Maa

Chapter 1: The Wedding

It's a Hanuman Temple. As it is not a Tuesday, there are very few devotees. A girl is standing in front of the god, closing her eyes and praying to him. She looks beautiful and innocent. Her face resembles the moon and her attire reflects our Indian tradition. In simpler words, its look like, a goddess standing in front of the god. Her name is 'Mahalakshmi.' Her parents call her 'Lakshmi' and her friends call her 'Maha.'

Everyone likes her because of her pure heart.

But that day, she looks nervous. The priest observes her nervousness.

"Lakshmi! You are looking nervous today. Am I right? What's the problem?" the priest asked her.

"You know that, my marriage will be there within a week. Everything went well till now. But I don't know, all of a sudden, some fear or some tension occupies me, as the day is coming nearer" she replied with a low tone.

The priest knows her very well, he knew that she is child at heart. By understanding her problem, "It's quite natural, every girl experiences this fear. But after the marriage, once the love blossoms between wife and husband, everything gets changed. The fear will be replaced by the love towards the husband and the responsibility towards the family. That's the magic around the marital bonding" he explained her in a caring way.

"And you are the girl with pure and sacred heart. So, the god will surely give you a loving and caring husband" he adds.

By the time he said like that, a married woman comes and rings the temple bell. Then he smiles and blesses her.

Finally, the day comes. The bride (Lakshmi) and bridegroom (Achyut) sit facing each other on the wedding stage, laying their hand on each other's head. A curtain is placed between them. After sometime, the priest instructs them to remove the curtain. For the first time, Lakshmi see him very closely. Achyut is a tall and handsome guy with curly hair and a broad forehead. Everyone praising the lovely pair. He looks straight into her eyes and smiles gently. Then she bends her head down with shy and then smiles.

***

Chapter 2: Living Together

On their First Night…

Achyut is sitting on the cot in the room and waiting for her wife Lakshmi. After a few minutes, Lakshmi enters the room, holding a glass of milk. She gives that glass to her husband. He drinks half of the milk and then Lakshmi drinks the remaining half. She sits beside her husband.

Achyut sees Lakshmi's face and he realised that she is feeling nervous. She doesn't speak a single word. So, then he realised and initiated the conversation, to make her feel comfort…

"Lakshmi, why you are so silent? Speak something" he asks her chivalrously.

"Can I ask you something?" she asks him in a low tone.

"Of course, Dear!"

"When you saw me for the first time in our house, you said immediately that you like me. What you like in me?"

"While we were on our way to your house, everyone in the village, constantly saying 'Our Lakshmi is so empathic, she respects everyone and she is beautiful outside. Whoever marries her, is going to be a lucky man. From all their words, I understood that they love you and they have placed you not only in their family but also in their hearts. There I realised, really how sweet you are and how lucky I'm, because I decided. Until there, I just came to see you. But from there, I came to your house, as I wanted to see you, because I love you!" he tells her by seeing into her deep eyes.

He adds "But from that moment, I was observing you. You are very nervous. I can understand the reason also. Lakshmi, when you are with your parents, you use to be like a kid. I like the kid in you. If you are be with me in the same way, I'll be happier, in fact I love it".

Lakshmi listens all his words. Then she hugs him and starts crying.

"Yes, I frightened and felt nervous until I entered this room. But now, after I spoke with you, they all disappeared. Except my mother, even I never held my father like the way I'm holding you now. I can't say anything more than this" Lakshmi cries with happiness.

Then tears roll out from Achyut's eyes. They are the tears of joy and happiness.

"I told you that I love the kid in you, but you really became like a kid" he consoles her wife with love, wipes her tears and kisses her on the forehead.

***

Chapter 3: Loving Each-Other

The new couple moves into a new house. They arrange their belongings in an orderly manner in the rooms. Later, Lakshmi starts preparing food and Achyut helps her in cooking as they both get tired. After the food gets prepared, they eat together and till late night, they watch T.V then go to sleep.

On the next morning, they go to the Hanuman temple. By seeing the new couple, the priest welcomes them with a cheerful face.

