Chapter 2, Page 5
What I saw caused my hairs to stand on their ends, and I froze where I stood. Oh, the horror, the horror. Picture every interrogation scene from every horror movie. For a few moments I said nothing. I could hear the wind whistling and howling through the gaps in the window on top of the table beside the bathroom and what I thought to be the rattle of the door with the wind, was my thumping heart. The princess sat cross legged on the sofa opposite the bathroom door. Her face was illuminated by the dull tungsten lamp that hung over her, casting an eerie, depressing shadow over the entire room. Her back was straight and she stared at me expressionless. “Ww-what are you doing here?” I stammered. “Jeerna aagbeku.”, she started in Kannada, “Urm, It’s good for digestion to sit upright before lying down.” she continued in English. I didn’t quite know how to respond to that. I pinched myself in an attempt to snap out of this nightmare. I tried to speak but my throat was parched and my body felt unusually leaden. “Yb. Y-yb. Are you fine?” I asked her again. “I’m fine.” she once again responded. I could sense that she was tired of this question now, I guess that’s something that the princess and my dear Yb have in common. I was at a loss now. I thought perhaps before executing that brilliant plan I devised a few minutes ago, maybe I should try to get her to sleep. I looked at her and she looked towards me and said “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow.”. My heart sank. Of all the things I couldn’t bear, was the thought of Yb not recognising me anymore. I felt dejected and struggling to hold back my tears I asked her once more, “Are you really fine? Do you not know who I am ? I’m your husband ma.” I said imploringly. “Do you know who I am?”, I asked again. “Yes yes. You’re my husband” she said blankly. I was now convinced that I had no option but to call for help. I told Yb that I would make a couple of phone calls to check on my father and stepped outside our room.
I hurried down the stairs and walked outside. Once I was sure that I was out of ear shot, I called Yb’s mom. It was now close to 10 pm, not too late I thought as I waited while it rang. “Hello Varun” aunty said. I heaved a sigh of relief, at last someone recognized me, I wasn’t hallucinating. “Aunty can we switch to video?” I said, it was a question but I switched before I got an answer from her. Without considering what this must’ve sounded like, I continued, “Aunty, has Yb had any childhood incidents where she behaved like someone else? Does she have any history of a mental illness?”. Imagine listening to your son-in-law ask questions about your daughter’s sanity at 10 pm. “No Varun.”, she said, ” What’s going on?”. I quickly explained to her everything that transpired from the moment I first heard the princess speak through the lovely form of Yb. “I tried speaking to her in Tamil. She only responds in English. She doesn’t even speak Tamil.” I said. “This is very strange.” her mother said. “I’ve never seen this happen to her before.” she paused for a while, before continuing, “Hmmm. Why don’t you do one thing? My sister is also in Mysore. Bring her as well and see if you both can talk to Yb.” “Sure. I-I guess I can try that.” I said and continued “but do you want to speak to her as well? Try speaking in Tamil, you’ll see what I mean.”, I told her and without waiting for an answer once more, walked back to the palace, climbed up the stairs, turned right towards the dining room, and once again I froze as though struck by lightning. I wasn’t sure how much more my heart could take at this point. The princess sat at the head of the table of infinite depth, with a grim expression on her face. I walked up to her, trembling from head to toe and said “Yb, can you speak to your mother?”. “Yb eppadi irruke? Seriya irrukiya?” she asked. “I’m fine” was the same emotionless exasperated response that her mother received as well; she didn’t seem to recognize her mother as well.
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