Shashi avoided the question and just shrugged it off but his mom kept giving him a suspicious look, he then said in a less confident tone," It might just be a glitch, I mean how can she record through my phone when my phone was broken and given for repair, right? Must be a glitch.Tch…It's nothing big, Mom. Mom, glitches happen when it undergoes modification and repair."
She was almost close to the truth but at the last minute, Shashi diverted her by giving a believable answer. Shashi's mom reminisces about the moments that she spent with them. She expresses her feelings," Hrida is such a pure girl, her existence is itself a symbol of pure light. Didn't you see how Kali was irritated by her hopeful voice, her radiating aura?
She is wandering alone somewhere, I am concerned about her; I can't help but feel anxious thinking she is still missing, where she might be, and how is she. I hope the police officers find her soon." Shashi unconsciously nods his head while thinking about how to find Hrida soon."
On the other side;
Soma discovered the information that Hrida ran away because she found out about Lakshman Bhaiya's plan, he assumes, " Hrida might be unstable right now because of her best friend's action. Although I partially agree with Shashi's intention but other half of me believes that Shashi should have kept their promise."
All except Lakshman were inside the house; celebrating Soma's mom's promoted position in this new police station. Soma contacted Shashi and he received his call, then Soma invited him to a videogame café.
At the videogame café, they played video games but Shashi wasn't focusing on the game rather he looked lost and had a serious look on his face, which didn't go unnoticed by Soma, he knew the reason behind his behavior, so, he asks him directly," How are you going to find Hrida? Do you have any plans?"
Shashi was baffled by his question, he acted innocent and clueless but Soma asked him with a neutral tone," Shashi, there is no need to act in front of me. I know every detail about this case, so, drop the act. And, now tell me, do you have any plan or have you hatched any plan to find Hrida?"
Shashi denies it and suggests, " I don't have any plan yet. But, we can weave a plan to trace Hrida before the danger catches her. And, we need to involve Lakshman Bhaiya because we need his expert assistance. I am sure, he will agree with this. But first, we need to think deeply and carve a perfect plan to find Hrida. But how..how?Hmmmm…"
After 10-15 minutes, an idea knocks at both of their brains causing them to ramble simultaneously, so they decide to merge their ideas into a perfect plan. After making the blueprint of the plan, they call Lakshman bhaiya and ask him to urgently arrive at the given address, when Lakshman lands at the café, they briefly explain their plan to him and this plan brings a confident smirk on Lakshman's face.
Lakshman mumbles in a determined tone," This plan will definitely work. We will find Hrida and even convince Hrida to face her truth and stay. But the plan still needs a few modifications." Along with those two smart kids, he improvised the plan and told them to start the preparation of this plan into reality. This mission will be successful this time, according to Lakshman's calculation and instinct.
On Hrida's side;
Hrida felt most comfortable at the railway station among all their previous hidden spots that they discovered but she had to retire from that place because Shashi knew about this place and they might try to come here for her. So, they were again walking through the streets aimlessly, then she felt at some point that Tapish might be hungry but when she turned to her right and left, Tapish was missing.
Hrida looks everywhere but she couldn't find him, her mind went blank, she started humming again, unconsciously rubbing her palms, she sat on the sidewalk with hands on her forehead, stones poking her legs while she curled up her knee and heard her stomach grumbling in hunger but her heart ached more.
She wiped her cheeks and stood up and paced in the direction from where she came, she walked a few distances while looking right and left and finally, she found him facing someone, she called his name but he didn't give any heed to her calling, he followed someone because he saw headband in that stranger's hand, so he thought it was Hrida's. Hrida was confused and curious at the same time, she wondered, " What captivated his attention that he couldn't hear her? Let's follow."
An old lady worker stepped into the building construction site, she walked upstairs and upstairs from the 1st floor to the 5th floor, while Tapish followed her, Hrida crawled behind him. The lady worker faced a group of workers standing with head bowed with shaky legs, a small group of children stood next to the workers.
Most of them were Hrida's age, some older than her except one girl who looked quite younger than them. They were victims of child labor, which is illegal in their country, those children stood with worn hands, thin arms, and sunken eyes while holding a basket of heavily weighted cement paste and a few of them had carried a heavy sack of cement on their backs.
The old lady seemed to be the head of them as she spoke in a dominating tone," Today as well. You will work overtime and no break not even for a second. Because of your weak hands, I can't lose my money from the contractor and if someone takes a break, he/she will be devoid of their wage and an extra load of work will be given as punishment. And, whose headband is this? I said to wear accessories while working, wasn't I clear to you? WHOSE IS THIS? Come forward."
The youngest girl among them confronts the lady with her innocent tone," It's mine, Aunty. It keeps my hair in place, otherwise, it covers my face and blocks my view, so that's why I…."
