"Did you find her?"

"She is not in her room as well."

"Check on the terrce."

"Ask the security guard."

"Where she can go in the midnight?"

"Bss.", Dheeraj Garhwal's loud voice vibrated in the whole Garhwal House, making Everyone go silent at the same time.

(Enough.)

"Katha, Kahaani kahan hai?", Dheeral asked his younger daughter, his voice strict with no hint of humor.

(Katha, where is Kahaani)

"I don't know, papa.", Katha Garhwal, the second daughter of Garhwal family, replied timidly without looking up.

"Toh kisse pata hai phir? Fevicol se jyada jodd tum dono behno ka hai. Woh har baat batati hai tumhe apni. Toh tumhe kaise nahi pata ke woh iss waqt kahan hai!?", Surya asked loudly, making the poor girl scoot two steps away.

(Then who knows? You both stay sticked to each other all the time. She shares every small detail of her life with you. How you do not know about her whereabouts?)

"Bhaiya---", Looking at the little girl getting scared, Anand Garhwal interrupt saying, "Yeh sab baatein Kahaani mill jaaye phir karenge. Abhi usse dhundna jyada jaruri hai."

(Brother---

---We will talk about all these later once we find Kahaani. Finding her right now is more important.)

"Haan bhaiya---", Khushi Garhwal immediately stepped in supporting her husband as she continued worriedly, "Raat ke ek baj raha hai. Aur Delhi sheher ka maahol toh aap jaante hi hai. Akeli jawaan ladki itne baje ghar se bahar hai. Kucch upar-niche ho gaya toh."

(Yes, brother---

---It is one at night. And you know how the dangerous it is out there in Delhi for girls. What if something bad happens?) 

"Tum toh chup hi raho, Khushi. Yeh sab tum dono ke laad-pyaar ka nateeja hai.", Dheeraj snapped pointing at Anand and Khushi.

(At least you don't say anything, Khushi. She is all spoilt because of you both.)

"Aapki bhi toh galti hai, Bhaiya. Bacchi se choti si galti kya ho gai, aapne itna daanta usse ke woh ghar chodd kar hi chali gai.", Khushi argued, not able to hear a word against her favourite daughter.

(Even you are at fault in this, brother. She did not committed such a big mistake that you scolded her so much that she went away leaving this house.)

"Haan, toh woh jhuth par jhuth bolti rahe aur main kucch bolun bhi nahi usse? Pichle ek saal se mujhe laga woh medical padh rahi hai. Woh toh aaj result aaya toh pata chala ke madam toh architecture ke classes mein jaa-kar architecture padh rahi thi.", Dheeraj said and no one dared to say anything. He was right.

(Wow! So you want to say that she keeps on lying to me and I do not even scold her? Since last one year, I am thinking that she is going for medical classes. But thank god that results came out today and I got to know that she was attending architectural classes instead of studying medicines.)

Kahaani had lied throughout the year saying she is studying Medical Science. However, she used to attend classes for Architecture in the same college. Moreover, she had kept the books and material of architecture studies hidden in the store room, and not letting anyone know about it. Everyone were in a belief that their daughter is attending medical classes.

"Papa, yeh sab baatein hum di ke ghar aane ke baad bhi kar sakte hai. Aap please unhe dhunde jaake pehle. Mujhe bahut fikr ho rahi hai.", Katha interrupted the argument being worried for her only sister.

(Father, we can discuss all these once sister is back. Right now, please go and find her. I am really worried for her now.)

"Hume police station jaake complain likhwani chahiye.", Anand suggested and soon both the brothers left to lodge a missing complain of their daughter.

(I think we should go and register a complaint in police station.)

"Choti maa, di thik toh hogi na?", Katha asked worriedly hugging her chachi.

(Aunt, sister will be safe, right?)

"Chinta mat karo. Tumhari behen chalti firti musibat hai. Jahan bhi hogi sahi hi hogi. Tum toh uske saath wale li fikr karo.", Khushi joked, even though her own heart was restless and praying for her daughter's safety.

(Don't worry. Your sister is a time bomb full of problems. She will be safe wherever she is. Instead, you should be worried for the one who will meet her.)

She was their Choti Maa aka favourite Chachi. Though she was not Kahaani and Katha's biological mother, but does that make any difference? She was more than a mother to them.

🖤

"Urgh!", Heer groaned turning her head the other side, for her phone was ringing continuously at three in the morning.