The priest asks Lakshmi "you are looking very happy and cheerful. It looks like all your fears are gone."

"Of course, it's all because of my caring and loving husband" Lakshmi replies proudly, looking at Achyut.

After the pooja, Lakshmi and Achyut sit on a bench in the premises of the temple.

"I've been coming to this temple for 20 years. Whenever I feel low, disappointed or if I have any fears then I come here and ask hanuman to help me to overcome those fears. You know! he listens to all my rumbles, mumbles and complaints. He has always helped me all the time. I think he was getting tired of me coming to him often. In order to escape from me, he sent you into my life" Lakshmi explains her relationship with the temple to Achyut and smiles. Then Achyut also smiles.

From the next day, their regular life starts. Lakshmi wakes up early in the morning and makes everything ready for her husband. In the meanwhile, Achyut gets ready to go to his office by taking his lunch box which is prepared by his wife.

In the evening, by the time Achyut returns home, Lakshmi arranges hot water for him to bathe. After he freshens up, they both sit together and chit-chat, crack jokes on each other and laugh a lot. Sometimes, they share an intimate moment too. And then its more often dinner time.

Going to the Hanuman temple was a weekly affair, else at least on weekends, they go out for movies, picnics and turn out every second of their lives happy and cheerful. Day by day, their bonding gets strengthens. It just feels like Love is in the air.

Few Days Later

On one evening, Lakshmi suddenly feels dizzy and is about to faint. Then Achyut rushes her to the hospital. There a doctor examines her and informs them that they are going to become parents. Achyut and Lakshmi, heard the news and he felt like there is no limits to their happiness. They felt like they were on seventh heaven!!

***

Chapter 4 – Replica of Love

From that day, Achyut look after his wife with additional care and treats her like a newly born baby. He frequently monitors her health condition. By keeping their family doctor's advises in mind, he puts all his efforts to make her things get done and arrange everything she wants, on time. Lakshmi's mother has no enough strength to look after her, so she visits her now and then and stays along with her for 3-4 days in a week.

As the months are passing one by one, her foot and legs get swollen sometimes and she suffers from frequent fever and vomiting. During those critical times, Achyut takes leave from the office and be with her all the time to take care of her and he never let his wife to move without his support.

On one night, Achyut sits beside Lakshmi and he is deeply thinking of something. Lakshmi observes him.

Lakshmi: "What are you thinking?"

Achyut: "While watching in movies, I can't realize nothing. But now I understood as I'm observing you very closely, how many difficulties a woman has to face, you are literally experiencing hell in order to give a birth, how much pain you are suffering! Legs are getting swollen sometimes, all of a sudden you get vomiting, frequent fever, even it becomes hard to eat anything. Oh god! Not one or two there are many. I can't see you like this Lakshmi. I want to see you healthy and happy soon", he expresses his anguish innocently.

Lakshmi: "Hey Achyut, please don't feel like that, I'm ok and I'll be fine soon. It's just 3 months remain from now. And you always be with me every second and taking care of me. So, you please don't worry dear. Even I can't see you feeling sad or looking dull", she explains him with love.

Then Achyut slowly approaches her and kisses on her forehead.

3 months later…

In the Hospital…

Both the families sit in front of the operation theatre and they are feeling tensed. Achyut is feeling even more tensed. A few moments later, the doctor comes out and tells Achyut that they are gifted with a baby girl and congratulates him. By listening those words, everyone feels very happy.

Achyut enters the room curiously. He slowly takes his very small newly born daughter into his hands very carefully. As soon as he touches her, happy tears roll out from his eyes. "She is looking cute and pretty just like you, thank you so much", Achyut tells Lakshmi with a cheerful face. Lakshmi's face too fills with full of joy and happiness. There are no boundaries for their happiness.

Achyut places the little kid carefully in the cradle and then goes near Lakshmi and sits beside her. "How you feeling now?" he asks her by caressing her hair. "All the pain I'm suffering since few months get vanished just in a second when I saw our baby, now I'm extremely happy", she replies happily with a shivering tone.

***

CHAPTER 5: The Little Princess

Hanuman Temple...

