10 A.M…
Aditya and Anamika were sitting silently inside a room.
The room was calm—almost too calm. In fact, it was a doctor’s cabin.
A few moments later, a lady walked in.
She looked to be in her fifties—her eyes lined with calm kohl, her face unreadable, her long hair tied neatly in a small bun.
She carried a few medical files in her hand, which she placed softly on the table.
Then her eyes lifted toward the two people sitting before her—Aditya and Anamika.
A faint smile appeared on her face as she said, “So tell me… what brings our silent little rabbit here today?”
Anamika lowered her gaze politely, to which the lady replied, “Good morning!”
Aditya looked a little confused.
He thought, “How could she read Anamika’s silence so easily?”
Anamika still sat quietly, her eyes slightly downcast.
The lady took a deep breath, turned toward Aditya, and introduced herself.
“My name is Dr. Niharika. I’m the in-charge doctor of this hospital.”
Aditya leaned forward slightly. “Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, ma’am. I’m Aditya Jain—a businessman.”
Without wasting a second, Niharika asked, “And why exactly have you come here with my little rabbit?”
Caught off guard by her direct tone, Aditya stammered, “I–I just came to drop Anamika off, that’s all.”
“So you’ve dropped her off, haven’t you?”
Her soft smile carried a hidden firmness. “Well then, son… I believe your business must be waiting for you.”
Aditya froze for a second, unsure how to respond.
“Uh… yes, right. I should… get going.”
He stood up to leave, but before he could take a step, Anamika caught his sleeve.
He turned toward her.
She looked at him softly and said, “Wait for me. I’ll be back soon.”
Aditya smiled faintly. “I’ll wait,” he said gently and walked out.
As he was leaving, Niharika called after him, “Well, if you’re waiting anyway, why not take a little walk around our hospital? You might enjoy it.”
Aditya frowned slightly, thinking, “Enjoy? In a mental hospital?”
But before he could say anything, Niharika smiled beautifully, her voice almost poetic.
“You’ll understand once you see their world, Aditya. Then you’ll realize—we, the so-called ‘normal’ people, are the real prisoners. They… they’re the ones who are truly free.
When you walk among them, don’t judge—just feel. Every world has its reason for being the way it is.”
Aditya nodded respectfully. “Yes, ma’am,” he said quietly and left.
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As soon as he left, Niharika’s expression changed.
She pulled a chair closer to Anamika and crossed her arms.
“You came here without telling Saaniya, didn’t you?” she asked calmly.
Anamika looked down like a guilty child and nodded.
“Why?” Niharika asked gently.
“Because…” Anamika whispered, “I want to know what really happened to my father… how he is… what happened to him.”
At her words, Niharika’s brows furrowed with concern.
“There’s no way Saaniya told you that,” she said sharply. “So who did?”
Anamika lifted her eyes, pain flickering within them.
“Why do you all hide things about my own father from me?”
Niharika smiled faintly, brushed Anamika’s hair aside, and said softly, “Good girl… you’ve finally learned to raise your voice, my little rabbit. I’m proud of you for that.
But as for your question—there’s a reason why we never told you the truth. It wasn’t just Saaniya’s decision—it was mine too.
Yes, I know you’ve been improving. You haven’t needed therapy sessions for months now.
Your mental state has stabilized a lot… but I still don’t believe you’re ready to face your past yet.
And the second, even more important reason… is your father’s condition.
Even if Saaniya allowed it—I wouldn’t let you go near that man.”
Anamika’s hands clenched tightly, trembling. Tears brimmed in her eyes, but she held them back, biting her lip.
MeanwhileHe was lost in thought when suddenly, a girl—around fifteen or sixteen—grabbed his hand.
Startled, he gently pulled his hand back.
“Excuse me… do you know me, miss?” he asked softly.
The girl blinked innocently and said in a childlike tone,b“Why are you walking around outside? The monster roams here… he’ll eat you!”
Aditya smiled and played along, “Oh really? Then why are you outside? Won’t he eat you too?”
She smiled faintly—then her expression darkened.
“He already did… ate me whole. It hurts so much when the monster eats you.
