Blinded by love

Chapter 40 - Found

The last time I was this anxious was possibly during my board results.It was our third day of the cultural and all of us had gone to the other college to know the winner.It was such a nail-biting moment until they announced our college as the winner.We had won the first place in music,adzap and mime,second in speech and third in dance.We celebrated our hard earned victory to the fullest.My mouth hurt so much from smiling so widely but I could hardly curtail myself.We were called up on the stage and Dhruv was asked to talk a few words.We went on stage and there was a huge round of applause and a lot of cheers.It was an expected win,they all said.

"Thank you so much for this!",he said,raising the trophy and looking at it with such pleasure.

"It was so wonderful to be with you all and the time we had was so priceless.Thank you so much all!!This will be a memorable time for all of us."He finished it short and after more hugs,more congratulations and more cheers,we left.Once we went to college,they almost swept Dhruv off his feet and there was so much of celebrations.It was the first time we have won in that college and it seemed to be a great deal.The lecturers appreciated us a lot and almost everyone was telling that the maximum credit went to me.I felt blessed,for once,I felt like I was alive again.I needed this,the cheers,the hugs and all the credits that I got.I don't know if I deserved it but I needed it so badly.I didn't feel like a useless trash anymore,I didn't feel old and helpless anymore.All I felt was the need to do more,learn more and ultimately work more.I felt the tears stream down cheeks and I wiped them off as Ria hugged me.It felt too good to be explained in words.This....is a memory to be cherished forever.A victory which has given me the strength to even imagine myself in a position where I'd desire to be in.I would take things from here through the right path,toward success and the best future for my little family.

After all the celebrations were over,we went to Dominos to celebrate the massive victory.It was just the three of us.I called off the tuition class for the day and planned to compensate it in the weekend.By the time we could finish everything,it was almost seven thirty.After sending off Ria safely,Akash took me to the creche to pick Maaya.I told him to wait outside until I came back.

"Hey!",I waved to the lady in the creche and she waved back,looking a bit puzzled.I walked inside and found the play room empty.I looked all around but there was no one.I knew I was late but where was Maaya?My intuition told me that something was wrong,terribly wrong.My heart thudded faster with every step as I rushed back to the reception.I bumped into Jenny,the lady to whom I had waved at earlier.

"Where's Maaya?",I asked,my voice shaking badly.I could feel the sweat running down my back and the tension in my nerves increasing to a dangerous extent.She looked at me like I was retarded and I exactly wasn't in the mood for any face reading.

"Jenny,where is Maaya?",I asked more firmly this time.

"Didn't you send your husband to pick her up.He picked her up late this afternoon.God,you have a bad memory,Aarthi.",she laughed.My husband?Who could it be?What was happening?Has Maaya been kidnapped?My head started throbbing,pulling every nerve and every bone.I felt the world around me black out and I could see no more.

"Drink some water.",I could hear Akash,who was pushing  bottle of water into my dry mouth.I needed it badly,I felt parched.I hardly remember what happened.I looked around and realized I was in the creche.I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened.Slowly, reality sunk in.I felt my body tense up immediately and I got up from the floor in haste.Tears streamed down my face,smudging my eyeliner and mascara.I could taste my tears mixed with the chemicals.

"Maaya......",I forced to tell from my parched throat.But I didn't care about the pain it sent through my throat,all I was worried about was Maaya.She was missing,possibly kidnapped and I had to find her before it was to late.She was out there facing the dangerous situation with an innocent smile,unaware of the state she was in.I had to find her,save her and hold her in my arms.