46. The Feud

Dakshu’s POV

Gowtham is looking devastated. I don’t know what is happening around. But I know something is not right. Gowtham is a cool man. In the past 4days, I have made immense mistakes in the project he works on. Never once has he gone mad or tense.

"Gowtham bro, What's wrong? Is everything alright?" I asked him.

"Anya is not alright. I feel so guilty that I made their gap even bigger." he said sulking, regret evident in his voice.

"I don’t understand Bro. Whose gap? Why do you feel guilty?"

"You don’t know anything that is happening to your sister?"

"What's with Danya?"

He told me everything that has happened. I knew there was some problem. But I never knew that Smirthi had come back. I can feel what Danya is going through now. I went to Karthik's room to speak with Rishi mama. D is not going to tell their past. It's high time that mama knows why she agreed readily for this wedding. Danya is a very sensitive girl. She is used to being pampered all her life. She cannot withstand pressure. I knocked on Karthik's room and went in.

"Karthik! Where is mama?" I asked him.

"He has left. Where is your sister?" he asked me back.

"Why do you ask me? She should be in her room." I told him, puzzled.

"I called Janani's intercom so many times since I came back. But no answer." he said.

I ran to Janani akka's room. Danya can't go anywhere. She doesn't know any places here. Like Karthik said, the room was empty. Her phone, bag, nothing is here. Thank god she has taken them with her. I tried calling her number. But no answer. I ran back to Karthik.

"Karthik, she is not there. I'm so scared, Karthik. I tried calling her number. But she didn’t pick up. Gowtham says Mama was in so much anger. She is not used to yelling, Karthik. She is the most pampered one in our home."

"Please Daksha, calm down. What happened to Gowtham?"

I told him what Gowtham told me. He held his head in his hands. He dialed Rishi mama.

"Pch, He is not picking up."

"Please Karthik, do something. She is not aware of any places here. I’m afraid that she may not even know her address."

"Please don't cry, Daksha. We will do something soon."

He called someone

"Hello, Smirthi, Is Rishi with you?"

"...."

"Alright!" he hung up the call.

His face is not right. Why is mama with that girl? What is happening in D's life? What has she gotten herself into!?!?

"Karthik, Shall we file a police complaint? I'm totally scared. If dad gets to know any of these, it would be a disaster."

"Daksha please. Don’t cry. We will see..." He got a phone call and he picked it up in a hurry.

"Dai idiot, Where is Danya? What did you do to her?"

"...."

"She is not here, idiot. If something goes wrong, you are done. Come here soon."

"...."

"I totally wanna punch you on your face."

I don’t know what is happening. I'm all scared for her. Mama should have been very angry with her. I wonder what he would have told her that made her run-away. Whatever that was, is not good.

I couldn't stop crying. I called Aakash anna. It's not good to handle such a situation without an elder from our family.

"Anna, Danya is lost. We don't know where she is now. I'm so scared anna."

I started crying on the phone. Anna was all tense and asked me so many questions. I couldn't answer any. Karthik Snatched the phone from me and started talking.

"Hello, This is Karthik here. Please don’t panic, Aakash. Come to my office. We will talk."

"...."

"Sure!" He gave the phone back to me and wiped my tears away.

"Dont cry like a baby. She is not a baby, Daksha. She must be disturbed. She has her phone and bag right? She will call any of us when she calms down. She needs a little time alone. We will wait until evening for her call. If she didn’t turn up or called by then, we can go to the police. I have a friend who is a cop. Danya is a brave girl. She is not as weak as you think." He side hugged and consoled me. I felt calm in his hands. He is right. She needs some time alone. We should talk to Mama now. I must tell him how she knows him. He cannot do this to her. If he is still in love with Smirthi, then We should take D away from him. She doesn’t need to get hurt like this. She has been the happiest girl. She should remain happy!

Aakash anna and Mama came in together. When Karthik asked what happened between him and D, Rishi mama said they had a disagreement and he scolded her. Aakash Anna got all angry. D is his most favorite sister of us all.

"How can you scold my sister? Whatever she may have done, you cannot upset her like this. I want to see my sister now. If not, I'm taking this up to the elders. Danya should be here in another 1hr." Anna spoke in rage.

"Please Aakash, calm down. She needs time. I hope she will call any of us when she calms down" Karthik said.

"So, you say we sit back and wait until she calls? What do you guys know about my sister? She has not gone anywhere alone. She is new to this city. She knows nowhere. What if she gets in any trouble? If something goes wrong, I'm sure I will kill your friend." Anna was all hot and angry.

"Aakash please! You are crossing your limits. I know how to take care of my wife. It’s our personal. I don’t like third person intrusion in our life. It's between us. You cannot tell me what I should and should not do with my wife." Mama spoke furiously.

"How dare you talk like this? My sister is missing. It would have been your personal if you guys fight in your home and my sister is still here. I need to see my sister now. Or I'm calling the police now on you." Anna stood up from the chair in such a force that the chair fell down with a loud bang.

No no no no! This is getting out of hand. I need to stop this. They can't fight. Now I feel bad to have called Anna here. I made the situation even worse.

"Anna please, Come here. I need to talk to you in private. Karthik please make sure D is fine. I will call you up a little later."

I took Anna out to our car. I explained everything. I told him how and why this marriage happened. D's school flashback, D's confidence in yearning mama's love. Everything! I also reminded Anna that Rishi mama is Danya's husband. No one in our family will approve of the way he has talked to him. Anna agreed. But he said he won't apologize. I'm ok with that as long as they won't fight. Where the hell has she gone?!?! I hope she comes home safely.

Karthik's PoV

Why can't I see her cry? She is a little girl. I feel weird when she is around. I am feeling proud when she calls me Mr. Handsome. She sobs like a baby. Danya is a kid too. These 2 are grown kids. Where might she be? Rishi is all tensed because of her disappearance and Aakash. Wow, they both literally fought. He has gone in search of her. Daksha took her brother along, stopping the fight.

She is a beautiful girl. I feel happy in her presence. I miss her when she is not around. She likes me too. I so wanted to kiss her, when she said I can't touch her. But I cannot do that. I cannot feel like this about her. I'm a married man. I'm a failure. I can see her interest in me in her behavior. I totally liked her mischievous nature on the train. It was so hard to put up my angry face in the train and in the elevator. She cannot have feelings for me.

It's not going to end well. I may hurt her. I should maintain my distance with her.