Next morning,

Sunrays fell in Preeran's room,Karan flickered his eyes and woke up,he yawned lightly,

He saw Preeta wasn't there and thought she might be in washroom,

He looked at Tara who was sleeping peacefully,he smiled and gave a peck on her forehead,and got down from bed keeping pillows at her sides,

Karan(knocking on washroom door) - Babydoll...babydoll tum andar ho kya?

*No response*

Karan(rubbing his eyes) - Preeta!tum andar ho?

*Again no response*

He lightly pushed the door and saw it open,he looked around being confused,

Karan - shayad neeche chali gayi!

He looked at Tara once who was sleeping and then went down,

Everyone was in the hall only,

Rakhi - lo ji Karan bhi uth gaya!good morning puttar ji!

Karan - good morning!(seeing here and there)

Shristi - kya hua jiju?kise dhundh rahe ho?

Karan - Preeta...Preeta kaha hai?

Avni - wo to ab tak neeche nahi aayi..mujhe laga kal delivery ki wajah se thak gayi hogi to der tak so rahi hogi!

Karan - nahi wo room me nahi hai!(shouts) girish!

Girish came there,

Karan - tune Preeta ko dekha?kahi bahar gyi thi kya?

Girish - nahi bhaiya...maine to Preeta bhabhi ko nahi dekha subah se!

Karan nodded, Girish left,

Sameer - to phir Preeta bhabhi kaha gayi?

Karan(tensed) - room me nahi hai...neeche nahi hai...to phir kaha gayi?

Rohit - are tension mat le...call karta hu usse!

Karan - ruk mai kar raha hu!(Rohit nods)

Karan dialled Preeta's number,

The number you have called is currently switched off,please try again later

Karan(cuts the call) - phone switched off bata raha hai uska!(rubs his forehead tensely)

Rakhi - puttar tu chinta mat kar...wo gayi hogi kahi aas pass! Shristi ek kaam kar Sarla ji ko call kar...ho skta hai unhe kuch pata ho!

Shristi nodded and called Sarla,

Shristi - hello mumma...ha ek min...wo Preeta di waha aayi hai kya?.....aapse baat hui hai unki?.....acha...nahi kuch nahi bas asehi....ha ha....acha bye!(cuts the call)

Karan - kya bola Sarla maa ne?

Shristi - di waha nahi gayi!aur mumma ko kuch nahi pata!

Karan(tensed) - kaha gayi Babydoll phir!aise to bina bole kahi nahi jaati wo!

Rohit - Karan just calm down!hum dhundhte hai usse!

Karan nodded, they were about to go when they heard Tara crying,

Karan - Tara!(to Rohit) mai Tara ko lekar aata hu...wo ro rahi hai!

Rohit nodded,Karan ran upstairs,

He entered the room and saw Tara crying,

He went towards her and held her in his arms,

Karan(patting her head) - nahi baby aise nahi rote!I know aapko mumma ke pass jaana hai..bas mai abhi mumma ko lekar aata hu! hmm!bas shaant shaant!

She stopped crying and looked at him with moist eyes,he kissed her forehead and took her down,

Kritika - Karan bhai laao...mai Tara ko smbhaalti hu!aaplog bhabhi ko dhundhne jaao!

Karan nodded and gave Tara in her hands,he turned to go but stopped and caressed Tara's head and then left with Rohit and Sameer,

Rohit - ek kaam karte hai aas pass ke logo se puchte hai!shyad kisi ko pata ho!

Sameer - tab tak Karan bhai aap bhabhi ke friends ko call krke pata karo!

Karan nodded,Rohit and Sameer left n different directions,Karan started calling Preeta's friends one by one,

After sometime,

Rohit and Sameer came back to see Karan talking on phone,

Karan - nahi maine bas aisehi pucha...yaah...okay thanks!(cuts the call and looks at them) kuch pata chala?

Both nodded in no,

Sameer - bhabhi ke kisi friend ko kuch?

Karan - nahi...kisiko kuch nahi pata...(with little tears) mujhe to smjh nahi aa raha...Preeta gayi kaha!

Rohit(kept his hand on Karan's shoulder) - Preeta mil jaayegi Karan! tension mt le!

Karan nodded tearfully,

It was evening but they still couldn't find Preeta,

Karan Rohit and Sameer came home disheartened,

Rakhi - Karan...Preeta kaha hai?tumlogo ke saath nahi aayi?

