"What do you mean by 'did he not come'?" asked Aidan's mother worried,
She was shaken when James asked her about Aidan not being home.
She did not know what was going on. She froze at the point where she was standing. Not able to process anymore.
"What happened, Aidan's mother? Will you not let Aidan get inside because he is late? Let him come. He might be tired too, as he was out the whole day. Come son, let us have a little talk. However, I went yesterday and came back today. I really missed you." Said Mr. Johnson who did not have any knowledge of Aidan missing.
As he did not get any reply, Mr. Johnson stood up and came to the door and saw his wife standing like a statue without moving an inch.
"What happened love?" he asked with fear evident in his voice.
As he saw James, he asked "What happened my boy? Where is Aidan? Is he not with you?" asked Mr. Johnson.
"Uncle, actually I thought he might be at home already. Did he not come?" asked James.
"What are you talking James? Aidan did not come home yet. Where did he go leaving you people?" asked Aidan's mother who could not contain her feelings anymore. She was so scared.
Where might his son have gone all of a sudden? Where he might be? Is he ok? These all questions occupied her brain like how the black clouds occupy the sky.
"Answer James. Where is he? Where did he go?" asked Aidan's mother again.
"Aunty, actually he said that Uncle is coming so he would go home early. I forgot my wallet in his bag so came to take it back." Said James.
Now everyone was so tense.
"I will give him a call." Said James and dialled Aidan's number but it was not reachable. Now the surrounding air was heavier than earlier.
"Did he pick up the call?" asked Aidan's mother and father together.
"No Aunty. It is not reachable," answered James.
"Try calling him again." Said Aidan's mother.
"Wait. I will try calling him you try calling your other friends if they might know where he is" said Mr. Johnson.
"Ok. Uncle." Said James and started calling every friend of theirs to find out where on earth was Aidan now.
"I will call our other friends. Maybe they might know where is Aidan." Said James.
He dialled Sofia's number and within two rings she picked up the call
"Hello, James," Sahe said.
"Hello Sofia," said James.
"Yeah. You called me. Anything important?" she asked.
"Do you know where is Aidan? I mean, did he tell you where he is right now or where he is going?" asked James.
"What are you talking? I left before you guys. As far as I remember, Aidan said that he would go home early as his father was going to come home. Isn't it? Why? What happened? Is he fine? James, I am asking you something. Answer." Said Sofia.
"The thing is, he did not reach home yet. I came to his home to collect my wallet as I had left it in his bag. So, I thought you might know where he is." Said James.
"No James. Aidan did not tell me anything about where he is right now. I hope everything is fine. Did you make a call to him?" asked Sofia.
"Yes, I did." Said Aidan.
"Then. Did he not answer?" asked Sofia.
"No. It is not reachable Sofia. I don't know what to do?" said James.
"Oh God. Let us try calling our friends and ask them." Said Sofia.
"Yeah. I thought to do that and called you first." Said James.
"OK then. I will call all the girls. You try to contact all the boys." Said Sofia.
"Ok. Let me know if you get to know anything." Said James.
"Yeah, you too." Said Sofia and they both started calling their friends parallelly.
Each time he called his friends, the answer was the same. That they do not know.
"Did he pick up the call from Aidan's father?" asked Aidan's mother.
"No. It is still unreachable." Said Mr. Johnson.
Aidan's mother, father and James were so stressed.
"Where did this boy go?" Aidan's mother murmured.
"Hey, Dad. You are back!" shouted a voice interrupting their chaos.
They turned in the direction from where the sound came and noticed someone was standing.
The figure started approaching them while taking long steps.
"Aidan?" said Aidan's mother.
"Hey, Mom. What happened? Why are you all standing outside the house? Is everything fine? "Asked Aidan not knowing what was going on.
"Where were you Aidan?" asked James.
"Hey, James. What are you doing here? And father when did you come and is the work done for which you went?" asked Aidan.
