Hrida couldn't believe her ears. Numerous excuses are popping up in her mind to somehow make him confused and escape from him. Hrida gives a shot," Hrida! I don't see Hrida anywhere. Why would she be here? She has gone missing, right? As you told me earlier. You are right about one thing. My name is not Colliding Girl. I don't what are you playing at. I must go, I am getting late. "
Shashi questions her," To where exactly? It is okay if you don't want to tell but at least justify why Tapish is here with you and also why he is following behind you. If I remember clearly, Tapish doesn't trust strangers easily and he is only comfortable with me and Hrida. So, isn't it strange ?"
Hrida's brain stopped working. She stutters and tries to run away but Shashi's next statement freezes her feet. She immediately looks back, her eyes pleading to him in silence to let her go.
Shashi crept in closer and maintained a foot distance. Hrida asks him with a heavy tone," Why are you making it so hard for me? You think I don't want to face you? You think I am running away from you? How could you think that I don't want to be friends anymore?
I- I JUST Don't know what to do right now. I am trying to figure out my life. I know running away is not always the solution but sometimes we need to run to clear out our mind and find our way. I want to find my truth, my home and I will. And even if I don't return to that house, still you will always be my best friend, and deep inside, you know that.
Just trust me. Please. Don't inform the police, I request you. Please help me by doing nothing. Wherever I stay in the future, I will contact you for sure. Your number is saved in my heart. Shashiiii...please, pretty please."
Shashi sighs," I didn't intend to hurt your feelings with my statement, I just wanted to stop you for a while. I will not inform the police or anyone and even if you would have run away at that time, I wouldn't have done that because you are my best friend, and best friends protect and support each other. I know what are you doing right now is silly and crazy but sometimes silliness brings us to the real thing. I will pray that you find your truth soon. I will miss you.
But since you have promised me that you would contact me when you find your place, I will be waiting for your call till then. And yes, for me too, you will be my only best friend in my life. But in case you have an emergency don't hesitate to call me, okay?"
Hrida informs," I actually…....didn't bring my phone with me as it was already broken because of my mother's anger. So, I will see what can I do." Shashi comments," Ohhhhhh.. I should have expected that you wouldn't have your phone with you. I am just.." While he was rambling, Hrida was busy observing his face with a content smile on her face. Her eyes shimmering like diamonds and her heart felt like cotton candy.
Shashi's body freezes when suddenly Hrida jumps upon him and embraces him tightly while placing a ghostly kiss on his cheek. Hrida expresses," I missed your voice. I missed you. I don't know whether I will return or not but I SURELY will contact you once I find my way. Thank you for understanding my situation. I can trust you with my life. And….."
Hrida noticed that Shashi's cheeks were slightly red and his mouth opened like a fish. Hrida snaps her fingers in front of his face," Shashi! Shashi, were you even listening to me? Shashiiiiii.....is this another prank of yours? You will never change and I don't want you to change ever though. Shashiiiii.."
Finally, when Shashi heard her voice calling out his name, he gasped," Huhhhhhh. Hrida, you are scaring me. What was that? You never did that before. My mind went blank because of you. And miss me a lot while you are away from me and also take my phone with you, you need it. It will help you and don't worry about my mom, I will give her some valid excuse, and after all, I am a smart boy. Go now."
Hrida refuses to go," I know you are smart but still wouldn't it be much trouble for you? I just-....... Okay, I will take it because you won't go until I accept. But you will manage to convince Aunty, Right?"
Shashi spreads in a dramatic manner indicating ' Of course'. Hrida continues with a serious tone, " Now, to the main matter, you need to make a call to the police station by the use of some app or something. And then, inform them that you saw a thief with a loot bag coming out of a vintage-looking house situated at the end of this colony and give them its address.
And if they ask you why didn't you try to catch him or did you go inside the house, then just keep repeating this sentence 'I was scared' and then hang up the call and then immediately delete/destroy the source of the call. Got it ?"
Shashi playfully comments," I didn't know that my best friend is quite an expert in playing the classic game of hide and seek. Nonetheless, I will be your secret partner in this game and hidden players always come at the right time in the game. And we both are good players in the field of the game, so let's hope we win."
Hrida sighs with a sad smile," You are on to the point. I am playing the global classic game of hide and seek and you are my secret game partner. Most importantly, I always have been playing hide and seek since a very young age, I was always taught to remain hidden but I never got a chance to seek as I always got caught by their illusions and never won once. But this time, I would hide from the chasers until I seek the end truth of this game."
Shashi cheers in excitement," You sound like a powerful master character in an RPG( Role-playing game). You are so cool and courageous at the same time. I never saw this version of yours. I am confident that you will not lose this time. All the best. May the best girl win."
A beautiful cheeky smile curves on her lips, which makes a charming smile appear on Shashi's face. Hrida realizes that she needs to go before she changes her mind. Hrida greets him goodbye with one last hug and vows to him," I will soon come in your contact and that is confirmed."
Shashi doesn't want to let her go in the heart but still does as he truly wants to help her find her way home. Shashi carried Tapish into his arms and told him," Bro, I missed you too and I will miss you a lot and be careful next time to not get hurt, buddy. I noticed your tail wound and it looks painful, I CAN'T imagine how painful it might have been while you were recovering. Despite all this, you are healed and that's good news. Annndddd….." He whispers such that it is only audible to Tapish," One more thing, take care of your little sis over there and also take care of your safety as well."