In the presence of two families, the priest is directing the First Feeding Ceremony (ANNAPRASHAN/Grain Initiation) for their baby girl who is named as "Pragna."

Firstly, Pragna's grandparents take a golden ring, dip it partially into a specially made semi-solid food and then feed it to the little baby by gently applying the food onto her lips. She cutely chews up the food that sticks to her tiny delicate lips.

After that, they arrange Bhagavad-Gita, a pen, money and gold in front of the little girl. Lakshmi standing at the other side encouraging her to come and touch one of those things. "Pragna, come on...come and choose one of these, my little kid..." Lakshmi is shouting with joy. Then the baby slowly starts crawling towards her mother. Everyone there, looking curiously and the baby go near them and touches the holy Bhagavad-Gita. By seeing the little girl's act, everyone feels surprised.

"Your girl rejects the gold and money and holds the holy book. That means she knows what is really valuable, she is a real gem and she truly justifies her name PRAGNA" the priest praises the little girl. Her parents feel proud and profoundly happy by listening his words. Everyone busy in playing with the little girl.

In the meanwhile, the priest calls Achyut silently to a lonely place in the temple. "Listen carefully; it's my responsibility to make you know each and every thing regarding your baby. That's why I'm saying. According to Pragna's birth time, star and horoscope, we have to take utmost care of her at her age of '8'. After 8, everything will come under our control; she will reach greater heights in the future. But during 8, we have to be more careful" the priest tells Achyut.

"What are you telling swami? I can't understand..." Achyut expresses his fear.

"Hey Achyut! Nothing to worry, it's just a small negative period, I'm not telling to threaten you, I'm just saying to be careful, that's it. It's quite common in everyone's life. We have to overcome those little hurdles with our self-confidence. If I were said this to Lakshmi, she may get worry too much and it's not good for her health. That's why I'm telling you secretly, keep it within you and just take some extra care during her 8th year, that's it, there is nothing more than that to think about it, understand" the priest explains everything clearly to Achyut, besides stressing the point that he would be careful during Pragna's 8th year.

After the discussion, Achyut again joins them as usual, hiding his tension inside.

On that night...

In their house...

Lakshmi sleeps peacefully beside her baby. But Achyut keep on thinking about the priest's words. He then wakes up in the midnight and approaches near his baby. Looking at her "oh my little child, you are my god's gift, you are my little princess. You will grow stronger and stronger day by day and will lead a happy long life. No worries dear, I'm with you, I will be with you all the time, live the way you want, I'll protect you my princess. I'm not only your father, but also your guardian, guide and a friend forever. Your Smile is my Strength and from now your Happiness is my Aim. Be happy, god bless you my child, love you..." he whispers confidently and proudly near his girl's ears with the tears rolling down from his eyes and kisses her gently on her forehead.

***

Chapter 6: The Beauty of Motherhood

Lakshmi spends each and every second with her baby. Achyut, while he is in office, he makes a call to the landline of the home for every one hour and asks Lakshmi about his Little Princess, Pragna. Sometimes, Lakshmi keeps the phone near the baby, then Achyut listens to her cute voice while she is making series of short sounds with her tiny mouth.

Even at the evening times, he uses to come early from the office in order to spend time with his child. For the couple, the baby becomes their world. They always enjoy to observe the innocent actions of her. Sometimes she shouts like anything, some other times she cries for the milk, she mumbles within herself and she uses to beat his dad on his chest with her tiny fist. But, in her every action, there is cuteness. Days are passing like minutes.

On one day, while she is playing in her mother's lap, she suddenly calls her mother as "Maa…" by taping on her chin with her little palm. By listening to that word from her baby, Lakshmi feels extremely happy.

"Dear did you hear, how our baby called me now", Lakshmi asks his husband with the excitement.

"Yes of course, I listened to it so many times Lakshmi", he replies with a smiling face.

"No, it's for the first time, she uttered the word so perfectly", she emphasizes it with more excitement.

"You don't know exactly, how happy I'm now and I'm experiencing a strange feeling, I can't explain it", she expresses her joy to him.

