"Please find her, it is a personal request!" A worried Harsh Shekhawat sat before the investigating officer. He had never dealt with so much stress in his life. Anju had collapsed and hurt herself seriously on the head after receiving news of her daughter's abduction. She had to be hospitalised where she was accompanied by Vidushi and an old colleague of hers.

An entire day had passed since Sanyukta was taken from the streets of Panaji. The Shekhawats lodged a complaint as soon as they were informed of it. Onlookers gave testimony about the manner in which she had been forced into a white car by unknown kidnappers. As Harsh Shekhawat was an influential man in Goa routine procedure was swept aside and the police launched an investigation immediately. They discovered that the car's license plate had been switched with a fake one and the men who abducted Sanyukta had worn masks. 

To add to the problem Vishad went missing too and his phone was unreachable. The last known location of his phone was the office building of the Shekhawats, at 6 pm the previous evening, by which time most of the employees had already left for home. The lobby camera had captured Vishad walking out of the building but after that he seemed to have vanished into thin air, leading to endless speculation. He had not taken his car to work that morning, having hitched a ride with Parth. Both Parth and Harsh had left the office a bit earlier, at 5.30 pm, the time when Sanyukta was being kidnapped. 

The family was accustomed to Vishad being unreachable for a day or two, so no one was unduly worried about him although messages were sent to his phone about Sanyukta's disappearance. Harsh was hesitant about reporting Vishad's absence to the police but he had no choice. He did not want to withhold any information that could be connected to the recent crime. It was possible that his nephew had also been kidnapped. On the other hand he dreaded another possibility- of Vishad being in league with the kidnappers. But why would he kidnap his own wife? Unless he was acting on someone else's instructions. Someone who disliked Sanyukta enough to want her out of the way! Harsh tried to reason it out logically. Instinct told him that this was unlikely, but one could never know!

Randhir, who sat next to Harsh, looked pale. He found himself trapped in a strange, unprecedented state where he could not express his true feelings about Sanyukta being kidnapped. He was numb with anxiety but this was a police station. He had to keep his wits about. Unlike in a movie script he could not turn vigilante and try to trace her himself, he had neither the information nor the means to rescue her.

"The longer it takes the more dangerous it will be for her. I hope they have not taken her across the state border!" Randhir mouthed almost mechanically. He was not even thinking of his missing cousin Vishad. Anyway there was no love lost between the two of them and their relation was even more strained after Sanyukta had married Vishad.

"No, that is unlikely. Border patrols have been deployed and there is no possibility of them taking her out of the state. However I am more anxious about something else. If the kidnappers were to demand a ransom you would have heard from them by now. In the absence of a ransom call the intentions of the kidnappers could be varied." Police officer Rakesh Naik was personally known to Harsh. He had enough experience in the police force to suspect the personal enmity angle apart from trafficking. His men were combing the length and the breadth of the small state and simultaneously phone call records of the Shekhawats as well as of Anju were being swept to look for clues.  

"Keep me posted as soon as there is any news!" Harsh said, rising from his chair. Officer Naik assured him that he would do everything possible to resolve the matter. Randhir followed his father listlessly out of the police station and slid behind the wheel of their car.

"How is she? Any sign of improvement?" Harsh mumbled into the phone.

"The doctors have dealt with the seizure resulting from the hematoma. She is under observation. If the situation does not improve they will have to operate." Vidushi sounded tired.

"I'll be there within an hour. Parth will drive me there and also bring you home." Harsh informed his daughter-in-law.

"No Dad, I am fine. You can come by and see her, but I will spend the night here. Just ask Parth to get me some fresh clothes and my toiletries." Vidushi responded.

"No, my dear! You've done enough! You are coming home with Parth for some rest and I'll stay the night!" Harsh's tone was firm.

"But Dad, Mom won't..." Vidushi was interrupted in mid sentence.

"Do you think I care what Renuka has to say at a time like this? Anju's life is in peril and her only daughter has been taken away from us. I'll speak to my wife, you don't worry, although I don't want any unpleasantness while Nicole is staying with us! She knows nothing about the past!" Harsh disconnected.

"Don't worry about Nikki. I'll deal with her! Just don't have an altercation with Mom, that's all!" Randhir could imagine his father's state of mind. He was not feeling much different either.

"Randhir, I turned my back on someone I cared about immensely for nearly three decades, just to please your mother. But not anymore! Not when Anju is fighting for her life. And I know you will understand. Why else have you been worried sick since Sanyukta went missing?" Harsh let out a sigh.

"Dad, I've known Sanyukta for years. It is natural for me to worry about her!" Randhir tried to gloss over the discussion.

"I don't see you fretting about Vishad, and you've known him all your life. No matter how much you try and cover up, I know the truth already. My only regret is I could not warn my own son against repeating the blunder I made." Harsh looked exhausted. He was beyond caring about discretion.

"Right now all I want is for her to be safe!" Randhir's words were sincere. 

"And all I want is for all three- Sanyukta, Anju and Vishad to be safe and out of danger. Everything else is secondary. And you should be concerned about Nicole too, don't neglect her amid these circumstances.

"I won't, Dad, I promise!" Randhir was not sure he could focus on anyone other than Sanyukta right then, but he had to act sensibly. His father was facing enough problems for the moment.

"It's not going to be easy, my boy! Staying true to one woman when your heart looks out to another!" Harsh could not but help remark.

"You managed fine, Dad!" Randhir respnded.

