Her Lost Prints

Chapter 2

She remained silent. “Abhi! I think you should check with a few more medical professionals. It"s a very sensitive case. If you want, I can recommend to you some renowned psychiatrists in America. You can check with them.” “Here, this is my senior, Doctor Yan’s contact number. She is an expert of cases like this, I am sure she will be a help to you.” She said as she handed me a paper slip with Doctor Yan’s number on it.

“I have already consulted the best psychiatrists in America, Avni.” “They all have challenged their expertise and failed because there is nothing they have found in her medical records. Some of them have asked me to wait and pray for her to utter her first word and other have asked me to lose faith and accept that I will never be able to listen to my daughter’s voice in life. Do you have any idea how difficult it is for a parent of not being able to listen to their own child’s voice? I have never heard my daughter’s laughter or her cry. It is very easy for them to preach me to accept her like that but I cannot give upon her. Not now, not ever.” I shouted in outrage.

Avni being the best listener, kept on listening. She put her one hand on my shoulder and held my hand with her to soothe me with the other and said, “I understand Abhi!”.

“No you don’t, Avni! You wouldn’t have advised me to go to another doctor otherwise.” I said softly.

She took her hands off my shoulder and sat back.

I realized I had been harsh on her. So, I broke the silence and initiate, “According to the doctors, her mutism is caused by a trauma.”. “Also, Avni, I don’t trust these doctors anymore. She had seen more hospitals than playgrounds in her life and that is not fair to her. I can’t make her go under another series of medical tests and therapies. Under another treatment, another t*****e on my little girl."

“I can’t see her like this Avni. She"s all I have.” “Please take up her case? I know you, I know you can do this. Only you can do this. She needs you, we need you!” I requested.

“She likes you and she will be more comfortable with you than any senior or most experienced doctors of your.” “Remember when we met in the parking lot of the supermarket, you said that ‘the kids have the ability which we grownups don’t. They sense the vibe.’ And I think she felt yours. She trusts you.” I added.

“I know Abhi, but I don’t think I’m capable of taking an extremely sensitive case like this.” She concluded.

After a long pause.

“Hmm! I sighed. “It"s okay, I understand Avni! It was great to see you after such a long time. Thank you for having us here and for the lunch of course!” I said piteously.

“I am so sorry, Abhi. I really wish I could help you.” She said in a low voice. She felt bad but she was not at fault.

“It"s alright!” I stood up and prepared to leave. I took my daughter, grabbed my car keys, and reached the door way. “Here"s my card, Avni. It has my address on it, in case you change your mind, and thank you again for the delicious lunch.” I said goodbye and drove back home.

I went to work after dropping my daughter at home with Mariyam ji. Mariyam ji is our full time care taker, but she is more like a family member to us. She first looked after Amma, then Hasrat (my wife), and now she looks after my house and my daughter.

I kept staring at my phone, hoping to receive a text from Avni.

I kept my phone on and checked it in every five minutes to see if I have received any messages or calls from her, but I had tough luck. Avni has been my best friend but I still couldn’t pressure her. After pretending to be busy at work I asked my assistant to cancel my meetings for the day since I could barely concentrate.

Evening at 6 o’clock I reached home. I had my dinner and went to check on my daughter. She was busy painting her color book, she showed me her art. Her eyes gleamed as she showed me the castle she drew today. We shared the updates in our own way and then I brushed her teeth, tucked her in bed and read her favorite bedtime story. Snow white and the seven dwarfs. It has been her all-time favorite story. It"s about a divinely gorgeous princess who is banished by her stepmother and takes shelter in the house of the dwarfs. The poisoned apple causes her to slip into a deep sleep. After awakening her from her slumber with a kiss, the prince carries her to his castle perched above the skies. It indeed is a beautiful tale. It is not surprising that kids are enthralled by this story. I read to her until she fell asleep. I took her teddy from her and tucked her well in the bed, put on the blankets on her to keep her warm. I switched off the lights of her room and came out, still wishing Avni to call or message. I thought to text her to check if she had changed her mind but then I dropped the idea thinking it would not be good to pressure her against her will.

Although it was time for me to join the online video conference but, I wasn’t in the mood to work, possibly because I was more focused on hearing from her than anything else in the world. Disappointed and devastated, I walked to my bedroom. I went to change my clothes and decided to call the work meet off for today.

I was in the restroom when my phone began to ring. I hurried out to reach for it. Assuming it was Avni. I entered my study area, where I kept my phone. It rang for three to four bells before I leapt to grab the phone as I was afraid of missing the call. So, I grabbed for the phone to accept the call and answered it without even looking at the numbers. “Hi!” I exclaimed with happiness. “Good evening, Abhimanyu, the team is waiting for you to join in,” the person on the phone remarked. It was Jacob from the office. It was a call to remind me to attend the meet. “I’ll be there in a min.” I said in dismay and hung up the call.

I slumped into my chair and decided to join the conference call. I figured it would keep me busy and distracted from expecting her call. Even though the possibilities were fewer than one percent, I still had a feeling she will call.

I finished the meeting and retired to bed. My phone flashed up at around 1.39 a.m. I don’t usually attend the late night calls, but certain cells in my body were positive about hearing from her. So, I rushed to my study area to check the phone, and this time I leaped up in JOY to see the text labelled “Avantika (2),” and the phone displayed two messages from her.

I quickly opened the texts. The first text read, “Hey!"

“Are you awake?” asks the second. After receiving her message, I called her. “Hi Abhi! You are still awake?” She asked.

“Yes, I was working. Have you changed your mind?” I asked avidly.

“Yes, Abhi! I thought about it all day, and I think you were right, she will be more comfortable with me than anybody else. She had met me. So yeah I think I am in.” She said. “Avantika, thank you so much. You have no idea how grateful I am to you for this. Now, I am sure she will be able to speak one day.” I exclaimed joyfully.

“But, Abhi, before we start, I need to know everything about your wife in order to understand the cause of her trauma if it is genetically or it was developed during or post your wife’s pregnancy. I am assuming it to be an accidental trauma but just to make sure… I hope you understand.” She suggested.

I got confused and hesitant for a minute.

“Look, I know it’ll be difficult for you, and we could be dredging up old graves and wounds, but we have to do this.” She continued.

“I understand. I will take care of it.” I consented. I couldn’t afford to do anything that makes her lose interest in the case.

“Great! Then I’ll see you at the clinic. Or, hang on…., let"s move her session to a more comfortable place.” She suggested.

“Sure, you can come over and I will take care of everything. She feels secure in here.” I proposed.

“Fantastic, I’ll see you tomorrow at 1pm. Works?” “Absolutely! Thank you, Avni.