*This part is a bit sensitive: abuse, trauma, disease*

Nana = Mother's father
Nani = Mother's mother
Dada = Father's father

Beside a Guvava's tree, Ira sat on the low roof, her black patiala-clad legs dangling over the edge, bobbing gently back and forth in a soothing rhythm. The evening sky cast a warm orange glow over the scene, illuminating the open fields in the distance. Beside her, a brown calf with white patches, no more than five days old, sat quietly, its big eyes fixed intently on Ira's face.

Ira's gaze swept across the wheat fields, her expression still, her eyes reflecting the calmness of the surroundings. She turned her hooded head to the calf, and her gaze softened, a small smile playing on her lips.

The calf was licking her fingers, its rough tongue sending a tingling sensation across Ira's skin. She cradled its head gently in her palm, her fingers stroking its soft fur.

The calf squealed and nuzzled into Ira's lap, its warm breath wafting up to her face.

"Are you sleepy?" Ira asked quietly, her fingers continuing to stroke its brown fur.

The calf swayed its rabbit-like ears, making Ira giggle.

"Do you have any name?" Ira's eyes locked on the calf's face.

"I guess not." Ira leaned forward, her lips brushing against the calf's forehead in a gentle kiss. "Okay! From now on, your name is... Gauri."

Gauri's big eyes locked onto Ira's face, and for a moment, they just looked at each other. Then, she snuggled deeper into Ira's lap, her body relaxing into Ira's warmth. Ira's smile softened, and she wrapped her arms around Gauri, holding her close.

"Gauri...do you also think I'm a failure? Four times, three years, a long period and no growth." Ira's voice was muffled against Gauri's warm body, the comfort of her presence soothing Ira's frazzled nerves. "In my first attempt, I had no idea about the exam pattern - I had only heard of the NEET exam without knowing much about it." Her hand absently caressed Gauri's soft fur, finding solace in the gentle touch.

"There was barely one and a half months left when they forced me to fill out the form. I protested that I wasn't ready, but still, I went ahead. I passed the exam, but unfortunately, didn't cross the cut-off." Ira's deep breaths synchronized with Gauri's calm breathing, a sense of peace slowly washing over her.

"I had secured the third rank in my twelfth board exams in the whole town, thus my parents forcefully admitted me into the capital university, disregarding my dream of becoming a doctor." Ira's voice was calm as a still river. "During my second attempt, I mustered up the courage to ask my father to enroll me in a coaching batch, but he said that he doesn't have any money." Her face rubbed gently against Gauri's fur. "

"I had started preparing on my own, watching videos, making notes, reading books, and practicing questions at home. But without warning, they announced that I would be leaving for the capital. I cried, pleading my case, but no one listened." Her words spilled out in a sorrowful, gentle stream.

"The next day, I found myself in Patna, accompanied by my mother and carrying a big purple trolley and two bags. Papa was absent, citing court obligations." Ira's throat constricted as she swallowed hard.

"A man joined us, and I realized he had been instrumental in convincing Papa to send me away. Bhaiya heard that I was there, so he came along. He was angry at our parents for behaving recklessly. Nonetheless, I was left in a PG with older ladies, the youngest among them. When Mummy and Bhaiya left, I felt abandoned. Bhaiya had asked if I'll cry. I replied with a big smile - not at all."

A dry, mirthless laugh escaped her lips. "You know, Gauri, the servant there scammed me multiple times with money. I was naive and trusting. But when I finally told Papa, he intervened, warning me to be cautious around strangers, and also made the warden scold the servant." Her lips twitched up in a half-smile.

"The next day, I went to college, and you know what happened?" Her soft chuckle echoed in the silence. "I got kicked out by a laboratorian - because I had missed four months of classes. Understandable. It's not like they used to teach there anyway."

Her lips pressed into a thin line. "I was wandering the busy roads of the city, crying like a fool. That was so embarrassing. And the worst, I had forgotten the way back to the hostel." Her eyebrows shot up, and she shook her head, exhaling a deep breath. "But, I got something to laugh about, didn't I?" She patted Gauri's back, a faint smile on her face.

"That day, I broke down on the phone with my mother - like I had never cried before in eighteen years of my life, never." She leaned forward against Gauri's back, her voice taking on a reflective tone. "I was stubborn, and pathetic. I still am. It's just so hard for me. I cannot thread my emotions into words. That's why people often get fed up with me." Her nose scrunched up.

"I won't say it was all my parents' fault. But the girls there... they weren't my type. They suggested I needed counseling just because I didn't talk much." Her face contorted. "Unbelievable. And they used to poke too much in my business."

She shrugged, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Why do people want me to be some kind of social butterfly? Can't they just accept me as I am?"

