“THE MISSING GUY” – I

Raj isn’t picking my call.I have been trying since morning.He also hasn’t replied to my message which i sent last night at about 10:30 .I thought he might be sleeping , so when he will see my missed call , he will surely ring back.its slightly unusual about Raj because it never happened in due course of our friendship .After all he do have to go college.i tried to sympathise my heart with various valid as well as non valid points but still i can’t bereft  a fear which has now occupied a space in me.

I was getting late for my lectures.i packed up quickly some novels which were going to be taught and left for college.when it was period third was ongoing and almost glued myself to lectures because it was interesting that day  , then suddenly a phone call appears which belonged to Raj’s father.Yes , missing of Raj is not a trivial matter now.A chilling cold ran into my spine from top to bottom.So he is not picking his father call also.My mind went almost blank.I know the parents anxiety for their children studying far off in other state.what should i answer to his father?I don’t have a point clue about him. he will get tensed when i will tell the truth and how would i lie him.I simply slipped the cell phone in my packet thinking about what to do next.Sir rebuked twice for my absent mindedness as i was not indifferent to the situation , i replied in a frail voice – “i am okay” sir.

Still there was 20 minutes remaining for the class to get over.I was feeling very uneasy like something has struck in my throat and want to vomit.I wanted to get out as soon as possible.In such situation you can’t control yourself and your thinking.My whole body and mind couldn’t move to other thought except Raj.The peculiar thing about such thought is ‘negative one always dominate the positive one.how hard you  try to consol yourself , the more negative thought surround you.My all attempt was in vain.How could he ignore my 5 missed calls and the message which was still undelivered and unseen since Raj is Raj not any girl.To free myself  well as Raj , i decided to enquire at my personal level and the first thing is to ask about his friends.

I have called a couple of his best friends with whom he is usually roam.They replied that he is not anywhere neither in class nor in his room  infact he went to look out for him in his room but it  was locked.They also doesn’t have any idea where he might be.One of his friend suggested that he his not a child so don’t worry about him but i am of he opinion that he is not a child , that’s a major reason to worry.think about it a more.

So what to do , where to go is the big question.Yesterday i met Raj.he was in jolly mood because his exam got over.in addition to he also gave a small treat .I left his room at evening and promished him to meet tomorrow since we were planning to go on trip after exam.Today he is nowhere and to go anywhere without infoming is not his business.Oh! wait , i am missing something.he also told me something else……….what was it???

Yeah, a new room partner was going to come tonight as per the information given by caretaker and yaah now  i remembered , i have messaged him to enquire about Raj’s new roomie.I don’t have a point of clue about the new person how was he , where does he belong to infact whether he came or not , i wasn’t sure.There is a possibility that this plot which led Raj missing ,might be laid by him but you can’t accuse anyone until you have some evidence but One thing is clear that uptill now he is my prime suspect  and now i am going to vest whole energy looking for him.Then i can proceed in the case.Even if he is not the guilty one but he may be important clue in tracing Raj.

Where is his partner since the room was locked?With this thought,now my central point changes from Raj to his roomie, a unknown guy , which i have to look for but how?

Overnight no body has seen him not even the neighbours except Raj.But there is one person i.e the property dealer through which he has got the room.Usually they are of very rude nature and often materialistic , so to squeeze out any information from then is a herculean task. i was also confident about my smartness in these matters. i thought of using their materialistic attitude to extract information from them.I located the dealer of that building and in the moment i was inside.

Welcome sir! Which type of accomodation do you want sir – flat , Room , P.Gs . we provide best quality and economical accomodation in Delhi , he flaunted.

I wanted to rent a room- double , i replied poilitely

Sure sir , i will show you the rooms.He called  his assistant boy Raghu. Take the Sir to building number 15 and show rooms.He ordered.

Raghu was a short – bald headed man with brown eyes.Moustache was designed in such a way that it is cleared before it grows.Dresses fairly and said in Sturdy voice- Follow me.i Stalked him to the destination which i already knew but i have to pretend that i don’t know the way.So i quietly followed him.Also i didn’t want to grow suspicion in Raghu’s mind before getting my work done and yes i have to be opportunist at this time.

