The Music Medic

By Trisha Ahuja

Being a teenager isn’t easy. The stage has its own set of issues and difficulties. And, to Naira’s surprise, God was planning to make her life even more problematic than what it was. She received her class 9 report card which as usual showed a good score. Everything seemed to be going well and it was the time to show the grade sheet to her parents. She had imagined them praising her. But as she reached home from school, there was this awkward silence at home. She saw her parents sitting at the dining table.

Naira said, ‘Mom! Dad! Look I got…’ but she was then interrupted by her mother, ‘Sweetie! We have something to tell you. Your father and I are getting a divorce and don’t worry things will be just the same. You can meet him whenever you wish, he just won’t be living with us anymore.’

Naira woke up with a sudden gasp as the alarm rang. She had been having the same nightmare every night. The same incidence, the same words, the same situation that reminded her every night that her family is scattered into pieces. Her parents never gave her a clarification for their divorce and that had been one of the reasons for her depression. Yeah DEPRESSION! It had been six months since, she couldn’t eat properly and her grades were dropping too.

Now, she had to wake up, get dressed and go to a psychiatrist. Well, she wasn’t really insane but her mother thought that she might need some help to come back on track.

When they reached the doctor’s clinic, her mother was told to wait outside while Naira entered the room. She saw the psychiatrist, Mrs. Khanna, sitting on an armchair, who asked her to sit. She sat nervously and said, ‘Hello Mrs Khanna! I am Naira, and I am- am not a crazy teenager or something. It is just that I have been having a hard time recently, and yeah, I am harmless and not some psychic girl.’

Mrs. Khanna then answered calmly, ‘Dear, I never said that you are insane, in fact in my opinion nobody is insane. Why don’t you just calm down and tell me what is causing you the trouble.’ Naira told her the whole story, highlighting, ‘Trust me I have tried literally everything to distract my mind. I go for a walk every day, talk to my best friend and I even re-watch my favourite T.V. sitcom. But none of this turns out to be helpful.’

After this, Mrs Khanna advised her, ‘Okay. Try music therapy. All you have to do is listen to your favourite music. Then come back to me after 2 months and you will see the difference.’ Naira was amazed ‘So you are not giving me any medicine or something, just music. You really think that is going to work!’ Mrs. Khanna replied ‘Try it out yourself.’

After reaching home, Naira put on her headphones and played her favourite songs. As she kept on hearing them, she started feeling calmer and got the courage to fight the difficulties of her life. She started doing this every day, and it was just a matter of some time before she was back on track. So, when she talked to the therapist after 2 months, she thanked her for the music medic.