12 Hours
Chapter 1 :
“Hello Prabhu! How are you?” Robin asked in an enthusiastic tone over the call.
“Hey Robin, I am good man. How are you? It’s been a while since we caught up.” I replied.
“Yeah man, with the kid and the new book – it’s difficult to be in constant touch like old days. What are you up to?”
“As you know its Rana’s birthday tomorrow, so Archana and I are decorating our house in his favourite Paw Patrol theme”
“Oh yeah. His third birthday, right?” Robin asked.
“Dude, it’s his fourth birthday” I corrected him.
“Time indeed flies, Prabhu. It’s like you got married just yesterday and your son is already four years old!”
“Yes it does. What time are you coming for the party?” I asked.
“What time do you want me to come?” Robin questioned.
“Around 4 PM? And listen – this habit of gifting – let it be between, you, me, Archana and Diana. Let’s not bring the kids into it. They would then have lot of expectations every year and it might be really difficult to gift them with something spectacular every year.”
“Prabhu, you don’t have to worry about it. As long as Diana and I are alive - we will be gifting you guys and Rana every year with an innovative gift “
“Dude, it’s not about that. I don’t have much ideas like you and you always do something better than us”
“Don’t worry, Achu is there. She will definitely pull off something special for our D-Day !” Robin giggled. He always addressed my wife Archana as Achu.
“Yeah, you three people are partners in crime. Anyways. Come over to my place on time. Don’t be late like you usually do. I can wait for you.. but Archana and Rana wont” I warned him.
“Okay, I have to confess something. In fact I had called you for that very reason. I wouldn’t be able to make it for the party, Prabhu. I am really sorry”
“What in the world ? Are you serious? You aren’t coming for Rana’s birthday party?” I was upset.
“Yeah man, have a book promotion tour. I am right now in the airport, and will be catching my flight shortly. Had some waiting time and thought will call you and inform”
“Dude, what is this? Archana will kill you! Where are you headed?”
“To Bangalore. Don’t tell Achu, I will talk to her later when I come over in person. If you tell her now, she will be upset and will be angry through the rest of the day”
“What is this Robin, you are putting me in a spot of bother.” I paused and continued, ”Alright Robin go safe. I was expecting you and Diana and David to come over though”
“I know, some other time for sure. Actually, we are flying as a family now. Anyways, get me Achu on the call” Robin said.
I handed over the phone to Archana. Archana and Robin were also quite close, just like how Robin and I were. I was so glad that they both got along well – it’s rare that such things happen for best friends. Five years ago – Robin and Diana were in great trouble. I was able to help them and saved Diana from a near death situation. Our relationship changed from then on - we became a family. When I got Archana’s alliance it was Robin who came along with my dad to her place to talk out things. I was sceptical as Archana had spent most of her life in Kerala. I wasn’t sure if she would be able to get accustomed to the traditions and cultures of Tamil Nadu, but Robin convinced me and ensured that our wedding was fixed. Robin is a chatterbox and he knew his way with the women, so naturally he was close with Archana and they shared a lot of things – even some of those that she wouldn’t share with me. Diana and Archana also became friends and would hang out together. We upgraded to one big family from being best friends.
After about 15 minutes, Archana handed back the phone to me with a big smile on her face.
“What did he say?” I asked her.
“The usual leg-pulling for naming him as Rana, after the villain in Bahubaali and not as Prabhas, the hero. Your friend has nothing else to make fun of me in these four years” Archana still had that big smile on her face.
“Should I give him cues of every clumsy things you do?” I said and kept the phone near my ear.
“Yeah, give me all the cues so that I could pull her leg well.” Robin chuckled.
“Don’t overhear what couples talk – Robin” I said in a commanding tone.
“You should have muted your call then”
“Yeah – like there is something between Archana and I that you don’t know.” I giggled.
“True that. Want to talk to Diana or David?” Robin asked.
“I would love to, but little held up with the decorations. Will talk later, or whenever you guys come in person. Bye mate” I said and ended the call.
Robin was my best friend – someone for whom I would be ready to give my life. I had always admired him. Among the umpteen other people who finish their studies and get a 9 to 5 job – he had the guts to follow his passion and become an author. His first book became a national best seller and to think that it was based on incidents that happened in his life and how I was also a part of the novel always gave me goosebumps. Nice chap.
“Prabhu – We have to go pick up Rana, its 11 AM. The day care lady will lose her cool if we get delayed.” Archana reminded me.
“Oh yeah, I’ll go now” I dropped the balloons and party papers in my hand and rushed to the bathroom to wash myself.
“Yeah, run like you were waiting to hear those words, ready to escape from doing all these decorations. Now, I have to do it all by myself. Go you idiot, but go safe” she smiled.
That’s Archana. She would do anything for me and Rana – and would never complain. Wait, did I say so ? No – she would complain, but still would do it for us.
I refreshed and started my i20 to go to the Day care which was about fifteen minutes drive from our house. Due to the traffic, I reached there in about 30 minutes.
The day care was in the first floor of that building in Velachery, I strode through the steps and pushed the door open. The lady who worked there welcomed me, but gave a sceptical look.
“I have come to pick up Rana. I am his dad” I said.
“Yeah, I know you. But Rana has already left.” She said in a confused tone.
“Alone?” I was confused.
“No, someone picked him. Rana said he knew that person. So we let him go”
“Are you kidding me? It’s either me or the missus who always come and pick him. You know that pretty well. Just stop joking. Is he playing inside?”
“Sir, no. That person told you had sent him – that you and your wife were busy and so he had come to pick Rana. He showed a photo of you two being together”
“Wait. What do you mean? You sent Rana with him because he had taken a photo with me?” I was losing it.
“Didn’t you send him?” she started to understand the gravity of the situation.
“I didn’t send anyone!” I almost screamed.
“Oh shit! I am so sorry sir. I am really not sure who it was then. Rana told he knows that person, so we let him go. He was quite convincing that you sent him”
“You should have called me and checked…should have taken a photo of him and verified with me. You should have got his mobile number at least– how could you be so careless with a little kid. How could you send my son along with someone else?” I was furious.
I felt like my world came to a standstill. I couldn’t realize what was happening around me. Rana wouldn’t know anybody. If someone had come dressed up as a Paw Patrol character, he would happily go away with them. Several thoughts cluttered my mind. I tried to breathe easy, but couldn’t resist myself from thinking that Rana might have been… kidnapped.
