74. I Was Not Wrong!

Anika’s PoV

I went in and waited on a table for Sharanya to come. I tried to keep my mind open and calm. What did she mean by Preethi wanting to harm me? Like physically? It is quite a scary thought, is she mad at me for being pregnant with Arjun’s baby? Is that why she wants to harm me? I suspected her for harming my married life, never once did I think that she is capable of harming me physically. Sharanya thinks that she is not well in her mind which is the exact same thing Nilesh said. Preethi needs medical care. The suicide threat she made today, I could really feel the agitation in her voice, that was so scary. I could understand why Nilesh wants to steer clear of her way. It is good that they took Avni from her hands.

“Hi, Anika.” Sharanya came and took the seat in front of me.

“Hi, Sharanya.”

“Sorry, I got a bit late. Stuck in traffic. How are you?”

“I am good. Nice to meet you.”

“Me too! Ok, enough formalities. Anika, I saw Preethi stabbing you in your wedding picture. She completely disfigured you with paint and was stabbing you with a knife. I saw her doing it today at around 11AM. I went to pick up Avni as usual but I saw Preethi’s sandals outside. I went to her room for a formal ‘hi’, wondering why she didn't go to the office today. But the scene that unfolded in front of my eyes was horrid. She was sitting on the bed with a knife and was stabbing it. I called out on her and she dropped the knife and looked at me like a lost child.” She said, looking at me.

“But, why? What did I ever do to her? I … I didn't do any harm to her.” I tried to form words from my dried up throat.

“I think you did harm her, by getting into Arjun’s life. I think Preethi is depressed. I could clearly see that she was sorry for what she did when I called out. She started crying to me saying she had no idea that she did this. She said that she felt so lonely, she didn't like her parents, Praveen and I or you and Arjun to be together. I tried to reason with her that we are trying to find a match for her and asked her to stay calm and take deep breaths. She was doing ok when I left her room. She even spoke very enthusiastically about how she is planning for the upcoming birthday of her dad, that is the 60th birthday. I clearly knew that her behavior is completely out of ordinary. One minute she was stabbing with dead eyes, next minute she was crying and the very next minute she talks about the birthday celebration? I went out and felt the immediate urge to let her parents know about her state, so I told them that she needs to be taken to a psychiatrist for a brief evaluation. But she heard me and started a huge fight.”

“Did her parents believe what you said?”

“Yes, though they don't think that she needs a psychiatrist, they know that Preethi is suffering from depression. They knew that she had not come to terms with the fact that Nilesh cheated on her. There have been episodes of her acting out when she saw her mom do things for her dad or they spend time talking with each other. Last week, when we went there to pick up Avni for an outing, she unnecessarily scolded that little child saying that we were going as a family and she cannot go with us as an extra wheel. It really hurt Praveen and he said that we never had thought of Avni like that. But the next day when we met in the grocery store, she talked to me like that incident never happened. When she started fighting, I told her that she needed help to sort her mind and she assumed that we all think of her as a ‘mental case’, which was not true.”

“Then she took Avni and tried to go out?”

“Yes, though her parents tried to stop her, she was very aggressive and emotional. We could not even hold her in one place. She pushed us all and tried to leave the house but my father in law pulled Avni from her hands. Poor child was very terrified of her mother. She was having bad sleep with nightmares.”

“So she is not specifically angry at me, right? She is kind of jealous that we all get to live with our partners when she can’t. She can be cured if she takes up some therapy and counseling, right?” I asked her, trying to rule everything that was bothering me. She is not acting weird only around me, she is in dire need of medical attention. This whole story made me feel at ease. All the tension and fear that was building up inside me so far just melted away. She may have done something to bother my married life just like she did for her parents. She has no personal vengeance with me. Just when I settled in the fact that I am not a target, Sharanya continued talking.

