Sun raha hai na tu..!!! Wish you were here

A Story

"Kya matlab ghar pe nahin hain?", Mahir raged at his housekeeper.

"J.. jee Sir.. wo.. madam.. dopeher me kahin chali gayi thi.. luggage leke...", the housekeeper stammered, cowering under his anger.

Mahir was livid. It was late evening and he had just arrived from a weeklong business trip from Delhi. As soon as he reached home, he asked about Bela and got the shocking news... She wasn't home!!

He checked his phone again to see if he had missed any text from her but it was blank. There was no text, no call and not even a voice note. It was very unlike her. She always informed him if she had any plans.

He looked at his watch strike 930 pm and his brain ticked through all the different places she could have gone to but nothing seemed likely. Running his hands in his hair agitatedly, he pulled at his scalp to prompt his brain to think of more ideas.

"Unhone bataya tha kahan ja rahi hain??", he asked the housekeeper again.

"N.. nahin Sir.. bas itna kaha ki hum sab ghar ka khayal rakhein.."

"Aise kaise.. kahan chali gayi.. bina bataye..", he mumbled anxiously and tried her number again.

<The number you are trying to reach is currently switched off>

Getting the same message again, his anger rose a notch, "Kahan ho yaar? Batana to chahiye tha kahan ja rahi ho..".

Dismissing the housekeeper, he called her mother and her few close friends thinking that maybe Bela informed them about her whereabouts but nobody knew anything. He even thought of calling his own parents who were out of town but then decided against it. They loved Bela like their own daughter and he knew they'd go crazy with worry.

With every phone call, his worry increased a little more and by the time he made the last call, he was in full panic mode.

Where could she go?

This had never happened ever. She was always very cautious and kept him informed, especially whenever he was out of town.

All kinds of awful scenarios popped up in his mind but he clamped them down and prayed for her safety.

Please be safe!! Please be safe!!.. He chanted the words like a mantra as he paced their bedroom and thought of calling the police when their cook, Jenny, knocked on the door, "S.. Sir!!", she stammered.

"Yeah!! Kuch pata chala??", he asked her quickly, thinking that maybe she had some information.

"J.. Jee Sir.. wo.. actually.. Mam mujhe let.. letter de ke gayi thi apke liye..", she replied nervously.

His eyes widened, "And you are telling me this nowww???", he roared.

She visibly flinched and took a step back, "S.. Sorry Sir.. main.. ghar pe nahin.. thi.. M.. market gayi thi.. abhi.. ayi.. to.."

"Jaldi do kahan hai letter..", he said and snatched the outstretched letter from her hand.

***

10:15 pm !!!

Bela looked at the time again for the nth time and a tear escaped her eyes. She knew he must have reached home long ago. His flight was scheduled to land at 8 pm and it took about 30 minutes to reach home.