A porter walked back to the platform and Sameer stopped him to ask,  

“Bhaiyya, Has the passenger come in?” 

The porter looked quite irritated,  

“What’s the matter with you people? Look straight and you can see the train there! Silly folk! can’t see things for themselves, always has to ask someone” the last in a murmur to himself.  

Sameer was too distraught to think straight but he forced himself to be calm and think. Just then he heard another car pull into the parking lot and soon a voice hailed him. It was Sudhakar. 

“Sammy, you idiot! Why did you drive away so fast and in that frame of mind? I was so tense about you, and did you see your wife?” 

Sameer shook his head. 

“Why don’t you check the waiting room, she might be waiting there? I will come with you, have to meet the Bhabhi anyway!”  

The waiting room was empty and the platform too. Sudhakar looked thoughtful and then asked, “Have you called her?” 

It was only then that Sameer remembered that his mobile was still switched off and safely in his pocket. He took it out and seeing Sameer switch the mobile on, Sudhakar hissed and shook his head. Sameer dialed Kavitha, she was not reachable. Sameer then saw that he had innumerable missed calls from Kavitha, his Mama, his father-in-law, and some other numbers he didn’t recognize.  

“Why don’t you dial home, perhaps she has caught an auto home?” 

The home number kept ringing with no response. Sameer was really distraught now. Then Sudhakar asked,  

“Didn’t you have a cousin who lived with you? Why don’t you try him?” 

Sameer didn’t say that Arjun was in the hostel now, but dialed his number and got an engaged tone again. At the third trial Arjun’s number came clear. 

“Hallo!”

“Arjun?”

“Sorry this isn’t Arjun, this is his friend Adi and I am using his phone today because a personal emergency, who is this please?” the voice sounded almost parrot-like now.

“Emergency? Oh! Where is Arjun?”

“Who is this?”

“This is his cousin, Sameer!”

“Actually I have borrowed Arjun’s mobile for the day, and he is not with me right now. His Bhabhi had also called up some time earlier. Is there a reason you need to contact Arjun, I mean any family emergency? He may not be in the hostel too today, because the sessionals ended today and every one is out celebrating.” 

Sameer felt absolutely desperate now. But at least it showed that Kavitha had tried to contact someone. Sudhakar looked exasperated but there was no way Sameer could change the circumstances. He was at a dead end now. He dialed home once again in vain.  

“Sammy, I suggest you go home now and check whether she has arrived, maybe the phone is dead? By the way, do you any of the neighbor’s numbers?” 

Sameer again shook his head and this time Sudhakar did not look surprised. They turned towards the parking lot and Sudhakar said pulled Sameer towards his car,  

“No, you are not driving the car, let it remain in the parking lot, you can collect it tomorrow morning. I will drive you home.” 

Sameer was in no condition to say no and followed Sudhakar to his car. Sudhakar’s mobile beeped and he took out to read the message with a slight smile. He said,  

“Wife! She has started sending messages, now will send one every five minutes till I get home!” He smiled fondly and then stopped, as if reminded of Sameer’s presence. 

The car turned into the familiar street and the familiar house that Sudhakar remembered visiting a number of times as a child. It stood proudly, but dark and in the shadows. The street light in front of the house was not lit and the unlit windows showed it had no occupants at the moment. Sameer walked round the house calling out for Kavitha and Mama but there was no reply and then both of them sat on the verandah wall in the darkness.  

There was a slight breeze and Mama’s jasmine creeper was in full bloom wafting a divine perfume. Sameer did not see and smell anything but Sudhakar held his nose up and took deep breaths. There was nothing to do but wait, and Sudhakar suppressed a yawn while his mobile beeped announcing another sms. Just then Sameer’s mobile pealed out a ring.

                                             To Be Continued....