Her eyebrows furrowed together. "Nevertheless, you know, in the month of May, I used to sleep with two blankets. Plus, the mess food was trash. So, I used to eat a single meal a day, but that too was not timely." A sigh escaped her pink lips.

"Anyways, I dropped out of college, coming back home before there were two and half months left until the exam. But again, I couldn't cross the cut-off." Ira's eyes welled up with tears as she sniffled, her chest rising and falling with a deep breath. "Then, I got admitted in a local university for graduation. So, one year waste here. In the local university, it was not mandatory to attend classes because there were not held any. You’ve to go for exams only. So, my graduation continued with medical exam preparation side by side. Things were going..."

She gazed at the vast sky falling in the distance, her voice barely above a whisper. "You know, what happened afterwards?" A dry chuckle escaped her lips, tinged with bitterness. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and she turned to face Gauri, who was watching her without blinking.

"My parents held a puja at home for me and my brother's future." Her jaw clenched, and fingers curled into fists, nails digging into her palms. She took a deep breath, the scent of Gauri's fur filling her nostrils, providing a small comfort.

"I still regret not breaking the nose of that old bastard." Her voice trembled, and body tensed, her shoulders squaring as if preparing for a fight. Gauri sensed Ira's distress and nuzzled her gently, whining softly.

"That old man, in the name of worship, was trying to... t-touch me inappropriately." Her voice trembled, chest heaving with each ragged breath.

Gauri's ears perked up, and she squealed, her big brown eyes locking onto Ira's face. Ira's fingers gently caressed Gauri's soft fur, guiding her back into her lap.

Ira's voice trembled as she snuggled deeper into Gauri's warmth, her eyes brimming with tears. "You know, he used to ask rubbish questions-is there hair in the pubic part? Don't get angry if my hands brush in the wrong places. I cannot see properly, I've turned old." Her voice came in a whispered torrent, each word laced with disgust and fear.

Her throat constricted, and tears spilled down her face, soaking into Gauri's fur. Ira's body shook with silent sobs, but she managed to continue, her voice cracking with determination. "H-he tried to t-touch me n-near my c-chest and g-ge-gena—" She choked on the words, her face contorted.

But then her expression shifted, her jaw setting in a fierce line. "But I didn't let him touch me and held his hand in the mid-air and walked out from the puja." She sniffled, wiping the tears off her cheeks.

"And you know, what that pathetic moron said? That I was overreacting. Other girls have completed the puja while sitting in his lap."

Ira's face twisted in disgust. "His lap? Seriously? My days are not that bad, that I've to sit in some old, bastard, moron, leech's lap."

The chilling air seemed to fuel her fury, her words spilling out in a passionate torrent. Gauri nuzzled her gently, sensing her distress, and Ira's grip on her fur tightened.

"But you know, what hurts more?" Ira's voice dropped to a whisper as she continued, "When the people who are supposed to understand you start reasoning for these kinds of behaviors." Her words were laced with pain and sadness. "My parents did the same. My mother said that these things used to happen this way in early periods. And my father shouted at me that he had spent so much money on that puja and I'm behaving like a child."

Ira's pressed lips twisted as new tears welled up in her honey brown eyes. "I was speechless for a moment. But then I shouted back at him, saying-if he doesn't have any knowledge of what has happened, then he should shut his mouth." Her words hung in the air, a challenge to the injustice she had faced.

As she finished speaking, her body slumped on Gauri's back, like a vehicle out of fuel. She looked back into the distance with hollow and puffy eyes.. "I hate myself. You know, I started feeling bad for everyone, and there were two or three days left of the puja. I joined back because my mother was doing Tandav in the house, always fighting, arguing. My head ached due to her nagging." Her voice trailed off, and she looked lost, her eyes filling with self-doubt. "I feel so pathetic."

Ira's expression turned somber, her eyes clouding over like a stormy sky. She gazed down, her fingers absently tracing patterns on Gauri's fur as she began to speak. "After that, it was November, I guess, I started getting high fevers - 104°F to 105°F, almost daily." Her voice was barely above a whisper.

As she spoke, her brow furrowed in distress. She scrunched her nose, recalling the misery of those days. "The constant arguing and fighting at home took a toll on me, and Mummy grew worried. She sent me here, to Rajgir, where Papa would send money for my treatment." A faint smile crossed her lips, tinged with sadness.

Ira's eyes seemed to glaze over, her voice dropping to a whisper. "After sixteen injections, my fever and cough almost subsided, and I was ready to head back to Nalanda to continue my studies." Her face lit up with a fleeting excitement, her eyes sparkling with hope. "In my excitement, I tried to revise all the notes, staying up all night."

But the sparkle quickly faded, replaced by a look of despair. "The next day, I was burning with fever again - 105°F. Nana-nani were worried, and Nana suspected I might have tuberculosis, but Nani scolded him, refusing to jump to conclusions."