The ring went off again for the third time making Heer finally sit up grumpily on the bed, and pick the phone from the side table.

"Yeh kiska number hai?", Heer frowned looking at the unknown number in the middle of thr night.

(Whose number is this?)

"Hello, kaun?", Heer asked accepting the call when it raged for the fourth time in the row.

(Hello, whose this?)

"Heer Malik bol rahi hai?", A slow, soft famine voice from the other side made Heer frowned as it seemed unfamiliar to her ears.

(Are you Heer Malik?)

"Jee, main heer bol rahi hoon. Aap kon bol rahi hai?", Heer asked softly and was rewarded with a silence on the other side for few seconds.

(Yes, I am Heer Malik speaking. Who sre you?)

"Main---main Kahaani, Kahaani Garhwal.", Heer frowned hearing the name, for she could not recall anyone with the name 'Kahaani'.

(I---I am Kahaani, Kahaani Garhwal speaking.)

"Hum last year Lonavala mein mile the for the quiz completion.", Kahaani said crossing her fingers hoping that Heer recalls her.

(We had met last year in Lonavala for the quiz competition.)

"Oh my god! Kahaani. Kahaani Garhwal? Serene Delhi High School, right?", Heer asked excited, her lips stretched into a smile as she recalls this crazy girl from a year back.

"Thank god, you remember me.", Kahaani sighed, rubbing her arms as she was feeling cold.

"Kahaani, is everything okay? Tumne pure ek saal baad call kiya hai aur woh bhi itni raat ko. sab thik hai naa?", Heer asked, her voice laced with genuine worry.

(Kahaani, is everything okay? You called me after a year and that too this late at night? Everything is fine right?)

"Woh main---", Kahaani licked on her dry lips, before taking a deep breath and she said, "Kya tum mujhe pick karne aa sakti ho?"

(Actually---

---Uhh, Can you come and pick me up?)

"Pick karne? Tum Mumbai mein ho?", Heer asked and Kahaani replied immediately, "Haan, aur abhi main Mumbai airport pein hoon. Please can you come and pick me up from here?"

(Pick up? You are in Mumbai?---

---Yes, and I am right now at Mumbai airport. Please, can you come and pick me up from here?)

"Kahaani, abhi toh raat ke teen bajj rahe hai. Driver dada bhi chale gaye hai. Aur mujhe car chalani nahi aati.", Heer replied honestly.

(Kahaani, it is three in the morning. Even driver uncle is not home. And I don't know how to drive car.)

"Accha, toh mujhe tum apna address de do. Main cab se aa jaungi.", Kahaani said immediately, hoping that Heer do not deny.

(Okay, then you can give me your address. I will come there by a cab.)

"Nahi, tum itni raat ko akele cab se kaise aaogi. It is not safe. Wait main---main apne bhai ko uthati hoon. Hum tumhe lene aate hai. Tum wahin wait karna mera, okay?", Heer said before disconnecting the call.

(No, you can not take cab this late at night. It is not safe. Wait I--- I will wake my brother up. We are coming to pick you up. You wait for me there only, okay?)

Tossing her phone on the bed and wearing her slippers, Heer ran towards her brother's room.

🖤

"Heer, Yeh konsi friend hai tumhari jiska naam maine aaj tak nahi suna tumse? Aur yeh kya tareeka hai aise aadhi raat ko aa jaane ka, woh bhi tumhe bina batayein?", Sahaj asked his sister who was sitting beside him on the passenger seat.

(Heer, who is this friend of yours about whom I had never heard about from you? And what kind of a person travels all the way without informing, also at this hour of night?)

"Mujhe bhi nahi pata, bhai. Bss uska call aaya ke woh Mumbai mein hai. Abb baaki ki baatein toh usse milkar hi pata lagegi.", Heer replied, not daring to tell Sahaj that she hardly knows anything about this friend of her.

(Even I don't know, brother. She just called me suddenly saying that she is in Mumbai. Now the real matter will be known only after meeting her.)

"Accha abb jaldi se phone karke bulao usse bahar.", Sahaj said as he parked the car in the parking lot of the Mumbai airport.

(Okay, fine. Now call her and ask her to come out quickly.)

"Haan, maine kiya hai usse call. Par who call hi pick nahi kar rahi.", Heer said dialling Kahaani's number once again.

