There was a puzzled pause. Anyone with Internet access could look up the side effects of the drug online, which Kavita had done last night while evading sleep. Oh, there were problems: blurred vision, high blood pressure, chest pains, chronic sleeplessness, excessive sweating, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and on and on.

Kavita was about to ask for clarification when the doctor asked, “Have you had any suicidal ideation?”

“Yes.”

“Do you have a plan?”

Sunil nodded.

The doctor crossed his arms and tucked his chin, emitting a hint of disapproval. “Tell me what it is.”

Kavita went rigid, not only from having to bear witness to Sunil’s plan for the second time in less than twenty-four hours, which would have been reason enough, but also because as her brother—her private, gentle, careworn brother—confessed to the cold doctor the darkness of his desperation, Kavita could feel Sunil’s vulnerability, his nakedness, as though disrobed herself. The way he spoke, with his eyes down and his shoulders slumped, as if he had something to be ashamed of, made Kavita want to scream at the doctor for his disapproving looks, and cry with her brother, as she reassured him that being in crisis was nothing to be ashamed of, so he should hold his head up, because he was brave, he was doing what most people didn’t, he was putting himself out there, and asking for help. Could the doctor see the courage sitting in front of him through his narrowed eyes? Did he ever stop to consider what it cost?

“Do you want to be admitted to the hospital?” Dr. Jones asked.

“To be honest, the thought of it scares me.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure, exactly. It just scares me.”

“Hmph,” Dr. Jones grunted. For a second, it seemed to Kavita that the doctor was more perplexed by Sunil’s aversion to psychiatric wards than by his plan to end his life.

Regardless, now was her chance to speak up. Pushing her displeasure aside, she said, “Going to the hospital might be our best option, though, isn’t it?”

“I really don’t want to go.”

“What do you think, Doctor?” she asked.

Dr. Jones gave Sunil an appraising look. “Well, there’s a big difference between thinking about suicide and acting on those thoughts. Have you ever attempted?”

Sunil shook his head.

“No, chances are if you had, you wouldn’t be sitting here with me now. Well, in that case, I suppose you might as well wait for your appointments at home. At least you’ll be comfortable there. You seem to have a good support system around you.” Dr. Jones shifted his attention to Kavita. “Just keep an eye on him.”

“Are you sure?” she asked. “I mean, he might not have made any attempts, but he has a plan. Isn’t that supposed to be a red flag?”