Ira's pressed lips curled up into a half-smile. "Nana was right. My body was deteriorating - my bones were weakening, and I started coughing up blood. It was like my entire body was affected, with blood oozing from every possible place, except from where it should have oozed."

Ira's face twisted, her nose scrunched up. "I hadn't gotten my period in four months." As she spoke, her shoulders slumped.

Her voice was laced with sadness, her words tumbling out like a confession. "But despite everything, Papa didn't call me once - except when my reports came out. But then, I didn't talk to him. I didn't want to."

Ira's lips twisted in a bitter smile. "Mummy would call me, but all she ever asked was how many marks I got in my tests." Her voice fell into a mere whisper. "One day, I told her I wasn't able to study, and her response was... chilling. She said, 'If you don't pass the exam, you'll see my dead face.'" Ira's chuckle was hollow, a fragile attempt to diffuse the tension.

A deep breath escaped her lips, the sound echoed in the surroundings. Ira straightened her posture, sitting straight with Gauri's head in her lap, and looked at the trees and crops in the distance. "After that, dada passed away. And the weight of the world fell on papa's shoulders. He was in debt with the hospital bills, aftermath of the death rituals, and all. I was still not cured but had to attend the rituals, then my college exams, competition exam all aligned in the same timetable. Everyone was busy with the task at hand. I had to travel continuously. Thus, instead of recovering, my condition got worse. Nonetheless, I sat the exam and again didn't cross the cut-off. And, as a side-effect, I got diagnosed with Hypothyroidism."

Ira's face was expressionless, eyes blinking occasionally looking lost at some distant point. "In the final year, I lost the will to continue anymore. But, my mother forced me, and I... I started skipping the medicines and meals. I used to look like a skeleton at that time."

Her nose scrunched up before regaining that emotionless face once more. "I wanted to die so badly, and this was the easiest way I found. But, I didn't want to gain weight, so continued taking the pills. It was very mild." She looked at her petite body. "Guess, I took too many pills."

As Ira finished speaking, she forced a soft laugh, trying to lighten the mood, but it echoed faintly, a sad attempt to mask her pain. "That was a golden chance for me to leave the world. But, damn..." With a hint of vulnerability, she added, "I'm not playing the victim card; I just needed to get it out before I ended up lashing out at someone else."

"I've got a lot more to say. But I might end up crying. So, let's end it here." Her eyes searched for a hint of understanding in that innocent calf's eyes. Both looked at each other with shallow breathing, and Ira enveloped Gauri into a warm hug once again, finding solace in that creature who would not judge her or try to share hollow words of sympathy.

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Panchhi and Jheel walked towards the women, their feet padding softly on the ground as they bickered together. Panchhi imitated Jheel's laughter with narrowed eyes, her mouth twisting into a comical grin. "Hahaha..."

Jheel's face contorted and she slapped the back of Panchhi's head, adjusting the phone between her ear and shoulder. "Okay, I'll talk to you tonight. Love you. Bye."

With a gentle smile, she hung up the call, her fingers brushing against the phone's screen. She turned towards Panchhi with narrowed eyes, and she leaned in closer. "Why were you mocking me?"

Panchhi's eyes danced with amusement as she slapped Jheel's shoulder in response, her palm making a soft slapping sound. "Who talked on the phone for hours? And what were you talking to your old man, anyway?"

Jheel's face flushed slightly at the teasing, her voice taking a stern note. "Respect him. He is my soon-to-be husband." She slid an arm around Panchhi's neck, pulling her closer with a teasing grin. "And, We've just eight years of age gap."

Panchhi forced a wide smile. "You're right. Your pair is made in heaven. Both are dumb!" Her words were accompanied by a dramatic flourish of her arms, and she lunged forward towards the women's group, her black long hair flying behind her, accompanied by the loud jingling of her payal.

Jheel threw her hands down by her sides, as she followed Panchhi with twisted lips.

The woman's eyes widened in shock, her mouth hanging low as she took in the news shared by Vaidehi. "So, Ira cannot get pregnant?!" Her voice was laced with a mix of curiosity and morbid fascination.

All heads snapped towards her, their eyebrows furrowed in concern and lips parted in surprise.

Vaidehi's lips pressed into a thin line, as she shook her head. "Don't know. everything is up to god now." Her lips barely moved with a somber expression mapping her face.

The woman blinked, her head turning back-and-forth at the prying eyes, as if trying to process the information. She shook her head, her eyebrows raised and lips pressed together. "Such a pretty girl, but no more than a barren land."

Panchhi's face darkened, her eyebrows knitting together, teeth gritting, and lips twisted in a scowl as she sat in front of the woman with a loud thud, her long frock spreading around her in a circle like a challenge

"Don't worry! I will not marry my sister in your family!" She flashed a palm before the woman's face, her fingers splayed wide. "And don't you dare call my didi a barren land! I'll pull your tongue and wrap it around your neck!"