After reaching the building , he showed me half a dozen room some occupied with a single student and some were empty .i was waiting for the right turn.We passed through room no. ‘G’. I stopped there staring at the gate and Raghu after walking some distance , saw me in statue state. he came back to me and What is the matter , Sir .why are u standing here?

This room looks good , Can u show it from inside ? i said  pointing  to room no. ‘G’

Sorry sir , Only one bed was vacant in this room which was taken by a guy  only and he shifted here yesterday

(Now one thing is clear , yesterday there were at least 2 persons in the room yesterday, One is Raj and other is his roomie.To say atleast 2 person i mean i am not sure how many was his roomie with. Now i have to take his details so i throwed my dice  in order to achieve my desired number)

Yaar Raghu (keeping my hand on his shoulder to be more affectionate) , One of my friend also shifted ysterday and i was planning to take room with him only since i know him.I suspect that the Guy who shifted yesterday is my friend.

So Talk to him then , Raghu replied rudely ,taking my hand off his shoulder

(Ye Raghu bhi na , he is displaying his own inteligence, Anyway let me throw my 2nd dice, i thought again)

Yeah we were destined to meet today to finalise the rooms but unfortunately i lost his contact and i dont have anyother way to talk him , i lied like he would believe me that i am speaking truth.

then you can take but You should be honest. Raghu said.

He opened his register in which the details of student are kept.he was about to spell the phone number of Raj’s roomie ,only then i took register out of his hand with a smiling face and without his notice i clicked a picture of the details.I guessed that in that process he grew a little suspicious about me but i don’t care anymore now. Also doesn’t have much option.he will be scolded by dealer that why he showed it to me when he will complain and he can’t do anything to me because i am his customer.Moreover my work was done.In the whole process i was fearing one thing only that he wouldn’t ask name of Raj’s roomie but Raghu was not intelligent enough, if he would have asked i would be caught, big smile swept on my face.

When I opened my mobile , I have three things.

• ID proof (Aadhar card in which address was written
• His phone number 
• His Pic on Aadhar card

Out of these 3 , only 2 is useful to me because the address on Aadhar card was of some remote place in UP and the pic was obscure.So in no time , I dialled the number with full planning what to say in case call is picked but I was expecting the same.His number was switched off and hence my suspicion on him grew stronger.

Now I had no any way to find out Raj.it has been 3PM and uptill now , there is no any information about him.My faith is broken , and I wasn’t left with much energy to proceed.I couldn’t find anyway out to proceed further.I sank in gloom and hopelessness gripped me.my condition became worse when I thought about Raj’s parent.

Only then I remembered my one friend in secondary schools …yes Arpit whose and we use to call him Appi in short.He has extremely good analytical ability.we have spend a plenty of time together those days playing , reading and watching detective serials and movie.He everytime used to guess the next step which the detective is going to take.He was brilliant in studies too and due to this reason he was selected to study “Detective Studies and Coginative Science” in University of California.

 My eyes then has a sparkling glow.he is my last hope.it has been a year since I last talked him.It would be a great luck if he is in India.lets call on his India’s number first.I quickly dialled his number and a familiar ringing sound I heard.I cried with joy.After 3-4 full rings , he picked up the call.

Hello !

Yes hello , Bhai , Pehchan rhe ho kya? I said.

Nhi mujhe to lag rha , tum bhul gaye.Oye , itne Dino Baad yaad kaha se aa gaye hum Shashank

Great bro , but how have u recognised me?

Voice is something bro moreover I haven’t deleted your number.Anything serious? He enquired as he has guessed from my voice.

Yes bro , I need your help .Can u come here to Delhi.

But Whats the matter , Is everything fine?

I will tell you all after meeting and yes someone is not fine.

Don’t worry , I am coming from Next flight.

With this the call was disconnected …

                        …….to be continued.

                         (Shashank)