The old lady threw the headband out of the building, the girl gasped in surprise," My headband. You simply could have given back my headband, there was no need to throw it out, Aunty."
The old lady fumes, her lips curved down in an ugly frown," Ela. Don't you know how to talk to your elders? How dare you talk back to me! Where are your parents? They will pay for sure but you will too face the punishment. No break for you and you will work extra time than other kids every day with no pay. Now, go to work."
Ela rebukes," Aunty, I won't obey your order. You can't cut off my parent's wages earned from their daily hard work. I refuse to work overtime and even work here instead of studying. I and other kids deserve to go to school, study, and make friends and not do work here. I am going home."
The old lady is shocked for a moment but then anger blinds her conscience, and she grabs that girl's arm and slaps her hard causing her to stumble backward and due to slippery cement paste, she trips and slips off the edge screaming out loud. All were stunned by how the situation took such a dangerous turn.
Thankfully, she held the protruded steel rods in time, and she cried for help, those parents who were on the ground floor heard her cry, they looked around and then looked up, their heartbeat skipped, their hands shaking, they assured her that they will save her and keep her hold for a little longer. They rushed towards the stairs, the workers stepped forward to save her, only to be stopped by the old lady's frightening stare that stated," You will be pushed as well with her."
The kids were prancing toward her but their parents grabbed them and held them back while they were fighting the tears for feeling helpless to unable to save Ela. The kids fought their grip, and then that old lady shushed them with a threatening gaze, " Go if you want to jump along with her as well. But, no one will save you then, remember."
Tapish and Hrida came into the scene as they heard and saw everything, Hrida couldn't wait anymore although she felt fear from that lady, still, she couldn't let that kid fall from such height. Hrida rushed to the edge carefully and reached out her hand to Ela, all present were astonished by her sudden entrance.
The old lady stared at Hrida with familiar recognition and forwarded her feet in her direction but Tapish jumped before her and blocked her from reaching Hrida, he growled with a sharp piercing gaze directed at the lady. The old lady smiles, her smile widening forming a creepy smile that scared the workers, especially the children but Tapish didn't flinch at all.
Hrida and Tapish again felt the same shadowy presence; her hands felt weary, so she applied her full strength and quickly pulled Ela back on the floor. The old lady hissed, the sun was at its peak in its blazing form but strangely, all felt bone-chilling cold around them, they felt needles poking their skin from within and resulting in all of them being curled down on the rough floor holding their arm/shoulder/leg or head.
Tapish scratched the old lady's feet, she hissed loudly and let out an ear-splitting roar, Hrida covered her ears and towered over Ela, cowering the girl in her arms. She slowly crept towards the stairs with caution but the old lady was agile and caught her shawl in her grip, Hrida drove forward applying strong force, which resulted in the shawl being ripped out and a large piece of shawl in her hand as the old lady fell backward.
Hrida stumbled forward, her hands gliding against the rough surface. Thankfully, Ela was not hurt as Hrida 's arms were kept safe but her arms were scraped, covered in blood marks and the blood marks printed on the surface too. Ignoring her pain, she stood up immediately and told Tapish to hurry, Tapish pranced on her shoulder and gripped her shoulder tight. Ela was already rushing downstairs, Hrida pacing behind her.
Tapish heard loud flapper sandal footsteps following them, and he let out a 'meow' letting Hrida know that she was following close to them. Hrida orders Ela to fasten up a bit but carefully, Hrida reaches the end of the stairs and runs away from the building while holding Ela's hands safe in Hrida's grip.
Ela turns back at some distance and notices her parents trapping that old lady from either side but the old lady is inhumanely powerful, which is weird in her eyes. She saw her pushing her parents on the ground and they lay helpless on the ground while she stole their wages from them. Ela halts, making Hrida halt.
Hrida followed her gaze, and observed a courageous spark in her posture; she noticed her parents lay hopelessly surrounded by cement bags, dirt, and stones. Weariness, weakness, and desperation spoke loudly through their face but their daughter, Ela, stood courageous and hopeful.
Ela glances back at Hrida and speaks with compassion," Didi ( Elder sister), I can't leave them like this, helpless and vulnerable. That old lady is rude and very harsh to everyone, if my parents stay, she might cause harm to them. I won't run alone, I will take them with me."
Hrida objects, " But Ela, what if that old lady returns, you will be in danger again, which will cause more pain to your parents. You go, I will bring them. Okay?"
Ela denies," Didi, I am not a coward to send you instead of me. I won't leave my parents alone while that lady is hovering near my parents. Didi, please stay here, I will bring them with me." Ela runs to them despite Hrida's objection.