Hrida shrugs off because she knows very well that Shashi won't ever reveal his secret talks with Tapish. Slowly she turned back from him and paced forward with hesitation brewing in her heart. Her legs felt heavy and she knew that if she stayed one more minute here, then she might not be able to stop herself from running back to him and she didn't want that right now. She stops mid-way and whispers in the air while tilting her head slightly towards the back," I feel within that there is a tiny ounce of possibility that I might find my way to you someday soon."
Shashi mumbled in a low whisper as if he heard her from a far distance, " I know. "
After walking ahead a few meters on the road, they were hungry and thirsty, so Hrida found a doable and safe spot inside a children's park which was currently vacant at night time. The park is well-lit with elegant and tall lamp lights inside radiating like golden flame. Tapish led her to a small pool of sand, then laid on his back and rolled around whereas Hrida took out a chip packet, ripped it open, munched a few chips, and, forwards her palm with a handful of chips towards his mouth and he ate without any complain but he did cough in between due to the spicy flavor.
Hrida felt bad for Tapish and apologized in a melancholic tone," I know you need that cat food and not this but I couldn't bring it with me because your cat food packets were in the lower drawers at the kitchen section. I feel guilty that because of my fault, you are suffering. I am sorry. But tomorrow I will buy a milk packet for you although I can't buy you the cat food as it is quite expensive. Sorryyyy…"
Tapish is focused upon stargazing and today moon is also dazzling in its full glorious shape. Hrida joins him by lying next to him, gawking at the moon and munching a few more chips simultaneously. Hrida tells him in a dreamy tone," Tapish, you know, I used to dream about spending time and eating dinner together with Mother and Dad under the roof of twinkling stars and sparkly moon.
I might have requested my mother many times to have dinner outside in an open space and stay up late at night to listen to their love story or their childhood memories etc.... Butttt..mother always used to say that ' We can have lunch together at open space instead. However, nighttime only brings darkness and daylight is a far better time to spend on doing activities.' But I love the night sky as much as the morning sky blues…..Forget it, we should do a more peaceful and joyful activity than reminiscing upon unpleasant memories. What do you suggest, Tapish?"
Tapish stayed silent and she knew his answer and confirmed," Okay. Let me think. Hmmmm…. How about –" A mysterious tune plays which alerts Tapish and Hrida's ears. Hrida looked around and found nothing. When she carefully heard the tune, she found the source and immediately unzipped her backpack and took out Shashi's phone which had one missed call, and then again the phone call rang from some unknown number.
She first ignored the call but again the phone call from the same unknown number popped up on her mobile screen. This time, she received the call with hesitation and didn't speak until the caller spoke," Hrida, it's me. Shashi. I got my old phone that is in decent condition, so it is fine. But mom wouldn't get me another phone until I completed a math workbook. Mom is just like you, smart. Mom knew that I am not so fond of Maths and that's why she gave me this punishment."
Hrida teases him," Shashi, you are exaggerating too much. Aunty gave you a good punishment. I don't understand why you dislike maths when you are so good at it. It makes no sense. You seriously have a hate-love relationship with mathematics. You can solve math problems with a snap of a finger and here, you are whining out for this. I am sure you can complete that workbook within 2 days. You just don't want to face it. Nevertheless, ENJOY your math time."
Shashi comments, " You are enjoying seeing me in this situation. It is fine for me as long as it makes your mood slightly happier. So, where are you, right now ?"
Hrida talks in a dreamy tone," Under countless stars and a beautiful full moon hovering brightly in the sky. I wish you were here to see this."
Shashi instantly replies, " I can see those enchanting starlights and moon as well because you, Tapish, and I are under the same sky. I am stargazing along with you two. "
Hrida cooed sweetly," How sweet. I forgot to ask about that. Did you do that? Is everything okay?"
Shashi assured her," Everything is well. I successfully executed our plan and till now they would have reached there, rest is their duty. We just did what we could do. You tell me, what is your next plan? Where are you going to head off to? "
Hrida answered in a neutral tone," I don't know. I will decide in the morning or maybe randomly wander off like I have been doing recently. NOwww..go and eat your dinner. Go. I am also feeling tired right now; maybe I will fall asleep soon. Byee. Goodnight."
Shashi gently wishes, " Goodnight. Sweet dreams, Hrida."
Hrida returned to stargazing and she also noticed that Tapish was already asleep, so she covered them both with her shawl. She stares back at the sky and eventually the dreamy stars make her fall into a deep slumber.
At midnight, a long and horror-black shadow towers upon them, and Hrida starts shaking all of a sudden while still asleep. The shadow leaned closer to their faces and the shadow edges tilted from side to side as if observing them. And the effect of the humongous presence is evident on Hrida's face. Her eyebrows scrunching in fear and she gently mumbled in a helpless tone," I am not a doll. I am human. Believe me. I don't want to live in a doll house, I don't. I don'ttttt…" Suddenly, the shadow vanished into thin air and her peaceful expression reappeared on her face and her shaking also stopped by now.