Part 37 Well-Known Secret

It was 8 o'clock. Suman didn't come home. Fear was eating up Khushi alive. Suman had never been like this. He was always informed if he was late. Arnav was continuously trying his number but his phone was switched off.

"Khushi, give me his office number... we will inquire about him in his office"

"I don't have his office number," she said crying.

"Khushi, please don't cry"

"I'm scared, Arnav... This is the first time it takes place. He doesn't have a habit of going somewhere else. He always comes home straight from the office. He doesn't even have any friends in Lucknow. I can't get anything... my mind is not working"

"Please don't get upset. Hope for good. He will be all right and will come home soon"

"No Arnav, something is terribly wrong. His phone is switched off. The charge of his phone was full in the morning..."

"He would have used the mobile for some official purpose, Khushi... So, it would have lowered"

"No, Sumi won't use the phone during office hours... I know that. He told me about it"

"Okay... Don't bother. I will go to his office and look for him"

"I will also come with you"

"No Khushi, you stay here. He may come home. Call me if he reaches home before I come"

"No... I can't be sitting here. Sumi has a spare key. Let that idiot wait"

Arnav nodded ok slightly smiling. They went to Suman's office to know about him. Khushi was looking for him all the way to his office.

Arnav halted the car in front of Suman's office. They got down from the car and went in. The security stopped them.

"Who are you, sir? What do you want?"

"She is Suman Mathur's wife..."

Khushi looked at him, hearing him addressing her as Suman's wife. She thought he would say Suman was his friend.

"He has not come home yet. That's why we came looking for him"

They saw the bewilderment on the security's face.

"Do you know about him?"

"Of course, sir... He left the office at 4o' clock"

"At 4o' clock? But how do you know that acutely?"

"He is a friendly man, sir. He always smiles at me whenever enters the office and leaves the office. He sometimes talks to me too..."

"Oh..."

"I know when he comes to the office and leaves the office. This week, 6 to 2 is his shift timing. After the shift only he ate lunch and came out of the office today at 3:30. He talked to me for half an hour and then left"

Arnav and Khushi looked at each other anxiously.

"Did you call him sir?" The security asked worriedly.

"Yeah... Numerous times but he didn't answer back"

"Did you inquire if he met with an ..." The security hesitated without completing the sentence with the word, ACCIDENT.

Arnav and Khushi understood that.

"Please file a complaint in the police station, sir." The security said with concern.

Arnav nodded ok.

"Could you ask him to call me when he comes back?"

"Sure," Arnav said and looked at Khushi.

"Let's go"

He opened the car door for Khushi and started the car. Khushi cried closing her face with her palms. Arnav stopped the car at the side is the road.

"Khushi..." He touched her head.

In no time, Khushi leaned on his shoulder and sobbed badly. Arnav closed his eyes and could not stand her tears.

"Khushi, please don't lose hope. Be strong..."

"How could I be Arnav? Didn't you hear what the security said? Sumi left the office at 4o' clock. He should have reached home as of now but he has not... What does that mean?"

"Don't think anything unnecessarily... Nothing would have happened to Sumi. He will be all right" his voice was strict.

"Wipe your face," he said but he himself wiped her face, not waiting.

"We will file a complaint in the police station... Ok?"

"But..."

"Shhh..."

"It will lead us to tell the truth about Sheetal"

Arnav nodded yes.

"We have no choice. In fact, I even suspect her"

Khushi was silent because she also suspected Sheetal.

Arnav started the car towards the police station.

They came to the police station.

"We want to file a complaint," Arnav said.

"You are the principal of Rishab school right?" A woman constable asked.

Arnav nodded yes.

"My son is studying in your school only sir..."

"Oh..."

"Seventh standard, sir... Siddharth his name is"

"Oh... We are here to file a complaint"

"Yeah... Please wait for a second"

The constable went to the subinspector's cabin and conveyed the message. She came out,

"Sir, please come. SI sir is calling you"

Arnav and Khushi went in.

"Please take your seat, sir. You too sit madam" the SI said.

They took seats.

"Tell me, sir. What happened?"

"My husband is missing, Sir. He didn't come home from the office" Khushi said gulping down.

"Had you guys had a fight?"

"No... We went outing last night. A few men attacked us. Suman beat them black and blue. They ran away..."

"Who attacked you? Why did they attack you?"

"I and Khushi are college mates. My wife suspects our relationship. Her husband knew us. He supported us. That angered my wife. She is the one who sent them to finish Khushi and Suman"

"How could you tell that so surely, sir?"

"Because the goons themselves told us," Khushi said.

"Give us a written complaint, ma'am. We will take action"

Khushi nodded ok and wrote the complaint. She handed it to the SI.

"Sir, we will have to come to the house to inquire about your wife," the SI said.

"No use sir. She won't be at home. She will be available at Hotel Paradise..."

The SI looked at him shrinking his eyes.

"Is she working in hotel paradise?"

"No, she stays in the hotel with her boyfriend often"

The SI looked at him as if he was an alien.

"There is nothing to be hidden, sir. Our story is aWELL-KNOWNN SECRET. Everyone knows that"

"Could you please tell me clearly?"

Arnav told him his story from the beginning. He had no choice.

"As you said, there's a lot of chance for Sheetal Kapoor to be a culprit..."

Arnav nodded yes.

"I will inquire her"

"Please do it tomorrow morning. She will be in the intoxicated state now" Arnav added.

"What kind of woman she is" the SI murmured inaudibly.

"Please, find where is Suman" Arnav requested.

"Sure, sir... Give his photograph"

"Yeah..." Arnav looked at Khushi.

Khushi sent Suman's photo to the SI from her mobile.

"Ok, I will do it," the SI said.

Arnav and Khushi came out of the police station. Arnav started the car and headed toward Khushi's house. Arnav could sense Khushi was completely collapsed. He didn't know how to console her. He was not sure that she could be consoled.

Arnav stopped the car in front of Khushi's house. Arnav was about to get off, but Khushi stopped him.

"You go, Arnav. We will see tomorrow"

"No... I'm not going. I can't leave you in this condition"

"It's ok Arnav. I will drop you a message if... ( she gulped) he comes"

"He will come..."

"Then..."

Cutting her,

"That's why I want to be with you. He won't forgive me if I leave you alone like this"

"He will get beaten up if he opens his mouth because he is the one who left us alone without even a note..."

"We don't know what's his condition, Khushi..."

Again Khushi choked. She too knew Suman would not have vanished without a note if he had a chance to do it.

"Open the door"

"Arnav..."

Snatching the key from her hand, Arnav opened the door. Khushi sat on the couch suffocating. Nothing seemed right for them. Arnav went to the kitchen and brought water. He handed it to Khushi. She looked at him raising her head. Arnav gestured her to drink it. Khushi didn't deny it.

Arnav didn't stop trying Suman's number the whole night. He didn't get sleep. As time passed, Khushi slept, on the couch as she was tired. She lost her strength, crying. Arnav caressed her hair, gulping. He didn't know where that situation taking them. It would get cleared only after knowing about Suman's whereabouts. But he was ready to face anything. He was not going to leave Khushi's side this time, no matter what.

The next day

Sheetal came out of the Hotel the Paradise with Sarath as usual. She started the car.

"By the way, when will your car be delivered?" Sheetal asked.

"Yeah, the mechanic called me. The service is over. Will take it today"

"Do you want me to drop you at the mechanic shop?"

"Yeah, please..."

"Ok..."

When the car came out of the hotel premises, it was stopped by the police. Sheetal and Sarath both were shocked from TWO different angles, seeing the police.

To be continued...