(1995: Secret Place)
Chandani was dragged home against her wish after she started asking for Dev. Minutes turned into hours before her family came back home.
"Chandani, humare saath jhoole pe chalogi?" Her mother asked. (Will you come on the swing with me?)
"Thik hai." She got down from her bed and ran to her mother. (Okay)
The swing in the balcony wasn't under sun now, it was nearly noon.
"Beta, kya tumhe pata hai Dev kaha hai?" (Do you know where Dev is?)
Chandani shook her head.
"Geeta usey kab se dhundh rahi hai. Meeku ko bhi." (Geeta has been searching for him fir so long. Meeku, too.)
"Dev ghar nahi gaya?" (Dev didn't go home?)
"Nahi. Tabhi toh sab usey dhundh rhe hain." (Nope. That's why everyone is searching for him)
"Waise ek jagah hai, humari place." (Maybe he went to this place, our place)
"Tumhari place?" Her mother smiled. (Your place?)
"Shhh... secret place."
"Acha. Toh ab mumma se bhi secrets?" (I see. Now you keep secrets from mom too?)
"Nahiiiii." (Noooo)
"Chalo phir, hum Dev ko apki secret place se dhundh ke aate hain." (Come on the. Let's go find Dev from your secret place)
"Dev gussa karega." (Dev will get angry)
"Par Geeta Ma khush ho jaegi." (But Geeta Ma will be happy)
"Thik hai. Dev ko mai baad mein mana lungi." (Okay. I will set things straight later)
"Good girl."
Fifteen minutes later, Chandani was leading a dozen men and her mother through the forest. "Ma, ye log kyu aa rhe hain?" (Why are they coming with us?)
"Jungle mein jaanwar hote hain. Humari raksha ke liye saath aaye hain." (The forest has animals. They're here to protect us)
"Jaanwar?? Dev ko kuch ho gya toh." Chandani started to run on her small feet. (Animals? What if Dev is hurt)
The men easily followed the eight year old.
Chandani took the final turn and moved a large overgrown branch into a small clearing. "Dev!" She smiled. "Wo rha Dev!" She turned back to the men. (There he is!)
There was a bustling behind her. She turned back to see Dev clutching Meeku, tears streaming from his eyes.
Chandani didn't understand. "Dev kya hua? Tum roh kyu rhe ho?" (What happened? Why are you crying?)
"Tum jhooti ho." Dev turned around, grabbing another overgrown branch at the opposite side. He vanished into the forest. (You are a liar)
"Beta, Dev kaha hai?" Her mother asked. (Where is he?)
"Woh dusri taraf se nikal gya Ma." (He took the opposite exit)
"Mohit, udhar jungle ghana hai. Thik se dekhna. Hum Chandani ko le ke ghar ja rhe hain." (The forest is deeper that side. Search carefully. I am taking Chandani home)
"Ji Indrani ji. Kaam ho jaega." (Okay, it will be done)
(Nutan Street: Messy Mad Mature)
"Are we glad we bugged them, or what?"
"So glad." Aman Mathur said.
"Cheers Mathur!"
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