Kalpana

“Dear folks! I am too excited to inform you that today is my wife Kalpana's birthday. All of you are cordially invited to my place for her birthday celebration sharp at 7 pm.” - Manas announced by standing over a chair in his office!

It was not more than 15 days when he joined the office. However, during this short time he used to discuss to his colleagues about his lovely wife, “Kalpana” – she is like this; she is like that...!

All his colleagues were excited enough to meet his wife and so to join his party today! At the scheduled time they reached Manas‘ house. He warmly welcomed all of them and requested to sit in the hall. The whole house was decorated with balloons, stickers and colorful lights. Manas instantly offered various drinks from his wine collection and soft drinks to teetotallers, then requested them to wait for a while as Kalpana was still getting ready. He ran to the Kalpana's room and smoothly closed the door. “Hey, my lovely wife, you are still not ready! See, all my colleagues and friends are eagerly waiting to meet you; they want to have a precious look at my adorable lady. All arrangements are made, the stage is all set, the cake is ready! Please put that new royal blue gown and join us as early as possible" - he asked.

Kalpana – “No, Manas! You know I am not feeling well. I am sick and have a headache.”

Manas – “Please, Kalpana! Don’t do this. All guests are waiting for you yaar."

Kalpana – “No, Manas! Please try to understand. You know me, I am a patient of migraines. Please go and celebrate the party with your colleagues; please!”

He opened the door, stepped out slowly from room and came to address all-

"Sorry friends! Actually, she is sick and having migraine pain. So, she can’t join us. I am extremely sorry, but tasty food is ready to eat, please enjoy the food."

- It’s ok yaar! Please take care of your wife, she needs your care and support now. Don’t mind, Next time we’ll enjoy it. Thanks, said one of his colleagues.

- But, food is already ready dude. I am just going to serve you; please wait for a moment, he requested once again.

- No dear, It’s ok. It’s time to provide her care, support and medical treatment if needed rather than to enjoy the party. Our party can be planned, later on, another colleague advised him, and then they all returned from Mana's house after presenting gifts to him, which they carried out for Kalpana.

                                --**--

Very next day

Morning at 8 AM.

“Kalpana, it’s not fair! Yesterday all my colleagues returned from here without enjoying party and food. This is only due to your sickness”- Manas asked.

“No, Manas. I don’t have any problems. In fact, you need a doctor for your treatment and so I got an appointment for you for the same”- Kalpana replied.

What? You called the doctor for me, he screamed! I am fine and well and don’t need any treatment or consultant, he continues.

(Doorbell ring).

Yeah, I am coming, just hold for a second, he replied, and went towards the main entrance of his house. He saw from looking lens from behind the door and asked – “what! Doctor? Who called you here? Nobody is sick here! Please go.”

Hey, Manas! Look, I am your family doctor and today is your scheduled appointment. So, please open the door and let me check your health, Doctor replied.

No, I will not. I didn’t call any doc! I already said I am doing well and don’t need any check-up, treatment or consultation, Please go, he replied from behind the door.

He didn’t open the door even after repeated requests from his doctor, and lastly, the doctor returned from his doorstep.

Manas went to his office as usual. He again expressed his regret about last evening. During lunchtime, he picked up his phone and screamed- “Hey, Kalpana! Are you ok? What happened? Please, don’t panic. I am coming. Ok; I am calling my doctor.”

He rushed towards his house barefoot, but while crossing the road, a car hit him from the back. His body tossed like a coin in the air for a few seconds and then fell on the road! He was now unconscious and colored with blood. Traffic Police came and recovered his mobile phone from which he was talking to his wife, Kalpana. The Mobile was switched off. Police called an ambulance and also informed his office by looking at the phone number at his identity card. Ambulance shifted him to the hospital. After some time, the mobile phone was on, but the police stunned!

“Are you sure that he was talking to his wife over this phone”- inspector asked one of his colleagues outside the ICU?

I am more than 100% sure, sir, he replied confidently.

And are you damn sure that he was using this phone only, he again asked?

Yes, sir.

Policeman screamed now, what the hell is going on? How is this possible, a man can talk from a mobile without any sim card? All the people nearby got shocked. Inspector was now going to Manas’ house with many questions wandering in his mind, and it can be answered by only one person, i.e. Manas’s wife, Kalpana. When the inspector reached Manas’ house, he found the door was locked from outside! He enquired neighbors about the same, and during this exercise, Manas’ family doctor arrived. He saw the police near Mana's house then asked the inspector curiously – “what happened, inspector? Why you all gathered here?”

Inspector explained Mana's accident and said he came here for some inquiry with his wife Kalpana.

The doctor stunned and asked – “Hey, inspector! are you crazy? Kalpana? Which Kalpana? Manas is single and unmarried till now. I am his family doctor and here for his scheduled check-up. He is mentally ill! There is no one named Kalpana.”

Inspector got the next shock. The door then opened by breaking the lock and inspector along with the doctor and other police officers entered into the house, to find Kalpana or any related information if it existed. Now this time all fainted! There was no one in the room. However, the room was beautifully decorated, furnished, and well maintained. There was a dressing table having all kinds of make-up related stuff, an almirah full of lady clothes, perfumes, and even jewelry!

Oh my God! There was no Kalpana, only imagination (Kalpana) of Manas (mind), doctor murmured!

                           ----****----

( Facts-

• The false perception without any external stimulus is called Hallucination, which may be visual, auditory or tactile.

• Hallucination is a sign of mental illness.

• The mistakenly feeling of vibrating or buzzing mobile phone is called phantom vibration syndrome.

• About 450 million people suffering from mental illness according to WHO!)