Phobia (फोबिया)

2.. 5..7.. 10 minutes.. he continued to stare.

I ignored him at first but then I went to the table..

...and I said, any problem, sir?

I'm very sorry.

You look like someone I know, he replied

I was going to walk away..

...but he was a 70 year old man.

Horny uncle!

Anyway, so I had to ask him whom did I look like.

Any guesses on his reply?

His mother?

His daughter.

His 8th grade biology teacher.

Don't try to fit in your fantasy here.

She was so hot, Mrs. Matthews.. I promise. Oh my god!

He said I look like his dog.

What? I'm serious!

I'm serious. His dog was called Princess.

That's a terrible name.

Forget the name, listen to the story.

I said, you made fun of me, uncle. Can I go home now?

He said, please listen to me.

Princess died in a car accident in 1985.

She freed herself and ran into an oncoming car.

The car ran over her and by the time he reached there, she was dead.

She was dead. Her throat was crushed.

This happened on 17th June, 1985.

- You're joking. - No.

That's my birthdate.

- No.. - Yeah!

And it gets stranger because I have a birth mark on my neck.

Lying!

I have a birth mark on my neck.

See!

Very funny.

Shaan.. I'm sorry.

Shaan.. Shaan!

Gulp it down, you'll feel better.

What happened?

Half of the critics hadn't Even arrived, you should've waited.

I don't know why but I suddenly felt so weird.

I saw something that wasn't actually there, but it felt so real.

I don't understand what you are saying, Mehak

I don't know.

- You're okay now, right? - Yes.

Because everyone really liked your work.

- You think? - Yes.

Stop, pull over.

Come up.

Why?

We'll have a drink, listen to some music.

You know..

Just because it happened once after getting drunk..

...doesn't mean it's gonna happen every time.

You know what, I don't know about your past life..

But in this life you definitely are.. a princess

Bye-bye.

- Bye! - Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Hello.. madam?

Oh my God!

- Ma'am, are you ok? - Ma'am, are you ok?

- Get some water! - What happened?

- She's bleeding! - Get some water.

- What happened? - Have you found any ID?

Mehak, open your mouth. Show your tongue.

Hold my hand. You're in a hospital, I'm a doctor. Just relax.

Show your tongue. Calm down. You're in hospital. Open your eyes.

Open your eyes.

C'mon, Mehak. The doctor has been waiting for long.

I was six and you were around three years old.

Do you remember the terrace on our Jammu home?

I was spinning you around in circles..

...when you suddenly slipped out of my hand.

You fell to the ground floor.

Do you remember that song that dad sang to calm you down..

Relax, Mehak. You can't step out right..

...that's why I've brought the outside world to you here.

Oh my god!

This is virtual therapy.

For people like you. Go on, walk ahead.

Very good, Mehak.

Do you like shopping?

Anusha told me that you always did the grocery shopping.

C'mon, Mehak, keep going.

That's good, Mehak. So what do you feel like buying today?

Buy me a chocolate, aunty.

Yes, pick up a chocolate for Joey.

- You can do it, Mehak. - The biscuit ones.

Biscuit chocolate, c'mon Mehak.

Where's the chocolate?

There are people there.

- Please.. please.. - No, no.

Please don't touch it. Mehak. Please don't touch it.

Keep going.

You're almost there, Mehak. Relax.

Look for the chocolate.

You can do it, Mehak.

Be brave. Very good.

- She hit me. - Who hit you?

- Relax.. relax.. - She hit me! She hit me!

Relax. Mehak! Mehak!

- Mummy! - She hit me!

- Calm down. - Mummy!

- Relax, relax. - Don't touch me!

Mehak!

- What happened to aunty? - Nothing.

Go, get your drawing book.

I'm sorry, Anusha. Mehak suffers from Agoraphobia.

She has a deep-seated fear of the outside world.

She's not being difficult, she's just unwell.

If not treated, Mehak can become completely unstable.

She is certain that if she steps out of the house..

She will be made to experience the same horror she went through that night.

But that taxi driver is in prison.

Mehak knows that very well.

He can't do anything now.

What happened that night? It's not like she was raped!

I understand, Anusha. If you want, you can admit her to the clinic.

- There is a good clinic in Byculla.. - Just a second, doctor.

There's no need to put Mehak in an institution. And please, she's not crazy.

Take it.

Thanks.

I don't want to talk, I just need some time.

Do you know how long its been since you stepped out of this house?

- Two weeks. - Two?

- Four. - Yes, four weeks.

Not four weeks, but four months.

That's true.

What crap!

Mehak, I have other responsibilities as well.

Did you see Joey today?

He gets so frightened seeing you that he can't sleep at night.

Then why do you call that therapist home?

What have I done? It's always my fault!

He is a five year old kid, don't you feel he deserves some normalcy?

Are you blaming me for that?

- If he wants normalcy, take him to his father. - Mehak.

Her kid gets screwed up, is it my responsibility?

Mehak, it's not necessary to involve him.

And I'm just talking about Joey, let's just stay there.

- What happened last week? Tell him. - Get lost seriously.

Joey returns from school and rings the doorbell.

But he isn't able to get into the house. Why?

- I wanna know that. - How many times will she say that!

- Exactly! - She's said it thrice already!

I'll say it again and again, the kid stood on the street for four hours.

Why couldn't he get into the house?

Because you couldn't go upto the door and let him in.

- Yes. - Yes, so?

- I said I'm sorry. - What if something had happened to the kid?

- I'm sorry. - What do I do?

What do I do? Quit my job?

Shall I shop for normalcy from that virtual supermarket for you?

What do you want?

- What do you want? - What do you want?

You want to send me to an institution!

- I don't want to send you to an institution.. - Shut up!

I heard you.

- What did you hear? - Mehak.

I'm feeling dizzy.

Ok.. calm down.. sit down.

Sit down.

Look, Mehak.

You can't throw me out of my own house.

- This house belongs to me too. - Of course, Mehak.

It'll always be your house.

I'm just telling you that..

Mehak?

Anusha, be strong. We need to do this.

I don't know if we're doing the right thing.

Anu, I'm taking responsibility.

Trust me, she'll become fine in a new place. Away from you guys.

Jiya?

Jiya?

Jiya!

Oh!

Hi, ma'am - Go!

- Who are you? - I didn't do anything.

Mehak.. please.. calm down.

Relax.

- It's me. - Where were you?

I can't.. I can't move.

You got scared.

Who are you? How did you get in?

The door was open.

I'm Manu. Manu Malhotra, your next-door neighbour.

I stay in 602.

I'm so sorry if I frightened you.

- I thought that Jiya was back. - Jiya?

Jiya is my friend.

- Manu, actually we've just moved in. Let us settle down first. - Of course.

- If you need anything. - Sure.

- Please don't hesitate, I'm just a doorbell away. - Thank you.

- Shall I make tea for you? - No.

Water..

- I'll give it, thank you. - I want water.

- How about coffee.. - No, Thanks, Manu.

- He's laughing. - I didn't arrange the welcome party.

Where's the house?