Parth reached the airport, parked his car and took his bag which he had brought from Pune. He rushed inside and took the first flight to Delhi. Charlie had given him a clue that she is not in mumbai. But this clue was not enough. He had to find her at any cost. Parth was waiting for his flight announcement which was early morning at 5.00 a.m. he was engrossed in his own thoughts
" Niti were are you? Charlie told me you are not in Mumbai. So I guessed you must be in Delhi at your house. I don't know I will find you or not but I have to start somewhere. Be safe my doll...".
His flight was announced he moved towards the craft. Some fans recognised him and they surrounded him. They were clicking photos with him asking him for autograph. If it was some other day he would have happily clicked the photos but today all this suffocated him. He requested to leave and left from there. Whole journey he was engrossed in thinking about her. Finally when he reached DELHI he rushed to her house. Now, He was standing in front of her house doubtful whether he should go in or not. Finally after a lot of if's and but's he rang the door bell with shivering hands. He waited taking a deep breath.
The door was opened by Niti's mother. He went numb seeing her . Seeing Niti's mother All his practice, his rehearsals went in vain. Niti's mother crunched her brows trying to recognise the person standing before her. Parth braced up himself to speak to her
" Hello Aunty..."
Niti's mom nodded her head " hello...you are Parth right?"
He nodded his head , fidgeting his fingers and roaming his eyes inside her house he asked
" Aunty...woh I just came to delhi for some work thought to meet Niti. Where is she ?"
She followed his gaze which was searching Niti inside her home
" Niti is not at home in fact she is not in Delhi...."
Parth was shocked
" what? She's not in Delhi. Then where is she? Do you know Aunty?"
Niti's mom saw his restlessness
" relax Parth why so panicked?"
Parth answered her " aunty woh she's not in mumbai. She's not picking up my phone. Not replying my messages. Aunty please tell me na where is she? Is she ok? "
Niti's mom now understood his condition
" okay first come in"
after lot of denial from Parth she insisted him to come inside the house. She asked him to sit and went to get something to eat for him. Parth was staring at the pictures hanging on the wall. He was admiring Niti in the pictures with teary eyes. Niti's mom came back with some tea and snacks. She saw his gaze and teared filled eyes she understood his feelings. She held Parth's hand to break his trance. Parth looked at her..
" huh....yes aunty".
Niti's mom gestured towards the cup of tea ...
" Parth, you look tired. Have something . It seems you haven't slept for hours".
She could easily make out looking at his dull eyes and dry chapped lips ... Parth denied
" nahi aunty, bhook nahi hai... "
he took a pause and stood up
" thik hai aunty ..I have to go. This is my number Agar Niti ke baare mein pata chale to please Bata dena..." he turned to go.
Niti's mom could not see him like this she stopped him....
" Parth, kyu doondh rahe ho use?" Parth did not know what to say. He hesitated a bit. Her mom understood his dilemma she continued..
"Parth, Niti shares everything with me. You can tell
with me."
He was shocked as even after knowing what he'd done to Niti she was being patient with him. A tear slipped from his eye and gulping the lump formed in his throat he turned towards her
" Aunty, I am sorry...I am really sorry. Please tell me where she is? Is she fine? I am ready to apologise, I will never trouble her."
Niti's mom could find truth in his eyes. She smiled at him
" she's fine . I can tell you where she is? Only if you promise me that you will not let a tear fall from my daughters eyes."
Parth instantly held her hand and promised her
" aunty, I promise. how can I? When she's the key to my happiness. She's my angel my doll. I need her , I do. Please tell me where she is?"
Niti's mom was amazed looking at the boy who loved her daughter to this extent. She patted his cheek with motherly love
" last time when she called her location was shimla. I don't know where she is now neither do I know where she is staying , that you have to find out yourself."
Parth's happiness knew no bound he stood up immediately
" thank you aunty thank you so much...I will get her back.."
Bidding bye to her mom Parth started his journey to Shimla. He did not know where to find her. After a long tiring journey he reached Shimla. He breathed in the fresh air of the valley , he kept his bag on his shoulder and walked towards the hotel. He booked a room for himself freshened up and moved out in search of his doll.
"Uff Niti kahan dhoondhu yaar...kabhi socha nahi tha aise paglon ki tarah tumhe dhoondhne aaunga. Please mil jao na. Parth just think where you can find her".
He went one by one to all the famous tourist places where she could go. He showed her photo to few vendors , guides but all gave negative answers.
It had been two days he was searching for her. Early morning he used to start his search and in the night he used to just crash down tired , disappointed. He had lost the count of hours now when he kept searching her. Tired he was sitting on the bench with his head in his palms. He felt a touch on his shoulders he moved his gaze towards the person. He saw a photographer standing there to his side
" saheb photo khichvana hai ? Bahot Badiya photo khichta hoon. Aisa koi nahi jiska meine Photo nahi Khincha. Saheb bahot Udas lag rahe ho? Bolo saheb kya baat hai?"
Parth just gave him a dull smile...he showed her photo to him
" kya ise dhoondh Sakte ho ?"
The photographer kept staring the photo for sometime as if remembering something. After few minutes he snapped his fingers...
"Arre sir yeh to wahi hai ...shooting wali madam.."
Parth nodded and restlessly asked him " kya tum ise Jaante ho. Kya tumne use yahan dekha hai?"
" haan dekha na saheb, yahan par thode din Pehle shooting hui thi yeh tab yaha aayi thi" the photographer replied..
Parth's face fell after listening to him. He thought it was no use talking to him , he stood up and was about to go when he said
" Arre sir unko toh meine kal bhi waha dekha tha...."
Parth was very happy at his reveal. He continued
" woh toh do din se Wahan roz jaati hai. Abhi bhi aapko wahi milengi.."
Parth hugged him tightly and ran towards the place to meet his doll, his peace and the love of his life.Parth reached the place told by the photographer. His eyes started searching her everywhere. The sun was setting leaving the sky glowing with beautiful reddish orange colour. Parth eyes got fixed on a petite frame standing just near the boundary of the valley. She was his doll, his Niti. She stood there wiping her tears. He could feel her, his breathing was erratic he just wanted to hold her tight and feel her but what he saw panicked him Niti was standing leaning too much to the boundary and it felt like she will slip anytime. He just yelled her name loudly...
"Niti......"
Niti turned around suddenly listening to her name. She was shocked to see Parth standing there , he ran towards her but before he could reach her he felt his world slipping in to the dark and the sounds around him were echoing and went blurry after some time. He slumped on the ground and closed his eyes. He had fainted.
Niti came running towards him and patted his cheeks
" Parth...kya hua? Parth please open your eyes." She kept screaming his name.
Is baar thoda filmy ho gaya but wait and watch what Niti has to say now. What happened to parth? Parth did find Niti but what will she do? Forgive him or embrace him with all the love she has for him. Keep guessing..