"But I never forgave myself for being weak at the crucial moment. Hope you fare better!" The conversation ended with Harsh's words because they had reached home. 

"Where is the need for you to stay overnight at the hospital, Harsh? Anju has enough colleagues and friends here in Goa!" Renuka was irritated. She liked staying in control of things but everything seemed beyond her now.

"When I need your opinion about Anju's current state I'll ask you, Renuka. Don't make a scene, Nicole is around. I am going there and that is final! You are welcome to join me. Surely you don't need to worry about anything with that woman lying unconscious in bed!" Harsh tried hard not to lose his cool.

"Who needs me there when you have made up your mind to babysit both mother and daughter? Should I have dinner served?" Renuka asked in a huff.

"You guys can go ahead without me, I'll order a sandwich from the canteen if I am hungry. Parth, come with me, you need to bring Vidushi home for the night. Randhir, just stay with Renuka and Nicole and let me know if there is any news of Vishad and Sanyukta!" Harsh rose once more to signal he was leaving.

"Sure, Dad, likewise! Mom, let's wait until Parth is back with Vidushi, we can have dinner together!" Randhir tried to defuse the tension between his parents. He knew Renuka was upset. He also knew that his father would not heed her tantrums today, Anju was clearly in a delicate state and Harsh felt responsible for her. Randhir was sure he'd feel the same if it was Sanyukta lying in the hospital bed instead of her mother. Where are you, Mowgli! Please, please be safe!" Randhir felt helpless sitting at home when she was untraceable. And he was due to fly back to the US with Nicole in a couple of days.

"Anju, can you hear me?" It is I, Harsh! Please respond if you can hear my voice!" Harsh had tears in his eyes to see her lying there. She looked as vulnerable as a preterm baby placed in an incubator, only there was no sign of movement from Anju.

Harsh wished his life had played out differently. He wished he had been firm and insisted that her superstition was unfounded, that she was not a harbinger of bad luck for him, back in the days. He had failed to convince her, so strong had been her belief. And now as she lay there, her head bandaged, her eyes snapped shut, he felt as if he was the most powerless man in the world. The doctors had assured him that they were already doing their best, and the operation theatre was on standby if they had to operate in an emergency, though recovery was a matter of chance. Anju would stay under observation until morning and then they would make a final decision. 

"Sanyu, your are here finally! I am so happy to see you!" Anju was not conscious but her mind was compensating. In her dreamlike state it was conjuring its own images, as if attempting to liberate the hapless woman from her agony. 

"Come, my child, stand close to me! Why did you not warn me that Harsh is coming over to see us? What will he say if he knows we are having such a humble dish for dinner? I know you enjoy the korbott made with sardines and anchovies, but how can I serve it to your father-in-law? His wife will laugh at me for rustling up such a rustic meal!"

"I know what we will do, Sanyu. To compensate, I'll make sure I send a grand "vhojem" gift to your husband's family, as it is the first year of your marriage. Let me see, besides the coconuts and the pooja things I have to send you chivda, ladoo, shankarpalli, Mysore Pak and the best pedhas and kaju katli in Goa!The rest I can make myself, but for the Mysore Pak and kaju katli I'll place an order with some reliable Khajekar. After Ganesh Chaturthi there will be Dasara and Diwali. I'll have buy appropriate gifts for all the festivals in your first year as a bride. But you don't worry, I'll break a couple of fixed deposits. Then I'll have enough to tide over the year."

"Sanyu, I know you call me old-fashioned, but I really wish to have a grandchild before it is too late. I never told you, but the diary mentions that if any o four firstborn is a boy he will be the omen that will break the curse for the women of several generations in our family. Unfortunately, from the days of my great grandmother none of the first born were boys."

"People say a Devdasi always prayed for a daughter who could continue the hereditary profession and support her family. What an unfortunate wish to make! I shall pray, Sanyu, that your first baby is a boy. Even if you don't believe in old wives tales, I don't want anything untoward to happen to anyone close to us on account of this curse."

"Don't laugh at your poor mother, my dear! That is not the only reason I want a grandchild. When you were born you were the best gift I ever had in my life. I was unlucky in love but was lucky enough to be a mother. You are a piece of me, and likewise, your children will be a piece of both you and I. Our legacy shall continue through our future generations, beginning with your babies. And please don't make me pine for that true joy!"

"Sanyu, my head hurts really badly! Can you apply some balm on my forehead? Sanyu, Sanyu, are you there? Can you hear me?" 

Harsh was suddenly yanked out of his thoughts as he heard something.

"Anju, what happened? Sister, Doctor, please! What is going on?" Harsh panicked as the telemetry instruments began giving off an alarm indicating that the patient's vitals were unstable. The nurse came running and the doctor was summoned.

"Doctor, if she needs emergency surgery, please go ahead! I don't want to take any chances, and don't worry about the charges, my office will take care of all the bills!" Harsh pleaded.

"Of course Mr Shekhawat, we are already standing by. I'll will get the teams ready, we have to operate without any delay!" The doctor initiated the procedure for emergency surgery.

"Randhir, can you please come to the hospital right now? I really need you here. They are preparing Anju for surgery. No, don't tell your mother. She'll never understand what I am going through!"

Randhir changed his clothes briskly. Nicole was fast asleep in the bed. He did not see the point of disturbing her. As he drove to the hospital he mulled over his father's words. Maybe his mother was unable to comprehend what his father was going through, but he understood very well what it was to stand at a crossroad in life and have to make a heartbreaking decision.