Together Forever

Chapter 66: Anchor

After a long time, she saw dreams- happier ones with no ghosts of horror swarmed to destroy that.

Blue skies and lush green grass in their garden, Swara views everyone she held dearly close right before her. Her family, friends-- they all call for her.

Yet, someone's absent. Oh! It was him. She looks around and finally spots him there. Alone. But with that same boyish grin which often flutters her heart.

She takes a step forward and him backward. But still in her view. Still with a smile. But far away from reach.

Swara turned. Beams of the dying sun slowly wore off her dream and made the reality slip in that she opened her eyes.

Weird dream.

Almost six in the evening; Swara hardly had remembrance of dozing off at noon after Mia excused to go to Aditya's room. Later-- well she did not remember anything else.

Her preparation for the second round had kept her busy with practices that left her exhausted. These days she was so oblivious of how sleep gets to her.

Swara gathered her locks into a loose bun while her mind wandered on the particular dream. Why would Sanskaar move away? No, he'd never do that- she had blind faith.

Nonsense! It only managed to make her mood bitter. Swara walked out of her room. If anyone could lift up her mood now, it could be only Mia since Sanskaar might be busy at work.

"Slept well?" Aditya asked. A pause to the file check he did as he watched his sister descend the stairs.

"Yes." Swara sat on the couch next to Aditya, still fighting the sour mood as that little brat was not upstairs "Where's Mia?"

"Wasn't she in your room?" Reema came from the kitchen to handover a glass of juice to Aditya, "Both of you were playing?" She glanced at her.

"We did. But she ran away to bhai's room and I slept. Not sure if Mia returned back but even if she did, she's not there upstairs. I just checked."

Aditya's eyebrows knitted and lips pursed at confusion, "She did visit me. Hardly for ten minutes and was off to your room while I returned to the office. Just now I dropped in to take some documents."

Swara stood up, abruptly, "I'll check the wine house and garden." On that notice, she stormed out to look out for Mia.

Reema took the downstairs and Aditya, the upstairs. They looked all around and assembled back to the hall, hoping Swara had got hold of her somehow.

Instead, Shafali came in. Aditya and Reema seemed to have a worried expression etched on their faces,

"What is it?"

"Was she there?"

Swara too returned with empty hands, unaware of Shafali's presence calling out for good news. She wasn't there; her hazels darted wide.

"Who are you three looking for?" Tensed faces. Shafali looked around. Her daughter had not come to greet her, that was odd, "Where's Mia?"

No answers. It dawned on her--- Panic faces and her daughter not in sight, Shefali's entire frame hardened, "Is she missing?"

The other three had to exchange worried glances as fear sank into their hearts.  Because after a hunt of search the answer was damn clear,

Indeed, Mia was missing.

~

Sanskaar was familiar with roads, atleast certain areas due to his part time. Now that he strode on one such, few lanes away from home, Sanskaar did not have his mind to himself.