(Yes, I am calling her. But she is not picking up the call.)

"Paanch bajj rahe hai. Tumhe pata hai naa ke sharp 5:30 mujhe jogging par jaana hota hai.", Sahaj said looking at his wrist watch. His tone a little irritated, as for the first time he was working out of his routine schedule.

(It is already five in the morning. You know that I go for my morning jog sharp at half past five.)

"Ek din jogging par naa jaane se kucch nahi hota, bhai. Woh dost hai meri aur iss sheher mein pehli baar aayi hai. Kya pata koi musibat mein ho iss liye itni raat ko mujhe bulaaya hai.", Heer said trying to calm her brother whom she knows gets irritated if his schedule is disturbed.

(Brother, It will be a no big deal if you will skip your jogging for one day. She is my friend and she is new here in this city. Who knows if she is in some problem and that is why she called me in the middle of night.)

"Haan bulaayein pick karne, lekin phir phone bhi toh receive karein. Abb yahan bethein bethein kaise pata lagega ke woh kahan hai?", Sahaj said and Heer thought for a moment before she asked, "Bhai, aap airport management se baat karein-naa. Aap itne bade businessman hai. Aur pura sheher aapko jaante hai. Shayad woh hume andar jaane dein?"

(Yes she can call you to pick her up, but then she should also be responsible enough to receive your calls as well. Now by sitting here like this, how will we know that where exactly she is?---

---Brother, please talk to the airport management. You are a famous businessman. Everyone knows you in the city. May be then they allow us to enter the airport.)

"No, Heer. I am not using my powers for such things. Tum unhe call karo aur agar agle paanch minute mein tumhari friend bahaar nahi aati toh hum ghar wapas jaa rahe hai. Subah main driver ko bol kar pick karva lunga unhe.", Sahaj said strictly, his voice firm and decisive.

(No, Heer. I am not using my powers for such things. You call her and if she does not come out in next five minutes, then we are going back home. I will ask the driver to come back in the morning to pick her up.)

"Aise toh nahi karte hai, bhai.", Heer whinned looking at Sahaj who sighed defeatedly.

(We cannoy do like this, brother.)

🖤

"Aa gayein aap log? Kar di police mein complain?", Khushi asked as soon as she saw the Garhwal brothers entering the house tiredly.

(You guys came? You lodged the complaint in the police station?)

Katha came with two glasses of water for them, while both the ladies waited impatiently to know the updates.

"Gaye the police station. Lekin unhone kaha bacchi baalik hai. Apni marzi se gai hai. Aur waise bhi, chaubis ghante se pehle woh kisi ki bhi missing complain nahi likhte.", Anand replied as he sat beside his brother tiredly.

(We had went to the police station. But they said that Kahaani is adult. And she has gone by her own will. Also, they can not file any missing complaint before twenty four hours of missing.)

"Yeh sab bhaiya aapki galti hai.", Khushi said looking at Dheeraj and Anand immediately hold her hand to stop her from saying anything.

(This is all happening because of Dheeraj brother's mistake.)

"Aapko usse itna nahi daatna chahiye tha. Aur upar se uski shaadi pakki kar di woh bhi usse bina puche? Bacchi bhaag hi jaayegi na ghar se.", Khushi said angrily, her tears falling without stop.

(You should not have scold her so badly. And what was the need of talking about her marriage, that too without asking for her consent? Obviously she will run away from the house.)

"Arey, woh toh maine gusse mein bol diya tha shaadi ka. Main thodi na sach mein shaadi karne walla tha uski. Meri apni bacchi hai. Uska galat thodi karunga main.", Dheeraj said and everyone looked at him in disbelief.

(Oh god, I said that just in anger. I was not going to marry her in real. She is my own daughter. Why will I do something wrong for her.)

"Aapne toh aise hi bol diya, lekin uss bacchi ne toh dil par le liya naah. Abb pata nahi kahan hogi iss waqt. Thik bhi hai yaa nahi woh bhi nahi pata. Upar se phone bhi band aa raha hai abb toh. Paise bhi lekar gai hai yaa nahi kisse pata.", Khushi said sitting down on the sofa, Katha consoling her continuously.

(You said it like a joke, but she took it seriously to her heart. Now only god knows where she is right now. We don't even know if she is fine or not. Even her cellphone is now coming switched off. We don't even know if she id carrying any cash with her or not.)

