Crossing paths

Adhrita's POV

"Adhrita!"  My mother's voice echoed through the entire house. I groaned and buried my face deeper into my pillow.  "Five minutes" I said. "You said that 15 minutes ago!" She called out. And the next moment the bedroom door flew open. I sat up. My mother stood there with her hands planted on her hips. "Get up" she said. I gave her smile and said "Good morning sweetheart. "Don't sweetheart me" she told me.  I laughed and jumped out of bed before she could pour water from jug on me she was already reaching for from the bedside table.

Twenty minutes later, I rushed downstairs with my bag hanging from one shoulder. My father lowered his newspaper "Phir se Late?". "Mai use fashion ki wajah se late hona bolunga" My brother snorted.

"Running Late again?"

"I prefer the term fashionably delayed."

"Journalists ka kaam news report karna hai, khud breaking news banna nahi" I threw a piece of toast at him. The entire family burst into laughter. This the best part of the day. The teasing. The warmth. The noise.

The newsroom was as chaotic as ever . I had barely settled into my chair when Riya dropped a thick file on my desk. The file landed with a loud thud. I looked up at her. "Ab kya kiya maine?" I asked her. "Kuch nhi" she said. "Phir aise kyu has rahi ho?" I asked her again. "Kyuki Sharma sir tumko dhund rhe hai" she replied. I immediately frowned."That's never good news" I mumbled. I grabbed the file and headed towards my editor's cabin. The moment I entered, Sharma Sir  gestured towards the chair opposite him. "Sit".

That single word made me suspicious. Why is he so calm? Editors only sounded calm before ruining your week. I sat and asked "What happened?". Instead of answering, he slid another file accross the table.This file was thin as compared to other report file. A few photographs. Several handwritten notes and handful of statements. I flipped through pages. "A missing person case?" I asked. He nodded. "22 year old college student" I looked at the photograph in my hand. A smiling girl looking at me. Mehak Thakur. 22. Final year student. Missing for eleven days. No clues or random leads. The police was declaring it as a runaway case. This is not sitting right with me. "Parents?". I asked. "They insist she wouldn;t disappear intentionally". I continued reading. The girl's phone has been switched off the night she disappeared. Her bank accounts remained untouched. Socially inactive. No messages. No clues. This is what bothers me. I looked up and Sharma sir asked "You think there's more to it". Not a question , but a statement. "I do". I nodded my head. Sharma sir leaned back in his chair. "Three missing women in three months". That got my attention. I straightened immediately . "What?". "Different Areas. Different backgrounds. No obvious connection ..... except all of them were missing."  He opened another folder. Threes photographs .... photographs of missing women. All between 20 to 25 years old. My jaw tightened . "And no one is talking about it?" .

"That's because officially there is not enough evidence to connect them" he said . "But you think they are connected?". I asked him. "I think someone should investigate before fourth girl disappears." Silence filled the cabin. I know I'm just a journalist but this doesn't sit right with me . This is not just a missing person report. This is something bigger, much bigger and police, they declaring it as a runaway case ? Huhh !

"Why me?" I asked Mr. Sharma. A small smile appeared on his face. "Because you're stubborn" he said.

"That's true" I said. He interlocked his fingers and said "You don't drop stories when people tell you to leave it".  "Also True" I replied. "And because half of the city hates you". I fake gasped as this statement, Placed a hand over my chest feigning hurt and said "That hurts. They hate me for showing true incident!". He wasn't wrong though. I looked down at the photos again and sighed "I'll take it." Sharma sir nodded as if he already knew that answer.

"Be careful." I rolled my eyes and said "You sound like my mother." He looks at me and said "I'm serious, Adhrita." The amusement vanished from his expression. That immediately made me pay attention. "These cases are strange."

I glanced at the photographs once more.For reasons I couldn't explain, an uncomfortable feeling settled in my chest.As if this story was hiding something dangerous beneath the surface.Something nobody had discovered yet.

Or maybe something nobody wanted discovered.

I closed the file.

"I'll start today." As I walked back to my desk, the weight of the folder felt heavier than it should have. Almost like it carried more than paper.

Almost like it carried secrets. I didn't know it then. But this case would become the biggest story of my career. And it would eventually bring me than I could imagine. Around lunchtime I finally escaped office.Twenty minutes later, I found him waiting outside our usual café.

Kabir was dressed casually, sunglasses perched on his nose.The moment he saw me, he smiled.

A genuine smile. The kind that always seemed effortless on him. "Late." I sat down. "I was working."

"You were scrolling social media."

"That too."

He shook his head.

"One day you'll get fired."

"Impossible."

"Why?"

"Because I'm talented."

"Delusional."

"Talented."

"Delusional."

"Talented."

The waiter appeared. "Should I come back later?"

We both laughed. Soon our table was filled with food. Most of it ordered by me.Paid for by Kabir.

As nature intended. "You're using me for free meals."

"Obviously."

"At least you're honest."

I grinned.

"That's one of my many admirable qualities."

Kabir looked at me for a moment before smiling softly.

"Yeah."

Something in his expression made my heart skip unexpectedly. For a second, neither of us spoke.

Then I immediately ruined the moment.

"Order dessert."

Kabir groaned.

"There it is."

Across the street, a black luxury car stopped at a traffic signal. Inside sat Aarav Chaudhary. He had just finished a meeting and was heading back to his office. His attention drifted toward the café. Then he froze. A familiar face caught his attention. Kabir. His best friend. Aarav's lips curved slightly. What was Kabir doing here? His gaze followed. And then he saw her. A young woman sitting across from Kabir. Laughing.

Arguing. Stealing fries from his plate. Completely unaware that anyone was watching.

Aarav frowned. He had never seen her before.

But something about her immediately drew his attention. Maybe it was her expressive eyes.

Maybe it was the way she laughed without restraint. Maybe it was the ease between her and Kabir. Whatever it was, his gaze lingered longer than necessary.

The traffic signal turned green. Cars behind him honked. Aarav finally looked away. The moment passed. Or so he thought.Later that evening, Aarav entered a private lounge where Kabir was already waiting.

"You're late."

Kabir smirked.

"Look who's talking."

Aarav sat down. Their conversation shifted to business, investments, and mutual acquaintances. Then casually, Aarav asked,

"The woman you were with today."

Kabir looked up. A small smile appeared on his face.

"Adhrita."

The name settled somewhere in Aarav's mind.

"Your girlfriend?"

Kabir laughed.

"No."

The answer should have ended the conversation.

But strangely, Aarav found himself asking,

"Then who is she?"

Kabir leaned back.

"She's... Adhrita."

Aarav frowned slightly.

"That's not an answer."

Kabir chuckled.

"Maybe. But it's the only one I've got."

Aarav didn't press further, though the curiosity remained. The name lingered in his mind.

Adhrita.Strange. He had met countless people over the years, yet something about her stayed with him long after he had looked away. He dismissed the thought and returned to the conversation. Unaware that this brief encounter would one day change all of their lives.

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