At that very moment, Pragna again calls her "Maa…. Maa…. Ma…. Maa…. Amma…" continuously by tapping on her cheeks. Lakshmi's eyes fill with happy tears.

She is enjoying the greatest moment of her life.

One can't define her happiness, the happiness of being mother. Its worthy than any other thing in the universe.

On that evening, they go to the Hanuman Temple. Lakshmi shares her happiness with the priest. By listening to her words, the priest tells her like this…

"Lakshmi, do you know why the children utter "Maa" as their first word? I'll tell you. Generally, we treat children as equivalent to god. And they utter "Maa" as their first word. That means, it is to make us remind every time that Maa is the origin of this entire Universe. As the time comes, I'm saying you another important thing, listen carefully!

Now, your birth has given a fulfilment to your life Lakshmi. I'll explain you in a simpler way, how.

A girl can secure 25 marks during her birth itself.

At the moment she wears the "Mangala-Soothra" (when she got married to her soulmate), she gets another 25 marks.

But, when she gives birth to a child, she secures the remaining 50 marks and her birth attains the completeness.

To become a mother, makes a woman complete. That's the greatness of Motherhood.

Now, you received that honour in your life. And from now, your responsibility is to achieve its eternity by protecting your child and transform her as a symbol of purity and honesty", he explains.

The words of the priest fill the joy and boosts up the confidence in Lakshmi. "Yes, I'm there for her. Every second of my life is for my little princess. My life is dedicated to my baby and my husband" she says with a tone of happiness blended with the confidence.

"And you know that Pragna's birthday is on next week, so we decided to celebrate her first birthday here with your blessings and in the presence of my Hanuman" she adds.

"I remember my child; Let's celebrate the festival here grandly among and along with the blessings of Bhakta Jana (devotees)", he replies with a smiling face.

***

CHAPTER 7: Pragna

Hanuman Temple…

On that day, the temple is fully decorated with Arches that are made with green leaves and beautiful flowers. Apart from their family and friends, so many devotees come there to bless their little princess, Pragna.

It looks like a festival. Extravaganza spreads everywhere in the temple. Among all their cheerful faces, Achyut and Lakshmi enters the temple along with Pragna.

Pragna lit the temple with her bright face.

After the priest performs pooja to the Lord Hanuman, Lakshmi and her companions makes a special sweet and offer it to the god as NAIVEDHYAM. Later, Lakshmi feeds the sweet to Pragna and distributes to all the devotees there.

After that, a Haridas comes there, he who uses to narrate stories and tales related to Ithihasa and some moral stories through a traditional style of singing. As that is Pragna's birthday, he narrates "Panchatantra Tales".

After that, it is followed by a Mass Feast. Everyone who came there bless Pragna heartfully. In that way, Pragna's first birthday celebrated grandly like a festival.

From the next day, they resume their routine lives. But their love towards their daughter increases day by day.

Pragna starts walking cautiously by taking the support of walls, she sometimes falls on the floor, get up herself and tries to stand erect again by applying huge efforts.

When every time the little girl does it, Lakshmi observes her with great joy. At the same time, if she gets hurt even a little, the mother suffers a greater pain. Starts with the word Maa, the little baby continues to learn new words daily, some unknowingly and some through the prompting given by her mother.

Achyut buys a new camera which is dedicated for his child to capture beautiful moments of her. We can't define their happiness, their love which is unconditional and endless.

In that way, they too become like small kids and do all the naughty things to make her smile and laugh all the time, the time dissolves quickly and by the time they realize, Pragna enters the 4th year.

Achyut and Lakshmi takes Pragna to BASARA SARASWATHI DEVI TEMPLE to attain Saraswathi Matha blessings for their child to initiate her education. After returning to hometown, he starts his search for a better school for Pragna. Finally, he finds one school and he join Pragna there.

Pragna grasps everything quickly and she utters difficult words easily with less efforts and she always stands as unique one among all other children of her age. She surprises her teachers, parents and the neighbours every time with her sharp Intelligence.

Everyone loves her, as she is such an adorable soul.

Achyut fixes the beautiful photographs of his daughter on the wall of Living Room, which were captured at her different ages starting from 1.