🖤

"Tum bhi kya kya karvati ho apne bhai se, Heer.", Sahaj said shaking his head as they entered the airport premises after Sahaj doing lots of calls and request to the higher authorities of the airport.

(All the things you get your brother to do, heer.)

"Mumma humesha kehti hai ke kisi ki help karne se duaayein milti hai, bhai.", Heer said and smiled sheepishly when Sahaj glared at her playfully.

(Mom says that we should always help others. We get so many blessings by helping others, brother.)

"Aur tumhe pata hai mujhe kisi se bhi obligations lena accha nahi lagta.", Sahaj said as they walked more towards the resting area.

(And you know very well that I hate taking obligations from others.)

"Accha yeh last time tha. Iss ke baad aisa nahi hoga.", Heer said taking out her cellphone out of her sling bag.

(Okay, this is the last time. This won't repeat again)

"Accha call toh karo abb unhe aur pucho kahan hai woh.", Sahaj said and Heer nodded replying, "Kiya toh hai phone lekin uska phone band jaa raha hai."

(Okay, now at least call her and ask her where she is.---

---I am calling her but her phone is going switched off.)

"Chalo shabaash. Abb kahan dhunde unhe itne bade airport mein?", Sahaj asked folding his hands near his chest, while Heer gave him another apologetic look.

(Great! Now where will we find her in this huge airport?)

"Woh rahi.", Heer shouted suddenly looking at the cafeteria while people around gave them a weird look.

(There she is.)

"Heer, apni nahi toh kamaskam mere reputation ki toh khayal karo. Yeh itni tez chilane ka Kya manners hai?", Sahaj scolded Heer as he gave apologetic look to the unwanted audience.

(Heer, If not yours then atleast care about my reputation. Are these your manners of shouting loudly in public?)

Sahaj silently followed his sister inside the cafeteria and as they reached a table at the corner, he frowned looking at the girl.

"Great, hum bahar pichle ek ghante se wait kar rahe the inka. Aur yeh aapki dost yahan aaram se so rahi hai.", Sahaj said looking at the girl in front of him who was sleeping, weirdly.

(Great, We were waiting for her outside since last one hour. And your friend here is sleeping peacefully.)

Kahaani was sleeping resting her head on her arms that were on the table. Her mouth opened a jar, her saliva drooling out of her mouth and smearing on her full length multi colour woolen sweater. Her honey brown long hairs scattered all over the table, and also covering half of her face.

"Itni dur se aayi hai woh bhi itni raat ko. Thakk gai hogi.", Heer said defending her friend and Sahaj looked at her in disbelief.

(She has came travelling from so far at such late at night. She might be tired.)

"Accha uthaao bhi toh abb inhe.", Sahaj said, checking his watch that was showing six in the morning.

(Now atleast wake her up.)

Great! He missed his morning exercise for the first time in last nine years.

"Kahaani?", Heer softly shook sleeping Kahaani, who was sleeping snoring lightly without caring for the world.

"Bhai, nahi utth rahi hai.", Heer said turning towards her brother after failing to wake up Kahaani.

(She is not waking up, brother.)

"Itne pyaar se uthaogi toh kaise uthna hai usse. Side hato tum.", Sahaj said before pushing Heer a little aside and then came ahead near Kahaani.

(If you will wake her up so softly, then how she will wake up. Get aside.)

"Kya naam hai?", Sahaj asked turning hid head towards Heer who immediately replied, "Kahaani Garhwal."

(What is her name, again?)

"Accha aap uthayein Kahaani ko. Main coffee lekar aati hoon uske liye.", Heer suggested and Sahaj nodded at her approvingly.

(Okay, you wake her up. I will go and fetch a cup of coffee for her.)

"Miss. Garhwal? Hello? Kahaani?", Sahaj leaned down and said near Kahaani's ears taking care of not touching her anywhere.

Kahaani finally opened her eyes after Sahaj called her few more times.

Sahaj felt his heart literally skipping a bit as his gaze met with Kahaani's light hazel brown orbs. Every thing around them felt still for the moment.

"What the hell.", kahaani almost yelled, breaking Sahaj's trance and he immediately took two steps away from her.

Well, in order to wake her up, Sahaj was practically leaned close to Kahaani's face, and she got scared looking at an unknown man so much close to herself.

"Akeli ladki dekhi nahi ke aa jaate hai chedne.", Kahaani said getting up from her place and glaring up at the 6'0 ft. giraffe-like-man standing in front of her.

