"Khushi.. you wait here! I will go find her."

"No... Rishubh please don't leave me alone. I am scared to death. Please rishubh! "

"I understand khush.. but Shashi is our friend.. and more than that.. she is family. And ...And Mohnish uncle rescued us from that death hole. It's our duty. Please let me go."

"Rishubh.. you don't understand. We may.. we may risk your life after her. And I don't want us to die....
I don't want you to die. I.. wanna be with you. I wanna.. go to the farewell with you.. I wanna live with you!"

"Khush...! What are you saying?!"

"Yes rishubh... I... I ... Love you. I love you so much. And I don't wanna lose you and I know you love me too! And Shashi... She had to die. Someone of us had to die. We all couldn't be saved! For a love story to begin.. someone has to sacrifice. And.. and what do we know.. Maybe that was Mohan uncle who fired.. maybe she is safe. "

"Okay.. then why can't I go.. if it's all safe.. if it was Mohan uncle.. why can't we both go?!"

"We cannot! I cannot. All of us together.. will risk all of our lives. It'd be a mess. We have to get Outta here. They'll be safe! Common rishy.. what are you waiting for? I am here, you are here.. and we have our love! We have to do this. Please!"

"Alright!"

He picked me up.. and ran as fast as he could and after half an hour or so..
We made it to a rough.. kuchha road. Rishubh rested me on the edge and went on to ask for a lift.
He returned rather soon with a car driven by a middle aged man with his wife beside him. They were sweet people.

They drove us all the way to the city and dropped me first at my house and then rishubh.

Everything was normal.. until after a month of the fateful incident.....

One fine morning, around ten or so.. rishubh called.

"Hey.. check out the news! "
He said.

"Why what's wrong?!"

"Just check. Please."

"Okay."

I cut the call and switched on the TV. Tuned into a news channel and was taken aback reading the headlines.

"IAS officer Mohnish Oberoi and his daughter found dead!
The RAKA smuggle case closed. No suspects caught.
Racket's old warehouse raided, two men found dead.
Two other children kidnapped along with the officer's daughter found missing. No clue about their death or living.
Police looking for them!"

I didn't know what to do. I was petrified and scared at the same time. I thought.. they'd find me... Investigate and come to know everything. This made me panic.
  
                               * *
We moved to Bhopal. My family tried to hide me as much as possible.
When I turned 20, I was married to Karthik.
I didn't know what happened to rishubh and the case.. until now. I don't know what destiny has planned for me. But I have gotta see rishubh. I have to tell him what all I have been through. And I have to tell him how much I regret running away that day. How much I miss Shashi. And how much I love her."

Khushi completed the narration. Her cheeks and hands were wet. Even Sasha had tears. There was a lump forming in her throat.

"Excuse me!"
She said and went to the restroom.

Returned after a while.

"Hey.. I am so sorry for you!"

"Oh.. it's OK. Actually I should thank you for listening. I have kept this to me since years.. and it has kept eating me all the while. But.. tell me about yourself!"

"Umm.. I was adopted by maa when I was sixteen or so.. she was single back then and a widow. I was her way to cure loneliness. We always shared a bond. I was more like a friend to her!"

"But.. why did she go for adopting such a grown up?!"

"Because she told me.. that she didn't have the energy and will to raise a toddler after all her loss. She said.. She wanted to compensate her loss. I didn't know what loss she was talking about.. but now... I do!"

Suddenly Karthik barged in.

"Hey.. honey.. maa found Ishan. He is totally safe. Come let's go!"

"What? How?!"

"Long story.. will tell you later."

"Okay..
And hey.. Sasha.. wanna join?"

"Umm.. I need to get some work done!"