Just get settled. Like you. Be with someone. Like you." Shiva pauses.

"Oh.."

"Are you afraid of me, Kalyani?"

"Well, I don't have a straight answer. Maybe the work you do and risks you take gave you the power to get things done as you want. I can say that's a trade off? But I would be afraid if you would keep on killing people. Especially if I want to be with someone. Like you." Kalyani pauses and looks at Shiva.

***

"Hi Kalyani." Ram visits Kalyani after a very long time. He has grown a full beard and gained a lot of weight compared to when she last saw him.

Kalyani sees him. "To whom I am talking to? Who are you, Ram?"

Kalyani used to receive many letters to her address - some asking her to forgive and give a chance to start things afresh; and the others asking her to move on. After sometime, the letters asking her to move on stopped. She started to ignore the other letters.

Kalyani adjusts her throat and asks Ram "How are you, Ram? How are the headaches now?" 

"Yeah, still having them. I am trying to work out a method with my psychologist to communicate with my, you know, the other Ram."

"Oh, is it. Good to know."

"The thing is, I just came to know that you and Shiva are.."

Kalyani looks at Ram. He stops talking. "I want to congratulate to you. You are strong Kalyani. I want you have the best future. I mean it."

"Thank you. You also take care."

Ram smiles. He wanted to say something but he realizes he started to have headache. He takes her leave. But before that, Kalyani stops him - "If possible, please don't try to attend my marriage." Ram nods.

-end of chapter 4- 

P..S thanks for reading! Chapter 5 is in progress..