"What happened Amma, you seem to be lost in thought", asked Karan, his gaze fixed on to the TV screen. It was Saturday evening and Karan was occupied with the football match on television. But that did not stop him from stealing glances at his mom because he felt something was wrong.
"Nothing Karan", amma replied. "Is your team winning, what is the score?". Karan felt she was trying to sound normal and that bothered him.
Karan's dad was away on a business trip and it was just him, Akshu and Amma at home for the weekend.
Karan got up from his bean bag and walked into the room and sat next to his mother. " What is it mom, is everything fine. You sound different."
"It's about Akshara. It is almost 7 in the evening and your sister is not yet home. Her dance class would be done by 5."
"Relax amma. Akshu is not a kid anymore. She must have gone to her friends place. You know the girl who lives in the apartment on the main road, I always forget her name. She will be home anytime." said Karan and immediately rushed back to watch his football match.
"Amma gets worked up too much", he thought to himself.
The match was almost done and his team were winning comfortably. Karan glanced at his phone and realized it was 8 PM. He walked into his mother's room expecting to see his mom and sister chatting.
"Amma, look at your face. It is all pale. It is just 8 PM and I am sure Akshu will be here any moment. Anyways, I will go down to that apartment and check at her friends place. You don't call up appa, he will be tensed."
"I just called him Karan and his phone is not reachable", replied amma. Karan glanced back her and nodded his head, in mock disapproval as he picked up his bike keys.
"Can you call up her dance teacher", he could hear amma shouting from the room.
Karan had already tried reaching the dance teacher, while watching the match, but there was no response from her. She did not even return his calls. Karan had various thoughts running in his mind, but he tried to conceal that from his mother.
In the last one hour, Karan had been to the dance class, which was closed. He had gone to the apartment and spoke to Akshu's friend who had no clue about his sister's whereabouts. He drove on the streets around his colony to try his luck, but to no avail.
As he reached home, Karan was worried about facing his mom. He still had no clue about Akshara and it was getting late. He saw his uncle's car parked outside and wondered what brought him home at this time.
As he stepped in, Karan saw his mom in tears. She had called up his uncle and now they were planning to go to the local police station to lodge a complaint.
Karan was against the idea, as he did not want to complicate the matter, but at the same time he knew could not leave it for too long.
"Did you call up dad", asked amma. Karan was sitting on the sofa, fidgeting with his phone. He was evaluating his options and calling his dad was not one of them. " Uncle can you stay at home while I go out and trace Akshara." There was a calmness in his voice which surprised his uncle and mom alike. "But Karan", his uncle interrupted him, "We should be talking to the police." Lets wait for an hour and if she is still not home, we will go to the station. If she is home when I am out do call me." Karan walked out of the home and got onto the bike with Rishi, his friend next door.
They checked out all the pani puri dabbas that he and his sister frequented. Next up, they drove to the dance class and back looking into every lane and by lane. As Rishi drove, Karan made a call to appa and updated him on the situation.
As they drove though the main road, from the corner of his eye, Karan caught a glimpse of Akshara. He immediately patted Rishi who took a U turn and stopped right next to her.
Akshara was surprised to see his brother there. She was coming out from the gift shop and was looking for an auto when her brother dropped in from no where.
Karan got down from the bike and walked towards her. He asked Rishi to drive back home and tell amma. After Rishi left, both of them got into an auto to go home.
"What are you doing here Karan", aksed Akshara, still surprised.
"Me and Rishi were coming back from a friend's place. When I saw you here, i asked Rishi to go back so that we can go home together. What took you so long, I thought you would be home by this time", it was Karan's turn to question her.
"I wanted to buy a gift for amma. It is her birthday tomorrow and i wanted to surprise her. I had the pocket money that we saved. I knew you would be watching the match, so I came all alone." Karan just nodded his head in approval.
"I am sorry, I did not expect it would take so long. After the class, I tried two stores before I came here and brought this gift for her."
"That's okay Akshu. So what did you buy for her?" Karan asked, mimicking her voice.
"Now that is a surprise and you will get to see it only after mom", she replied back.
As they reached home, she noticed the car outside and looked at him. Karan also gave her an amused look as if to say, "even i don't know why he is here."
Rishi was just coming out as Karan and Akshara walked in. Rishi winked at Karan as if to say the job was done.
"Hey Akshu, I just came by to see you guys. Amma told me you weren't home yet. So was waiting for you. What took you so long?", asked her uncle. Karan barely managed to conceal his laughter at the effort his uncle and mom were making to look as if everything was normal.
"I wanted to buy a gift for amma and got delayed getting it", Akshar answered, settling down in the sofa.
"Akshara, go freshen up while I set up dinner, uncle is also joining us. Karan can you help me in the kitchen", her mom shouted as she made way to the kitchen.
"Thank God, Karan. I was very tensed and tried reaching dad again. But he wasn't answering my call. Did you know where Akshu was, how could you be so relaxed and why is your appa not answering the call?", Karan waited for the barrage of questions to stop and then gave his phone to amma.
"Here, appa wants to talk to you, he is on the line." Walking out, Karan silently thanked Rishi for a job well done.
As Karan was setting up the table, he could hear his mom's volley of questions being directed at appa and smiled to himself.
His uncle pulled him to a corner to talk to him. "Tell me, did you already know that Akshu would be delayed. How come you were so relaxed when I and amma were really worried about her."
" No uncle, I had no clue and even I was a tad worried about Akshu. But the secret was in staying calm and trying to think, rather than panic and complicate the entire matter", answered Karan.
"Now, that is something he learned from his appa - to stay calm when the situation gets tough. Looks like he mastered it well", said his mother as she set up the dining table.
Linking the post to the A to Z Challenge
Read the next part here D for Delight
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