OBSESSIONS

  • 28 Mar - 03 Apr, 2020
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Fiction

As I rushed to get my hands on David, my left foot tripped over the rug’s edge and I fell. I had fallen really badly. My chin had hit the floor and I had bit my tongue. I was down for a few seconds but then, as I looked up, David wasn’t standing there.

I stood up and rushed towards the window. I unlocked the window first and then, pulled it. As the window was open I looked outside and at the stairs, to my surprise there was no sign of David. I wondered,

What is going on? He was over here. I saw him. Where did he go?

He must be here somewhere. I told myself climbing outside. I was stuck and so, I couldn’t step outside completely. While I was there, I looked at the windows of other houses and to my surprise there was not a single trace of him.

Had he fallen down? The question arose in my mind. I looked down on the road and as I expected he wasn’t there too. I didn’t know how to respond, I simply exclaimed,

“I know you’re out here somewhere. You can’t escape from me that easily.”

I waited for a response, but since there was none, I said again,

“You are somewhere here. Where exactly? I don’t know. But remember, the moment, I find you, you’ll not be a second away from your death.”

I stopped for a while and then, went back in. I said my last words before closing the window,

“I would advise you to run as fast as you can, and hide somewhere where you are absolutely safe because I am not afraid to die now; my career is over, I have nothing to live for. I will die, but only by the hands of law because I will be sentenced to death for murdering you.”

I shut the window.

I went back inside and since I was enraged, I kicked the lamp nearby. The lamp fell on the ground and shattered into pieces.

I don’t care! I might end up in hell anyway. So, why shouldn’t I die with my pride? And my pride is in killing David.

************

Next morning, I was walking down on the streets. I was feeling frustrated but I was thinking about the new goal of my life. This goal was to murder my once friend, David McIntyre.

While, I was standing at the bus stop, an aged but a good looking woman wearing glasses came and stood by me. I felt that she was staring at me but I ignored her and continued thinking about my goal.

David, David, David! I said in a low voice.

“Excuse me?” she said to me.

I turned and looked at her. Quite frankly, she appeared to be a decent and pleasant looking woman.

She asked as I turned to her, “You were saying something?”

Since, I liked her attitude, I answered back nicely,

“No, I was just calling out a name, David!”

“David?” she asked with an expression of curiosity.

“Yes, David McIntyre!”

“David McIntyre?” she repeated with an expression of astonishment.

“Yes, why is that surprising?”

“No, I’m just… I’m just curious as to who this David McIntyre is.”

That moment, I understood that this woman was not at all aware about YouTube and other social media platforms and so, just to clarify her confusion, I said to her,

“He is a person who has caused me a huge loss.” “I see!”

So, don’t you, I mean you haven’t recognised me yet?”

“I don’t think that I have ever seen you before.”

I however, liked this woman and so, I thought of sharing my thoughts with her, but then, I avoided it and replied,

“Well, never mind! I’m just another YouTuber.”

“I see. I am a psychiatrist and my name is Victoria.”

Now, I was interested even more in talking to her because I desperately needed her help. I began the conversation,

“So, you consult to all kinds of psychological patients?”

“Well, I usually prescribe medicines. I’m not exactly a psychologist.”

“Doesn’t matter, can you tell me your days and timings.

I really need your help.”

“Oh, okay!” she chuckled politely.

“So, when and where should

I come and meet you?”

“You don’t need an appointment. I mean, if you are willing to see me today. Other days, I am kind of busy.”

“Well, that’s great!” I answered excitedly.

“So, are you coming with me?”

“Yes, but how about we conduct this session at my place?”

“I’m sorry, I don’t really trust…”

“…I got it!” I interrupted her raising my hands, “Say no more, we’ll go to wherever you are comfortable.”

“Great! Let’s go to my private clinic.”

“Sure!”

More than half an hour later, I was seated in her office. She asked me while, she was walking by,

“So, what would you like to drink?”

“Uh...whatever you are having!” I answered trying to be as polite as her.

“Okay, I’ll bring tea then.” “Sure!”

She turned and walked towards another room. That moment, I felt grateful for a while and told myself,

It has been quite a while that I haven’t been this happy. Well, I’m glad that I have finally found peace and more importantly…hope.

She was away for a while until she brought a cup of tea. I was slightly embarrassed and so, I stood up to take it from her.

“Thank you!” I said before

I could even touch the tea cup.

She sat on a couch that was at a distance. I wondered,

Are we going to talk with this much distance?

“…Okay,” she said, “When do you want to begin the session?”

Fifteen minutes later, I stopped speaking. I had kept my entire story of fame, success and betrayal before her. She commented,

“Wow, you were betrayed by the person who gave you the idea in the first place?”

“Exactly!”

