Ununderstandable girl

Shrey and Tiya are still sleeping when we leave the hotel for the mental asylum where Nivedita is admitted. We had looked up the address yesterday and everyone we asked knew where it was. Avantika and I have hardly talked since morning. We are a little unsure of what we’ll say to Nivedita. Not only that; we don’t know what to expect.

According to his notes, Nivedita doesn’t talk or understand anybody other than her brother. She talks through her smiles, which only Ritam understood. We won’t be able to tell her anything. And even if we do, what will we even say to her? I sweat thinking what I would’ve done had Avantika not been with me.

‘This is going to be strange,’ I tell Avantika.

‘I know.’

We enter the building. It’s an old one, probably standing since the early

1890s. We ask the receptionist if we could meet Nivedita. She asks if we are from her family. We nod. She brings out a register, goes to