On one evening...

Pragna is cutting her 8th birthday cake in the presence of his friends, neighbours and parents. At that moment, all the children who gathered there are counting numbers "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8….", denoting that she enters in to the 8th year.

By listening that, Achyut suddenly remembers the words of the priest, the caution.

Then he immediately goes in to the bedroom. He feels so nervous. "okay, from now we have to be very cautious and conscious about Pragna. If we do that, nothing will happen. Then there is no need of getting nervous," he tells himself and gets back to normal.

On one day…

Landlines starts ringing in their home. Lakshmi lifts it, it is from the school.

"Good morning mam, we are calling from Saraswathi Global Schools. Today, you didn't send Pragna to the school right, may I know the reason mam? Because the half-yearly examinations are nearing," the caller says from the other side.

By hearing that Lakshmi gets shocked!!!

"No, we have sent her, my husband dropped her in the school. Can you please check from your side once?" Lakshmi requests her with a shivering tone.

"Ok mam, we will check again and let you know," she says and ends the call.

But Lakshmi feels extremely nervous and frightens and hence she decides to go to the school directly to check whether her Pragna is there or not. Immediately, she leaves the home and starts her journey to the school.

***

Chapter 8: She went Missing!

Lakshmi reaches the school and enters into it. She approaches the receptionist and mentions Pragna's name there.

"We are extremely sorry mam, she is there. It is all due to the wrongly taken attendance, a small confusion," receptionist explains her the situation.

"How can you simply say like that, it is not at all a small thing. Do you know, how the parents react to such things? I literally quivered with fear," Lakshmi shouts at her with a shivering tone.

In the meanwhile, Pragna comes near her mother. By seeing her daughter, she immediately hugs her and starts crying, she kisses her all over her face.

"Why are you crying Maa?" Pragna asks her mother in a low tone.

"No dear, I'm not crying," she replies by wiping her tears and smiles.

At that moment, Lakshmi can't leave her daughter there. So, she takes her daughter along with her to the home.

On that evening…

Achyut comes home from the office. Pragna runs towards her father with joy. He gives his bag to his wife and takes Pragna into his hands. His tired face becomes bright again on seeing her daughter's smiling face.

"Daddy, today I came home very early, Maa came and brought me to the home in the morning," Pragna tells everything to her father.

"Why, what happened?" he questions Lakshmi.

Lakshmi explains him what had happened in the morning. After a few seconds of silence…

Achyut: "You didn't tell me this, till now! You should have called me"

Lakshmi: "I thought you were busy and at that time, I was unable to think properly due to nervousness"

Achyut: "That's what my intention is. You may not able to handle such situations every time. So, it is better to take my help. And I don't want you to take the risk. And I don't want to take chance regarding our daughter. Lakshmi, we should be very careful, very. Even if it is a mistake of others, but ultimately that makes our daughter suffer. So, we must take care about every minute thing. Lakshmi, nothing is important to me than both of you. I don't want my family to get disturbed even for small things. That's all I want to say Lakshmi," he expresses his anguish to his wife.

Lakshmi: "I know dear, how much you love us. I promise you, from now I'll tell you immediately if anything happens. But nothing will happen, because Hanuman always protects us," she tells her husband with a smile.

Then, Achyut also smiles and kisses his wife and daughter. Later, Achyut gets fresh up and they have their dinner together.

From the next day, the school management takes extra care regarding Pragna. Achyut also uses to make a phone call every evening after Lakshmi brings her daughter home. And he strikes off every day in the calendar and counts the remaining months in the year.

As the days are passing, on one day, they come to know that Lakshmi will be going to give birth to another baby.

That is Sunday…

Pragna is sitting in veranda and colouring pictures in her drawing book. Lakshmi closes the gates and warns Pragna not to go anywhere without telling her and goes into the kitchen.

After a while, Lakshmi's mother comes to their home and enters directly into the kitchen. By seeing her, Lakshmi feels extremely happy and calls her husband with joy. Then Achyut comes out of his room to greet his Aunt. Then Lakshmi's mother asks them about her grand-daughter.