“So, do you think that he had planted the idea deliberately to destroy your career eventually?”

“Tell me about it. I get the same thoughts, over and over again.”

“I’m sure you do. It happens,” she agreed with me. “What was his name again?”

“David,” I answered spontaneously, “David McIntyre.”

“Can you describe him? I mean, did he have any resemblance?”

“Resemblance? I’m sorry, I didn’t understand.”

“Never mind, just tell me what exactly do you want to do with this guy? Are you planning to kill him? Or is there any option for negotiation?”

“No Ma’am, I can’t. I cannot

negotiate with him. The matters have gotten worse.”

“Why is there so much hatred in your heart?”

“This guy has ruined my life. He has ruined my career.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Excuse me?” I got confused on her question.

“You are continuously saying one thing that David has ruined your career.”

“So, isn’t that true? Am I wrong?” I asked getting surprised on her reaction.

“I want you to think again. I’m sure you’ll gain a new perspective.”

I wasn’t getting what she wanted me to think and so, I simply asked her,

“Look Miss Victoria, please tell me clearly, where is this going?”

“I’m saying that I want you to re-examine your situation. You are thinking that your fans really hate you but, is this reason enough to destroy your entire career?”

I was now getting some interest,

as I now understood her point.

“You need to realise that this crisis won’t last forever. You will be disliked for now but, this time will pass. Just wait for a few months. Six months maximum and then, everything will be normal again. You can start your career once again. This is nothing more than a suspicion that your fans will kill you.”

I really admired her words and was motivated for a while, but then, David’s face appeared before me.

“No,” I said, “I’m sorry, I can’t. I can restart my career after a long time but, I cannot ignore that how I was double crossed. I need revenge for my survival.”

“Survival?” she asked feeling sorry for me. “Has this hatred gone this far?”

“Yes, it has. I’m sorry, but it has.”

She observed me for a while, and then asked,

“If you don’t mind, can I ask you, has there been a tragedy in your life? I mean, an event that was more like a trauma for you?”

“Uh…Yes,” I responded after recalling one of the notorious memories.

“Well, can you share it with me?”

“Okay, I can but does it have any direct relation with this resentment?”

“It might have, it might not. But, what I do know for sure is that you are mentally disturbed. You need therapies and not just therapies, medicines as well. But keeping that aside for a while, we need to focus on your life’s tragic incident now.”

“Well, it wasn’t exactly tragic,” I answered. “It was traumatizing.”

“Okay, I’m listening. Go on!”

I began narrating this incident of my life,

“More than two decades back, my parents were captured by some terrorists. They were locked on an island. The terrorists were trying to avenge my elder brother. We were five brothers. Three were elder than me and one was younger. My eldest brother Jonah was in the army. He was a good instructor too. He taught all of us, how to use guns and arms. This training was supposed to be helpful for us in this crucial time, but maybe it wasn’t. Anyways, Jonah arranged a helicopter and all five of us were headed to the island. We weren’t planning to negotiate with the criminals, our plan was to attack them regardless of the fact that they were large in number.”

“I see!”

“As we landed, Jonah revealed his brilliant plan. His plan made it clear that we were going to be successful. At least, that’s what I believed. Anyways, he asked us to take our positions. We were hiding behind the trees and bushes and he was leading from the front. As he was walking with his weapons hidden inside his over coat, two soldiers, two terrorists to be exact, came before him. They inquired him. He very cleverly shot both of them. That moment, the war literally begun, other guards started firing towards him but, he was damn good with his shooting skills. He flipped and shot five guards in less than sixty seconds. That moment, I was really proud of Jonah and took an oath of being a great soldier like him.”

“Wow!” she whispered.

“Jonah gave us a signal to shoot the terrorists wherever we found them, but he had strictly instructed us not to leave our positions. We started shooting and missed most of our shots. Jonah’s shots were quite calculated though, he was successful with his every bullet. He was quick in changing magazines and targeting his aims. Out of thirty guards, he had shot twenty four, all by himself. I know this figure because I was counting them. I wasn’t really participating in the fight, I was just watching and admiring Jonah.”

“So, what happened then?”

“Well, what happened was that my other brothers were trying their best even though they weren’t really successful. Only one of them, the youngest of all had shot one soldier down. So, I finally decided to fire. I loaded my pistol and aimed towards the tall heighted terrorist who was rushing towards Jonah. He had no weapon in his hand, perhaps he was trying to simply knock down my brother from behind. I didn’t aim properly and simply pressed the trigger, that moment he was very close to Jonah. Unfortunately, instead of that tall guy, the bullet crossed through my brother’s neck.”

“Oh, my God!”

“Yes, Jonah was shot down because of me.”

“So, what happened?” she asked getting curious. “Did you guys rescue your parents?”

to be continued...

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