(Seeing a girl alone, and already came to eve-tease her.)

"Excuse me? Dekhein main aapko ched nahi raha tha.", Sahaj said gritting his teeth, looking around to check if anyone heard Kahaani screaming.

(Excuse me? Listen, I am not eve-teasing you.)

"Accha? Phir mujh mein kya phool lage hai joh tum itna kareeb aakar mujhse khushboo le rahe the?", Kahaani asked keeping her hands on her waist and looking at him with jutted lips.

(Oh really? Am I a flower that you were smelling me leaning so close to me?)

"Phoolon ka pata nahi, lekin aapki zubaan par kaatein jarur biche hai.", Sahaj said, his jaw ticked in agitation and anger.

(I cannot say about flowers, but you surely have cactus spread on your tongue.)

"Dekho---", Kahaani was about to say when she realised something and started looking everywhere finding something.

(Listen---)

"Kya hua?", Sahaj asked frowning as he saw her Kahaani go frantic about something missing.

(What happen?)

"Mera bag? Kahan gaya mera bag?", Kahaani asked desperately searching for her bag before she suddenly turned towards Sahaj asking angrily, "Tumne liya hai naah mera bag?"

(My bag? Where is my bag?---

---You have stolen my bag, right?)

"Hadd hai!", Sahaj exclaimed throwing his hands up in frustration.

(What the hell.")

"Kahaani?", Heer came there with a cup of strong coffee and Sahaj sighed in relief.

"Heer.", Kahaani smiled loudly looking at Heer in front of her, after a year. Her eyes tearing up a little as she almost ran close to Heer before engulfing her tightly in her arms.

"Kahaani!", Heer screeched worriedly as due to Kahaani's sudden hug, the coffee in her hand spilled and flew on Sahaj's chest.

"What. The. Hell!", Sahaj's jaw clenched in anger as his skin burnt under the effect of smoking hot coffee.

"Bhai, aap thik hai?", Heer asked immediately keeping the coffee cup aside on the table, before she grabbed few tissues and started cleaning Sahaj's white tee that was now stained into brown.

(Brother, are you okay?)

"Bh---bhai?", Kahaani muttered on shock as she kept staring at Heer helping Sahaj.

(Bro--brother?)

"Aap thik hai, bhai?", Heer asked once again when Sahaj threw the tissues aside after cleaning his clothes as much as possible.

(You are fine, right, brother?)

Sahaj, instead of replying Heer, he looked behind her at Kahaani. His eyes blazing fire and his anger doubled when Kahaani smiled back awkwardly at him.

"Kahaani, yeh mere bhai hai, Sahaj Malik.", Heer introduced Sahaj before she walked closer to Kahaani and hooked her hands around her arms before she said excitedly, "Aur bhai, yeh hai Kahaani Gharwal, meri friend from Delhi."

(Kahaani, he is my brother, Sahaj Malik.---

---And brother, she is Kahaani Garhwal, my friend from Delhi.)

"Ghar chalein?", Sahaj asked, his eyes softening immediately when he looked at his sister.

(Shall we go home now?)

"Jee, bhai.", Heer nodded, but stopped when she felt a tug on her hand.

(Yes, brother.)

"Woh--mera bag ghum ho gaya hai.", Kahaani said, her voice timid, and avoiding looking at Sahaj.

(Actually--- my bag is lost somewhere.)

"Chori ho gaya hai shayad.", She said further and then slowly looked at Sahaj who sighed in irritation.

(May be stollen by someone.)

"Bags chori ho gaye? Kaise?", Heer asked worriedly, and Kahaani shrugged her shoulders not having anything to reply.

(Bags are stolen? How?)

"Abb aise public place mein befikr hoke soyengi yeh toh bags toh chori hone hi hai.", Sahaj said as a matter of fact, and Heer immediately looked at him with wide eyes asking him to not to such things.

(Now if she will sleep like this carelessly in a public place then surely her belongings will be stolen.)

"Accha, abhi ghar chalo. Main baad mein baat karta hoon management se. Cctv se pata chal jaaye shayad ke kon leke gaya hai.", Sahaj suggested and after a lots of pursuance, Kahaani finally decided to agree with Sahaj's words.

(Okay, let's go home first. I will talk to the management later. They will check in the Cctv and may be we get to know the culprit from there.)