ALL IN THE MIND

26 March, Sunday, 2:30 PM

"Don't worry. Things will get better." Adya said, caressing my knuckles. A weird current passed through me instantly.

This piece of art would been mine if my best friend hadn't had screwed things over.

This single thought gave me an unparalleled energy to save my self. I might have one more chance with her. Things were finally getting better.

Also, Hriday would have passed on his earnings to Adya, that might help me recover from my lengthy and unbearable debt.

I smiled inwardly. May be in the last eighten to twenty hours, that was the first time, a curve formed on my lips.

All because of Adya.

She was always my good luck.

She left me alone and went to sit beside Prachi. An emptiness embraced me.

Not for long, Taksh. Not for long.

"Maan sir will continue tomorrow. You have to stay here tonight.custody. Let us know if you feel like talking to your family or your lawyer." A constable said, his tone was exhausted. His face was irritated, showing how we ruined his weekend.

"I need to talk to my wife." I gulped before speaking further. My throat was getting second by second. "Also, I need my pills. I can't seem to find them" I said.

"You can't take any medications when locked up, it piffles up the whole process."

"Maan sir permited." I interrupted him.

I knew that if I took the pills and if it was shown in reports or in the interrogation, half of the things I said wouldn't be taken seriously. It might come under the act of 'confession under the influence of heavy substance' ,and my confession wouldn't be considered in the court.

"I would like to confirm that."

I quickly nodded in agreement.

"Also, your wife would be here by four." Biting my lower lip, I nodded.

I looked into Adya's direction, she was gone. I went back to my seat and sat there.

I could feel a sensation in my legs, my legs were going numb, but this time it wasn't anxiety, it was excitement.

What about Sheela?

What about her?

I loved her as well. Why can't a person not love two people at the time? What was so wrong about it?

"In society's terms, it is cheating." I could see myself sitting right in front of me.

Was I hallucinating my own self? How could that happen?

"Adya would need somebody and I just want to be there for her. I just want to be a good friend to her that's it." I replied to myself.

Who was I lying to?

"Really, your thoughts about her are very different from what you are saying." My alter ego blurted.

Could I call it an alter ego? Was I going crazy?

No, it's just exhaustion, overthinking and gobbling so many pills in a go.

"First, you killed your friend, brother, and now you are fascinating and daydreaming about his wife?!" the other Taksheel whispered in my ear. From the corner of my eyes, I could see a devil smirk on his face.

"Shame on you, Taksh, shame on you!" He said it with a smile. A drop of sweat went down my face, my breath quickened.

"Get out of my head, you bastard." I clenched my teeth.

He didn't leave. Instead, he smiled broader.

That boiled my blood.

"I said, leave me alone." This time I screamed.

I screamed out with all the remaining strength in me. I kept screaming until a few constables came running in the room.

By the end, my voice turned into a mere plea of forgiveness.

When the constables held me and I looked up, I saw no one in the room. I was all alone.

What games was my mind playing with me?

They helped me in sitting straight. They offered me water but I refused. My head felt heavy again. I could bet my eyes were red too. But above all, my mind was extremely foggy.

"Taksh, baby are you alright?" Sheela rushed inside.

It was four already?

She cupped my face and kissed on my forehead. The constable slowly moved out muttering some curse words in their native language.

I closed my eyes to feel those warm lips on my skin. She stayed like this for a minute.

When I opened my eyes, I could see Adya's round and fair face in front of my eyes.

Did Adya kiss me right now?

I blinked again to confirm.

Now, I could see Sheela.

What the hell was happening?

"Taksh, are you okay?" I could see Sheela's face but this voice belonged to Adya.

"No! I am not okay. I need my pills, go get my pills. My head hurts, everything hurts, go get my pills." I almost grabbed my wife by her shoulders and screamed at her.

Her eyes widened. She was shocked to see me like that. I never behaved like that. I was never violent.

My firm grip on her shoulders tightened.

"Taksheel, you're hurting me." she could barely manage to say that.

"No, you are hurting me! By not giving me my pills, you are hurting me. Go get me my pills!" I raised my voice like I have never done before and I threw her out of the room.

She fell down near the door. The constable had kept the door open. I looked back to have a glance at her.

I could see Adya sitting on the floor, sobbing. I rushed to her.

"Adya, baby, I am sorry. I didn't mean to...Are you okay? Please get up, I am so sorry." I helped her getting up. Every eye was on us, I could feel that.

"I am Sheela, Taksh. What is wrong with you?" She said after losing herself from my tight grip.

"I am sorry, I don't know what is happening to me!" I ran my hands through my hair.

The pills never worked like that. Anti anxiety pills never worked like that.

Did somebody change my pills? Was I taking the wrong pills all along? Or somebody changed my pills today?

Wait, I never took a pill till now, did I?