Rohit - Preeta mili hi nahi!uska koi aata pata nahi hai!

Karan(crying) - kuch smjh nahi aa raha...kya karu kya nahi...kahin nahi mil rahi wo...phone bhi switched off hai...kisi ko nahi pata ki wo gayi kaha!(kicks a chair frustratingly) dammit...kaha gayi tum babydoll!

Avni - Karan shaant hojaao! tumlog police complaint kyu nahi karte!shyad wo log dhundh le Preeta ko!

Karan - ha ye shi hai! Rohit Sammy chalo!(stops) eh...ek min! Kritika...Tara?

Kritika - wo room me so rahi hai bhai...bahot roi hai aaj!abhi aapke room me sulaaya hai!

Karan - uska khayal rakh...mai kuch bhi krke Preeta ko dhundh kar laaunga!

Kritika nodded,trio left,

After sometime,they were shown standing outside the police station,

Karan(angrily kicks car tire) - aise kaise wo log complaint nahi likh skte! Preeta subah se mil nahi rahi...aur ye...dammit!

Sameer - par bhai unki baat bhi ab kaise taale hum!unke according 24 ghante se pehle wo complaint nahi likhte!

Karan(shouts) - are to kya 24 ghante hone tak mai haath pe haath dhare baitha rahu!kaise dhundhu usse mai!(cries leaning to car) kaha chali gayi tum babydoll!kyu nahi mil rahi!

Rohit - Karan please shaant hoja!aise hope khone se kuch nahi hoga!mil jaayegi wo!

Karan - subah se yahi sun raha hu mai Rohit...mil jaayegi mil jaayegi...kyu nahi mil rahi fir wo!aise achanak se gayi kaha!

Sameer - please bhai!shaant hojaaiye!

Karan rubs his forehead tensely,trio went back home,

Luthra Mansion,

Karan was sitting on sofa clutching his hairs,

Karan - har jagah dekh liya...par kahi nahi mili!aise achanak chali kaha gayi Preeta!kuch smjh nahi aa raha!

Avni - mujhe bahot tension ho rahi hai!kahi Preeta kisi musibat me to....

Karan - please Avni...mat bolo aisa...mai already usse lekar bahot tensed hu...kuch nahi hua hoga usse...wo thik hogi! par...par pata nahi kaha!

Rohit - ab ek hi kaam ho skta hai! commissioner se baat karni hogi!ab whi kuch kar skte hai!

Karan(nods wiping his tears) - Sammy commissioner ko call lagakar de mujhe!

Sameer nodded and gave him the phone dialing commissioner number,

Karan - hello sir..mai Karan Luthra!

Comm - ha Karan...bolo iss time call kiya?all okay na?

Karan - sir meri wife...Preeta Luthra...she is missing!subah se uska koi aata pata nahi hai...call nahi lag raha...mil nahi rahi!aap kuch bhi kijiye..but I want my wife!

Comm - tum chinta mat karo Karan...apni wife ki photo aur details bhej do...we will do our best to find her!

Karan hums and cuts the call, Sameer sends Preeta's photo and details to him,

Shristi - ab hamare pass intezaar karne ke alawa koi raasta nahi!(with tears)

Sameer consoled her,

It was night, everyone was waiting was the commissioner's call,Karan was moving to and fro tensely,

Karan - mai ek baar Tara ko dekh kar aata hu!

All nods,he went to room,

Tara was laying on bed, Kritika was sitting beside her trying to play with her,

Karan - tu jaa mai baith ta hu thori der!

Kritika nodded and left,he sat beside Tara who was seeing around with big eyes,he took her in her arms,

Karan(whispers) - aa jaayegi!mumma abhi thodi der aa jaayegi aur Taru ke saath khelegi!(kissed her eyes) kitni royi meri princess aaj!aane do mumma ko...hum dono saath me usse daatenge...hmm!

He laid her on bed and patted her head,

Karan - abhi aap so jaao!Papa abhi mumma ko lekar aate hai!(kissed her forehead)

He called Kritika and left downstairs,

Door bell rang,all stood, Shristi ran and opened the door,

Senior inspector was there with his teammates,

Karan - inspector...kuch pata chala?Preeta mili aap sab ko?kaha hai Preeta?

Inspector looked at his teammates.

To be continued.