"Where were you till now? You left before us, right?"
"That…. actually...." as Aidan was about to continue his mother interrupted.
"Do you even have a single idea how tensed we were? Where did you go? And what about your phone? Why were we not able to reach you? Don't you have the responsibility to inform someone before going somewhere?" his mother showered him with questions.
"Mom. Relax. I am fine. And about my phone, I don't know why you people couldn't reach me. There might be some network problem." Answered Aidan.
"That is not the exact answer I want." Said Aidan's mother.
"Aidan, where were you till now after leaving us."' Asked James.
"I was....as Dad was coming back, I thought to get him his favourite cheeseburger so I went to that shop and bought that burger. Nothing else" answered Aidan.
"You might have told that to me at least. I would have come along with you." Said James.
"We all were tired already. I did not want to trouble you more. So, I went by myself that's it." Answered Aidan.
"Never think like that Aidan. I will accompany you whenever and wherever you want. Understood. Now never repeat this." Said James.
Mr. Johnson who was silent all this time ran to Aidan and hugged him.
"My son. Never go anywhere without telling anyone. Ok. I was so scared." Said Mr. Johnson.
"Seeing this, Aidan's mother could not control her tears anymore and she burst out crying.
"Mom, please do not cry. I will never do it again. Believe me." Said Aidan.
"Go to your mom." Said Mr. Johnosn.
Aidan ran to his mother and hugged her tight.
"I am sorry Mom. Please do not cry. I would never repeat this." Said Aidan.
"You are the only one we have. Please take care of yourself, Aidan." Said Aidan's mother.
Looking at this scene, Mr. Johnson and James could not stop smiles from coming onto their faces.
"Fine. Where are my cheeseburgers then? "Asked Mr. Johnson.
Listening to this Aidan and his mother parted and Aidan ran to his father giving him the burgers he had.
"Here you go, Dad. Hope you will enjoy them." Said Aidan.
"Of course I will. After all, my son bought them for me. Thank you so much, Aidan." Said Mr. Johnson.
"Come let us go inside." Said Aidan's mother.
"Yeah. Let's go and I will have my burgers." Said Mr. Johnson with excitement evident in his voice.
"Fine. Fine. Who stopped you? Come inside and have them. But what about the dinner I made? Who will eat that?" asked Aidan's mother.
"I can help in that Aunty." Said James.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA." A loud laugh was heard.
"You just had dinner James," said Aidan laughing.
"Shut up. You would not eat. At least let him eat." Said Aidan's mother.
"Fine. Mom. And James. You are here. Did my mom and Dad call you? I am so sorry for the trouble you had to come." Said Aidan.
"No. I forgot my wallet in your bag so I came to collect it." Said James.
"Oh. Is it?" saying this Aidan searched his bag took out James's wallet and gave it back to him.
"Yeah, here you go," said Aidan.
"Come James my boy. Have some food and leave." Said Aidan's mother.
"Sure Aunty." Said James and all of them went inside the house.
As they were eating except Aidan who was looking at all of them eating so well.
Suddenly James's phone started ringing.
He took It out and found that Sofia was calling him.
"Oh shit. I forgot to inform everyone that you are back" said James and answered the call.
"Hello, Sofia." Said James.
"James, did you get to know here is Aidan?" asked Sofia.
"Yeah, I forgot to inform you. He just came now. He went to buy something and that is why he was late. Sorry, Sofia." said James.
"That's fine James. Aidan is safe that is enough. You too reach home safely and text me after reaching. Ok." Said Sofia.
"Sure Sofia." Said James.
"OK then. Bye James." Said Sofia.
"Bye Sofia. Take care." Said James and ended the call.
"It was Sofia. She called to ask about you. If you were back or not." Said James to Aidan.
"Did she reach home?" asked Aidan.
"Yeah, she did," answered James.
"The food is so delicious Aunty," said James, and no one could stop him from eating more and more.