Conjurer & The Sacred Lemons (3 page)

“Who is on night duty today?

“Sir ,Dr.Nick is in charge today “ attendant replied

“Ok tell him, Dr. Ken from the emergency ward called on. There is a patient just admitted. Need to be checked for neuro “Dr.Ken instructed.

In next 5 minutes Dr.Nick from Neuro department was in the emergency ward.

He had a close look at Patrick. Patrick was fully normal by now. He told Dr.Nick that he is feeling fine.

“That is good but let me check “Dr.Nick replied.

“It is essential we check the basic vital parameters to be doubly sure” Dr.Nick told Patrick.

However he observed that Patrick’s face was pale and energy level was low. However from his experiences such symptoms are more due to stress and lifestyles rather than due to a disease.

Outside the ward Ursula was anxiously watching through the window. He saw Patrick talking to Dr.Nick. She was somewhat relieved. She thought it is not that much serious as she took initially. But again the situation of Patrick 45 minutes back in the home was so horrible that she was having no option but to call the emergency services.

Dr. Nick checked the vital parameters again. He took out the usual Neuro hammer kit. He tested hands, Legs, thumbs and toes. The response to the test was good.

He had a close examination of Patrick’s eyes. He asked him to look in different directions. Everything seemed ok.

“Are you feeling numbness in any part of the body?” Dr.Nick enquired

“No Doc… “Patrick replied

“ Do you have vomiting Sensation ?”

“ Nope “

“ Let us put him under observation for few hours more as a precaution. Prima facie nothing serious is there “Dr.Nick suggested to Dr. Ken

Dr.Ken nodded in affirmation.

“Does not look like an emergency case. Looks more like a panic attack “Dr. Ken shared his opinion.

“Correct nowadays patient with gas trouble come here rushing, claiming to have an heart attack “Dr. Nick joked to lighten the mood.

“Everyone cares for his own life” Dr.Ken replied,

“Who is accompanying the patient “Dr.Nick Enquired?

“ His wife “ Dr.Ken replied.

Let us talk to her.

The doctors came out of the ward. Ursula was waiting outside for last 20-25 minutes. She was not sure what was going inside between the two doctors. However when he saw Patrick talking to them, she got somewhat relieved.

“Hello doctors , I am Ursula, Patrick’s wife “ Ursula introduced herself to the doctors

“ Hi Lady. Nothing serious. Just a sort of panic attack. As a Precautionary measure we will keep Patrick under observation till next few hours.” Dr. Ken informed,

“Thank you very much doctor. A great help during this odd time “ Ursula thanked them.

Dr. Nick was more curious to know what was that which made Ursula to bring her husband to emergency ward in the wee hours of the morning. He asked Ursula to come to Dr.Ken’ s cabin to understand the issue.

“Tell us what happened “Dr.Nick initiated the conversation.

“You know, at around 2 am today, I heard   some movement and a feeble voice. When I woke up and switched on the lights, I could see Patrick shivering and shocked. He was completely wet with sweat. He was unable to speak and was grasping for breath. His hands were looking just like a paralytic attack “Ursula narrated. She was almost in tears.

“Calm down Mrs. William “Dr. Ken intervened.

“Is he having any medical history “ Dr.Nick asked.

“Last 2 months, he is put on psychotropic drug therapy “Ursula replied.

“ And for what “ Dr. Nash continued.

“ Ever since we moved in here , for last 2 months , Patrick is facing some unusual problems. During the night he experiences certain abnormal experiences and gets completely shattered. Sometimes he says somebody tried to strangulate him, sometimes someone pushed him from the bed while many times he claims to have heard strange noises. But mostly he had handled these experiences calmly.

I am not sure if he has experienced similar thing today. But when I work up he was in deep shock, shivering and wet with sweat. He was unable to speak or almost immobile “Ursula replied.

“So He had undergone medical checkup already “Dr.Nick started probing further.

“Yes almost complete health checkup at Fischer’s Clinic “Ursula replied

“And everything was ok “Dr.Nick questioned.

“Yes “

“ So it was concluded to be a psychosomatic case and put on drugs .right ?”

“ Yes ,Doc.”

“Curious case “Dr.Nick commented.

“ How you seen any improvement after the drug therapy started ?” This time Dr.Ken asked.

Dr.Nick somehow did not like the question. The reason Patrick was brought as an emergency clearly showed that drugs had hardly helped him. However he kept mum.

“First 2-3 days after the drug therapy, it seemed like things have improved. But again the same instances and experiences started happening “Ursula was looking helpless.

“Mam, even we think this is some type of mind and body disorder prima facie. But let us watch for some more time. However there is nothing serious “Dr.Nick assured her.

Patrick was fully awake. He knew that Ursula had moved him to the emergency ward. He could hear the conversation between the two doctors who attended to him. He was vaguely remembering the horrendous experience at home few hours back.

“Was that real or I saw a dream? “ Patrick started asking himself.

