Raghav heard the line connect and someone pick up the call. He said, “I just wanted to speak to someone before I end it all”. He couldn’t control his emotions.
“Yes, I wish the same too”, said the female voice from the other side.
Raghav was taken aback. There was silence from either side. The only sound heard was the breathing on either side of the call. The clock ticked.
Raghav didn’t know what to respond. “Who is this, please? I was trying to reach the suicide helpline.”
“I am Chandni, and sorry this isn’t the suicide helpline. I would say you have got the wrong number, but what are the chances that you would dial someone who also needed to call the suicide helpline?”
“I am Raghav. I may have messed up and dialed the wrong number. My eyes weren’t as focused with all the tears.”
“That’s ok, Raghav. Our world should shed tears for us when we are gone. Why should we tear up? That makes us weak and cowardly.”
Raghav couldn’t believe there was someone on the other end of the call with similar thoughts.
“Isn’t suicide a brave thing? Don’t you think so, Chandni?”
“It is nice when someone says that it is the bravest act that a coward does. But the person committing won’t be around to hear it”
“Well..,” said Raghav. “I am not doing this for anyone to validate whether I am brave. I am past that.”
“Why don’t we role play, Raghav? We might be the last people each of us speaks to. So, let’s play suicide helpline. Yes, Mr. Raghav, this is Chandni from the “Make Life Worth Again” helpline. Why do you want to commit this act? What pressure is making you take this step? We don’t have much time. So, I would give you ten words only to tell the situation.”
“Wow ok. Here are the ten words. Orphan, hostel, educated, poor, lonely, no interest in the future”
“Doesn’t seem to be a strong enough reason for such a drastic step”, said Chandni.
“Each one to their own. Now your turn. Your ten words pls”
Chandi hesitated before she spoke, “Stepdad, abused, sold, divorced, lonely, bleak future that’s pretty boring.”
“Ah, similar unhappy childhood and a not-so-interesting future. Pretty well-matched, I would say. The dating apps would give us a 110% match”. Raghav realised he was smiling when he said this.
“That’s true. So much negativity we have had. Whoever said two negatives make a positive was out of their mind”, Chandni smiled as well as she said that.
“I wonder if they were spot on. Five minutes back we were crying, and just now we heard each of us smile on the call. Two negatives can make a positive.”
After a long silence, both said at the same time, “Wanna give it a shot?”
Their loud laughter echoed on the call.
They both decided that day was their second birthday.
