“I cannot tell you for sure Mr.Sequeira, I am not an authority on this subject” Dr. Norbert said as he snubbed his cigarette in the ash tray. “Every person is born with a defect. These defects will either remain dormant or aggravate depending on certain conditions. Your daughter finds pleasure in stealing things. Like every Kleptomaniac she gets this irresistible urge to steal things which are really not necessary for her. She enjoys the surge of adrenalin that is associated with the act. The trembling, shiver and heart beat come as reward. They take her to an un-believable level of gratification.” He paused, drawing circles in the ash that had collected in the tray. “It is a near orgasmic experience.”
“But doctor” Mr. Sequeira tried to hide his embarrassment. “Do you think a girl like Meghna would go to that extent? Doesn?t she understand the risk involved?”
“Kleptomaniacs don?t plan their move. They steal on impulse. But your daughter, having lived in a city like Mumbai knows the rules of the game. She knows taboo a girl of her age can suffer if ever caught stealing. That thought alone can double the excitement. So she plans every move of her act. After the act is over, she feels pity for the owner of the item and returns it.”
Mr. Sequeira clasped his fingers. The lines on his forehead had still not cleared.
“That doesn?t answer my question still.” He lamented. “Of all the people, of all the damn people, why my daughter ?”
“I am really unable to tell that. I will have to do some research on this subject. But I can tell you why her condition has aggravated to this extent”
Mr.Sequeira sat still in rapt attention.
“Parental neglect” Doctor said in a firm note, staring Mr. Sequeira straight in the eyes.
“Here we have a girl who has everything she ever wants. She is groomed well, educated, has a well paid job. But she is pestered by an ever dominant mother and a negligent father. I hope I am not offending you, but your over indulgence in things of public nature has taken its toll. Meghna feels ignored and the zing in her life is lost. She yearns for challenge and adventure. It is under these circumstances that the stealing syndrome which was dormant in her has sprung to life.”
“Sometimes this condition can seriously get out of control and put the person in danger. You can thank God she has not tried her hand at professional robbery. Robbery like the one that took place at the Zaveri wedding in Bandra few days ago”
Mr. Sequeira avoided the doctor?s gaze for a while. They had not told him that
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…Here we have a girl who has everything she ever wants. She is groomed well, educated, has a well paid job. But she is pestered by an ever dominant mother and a negligent father….
“But I am happy about one outcome of this situation Mr.Sequeira” Doctor said in an appreciative tone. “The fact that you realized it is a mental condition and decided to see me. Sometimes when you understand a problem and accept that you have it, half your problem is resolved.”
“I have prescribed Prozac for your daughter. This drug can help control her condition, but now you know that more than the drug she needs your attention. Please keep me informed and do drop in any time you like”
Meghna lay in a daze, staring at the ceiling of the corridor. The doctor had sized her up well. Her life of walking on the razor?s edge was over. What was the result of this whole ordeal? She tried to recall at what stage of her life, this demon entered her. She could not get a clue. The more she went to investigate, more questions and more loose ends it left. She would now on live by the rules of the doctor rather than the rules of her heart. The doctor had taught her what to do whenever she got the urge to steal.
But she had one daunting task ahead. It gave her shivers when she thought about it. How to return the Zaveri?s necklace? Should she call Sheetal and tell her everything? Could she count on her? Even if she could count on her as a friend what is the guarantee she will keep the secret to herself all her life? The prospect became difficult to consider. Meghna knew it was impossible for a woman to keep secrets.
“Let?s go home” Her father nudged her. It was like waking up from a bad dream. All through the way home father kept silent. As they reached home, he slowed down the car and turned to her
“Meghna, how are you planning to return that necklace ?”
“I will take care of it Dad. You don?t worry”
Even though she said it with a tone of confidence, she had no idea how she was going to do it. But she didn?t want her ageing father to worry about it. She could see with much regret that her father was badly shaken from the experience.
“Welcome back home. Am I seeing some change?” Mrs. Sequeira remarked in inquisitive tone as they entered the house. “Father and daughter appear to be equally worried about something. Anything bothering the world lately?”
“Yes” said Mr.Sequeira in an equally sarcastic note. “It’s your father who died long ago. We were just thinking how to stop his ghost from coming in again”
Meghna had one more restless night. Every little sound heard like a knock on the door and every little thing in the room looked like a handcuff. She couldn?t be at peace with that Necklace still lying in the house. She was sure the demon in her had been exorcised. But the memento of her life changing adventure was still around.
As the new day dawned, Meghna woke up with a newfound exuberance. She dressed up and left for work in her Santro earlier than usual. But instead of her normal route, she took a different path today.
She headed towards Bandra. She drove through the residential streets and as she reached the house with small water fountain in the front yard, she slowed down. It was the Zaveri residence. She couldn’t see anyone around the house except a dog sleeping on the steps. She opened her bag and took out a small plastic pouch. For the last time, she gave it a firm squeeze. It must be the last time she was going to hold something like that in her hand. Then she looked in the mirror and looked around to see that no one was seeing her.
As she came close to the gate, she pulled down the glass and in one aim she threw the pouch over the gate. She saw it land in the front yard. She saw the dog wake up, straighten its ears and look towards her. Before it could make the next move, Meghna pressed hard on the accelerator and sped away. She drove for a couple of minutes and stopped at a telephone booth. She went into the telephone booth and dialed a number. As the phone rang she heard someone pick up the phone and say ‘hello’. It was an elderly lady with a husky voice. Possibly one of Sheetal?s aunts.
“Hello, is it Zaveri residence?” Meghna said in a casual tone.
“Yes”
“I have left a gift for you at the gate”
There was silence for moment. Then she heard the lady say
“Sorry, who is this?”
Meghna hung up the phone. She got into the car, took a u turn and drove in the same direction she had come from. As she passed the Zaveri residence, she slowed down again. She saw an elderly lady come and pick up the plastic pouch. She could see her dumbstruck impression as she opened the pouch. She could see the bluish delight shining on her face.
Meghna drove on. She drove on and on. She felt like a free bird. Like a slave liberated from a life long torment. She felt an enormous weight being taken off her. The feeling was exhilarating. Like a genie she flew away, never looking back. The dark chapter of her life had now sped past her, into oblivion.
The end.
(Note: All incidents and characters are fictional. The drug Prozac has been found effective in an Israeli research. Opinion among the medical community might however vary.)
Author: Remy DSouza- Kuwait