“No, Anika. I doubt that. She is definitely on to you. I don't know why, but many times Avni had told me that her mom is acting weird when she is in her room. She had heard Preethi silently yell your name, cut out your picture and put it in the trash and save only Arjun’s picture, Avni told me that you are a bad person that hurt her mom. That is how she understands her mom’s reactions. Don't get me wrong, when I got married, Avni was already two years old. Arjun was unmarried. Preethi spent most of her time in Praveen’s parents' home. I didn't like her at all and that made some unpleasant arguments. That is why we moved to a different house but we moved only after Anamika went missing. Whenever Preethi comes home, Arjun would come visit her or she would go to Arjun’s house. With how she behaved, I thought it was disgusting. No married woman will be leaning on another man’s shoulder or always talk about him. But Preethi did that. After three months of our wedding, Arjun got married to Anamika. She was a wonderful woman. Preethi was not very involved in any of the wedding preparations. I know this because I participated enthusiastically but she stopped coming to her parents home. After some months, she got back to her usual self and continued her visits. Anamika got closer to her and if I remember correctly, Anamika would always leave the house with a face full of confusion months before her disappearance.”

“You think Preethi is in love with Arjun? That Preethi is somehow responsible for Anamika’s sudden disappearance?” I asked her, it was like reliving my instincts and fear.

“Yes, Anika. From all these years, I know Arjun is genuinely caring for her. But Preethi is in love with Arjun. I don't know since when she is in love but I can tell you she is in love with him right now. I know the immense research she did for Arjun’s divorce. All she talked about at that time was his divorce. The exact timing she came home breaking up with Nilesh just after Arjun’s divorce, I don't think it is coincidence. You came in out of nowhere, Anika. She didn't expect you to interfere. She might have thought that since Arjun is a divorcee and she is also one, since they are childhood friends and the families know each other well, it would be a cake walk to marry Arjun. But you spoiled it for her. That is why she is raging. She might harm you. Talk to Arjun and take her to the psychiatrist. Just some counseling can make her tell all that she has done. You have to be careful, Anika. I wanted to warn you because no one except me is seeing it. I can understand that her parents and brother love her and their love is making them turn a blind eye on all this. My family doesn't believe an ounce of what I said and now they are blaming me for her run-away. I don't know you but I wanted to alert you. With the aggression I saw in Preethi today, she can really harm you physically.”

“Thank you, Sharanya. You know what, this was my doubt all along these months. Her behavior didn't set right with me from the day one I met her. As an insolent, I straight away told my doubt to Arjun and that caused a drift between us. He didn't want to hear me talk bad about her. I doubt that she has done something else too. I will be careful, thank you so much, Sharanya.”

We parted ways and I went to the hostel. I restrained myself from talking about Anand or the fact that I spoke with Nilesh to Sharanya. All the while, one thing was constantly pestering my mind. Is she really suffering from depression or is she making it all up? What did Nilesh say? That she was suffering from HSDD, she was taken to the psychiatrist and was given medicines. Now she acts like she is in depression and is suffering from loneliness that she takes out on her near and dear as they are with their companions. I knew from the beginning that she is not right, I must know what part she played in involving Arun in my life. I called up Harish.

“Harish anna, where are you?”

“I am on the way to Coimbatore, Anu. Why?”

“Oh, I thought you could help me. When will you be back?”

“I am going to see Shivani, it looks like it is an auspicious day tomorrow for starting wedding shopping. I have taken leave just for tomorrow. I will be back to work on wednesday. Why, Anu? What happened?”

“Oh, congratulations, anna. I need to find Arun.”

“Who?”

“um, he was a college senior, we had a relationship and we broke up. But I want to find him now.”

“You had a past love? Wow, but why do you want to look for him now? Is he troubling you?”

“Yes, anna. He is a trouble. I believe Preethi has set him up to trouble me. She should be paying him for what he did or there should be some sort of agreement between them. I want to know what.”

“Do you know where his parents live?” He asked me, that sparked the idea.

“Yes, I will send you their address. He has only a mom and a sister. Talk to his mom, anna. She is a very nice woman. Let her know what his son is upto. Maybe she can reprimand her son.”

“Ok, Anu. I will go to his house tomorrow. What exactly has he done?”

I told him a gist of what happened so far and asked him to confront his mom. I have to wait until Harish comes back to go in search of Arun. I must file a complaint on Arun for disturbing my life. Let's wait for the results from Harish’s encounter with his mother.