"How many months?" asked Vennela.

"Three months" said the doctor.

"But you said that two weeks ago." Vennela frowned.

"Did I? I forgot. So, two and half months to be precise." The doctor said checking the reports. "Or it may take a little more than three months."

"Tell me once you are sure" said Vennela, raising her voice.

"Vennela!" Amar gripped her hand tightly. "I'm sorry doctor."

"I understand. Vennela is frustrated. Many patients lose confidence during the treatment. I am used to it. This is a case in which even specialists like me cannot determine correct time. But, I am sure about one thing. There is a definite improvement. That is why she was able to move her leg a few inches two weeks ago. Did you say someone pushed her?" The doctor asked Amar.

"Yes doctor. She was very scared."

"Fear can make people do unexpected things. Just a few more months Mrs. Vennela. You will be able to walk." The doctor assured her.

"Thank you doctor." They took his leave.

Amar was silent during their way back home. "Let's go for shopping. I want to buy some new curtains." Vennela asked the driver to stop at the mall on the way.

"Not now Vennela. You look tired." Amar refused to take her.

"Come on. Just for an hour."

"I said no. Not today. Next week." Amar told the driver to take them home. Vennela didn't speak until they reached home.

"Sorry Vennu. You are not feeling well. I can see that. You look weak. I promise we will shop for three hours next week." Amar promised. "Cheer up. Don't look so gloomy."

"I'm not gloomy because you refused. It's something else" said Vennela.

"Something else? What is it?" Amar sensed something was wrong.

"I know why you refused. It's because you think I'm not strong enough to go out even for an hour. Even the doctor thinks so. Doesn't he? Is something wrong with my health condition? What did the reports suggest? Tell me the truth. Why did he tell me it will take more than three months when it is supposed to be two months?" The doctor's words frightened her.

"Vennela, you will be fine. It will take four months at most." Amar assured her.

"Four months? The doctor said three months. Why are you saying it will take four months? Did he tell you anything secretly?" Vennela panicked.

Amar face palmed. "Stop being so pessimistic. You will be fine. Time to take medicines." He gave her the medicines. She slept within half an hour.

Amar stared at her as she slept. Unlike the other days when she slept peacefully, there was a frown on her face. 'What happened to my brave Vennela? What should I do to end her misery?' He drifted off to sleep.

A week passed. Vennela was convinced that there is something wrong with her leg. Her confidence was all gone. Amar tried to cheer her. He made her watch her favourite movies and read new books. But her happiness was momentary.

"This is normal. Patients tend to lose courage. She will be fine once she sees some improvement." Anirudh tried to cheer Amar.

"I can't see her like this. You know why I stayed strong all these days? It's because of her. She is my strength. Whenever I felt weak, I just had to look at her to regain my energy. Now, I don't know what to do."

"Shruthi's exams will be over tomorrow. She will talk to vadina. Meanwhile, you go and talk to her. Don't let her feel lonely."

Amar nodded. He found Vennela sitting in the library. "Vennu, my access card to the locker room is not working. Give me yours."

"It's in my bag." Vennela answered without looking at him.

"Okay. Tell me your password."

Vennela hesitated. "Why do you need my password?"

"How am I supposed to open it without password?"

"You will forget it if I tell you." Vennela didn't want to reveal it.

"You are right." He took out a pen and notepad. "Write it down."

"Writing passwords on paper is dangerous. What if someone sees it?" She refused to write it. "I'll come with you. Take me to the locker room."

Amar took her to the room. "Close your eyes" said Vennela.

"I already did. I am not an ill-mannered kid. I won't look. I am so honest that all my friends--"

"Alright. I got it." Vennela typed her password.

"AmarVennu0712! You remember the date and month of our first meeting? Excellent!" Amar exclaimed.

"You liar!" Vennela tried to punch him. "You said you closed your eyes."

"And you believed that? I thought you got the measure of me in these five months. By the way, the password is excellent." Amar clapped his hands. "Like all other girls you too included the name of your love in it."

"Name of my Love? What love? Don't be under any misconception. It's just that I couldn't get anything else at that moment." Vennela turned away to hide her face.

"Do I look like a fool, moonlight? I know it. I just want to hear it from you." Amar knelt and whispered in her ear. "Come on. You can do it. Just three magical words. Say it."

"Hey! Move away. It will be recorded in CC cameras."

"Are you kidding me? CC cameras in locker room? This is not office. Even if it is, I don't care. It's my wife I'm romancing with." Amar moved closer. "Say it."

"Not today." She mumbled. Her hands were shivering.

He understood that she felt uncomfortable. "Fine. If you are not comfortable, I won't force you. Take your own time."