The woman's mouth hung open, her eyes blinking in a slow rhythm as if frozen in shock. She appeared paralyzed for a couple of minutes, her face pale and drawn.

Jheel stifled her laughter with the back of her palms, her eyes crinkling at the corners.

Panchhi turned towards Vaidehi with furrowed eyebrows and pressed lips. "And, Mausi. Are you stupid? Don't you know, these things are not to be told to these kinds of people? They will always share the news with more spices in it." Her voice was slightly softer, a contrast to her earlier outburst.

She once again turned towards the woman, her finger pointing just inches away from the woman's thick nose. "If there will be any hindrance in my di's marriage, I'll catch your throat!" Her voice was a low growl, her body tense with anger. With a swift movement, she got up and strode away, her long strides eating up the distance. The sound of her footsteps and payal echoed through the silence, leaving the woman looking shaken and stunned.

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Inside the cabin, Siddharth sat opposite the doctor's chair, his calm expression a mask for the tension in his body. His hands were clenched into fists under the table, the knuckles white with strain. As he darted his gaze from the doctor's aged expression to the report in his hand, the dim light of the cabin highlighted the creases on the doctor's face. The scent of old books and stale air filled the room.

Outside, the night sky was a canvas of twinkling stars between drifting clouds, accompanied by the gentle glow of the crescent moon. The distant chirping of crickets provided a soothing background hum.

The doctor exhaled a deep breath, the sound echoing through the silence. He put the reports aside on the table, the rustling of paper breaking the tensed silence that followed. As he brought both his hands on the table, fingers intertwined, his eyes locked onto Siddharth's.

"Rudraksh has met with an accident before?" the doctor asked, his voice measured and calm.

Siddharth nodded, his eyes locking onto the doctor's behind those thick spectacles. "Yes, doctor. The gash above his left eyebrow is from that accident. And, the mark on his right palm is as well." As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, his hands still clenched under the table.

The doctor nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he processed the information. "Hmm..." He released his intertwined hands, clapped them softly before leaning back in the chair. "He has got a good fortune." His eyebrows shot up as he nodded. "Otherwise, if the fuel hadn't run out, he wouldn't have been able to make it."

Siddharth's throat constricted, and he released a shallow breath. His eyes never left the doctor's face as he asked, "How is he now?"

The doctor leaned forward, his eyes locking onto Siddharth's anticipating gaze, and his tone came out professional but empathetic. "See, Siddharth. Your friend fell on his anterior part on the pavement with a force, his major weight was on his palms, which caused his left wrist to fracture, and joint sprains in other areas. The fracture is a clean break, but we'll need to immobilize the wrist for about 6-8 weeks to allow it to heal properly. Additionally, the injury in his back head is a mild concussion, which required four stitches. The thing he has to be more careful about is his reopened wound in the forehead, which has hit a nerve this time. Six stitches were needed there. And, there are minor scratches on his body which will be recovered with time."

Siddharth's face remained calm, but his eyes betrayed his concern. "What kind of symptoms can we expect him to experience?"

The doctor nodded. "With a concussion, Rudraksh may experience headaches and dizziness, which are common symptoms. He might also have cognitive issues, such as difficulty concentrating, memory problems, or mood changes. We'll need to monitor him closely for any signs of these issues and provide support as needed. For the wrist fracture, he'll likely experience pain and swelling, which can limit his mobility and cause discomfort."

Siddharth nodded, taking in the doctor's words. "What about treatment? What can we do to help him recover?"

The doctor leaned forward. "For the wrist, we'll need to immobilize it in a cast for 6-8 weeks. We'll also need to monitor the sprains in his joints and provide physical therapy to help him regain strength and mobility. For the head injury, we'll need to monitor him closely for any signs of cognitive or emotional issues and provide support as needed. I recommend follow-up appointments every few days to check on his progress and adjust the treatment plan as needed."

Siddharth nodded, feeling a sense of understanding. "Okay, thank you, Doctor. We'll make sure to take good care of him."

The doctor nodded. "I'll prescribe some pain medication and provide instructions for wound care. Let's schedule a follow-up appointment for a few days from now to check on his progress. You can take him home the day after tomorrow."

Siddharth nodded, feeling a sense of relief that they had a plan in place. He stood up, his eyes locked onto the doctor's. "Thank you, Doctor. We appreciate your help."

A/N: I do not intend to hurt anyone's sentimental aspects through this part of the story. I truly and deeply respect my culture with all my heart. However, you cannot deny the fact that these things are happening in society. Some people's mentality has fallen to a level that one cannot imagine, even with a sane mind. I just want parents to listen to their kids clearly before shutting them out in the heat of anger and ego.

Nonetheless, a part of Ira's story has finally been delivered.

Any thoughts?