Not That Interested

Chapter 28: The One With The Missing Fiance

"Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay...It's not the end." — John Lennon.

It's been One day.

One. Whole. Day.

Twenty Four Hours, thirty five Minutes.

Since I last heard from Areeb.

I can't eat. I can't sleep. I can't live.

Maybe that's a tad bit too over dramatic. I certainly CAN....I just don't want to. Areeb isn't just a future husband; he is my best friend. I cannot recall a single childhood memory, or a single teenage mischief without him. Not knowing where he is, what he is going through...it is slowly eating away at me.

The first two days after he "disappeared" I couldn't bring myself to tell anyone about it. I knew Mom and Dad will flip out and create a scene. I am not even sure he is in physical danger...what if I'm blowing things out of proportion? I did call up his parents, who assured me that Areeb was still overseas.

His call had been from a local number. Which means he hadn't told anyone about arriving back. I'm conflicted between keeping the call a secret, and raising hell over his indiscretion.

I told Ali though. He is the only one who understood my concerns.

"Maybe he got into a fight or something?" Ali suggests.

We're meeting secretly in my room; to avoid spreading this news all over my extended family.

"Areeb is a pacifist." I am wringing my hands, and pacing back and forth. My phone is fully charged, my laptop is running quietly keeping tabs on facebook, twitter, and gmail for any activity from Areeb.

"Okay...maybe he is in trouble with the airport?....He isn't into contraband is he?" My brother is adding fuel to my worries!

"WHAT!....AAGHH!! I DON'T KNOW!! Gee! thanks Ali! now I have more possible scenarios to freak out about!" I scream nervously at him.

"Call up his parents again. I think we should tell them." He says grimly.

I am torn between calling them with my worried suspicions, and not wanting to blow it bigger than it is. To be honest, that brief call could have been about anything. What if I raise a havoc, and then it turns out he broke his new iPhone or something?

"I fucked up...You'll hate me too..."

WHAT THE HELL DOES THIS MEAN?

He should at least respond to the 534 texts I have sent him uptill now! There isn't a single social media account where I haven't spammed him. I also asked Ali to contact all of Areeb's regular "Extreme Travel" Buddies. They said they had no idea he was on a Euro-trip. He made a solo trip. And then He came back. And he didn't tell anyone about it.

My gut says he is fine. But my gut also says that everything isn't fine.

I make up my mind.

"Please call his Dad, Ali."

.............

His parents are worried sick too now. Another day has passed.

He is with none of his University friends. He hasn't used his credit card anytime recently. And apparently he landed in Pakistan from Germany two days ago. He was safe and sound.

Corrupt, evil security institutions of my country are making the search even more difficult for us. They have bled Areeb's dad dry for conducting all the little research they have done so far.