They had lunch. Amar was busy with some meeting. Vennela was feeling bored. She wished Shruthi would come directly from the exam hall. But, she didn't.

She was engrossed in a book when she heard voices in the living room. "I don't like this dress. Give me the other one." Shruthi was arguing with someone.

"I designed it specially for Vennu" said Ragini.

Vennela felt happy to see Ragini. "Surprise!" Ragini waved at her. "I'm on vacation. Thought of seeing you people." Ragini gifted her a new dress.

"So sweet of you, Ragini. I'm so glad you are here." Vennela had tears in her eyes.

"Why is she crying?" Shruthi was surprised.

"She has been like this since her last appointment with the doctor." Amar told them everything.

The girls talked to her about their childhood memories to lift her mood. "Remember how you argued with the teacher when he accused me of stealing?" Ragini asked her. "So heroic."

"Yes. I was so brave back then. Look what I've become now." Vennela held her head in her hands. "You think I will never walk again. Don't you? Is that why you are being so nice to me?"

They didn't know how to console her. They came out to see Amar and Anirudh standing by the door. "If this is the case, I hate to think how her condition will be after three months. You said there was an improvement?" Ragini asked Amar.

"Yes. I swear she moved her leg when the man pushed her. It happened suddenly. The doctor said it's because of fear."

"How about we instigate fear in her mind again?" Ragini suggested.

"Yes. Let's lock her in a dark room" said Shruthi.

"She is not you, Shruthi. Let's dress up like vampires. That will instigate fear" said Anirudh.

"These two must have sold their brains online." Ragini muttered. "Think of something that scares her enough to move her leg."

Everyone was in deep thought.

"Bunty!" Amar exclaimed out of the blue.

"Bunty?"

"She has cynophobia. I saw how serious it is. Bunty can help."

---***---

Amar took Vennela into the garden the next morning. She was slightly cheerful. She was talking about the significance of Basil plant in Indian culture. Amar wasn't paying attention. His mind was pre-occupied by the thoughts of what they were about to do.

He talked to a friend who is a psychologist by profession about her phobia, the previous night. He assured Amar that his plan was harmless and she would have a panic attack in the worst case. He asked Amar to check her blood pressure that morning to make sure that he can handle it. Amar asked his family doctor to be nearby, to attend to Vennela if her BP fluctuated.

"Are you listening?" Vennela pinched his hand to get his attention.

"Yes, yes. I'm listening." Amar lied.

"Then tell me the scientific name of basil."

"Azadirachta Indica." Amar answered.

"Wrong. It's Ocimum basilicum. What are you thinking about?"

Amar made her sit under a neem tree and massaged her legs by placing them in his lap. "Moonlight, I am not a perfect husband. I know I have made many mistakes in the past. But, none of them were intentional. Everything I did, everything I am doing and everything I do in the future will be to make our lives better."

"Why are you being so emotional today?" Vennela was puzzled.

"Nothing. I want you remember that I will always be there for you. I may not be available all the time, but I will never leave you alone." Amar squeezed her hand.

Before Vennela could open her mouth to say something, Amar stood up. "I will get a book for you to read."

Vennela frowned as she saw Amar walking away. 'Why is he acting weird?'

She closed her eyes. Suddenly she felt the atmosphere go silent. She looked around to realize that she was alone in the garden. She felt uneasy for some reason. Then she heard it. The unmistakable bark of a dog.

The neighbor's pet dog, Bunty, was running towards her. 'Let this be a dream'. She shut her eyes very tightly and opened them again to see Bunty getting closer.

She started shivering and felt nauseous. "AMAR! ANIRUDH! WHERE ARE YOU?" She screamed. Amar, who was standing behind a tree, ran forward to help her. Anirudh pulled him back.

Vennela puked as Bunty approached her. "GO AWAY!" She was weeping. "HELP ME." She yelled.

Bunty didn't understand that Vennela was trying to send him away. He licked her feet.

"Noooo! Don't eat my legs. Go away!" Her heart was pounding. Visions of a huge black dog biting her childhood self came back to her. She couldn't breathe. Her fists were clenched. She was sweating as if she just took shower. Her entire body was shivering.

With one swift movement she pulled her left leg away from Bunty.

"Please someone take him away." She pleaded, unaware of what she did.

Amar and Anirudh came running. They pulled Bunty away from her. Amar looked at her. "Vennela!" He whispered pointing at her leg.

She looked at herself. She couldn't believe it. "I moved my left leg completely!!!" She fainted.

"She's having a panic attack!" Shilpa, Amar's family doctor, yelled.

---***---

Don't forget to vote and comment you views.