"Haven't you seen her? She is in veranda," Lakshmi tells her mother.

"Veranda, if she is there, why did I ask you?" she replies.

By listening it, Achyut suddenly goes to the Veranda and come to know that Pragna is not there.

"You both search in home, I'll go out and search the nearby roads," Achyut instructed them and runs out and starts searching for Pragna.

He screams her name wherever he goes, but he doesn't get any response of her. After searching on the roads for some time, he returns to the home.

"Do you find her?" they ask Achyut with curiosity, on seeing him.

"No, she is not there within our surroundings," he replies with weariness.

"Even we searched every inch and every corner in the home, but no use," they tell him with worried tones.

Tension prevails in their house. Achyut's heart beats faster. All the three turned to stone and remained with no clue!

***

Chapter 9: Let's find her!

Achyut tries to control the tension raising within him and starts thinking. He observes the veranda carefully and notices a stool placed near the gate.

On seeing that, "Lakshmi, did you put the bolt at the top of the gate," he questions his wife.

"Yes, I did," she replies.

"Hm, look at the stool. She unlocks the bolt by climbing it. That means, something had strongly attracted her and made her to leave the house," he concludes based on his observation.

"But what made her to do so?" he raises the question again.

Lakshmi starts thinking. After a moment of silence, "Ice-Cream," she says suddenly with a curious voice. "Yes, every time she uses to run after the Ice cream whenever it comes. Then I also run behind her to stop and bring her home back. This is the regular phenomena which takes place on every holiday," she adds.

By listening that, Achyut runs into the home and takes his mobile and Bluetooth. "Lakshmi you first go and make a conference call to all of our neighbours who are residing within these surroundings, including me and ask them whether any of them did hear or see any ice cream cart," he instructs Lakshmi and starts immediately on his bike.

As Achyut says, Lakshmi makes the conference call to all her friends around and tells them what happened. All of Lakshmi's friends are trying to help her. At this point, Achyut goes to the place where all the colony nodes meet and stops the bike there. As all of them start speaking at once, he fails to understand even a word.

"Wait, wait, wait…. please speak one by one. Then I can understand what you are saying. OK, if anyone of you see any ice cream cart moving in front of your house, or you hear its noise, then you speak up first," he instructs them clearly.

To his question, a woman starts answering: "Achyut, I did not see the cart but I heard the sound of the cart which was going ten minutes ago"

"Really! What is the number of your road, mother?" he asks her. Then she says that it is road number 3.

Upon hearing that, he immediately goes to that road and meets her. Then she points out a direction where it went. Then Achyut goes according her directions.

After reaching there, he inquires everyone about the ice cream cart. But to his disappointment, everyone says no.

At the same time, another woman from the call starts speaking. "Achyut, you don't worry, every day, nearly by this time, an ice cream cart comes to our road. So, if it will come now, I'll inform you immediately," she says.

"No need, I'm coming to that road right now, then only I can catch him," he replies her and reaches there on the bike.

Lakshmi is sitting at the entrance of the house and crying, her mother is trying to console her, the remaining people are standing outside of their houses and seeing whether any of the ice cream cart is coming on their way and Achyut is sitting on his bike and waiting for the ice cream cart.

After a while, breaking the silence, a man enters the road with his ice cream cart. On seeing him, Achyut stands up and starts running towards him. Looking at him angrily, Achyut grabs his shirt forcefully and starts shouting at him. "Come on tell me, where is the little girl, she is my daughter, where is she?" he asked him with a louder voice and furious face.

But he is so confused and frightened. "What sir, what are you talking about? I don't understand," he says innocently.

"Don't act you bloody… those who saw you told me that you only took my child with you," Achyut threatens him with a raising tone. Even though, he doesn't know exactly, he just says like that in order to find out the truth.

But he continues to say NO. Then the people who are there also say that he is looking innocent and he is saying the truth. By listening their words, Achyut leaves his shirt collar.

Achyut: "Sorry brother, I'm greatly worrying about my daughter, that's why I behaved like that, I'm really sorry"

That guy: "It's OK, I understand"

Achyut: "OK, do you know who else is selling ice cream in this area, other than you?"

