That day, Dipesh even didn't talk much to Jyoti and other colleagues. he even didn't have lunch at his usual time of 3 pm during the second shift. His hunger was lost somehow. Instead, for three hours, he drank three cups of coffee.
Later, he made a few mistakes in his work due to an uproar of thoughts in his mind regarding Mittu and flashing images of crying Dipika. Another reason was he was feeling very sleepy.
Finally, he stopped his work and requested his manager to allow him to go home early. He had called Dipika twice, but she didn't answer the call. That was also worrying him.
"Dude, any issue? I mean, recently I have observed you are out of your mind. Tell me what is bothering you?"
Dipesh was not sure whether to tell his manager about Mittu and their visit to the doctor. He was not yet that close to his manager to discuss it.
"No, Sir. It's fine. Nothing. Last night I was not able to sleep."
"Do some yoga and meditation. Avoid using the mobile till late at night. We cannot afford the mistakes from your side for a longer time."
This was a kind of soft warning from his manager. He was right from his point of view.
"Yes Sir. I will take care”.
"So I will ask the night shift person to come early so that you can leave at 7 instead of 10 pm."
"Thank you, Sir, for considering my situation!"
Dipesh left at 7 pm and went home.
He then found that the food ordered in the morning was not touched. It smelled bad. Dipika was sitting on the floor with her hair scattered. She was playing with Mittu for namesake, but she seemed to be lost somewhere else.
Her eyes were looking at the wall towards a poster of a happy kid. She gave a limpid smile when Dipesh came home. Even she didn't ask him the reason or seemed to be surprised for his coming early from the office.
"Dipika, what happened to you? Don't behave like this. It worries me more. Already I was not able to concentrate on my work. And if you behave like this, I will break down."
"Hmm", she said and again held another toy in front of Mittu.
"Dippy!! Come on. Why haven’t you had your meal?"
"No hunger!", She stared at the corners of the wall now.
"Come on Dipika. Eat something. I will make Khichadi for us!"
He said and started collecting items like rice and pulses, salt, water, edible oil, turmeric powder, etc. He switched on the gas burner and put all items in proportion in a pressure cooker and came back to Dipika.
"Dippy, we have to accept first whatever is happening to us. I told you earlier also!"
"Yes! You told", She said staring into space.
"We yet haven't met the main doctor. She will give us some remedy. Mittu will be fine. Believe me!"
"Yes! I believe!", she said with a dry tone.
Losing his patience, he went close to her and held her at her shoulder with both of his hands and shook her.
And he shouted, "Come on Dippy. Come back to your senses!"
And the cooker whistled and at the same time doorbell rang.
Hearing the doorbell, Dipika lost the trance, rose, and stood up, tumbling.
Dipesh opened the door. Dipika's mother was there at the door with a bag in her hand.
"I had to come. When I called her, she talked like she lost her senses!"
"Yes, Thanks very much that you have decided to come."
Dipika was now feeling better at the sight of her mother. She felt a bit relieved. All ate the Khichadi with the pickle Dipika's mother brought with her. At night Dipika, her mother, and Mittu slept in one room while Dipesh slept somewhere else.
Dipesh couldn't sleep till 1 am. Finally, he started listening to his favorite songs. And then sleep engulfed him at 3 am.