That’s why I’m telling you—hide before he finds you!”
Her voice was pure and innocent, but the words carried a painful, broken truth.
Just then, two nurses came running. One of them gently took the girl away.
The other turned to Aditya and asked, “Sir, are you a visitor?”
Aditya nodded. “Yes. I came with a friend. By the way… that girl—”
The nurse sighed softly.
“Oh, her? She’s mentally unstable. Admitted about six months ago.
But honestly, she’s doing much better now.
She’s seen hell, sir—while still alive.
There are monsters in this world who see little girls like her as toys… and when they’re done playing, they break them without shame.”
Her voice turned heavy for a moment. Then she added, “Anyway, where’s your friend?”
“She’s talking to the doctor.”
The nurse smiled kindly. “Alright, sir. Just be careful, okay? It’s the patients’ walk time now, and they’ll be around here.
Please don’t get too close to any of them.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Aditya replied.
As he walked further, he looked around.
Each patient seemed to live in their own little universe— some lost in silence, some dancing to invisible music.
To Aditya, it was a whole new world. Beautiful in its own strange way.
Then, at a distance, he noticed an older woman sitting on a bench.
She looked to be around sixty, wearing a thick winter coat.
Her hair was neatly combed, and she was sipping tea under the sun.
Aditya assumed she must be another visitor.
He sat beside her politely. “Ma’am, it’s not that cold, so why the heavy coat?” he asked with a friendly smile.
The woman smiled back. “I’m not keeping well, dear. I get cold easily.”
She showed him her coat proudly. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
Aditya nodded. “It is.”
“My daughter bought it for me,” she said warmly. “She has great taste—though she spends too much!
But it’s okay… she works in a big company now. I’m proud of her.”
Aditya’s smile softened. “You must be very proud.”
The woman lowered her gaze, her voice gentle. “Yes… I am.
All I want now is to see her married. I’m looking for a good boy for her— someone handsome and kind… like you!”
Aditya chuckled awkwardly. “Well… I’m actually in love with someone, ma’am.
But I’m sure your daughter will find someone even better.”
The woman suddenly grabbed his hand tightly. “No… no one could be better for her than you!
Just meet her once, please! I’m sure you’ll forget the girl you love. My daughter is beautiful—so beautiful!”
Aditya tried to pull his hand away, but she held on with desperation.
“Ma’am, please… love doesn’t happen because of beauty. It just… happens. Without reason.”
But she wouldn’t let go.
Her eyes grew wild with desperation as she cried, “No! You’re the one! You’re perfect for her!
If you don’t marry her, I’ll kill that girl you love! I’ll kill her so that you belong to my daughter!”
Aditya’s fists clenched. His jaw tightened.
He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
“I’ve respected your age till now,” he said in a low, dangerous tone,n“but that’s enough. Don’t push me further.”
For a moment, his eyes darkened—the angelic calm in him replaced by a flicker of rage.
If the nurses hadn’t arrived at that very moment, he might have lost control.
“Miss Mary!” one nurse called out as she rushed forward. “I heard you shouting again!”
The other nurse looked at Aditya apologetically. “I’m so sorry, sir. She’s one of our patients. I did warn you not to get too close.”
One nurse helped the woman away, while the other stayed back to explain.
“Oh, I guess the coat must’ve confused you,” she said kindly.
“Miss Mary lost her only daughter two years ago. She worked her whole life for that girl. That coat was gifted by her!
Well… After her death, Mary couldn’t handle the grief.
She started wandering around the hospital, asking every young man she met to marry her dead daughter. When doctor Rudra saw her he took her here! ”
Aditya was shocked. “Dr. Rudra brought her here?” he asked.
“Yes, sir. He’s been covering all her medical expenses himself. But… her condition hasn’t improved much.”
The nurse left, and Aditya stood there in silence.
Losing someone… it really does destroy you from the inside.
He knew that pain well.
Still, he decided never to meet that woman again— not because he hated her,
but because he didn’t trust himself to stay calm if her words tore open his wounds again… if she again says something like this for his love!
Sometimes, madness is just love that never found a home.