That guy: "Yeah, there are two more guys who sell ice cream in this area"

Achyut: "Then can you please tell me, where they can be by this time?"

That guy: "I don't know exactly, but I know the area where they are residing"

Achyut: "Oh! Very good, then please take me to their area right now"

That guy: "But…my cart...?"

Achyut: "You please don't worry about your cart, they will take care of it, you please come with me, please…"

That guy: "Okay! Come on, I'll take you there"

Achyut: "Thank you so much brother. Lakshmi, I'm going to the police station, I'll file a complaint there and I'll go to their area along with the policeman. You just take care of yourself and don't leave the house"

Lakshmi: "OK Achyut!" she says with a shivering tone.

Achyut: "Oh Lakshmi, you please don't cry, I'll return to home along with our daughter, so you please be brave," he says her and tries to console her.

Then Achyut and the ice cream vendor start immediately on that night to search Pragna in the light of hope.

***

Chapter 10: No Mercy!

Achyut goes to the Police station along with the ice-cream vendor. The sub-inspector, Narasimha Rao and Achyut were the college mates. So, he receives Achyut well. Then Achyut narrates him how his daughter went missing and all his attempts to find her. Narasimha Rao listens every detail carefully.

Narasimha: "Based on your explanation, me too assuming that the primary suspect is one among those two ice-cream vendors. So, now we have to confirm whether they are only suspects or the culprits. But if I come like this, they won't reveal their true faces".

By saying that, Narasimha changes his dress and all the three along with a head constable start in a jeep towards the place where the suspects residing.

While they are on the way…

Narasimha: "If in case, what we are thinking is right, then any one of them might belong to any child trafficking or any kidnapping gang".

On listening that, Achyut feels very nervous. Narasimha observes that.

Narasimha: "Hey Achyut, you don't worry. These are all just assumptions and you, with your presence of mind, found the place where they are staying. We will definitely find your daughter within an hour. That's my promise".

Ice-cream vendor: "Sir, that is their area and those two are their houses," he tells by pointing out two small houses which are at some distance from them.

Narasimha stops the jeep there itself and they start moving towards their houses. They stop at a bakery which is right in front of their houses. Inspector takes one cigarette, Achyut takes a water bottle and the constable takes a curry puff.

Then one of the suspects comes to his home, on seeing him, his children come to him cheerfully. He gives them some snacks and they take them curiously. He also brings few vegetables and gives them to his wife. After that, he plays with his children outside.

After a while, another suspect also reaches his home. Then he immediately starts drinking alcohol and beating his wife and children for every little thing with no reason.

By observing the two suspects,

"He is the one who kidnapped your daughter. See, how he behaves with his kids and wife with no mercy," the inspector concludes.

With no late, Narasimha goes and holds the collar of him and drags him forcefully.

Narasimha: "Move you bastard, you are under arrest"

Suspect's wife: "What happened sir? Why are you taking my husband?"

Narasimha: "Your husband kidnapped a girl; we have all the evidence"

He tells her with an angry tone and she shocks.

In the meanwhile, he tries to escape from him, but Achyut immediately catches him. Narasimha locks his hands with cuffs. The first ice-cream vendor goes to his home. Then Narasimha, Achyut and head constable start from there in the jeep along with the suspect.

It takes so much of time to reach the police station from there. So, Narasimha stops the jeep at a deserted place. He then starts beating him.

Narasimha: "Where is the girl?"

He asks the same question repeatedly.

Then all of a sudden, he shouts at them and says, "I killed her". Everyone gets shocked on listening that. Achyut turned to stone. A horrible silence occupies over there.

Breaking that silence, Inspector starts speaking…

Narasimha: "You bloody, tell me the truth. If you tell the truth, then I'll reduce the punishment. Otherwise I'll kill you here itself".

The Culprit: "Sir, I'm already caught and what I get if I tell lies"

Narasimha: "Oh, alright! Then show me the proofs"

The Culprit: "Come with me, I'll show you right now"

They again start in the jeep and go according to his directions.

