Unkept Promises

The reason - Part II

"What exactly was Kinjal's stance on this entire issue as far as the two of you are concerned? Did she demand anything from you Abhiram?", Dr. Godbole proceeded with her questions after the two of us had regained our composure.

"I won't say demand per se doctor, but the thing is, she cried for help, she bitterly wailed for help, for me to help her, for me to save her kid. And when I went inside during her conversation with Avantika, she pointed out how her bhabhi was wrongly accusing her despite of her pain. She had cried bitterly in front of me then."

"So her cries affected you?"

"You can say that doctor. Actually, it had been a long time since she had genuinely cried in front of me, I mean, that's how I felt during that moment. Her gut-wrenching cries seemed genuine, and the situation too exacted such a reaction. I saw in front of me, my baby sister who was mourning the loss of her child, and despite of hers being in grief, she was being accused by my wife. Now, there have been lots of instances where Kinjal threw tantrums and cried, acted out and cried, was terribly at fault and cried, but this was the first time in all these years, that I felt her crying her heart out for something so terrible, so painful."

"That means, the reason she was mourning for affected you, and you reacted the way you did?"

"Doctor, I, uhh, it had been after a lot of years that I had seen a glimpse of my baby sister yet again. That sister who after getting hurt in her childhood would run into my arms and cry her heart out. Ever since she had drifted away from us, it was never the same - she would only try to provoke me, or belittle me, try to hurt me, but this was the first time after a lot of years that I saw her rushing into my arms like she did in childhood, complaining to me about what pains her like a little child. Somewhere, deep in my heart, it gave me the assurance that perhaps, I once again have my little sister back."

"I cannot properly state it doctor, but perhaps, seeing Kinjal that way, even though she was in her grief, seeing her depend on me for digesting her grief, it all gave me the hope that my old Kinju, my baby sister, we have all gotten her back. The way she wailed, it seemed so genuine doctor, that you would not even think of doubting her."

"And tell me another thing Abhiram, how was the communication between you and Kinjal after she was discharged from the hospital during that entire course of six months?"

"Much to my surprise, she was in regular contact with me all those six months. Now, prior to this, we had never been so close except her childhood before she had drifted away from us. She called me regularly, cried on the phone or whenever we would meet - even that increased, our number of meets. She shared her grief with me, and also about how she was pained where Avi accused her. She apologized to me, mummy, pappa for her behaviour over the years. I remember how one day, she burst into tears in mummy's embrace, and apologized for all those years of her behaviour. Her explanation was, now that she had lost her child, she felt how anything difficult pertaining to their children would pain parents. We had received our old Kinjal back, it seemed."

That was the truth - the very indication that we had somehow gotten back our Kinjal - the one who had drifted so farther away from us, despite of a tragedy, was so very overwhelming.

A pained chuckle escaped my lips, "Oh, how she played us!"

"So your communication with Kinjal was stronger than ever?"

"Yes."

"And your communication with your wife was weaker than ever?"

"Literally non-existent.", Avi interrupted.

I nodded in shame.

"You know Abhiram, this conversation has brought me near a conclusion. Avantika, listen carefully.", Dr. Godbole's voice had assumed a firm tone, and from her demeanour, I could make out that she had learned something really crucial.