His mind was trying to find out the cause. If it was a dream then how come Ursula judged that I was in a problem? If it was not a dream then who was doing this to me?

“Is it a ghost? Or is this a haunted house?” Human mind is difficult to control. It always thinks which enemies also do not think about you.

“Ghost? Then why I am not able to see it .Ghost in the 21'st century? they are good in Hollywood movies “Patrick was thinking.

“If this is haunted house then why Ursula and Children are not facing any issue? “  He was trying to be logical in analysis but was fluctuating to extremes thoughts in between.

His mind suddenly turned to the Dr. Borland’s advice, who examined him in the Fischer clinic last time.

He remembered Dr.Bortland explaining the fine balance between mind and body. According to him many people have diseases whose root can be traced back to the mental factors like stress and anxiety.

“But I never had such issues earlier. I never took the stress and the mental tension” Patrick was reasoning to himself.

He remembered Dr.Bortland’ s words. Many times the person undergoing stress and anxiety is not aware of it. The stress and anxiety gets created due to multiple factors .The person experiencing it may not be aware of the same completely. This is a mental phenomenon. The combination of multiple factors create mental disorders of varying degree and types.

“Yes I was worried when I lost my job at the Jersey factory but then I never had a doubt about my abilities. I got the new job here in no time. So is that really stressed me? ‘Patrick asked himself. His mind was saying that Job loss was surely not acted as stress trigger as he had handled it nicely and got this new job within a months’ time.

He was trying to stop thinking and sleep but was unable to do so. He was trying to remember the sequence of events that happened to him few hours before. He shivered again when he remembered the event.

But Dr.Bortland also mentioned about hallucination. Patrick’s thought process started again.

He membered Dr. Bortland telling him that there is difference between the hallucination and dream. In dream you are fast asleep while in Hallucination happens in wakeful situation. He could remember doc telling him that hallucinations are vivid, substantial and happen in our near surrounding. The person experiencing it feels as though something real is happening in front of him. Hallucinations can occur in any sensory modality —
visual
,
auditory
,
olfactory
,
gustatory
,
tactile
, fashion and differs from person to person.

Even assuming that I am experiencing hallucination why it should happen in night only? In house only? And not elsewhere. Patrick’s mind was trying to find the answers to the chain of questions.

He also heard Dr.Bortland telling Ursula that feeling body sensation, hearing sounds like footsteps, music, windows banging, seeing patterns lights, objects which are all very common type of hallucination reported by many.

.

The Nurse in the ward was watching Patrick awake and restless. Finally she administered a mild dose of sedatives. Within next 15 to 20 minutes Patrick was asleep.

Ursula meanwhile returned to the house as children were alone at home. In the morning she woke up early and prepared the children for school. After that she left for the city public hospital again.

Due to sedatives Patrick had a nice sleep and woke up only by 9 am. The hospital had provided him the breakfast and tea by the time Ursula reached the hospital.

“Hi Honey how are you feeling “Ursula enquired while entering the emergency ward.

“I am ok. But that thing is getting worse week by week “Patrick said in shaken voice.

“Everything will be ok by god’s grace” she tried comforting him.

Next 20 minutes Patrick tried recollecting and narrating the horror experience he had undergone. He told her about some half wolf –half man like deadly and awful creature trying to come near to him .The creature came through the roof and vanished when he tried to scream.

“Patrick are you sure you had seen such strange creature and that too coming from the bedroom Roof?” Ursula asked.

“Yes Ursula. I don’t think it was a dream.” Patrick was confident.

“But how I could not get either the noise or even some inkling of what was happening?” Ursula was almost into tears.

“Strange. It all started with some strange noise. I am sure you did not hear that also “Patrick asked Ursula.

“No Patrick. I did not hear anything. Neither had I sensed any movements “Ursula was still in tears.

“Dear, remember what Father Agnel told us. With this almighty cross by our side. No Evil could harm us “Patrick tried to comfort her.

“That is true Patrick, but these events or nightmares are creating a trauma for both of us. Your health is deteriorating “Ursula replied.

“We tried almost everything to stop this trouble but somehow it is not stopping but getting worse “Ursula started crying

“Calm down.. I think everything happens for good. Probably the almighty is testing our patience and faith “Now it was Patrick’s turn to comfort her.

The new doctor on the morning duty again checked Patrick. All the vital parameters were perfectly normal.

“Patrick, it seems that you got a panic attack yesterday. It is fairly common. I am prescribing some medicines. “

“Thanks Doc “Patrick replied.

In next 30 minutes, Ursula and Patrick were on their way back to the home.

Ursula by now has made up her mind. She decided she would take Patrick along with her during the 2 week international assignment which was due next month. In current situation it was risky to leave Patrick alone at home facing the strange events or nightmares.

She also thought this would also act as a change for Patrick visiting a new country and may help to reduce his anxiety and stress. He would get the much required rest also.