Extroverting The Introvert

1

It was raining outside, the weather was cold and empty, it perfectly conveyed what was going on in Aabhipsha's mind. Nothing. Her hands clutched the glass of whiskey firmly as she stared into the distance. Her body leaned against the couch in her messy apartment. The wall clock ticked twelve. The night was silent and peaceful, for everyone but her.

She sat on the couch feeling numb, like her body was floating on thin air. The phone on the table beside the couch kept buzzing but she made no attempt to pick it up, she didn't feel like anything is important at this moment. Finally after a minute or so she pushed herself off the couch even tho she didn't want to, keeping the glass on the table she picked up her phone. The light fell on her face.

3 misscalls from Keshav the notifications said. She kept the phone back on the table making no attempt to call them back as she walked towards the bed and threw herself on it clutching the pillow. She didn't change and wore the same clothes she wore before going out.

Sometimes, she felt like quitting everything... but that face. That face of her mother kindly smiling at her, the love in her eyes, the face came into her thoughts preventing her from doing anything that could end her suffering but add the same suffering to her mother. She couldn't, she couldn't because she was the only one for her mother.

It was around 3 but Aabhipsha stayed awake. She tried to fall asleep but couldn't, her eyes never shut. She felt tired but the sleep she desperately needed just won't come. At around six her eyes gave up and shut themselves, but the peace didn't stay more than two hours before her phone alarm rang waking her up. Her eyes looked tired, they dark circles underneath. The thought of getting up was overwhelming, but she has an important shoot today. She forced herself off the bed, her head still dizzy from the hung over.

After showering and looking a bit "presentable" she walked down the stairs, pulling on her fake smile as she saw her mom in the kitchen preparing her breakfast. "Good morning mumma" she said before sliding in her seat. "Good morning, coffee ya chai?" Her mom replied. "Coffee banado, der ho chuki hai breakfast nhi khaungi"

Her mom served the hot cup of coffee in front of her, "firse? Jaldi utha kar!!"  She said playfully hitting her head, she was used to Aabhipsha not eating breakfast most of the days and thought she bought something while going to work. The reality stayed hidden from her. Aabhipsha barely ate most of the day, she couldn't eat, she didn't feel like eating. She quickly finished her coffee before thanking her mumma and bidding her bye, finally leaving for work.

As she walked down the street, her phone buzzed again. She picked it up "hello?" "Hello, kal phone kyu nhi uthai?" A male voice said from the other side, the voice was of Keshav Maheshwari, a young guy with excellent skills in photography and editing. He worked with Aabhipsha in her studio, her partner to be precise. She had some more workers under her. "Tune phone kya tha? Silent pe tha, suna nhi" she lied. "Haa haa thikhai, tu arhi na studio?" "A chuki hu" she replied while getting inside her studio. Keshav was already there. He hung up the call and greeted her "morning" "morning" she greeted back and started arranging the lights and stuff for the shoot.

At around noon the person came for his shoot, it went on for 4 hours before finally finishing it. "Editing kab shuru karegi?" Keshav asked, turning on his chair to face Aabhipsha. "Abhi to 7 bah chuke hai, kal shuru karenge" she replied. They completed a bit more of the work and left the studio around 8:30. "Man the job is hard isn't it?" Keshav said while pulling out his bike from the parking lot. "Beth ja, chor deta hu" he offered Aabhipsha. "Thanks" she thanked him before getting on his bike. They chatted while driving towards Aabhipsha's house. Keshav did most of the talking, Aabhipsha was more of a listener. Or rather, didn't want to talk.

Keshav dropped her off in front of her house, she thanked him and walked into her home. "I'm back" she said in a low voice and went to her room. Her mom was out since all the lights are off. She probably went to the market. Aabhipsha went inside her room and kept her camera on the bedside table. That's probably the only thing she treated gently. She threw her bag on the couch and climbed up on the bed, sitting in silence. It was way better than interacting with people.

The sound of the door and the lights switched on in the living room told Aabhipsha her mom's back. After a few minutes she heard a knock on her door "as gayi?" She heard from the other side and replied with a "haa". "Lights to jala leti" she heard her mom say as her footsteps descend down the stairs. It not like she knew her daughter likes the darkness instead. It was soothing in the dark and no one could see her.

At around 9 her mom called her downstairs for food. unwillingly she pushed herself off the the bed and went downstairs. She had her food while chatting and laughing with her mother. It was all an act but it was easier than explaining everything to her. Did she had any explanation on the first place? She didn't. So what would she answer if her mom asks her why she is sad? It was easier to act happy instead.

She got into her bedroom again and saw the whiskey bottle which still had the liquor in it. She sat down on the couch and went for it. The cycle repeats again.