Third Person POV

Aarav began to search for Khushi on the streets of Goa but was unable to find her. He sighed deeply "ye dono maa beti gusse mein ghar kyun chodke jaati hai.."

He enquired about a few small stores but they denied recognising Khushi. He grew worried "kaha gayi Khushi.. Goa waise bhi bachcho ke liye safe nahi hai"

Virat kept his hand on his shoulder, Aarav turned and hugged him tightly "bhai.. khushi mujhe fikar ho rahi hai"

Virat smeared his head and informed "mil jayegi Khushi Aarav. Pareshan mat ho use farm house ka address pata hai, tera number pata hai"

Aarav parted the hug and said "janta hun bhai par gusse mein nikli hai aur aap toh jante ho goa ka mahool.." he was worried she don't end up getting into any trouble.

"main hoon na.. chal dono milke dhundhte hai" Virat assured him, they will find Khushi together. Aarav smiled light and they began to search for her in different directions.

At Farm House

Manvi glanced at the time on her wristwatch it was 11 pm. She sighed and thought "ye Khushi abtak aayi kyun nahi"

Ahana looked at her and asked "kyun kiya itna gussa?"

Manvi glanced at her and said "bhabhi pehli baar usko nahi daanta hai maine shaadi se pehle bhi mujhse daant khake ghar se nikli hai aur ek do ghante mein wapas aayi hai"

"haan par wo Mumbai mein Manvi, waha pe tumhari Di ka ghar tha ruthke wo waha jaa sakti thi par hum Goa mein hai yahan kaha jayegi?" Ahana asked.

Manvi took a deep breath and thought "ye toh maine socha hi nahi.."

She picked up her phone and called her number but her phone was buzzing in the house itself. Ahana glanced at Vihaan who was playing with Khushi's phone. She managed to get the phone and said "dekho phone bhi yahi hai uska.. bas Virat aur Aarav use dhudhke wapas le aaye"

Manvi grew worried, she just prayed Khushi is fine and returns home with Aarav and Virat.

Ahana thought "ye Manvi bhi na bina wajah Aarav ko itna suna diya ek baar Khushi wapas aa jaye phir leti hun iski khabar"

Ahana was angry at her for her behaviour towards Aarav. She might be elder to him but she doesn't have the right to insult him like that in front of everyone.

Ahana called Virat..

After a few rings, Virat picked up the call and said "haan Ahana"

"Khushi mili?" she questioned. Manvi looked at her with a positive response.

Virat denied "nahi main aur Aarav dhudh rahe hai tum pareshan mat ho, Vihaan ko sula do tum"

"thik hai jaise hi Khushi mile mujhe message karna" Ahana instructed and ended the call. Ahana glanced at Manvi for a moment then moved inside the bedroom with Vihaan.

Here Aarav sat down on the footpath with a pale face. The concern for Khushi was clearly visible on his face. It has been almost two hours and he was unable to find his daughter. Virat was on the phone call, he had some contacts in Goa and asked them to find Khushi.

He disconnected the call and grabbed a place beside Aarav. Aarav turned towards him and said in a shaky tone "bhai.. Khushi kuch ho gaya use toh??"

Virat denied "nahi, kuch nahi hoga use Aarav"

"aap nahi jante kya? kitne gusse mein nikli hai.." he said.

"Aarav please panic mat ho humne abhi santacruz wala street nahi dekha hai na.. ho sakta hai waha ho chal" Virat spoke while standing up. Aarav took a deep breath and walked with him towards the next location.

Here, Khushi was walking on the streets with tears in her eyes. She was hurt by her mother words who didn't even both listen to her for once.

"Samjhti kya hai khudko kahi ki maharani hai? gusse mein hai toh kisiki sunengi nahi bas galatfehmi paalke baith jayengi.. ghar hi nahi jaungi main"

She was lost in her own words. She remembered how she confronted Manvi and spoke harshly with her. She sighed deeply "oh god.. she is my mom and maine kitna kuch suna diya unhe par mera fault nahi tha.."

