Mission Love

Three

Recap: Dina in distress!

I blinked, struggling to process Dina's words.

"You what?!" My voice echoed through the stairwell, and I quickly lowered it, glancing around to make sure no one else heard me.

Dina's voice was small, a rare thing for someone with her usual confidence.

"I know, Aishu, it was crazy. But you know how these things happen! One minute, I'm at the party, just having fun, and the next, I'm... well... waking up in a stranger's bed!"

I sank onto a stair, gripping the railing for support.

"Dina, you're joking, right? This is one of your pranks, right?"

My mind was spinning from the galaxy-shattering news.

"I wish it were. I can't even remember half of it-just bits and pieces. Like, I'm pretty sure I knocked over a lamp. And there was this ridiculous painting of a cat in a top hat... But Aishu, that's not even the worst part."

"Oh God, Dina. What could be worse than waking up in a stranger's bed?" I groaned, burying my face in my hands.

There was a long, dramatic pause, and I could almost hear her biting her lip through the phone.

"I left my purse at his place. And I have no idea who he is or how to get it back."

My eyes widened.

"Dina!" I half-whispered, half-screamed into the phone.
"How could you leave your purse? Your whole life is in there!"

"I know, I know!" she wailed. "But I panicked, okay? I just grabbed my stuff and bolted. Shit! What if he's some sort of serial killer or worse? What if he's one of those creeps who's associated with human trafficking? He'll know everything about me, Aishu!"

A thousand thoughts raced through my head, each more ridiculous than the last.

"Wait, wait. Let's calm down. Did you at least get his name? Or remember where you were?"

"His name? Uh... it was something with an 'R.' Ron? Raj? Maybe? And the place... some high-end apartment building. The kind where even the doorknobs probably cost more than my entire wardrobe."

"Okay,"
I sighed, trying to formulate a plan. "We can figure this out. We'll retrace your steps from last night, and I'll go with you to that building. We can ask around. Maybe the doorman or someone saw you."

Dina was silent for a moment, then groaned out loud.
"Oh, Aishu, what should I do?"

"Don't panic; we'll think of something tonight. We'll get through this together. I hope this Raj-Ron guy turns out to be a decent human being."

"Let's hope so," Dina muttered. "Because if he isn't, this could be the start of a whole new kind of disaster."

As I ended the call, I couldn't help but shake my head.
Dina and her wild adventures!
She's always been tough, her whole life a series of misfortunes and craziness, so I wouldn't be surprised if things took an unexpected turn. But if this guy somehow turns out to be decent, I'll be more than happy for her. It's a good thing she's starting to move on, walking past the horrible past that left a permanent stain on her heart.