A Sew Through Time [Banbudh And Budbak]

19: Dear little Chuha

Nothing could bring him to believe it. Before leaving the house, they had been playing her favourite game, sergeant and soldier. He hadretrieved her lost crayons from under the bed, and turned on the T.V to Shinchan before leaving the house.

And the next slot of the show was playing on T.V. till a neighbour switched it off.

His mother remained unchanged, hunching forward.

He turned towards her and whispered, "Mummy?"

Her eyes were red with grief.

"This is just some... misunderstanding right?"

She remained silent.

"Did you even try to find her?!" Badri looked at the Inspector Waghmare, "Under the bed, in the balcony, the laundry? Did you search her under the desks or... is she hiding somewhere like right now?!"

"Listen, beta-"

"See? You didn't even try!" He sprang up from the sofa and began scurrying around the possible hiding places he knew. The special nickname he had given her echoed in the empty rooms.

The inspector requested someone to bring him back into the living room. With great difficulty, he was brought back. He stood silent for sometime, still calling for her sister, when his voice turned into a whisper and he began rubbing her eyes.

"Your mother had reported she was in the bedroom playing when-" the inspector gestured her to speak.

"A soft beam of light" she whispered.

He spun towards her, "Light?..."

"Right. Now tell me one thing, Badrinath,"

The boy looked at him stiffly.

"What were you doing today evening?"

He tried to explain but his voice did not give out. One of the aunties seized the golden opportunity and growled,

"Hai daiya! The poor toddler has gone missing for such a long time and now comes his brother, the know-it-all!"

"Chup! What're you doing?" One of the men tried to hush her.

"How can I?! Hey Bhagwan! Kya pata Khushi zinda hain ki na-!"

"Silence!" one of the policemen bellowed, "Can't you see inspector sahib is talking?"

A momentary pause followed.

"I was outside..." Badri's voice broke and he glanced down, "I was playing with my friends"

"I see" He said, glancing at his friends while rising from the chair, "We will try our best to find her, we expect cooperation from your side" he turned towards his mother, "Please stay safe, your daughter will be found out very soon"

The mother groaned and shivered.

After holding his palms, the inspector proceeded towards the main door. Badri's father and some elders directed him downstairs.

A stabbing pain shot through Badri's chest. His mouth felt dry, with panic enshrouding his senses.

"Badri?"

He began to snivel, "Budhhu..."

Budh was too scared of saying anything, fearing he might agitate him in such a moment of crisis. He sat beside him and gently wrapped his arms around, pulling him into a hug

The embrace calmed Badri down.

"Arre!" he tried not to cry infront of him, "Ab toh shaant hoja!"