Here at Achyut's house, Lakshmi, her mother and some of her neighbours are waiting for Pragna and Achyut. Lakshmi keeps on crying.

Lakshmi's mother: Lakshmi! You didn't take water even since afternoon, and it is not good for you now as you are carrying. Please eat something".

But Lakshmi doesn't give her a reply even.

Finally, they reach another deserted place which is near to the Achyut's house. They get down from the jeep. That is a barren land surrounded with bushes and thorns. The fear in Achyut gets increasing.

Narasimha: "Why you bring us here, did you hide the girl here?"

The Culprit: "Yes, I put her inside my ice-cream cart and brought her here and left her here"

Narasimha: "Where? Show me the exact place"

The Culprit: "I forgot, you go and search"

He tells him in a very negligent manner.

Then he and his constable start searching for the girl with the help of a cell torch. But Achyut doesn't move an inch from there. His face and total body get wet with sweat. He trembles with fear.

Suddenly, the constable shouts very loudly on seeing Pragna in an unimaginable condition. Narasimha goes into that direction and he also gets shocked on seeing her.

Her neck is bleeding, her dress got torn at some places, there are some nail marks on her body and blood stains are there on her dress below the abdomen. Body is there, but there is no life.

Achyut sees his lifeless daughter and starts crying. He is unable to believe that bitter truth. He is suffering a deep pain in the heart. The pain is undefined and unending. Suddenly, he remembers Lakshmi. He can't even imagine how she will react. He is not brave enough to take his daughter to his wife.

Finally, the inspector Narasimha and constable make him move and take him to his house along with Pragna.

On seeing his husband along her daughter in his hands, Lakshmi stands with a cheerful face and goes near Achyut to see her child.

Lakshmi: "Oh my dear Pragna! You finally came home, I'm very happy"

She tries to take her into her hands, Achyut denies to give her.

Lakshmi: "Give her to me Achyut, I have to feed her food now. Is she sleeping? And why are you still looking dull?"

She asks her husband and take her child into her hands.

When she touches her, she realized that her little girl lost her life.

Lakshmi turns dumb. Even though, the truth is clearly visible in front of her eyes, she is thinking that her eyes are deceiving her.

A wild act of a demon leaves a great misery to them and pushes them into a deep ocean of sorrow. The little girl didn't even know, what he did to her. She ran after him with an innocent face, but he treated her with no mercy.

***

Chapter 11: This is not the end!

The ice-cream vendor sentenced to death.

Achyut is coming out of the court...

Media surrounds him...

Reporter: "Sir, the offender was punished, but none can compensate your loss. On this account, do you want to express anything to the people?"

After some silence…

Achyut: "He did a crime, a sin, so he was punished. But what my Pragna did? What we did? Why we are punished? Even death itself is no bigger than this. She was a brilliant girl, she always surprised us with her Intelligence, she was always cheerful, kind, she loved everyone and loved by everyone. If she were alive, she would have been a pride of the society. We missed her, and the entire nation missed a gem due to the wild act of that demon".

Achyut expressed his anguish with a shivering tone.

Another Reporter: "What you say to the parents of every girl?"

Achyut: "My wife is pregnant now. She has been carrying for 8 months. She expressed her fear that what would be the situation if another girl child will be born.

But I'm praying the god to give me a girl child again. If that happens, I believe my Pragna is born again. We took great care of her, but we never taught her how to deal with such a situation. That means we protected her but not trained her. This time, I won't repeat the mistake, I will raise my child as a warrior more than a daughter and she will become the answer to all the questions that raise in minds of girls and the parents".

He replies with a raising tone and he leaves.

A Reporter (facing the camera): "It looks like, this is not the end and he will write a new inspiring story in the name of his daughter. I Hope this must happen and let us hope Pragna will born again".

By listening his words, all the crowd near him start shouting…

"Pragna will born again…Pragna will born again…Pragna will born again…"

Lakshmi watches all this in the television with tears rolling in her eyes.

Her inner voice: "That's the hope which keeps me still alive!"

End of Part I

To be continued…

Written by

Hemanth Karicharla.