She was just struggling with her thoughts and feelings. She wiped her tears, why can't her mother understand whatever she did was for her own good. The car horned but Khushi failed to hear it. The car pressed the break but it was too late as Khushi was already hit and she landed on the road with a hard jerk.

She fell on her stomach hitting her head with the brick as she was near the construction site. The blood started to ooze out from her forehead and within a few seconds, she was lying in a pool of her own blood.

Her vision became a blur, her mind stopped working. She blinked her eyes for a few seconds to get a clear vision but failed. She shut her eyes completely losing her consciousness.

Here Manvi felt uneasy, her heartbeat raised suddenly. Her psyche turned restless, she moved to the kitchen and took out the water bottle from the fridge. She drank the water and sighed "ye kya hua mujhe... Khushi" a shiver passed down her spine with the thought of this.

She called Aarav, Aarav kept on disconnecting her call. She sighed "janti hun mujhse gussa ho par please itna bata do Khushi mili?" she messaged him

Here, Aarav reached the same street where Khushi meet with an accident. Few voices run in his eardrums, he turned towards the direction and saw a few people fighting with the man.

He moved a bit but Virat called him "Aarav yahan toh dikh nahi rahi Khushi aage dekhte hai"

Aarav's sixth sense told him, Khushi is nearby. He looked at Virat and said "bhai.. Khushi yahi hai mujhe mehsus ho raha hai"

"bache yahan koi nahi hai.. pura aage tak dekhke aaya main" Virat informed him.

Aarav looked at the direction where the crowd was gathered. He said "ek baar udhar.. dekh lete hai"

Virat glanced at him and then both of them rushed towards the direction. Aarav pushed the crowd and his eyes became wide seeing a 15 years old girl lying on the floor in a pool of her own blood.

He got on his knees and slowly forwarded his hand towards the girl's face> His hands were trembling, he just wished it is not his Khushi. Gathering the courage he turned her face and his fear came true. He shouted "khushi..."

Virat was shocked to see her state. He screamed at the crowd "aap sab log khade tamasha dekh rahe hai kisine ambulance tak nahi bulayi"

"Are bhaisaab hum kabse iss aadmi ko kah rahe hai iss bachi ko hospital leke jaa.. iski wajah se toh accident hua hai" one of them said.

"meri galti nahi hai maine horn maara tha aur break lagaya par tabtak ye meri gadi se takra chuki thi" he informed.

Aarav kept her head on his laps, tears slipped down his eyes and he cupped her face "Khushi.. beta aankhein khol dekh dadda aaye hai" but the girl wasn't responding.

Virat eyes turned moist, he immediately called for an ambulance but it will be too late. He doesn't even know how long she has been lying there on the road. Virat grabbed the collar of the man and warned him "chup chap hospital pahucha humhe samjha"

He nodded positively as he didn't want to get involved in a police case.

Virat left him with a jerk and then glanced at Aarav. He kept his hand on his shoulder and said calmy "Aarav.. khushi ko hospital leke jaana hai"

"bhai.. ye aankhein kyun nahi khol rahi hai.." he said in a panic tone.

"Aarav use chot lagi hai na.. chal jaldi hospital leke jaana hai" Virat spoke.

Aarav lifted Khushi in his arms and made her sit inside the car. He can't bear even a little scar on his loved ones and Khushi is his daughter. He pulled out his handkerchief from his pocket and placed it on top of her forehead so that she doesn't lose any more blood.

Virat sat in front, he drove the car faster. He glanced at Aarav and said "kuch nahi hoga Khushi ko Aarav.. bas pahuch gaye hospital"

Aarav was just sitting still at his place glancing at Khushi's face. Tears brimmed down his eyes and recalled what happened at home. "agar khushi ko kuch hua na Manvi.. toh tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karunga main.." he murmured.

To be continued...