HWGA Chapter 32: Little Optimism

Thank you to all the people who liked and commented on the last chapter. As always, the purple bits are Hindi. Enjoy :)

Chapter 32: Little Optimism

As soon as Matt had informed Karan that Amba’s flight had landed, Khushi had began to bombard Amba’s phone with calls. All of which, went straight to voicemail. Karan was still on the line with Matt and Matt was searching for Amba at the airport. After an hour, he gave up and concluded that she must’ve slipped past him somehow as all the other passengers in her flight had already come and gone.

“I’m going to order a police escort to go your house. Hopefully, he’ll catch Amba. I’m sorry I didn’t catch her here.” He told Karan.

“It’s ok Matt, I should’ve told them the truth. It’s my fault if something happens to her not yours.” Karan said gravely.

“Don’t be so melodramatic. Let me call the escort and then I’ll get on the phone with Shyam’s parole officer. If Shyam’s with him, then I’ll ask him to keep him occupied until Amba is safe.”

20 minutes later, Matt called back.

“I’ve sent someone to your house. They should be arriving in 30 minutes.”

“What if it’s too late for that?” Karan asked desperately.

“Karan, have a little optimism please. And you’ll be glad to know that Shyam’s parole officer says that Shyam is with him at the moment and will be for another hour or so, so don’t worry about Shyam.”

Karan relaxed a little when he heard the news. “I’ll tell Khushi. Thank you Matt, let me know when your guys have got her.”

“Will do.”

Karan turned to Khushi to tell her the news and found her yelling into the phone.

“Amba? Are you ok? Are you hurt? Did any strange men come up to you?” she asked in lightening speed.

“Mum mum mum, calm down. I’m fine. What’s this about strange men? I’m old enough to take care of myself.”

“No you’re not! Especially with Shyam roaming around freely.”

Amba froze. “He’s out?”

“Yes. So don’t go home.” She pleaded.

“It’s a little late for that, I’m standing outside our front door.”

“Stay outside, Matt’s sent a police escort to bring you to a safe house.”

Amba heard a car and turned to see it pulling up outside their house. A man got out.

“I think I see him. Hold on mum.”

The man came up to her and flashed her a police badge. “Are you Amba Singh Gupta?”

“Yes.”

“Can I see some id to confirm this?”

Amba dug around her bag until she found her passport. She gave it to him, he checked it and handed it back to her.

“I just had to make sure. I’m PC John Harper, I’ve been assigned to take you to a safe house. If you’d come with me.” He said as he led her to the car.

“Yeah hold on, let me just let my mother know.” Amba raised the phone to her ears. “Mum the policeman is here so I’m going to go. Tell dad I’m safe and Matt thanks.”

“Alright.” She turned towards Karan. “She’s safe. Let Matt know that the policeman picked her up.”

Karan smiled. “That’s a relief.” He called up Matt. “Matt, she’s safe. The man you sent picked her up.”

Matt frowned. “No he hasn’t.”

Karan frowned. “What? But Amba said that a policeman came and picked her up.”

“I sent PC Patrick Douglas to come and pick her up and he hasn’t reported back to me. Hold on, let me call and ask him.”

Matt put Karan on hold and Karan turned towards Khushi. “Call Amba.”

Matt came back on the line. “Yeah, Karan, Patrick says that he hasn’t even reached his destination yet. What’s going on?”

Karan turned to Khushi and Khushi said, “She’s not picking up her phone.”

“Matt, call Shyam’s parole and ask him where he is.”

“I told you-”

“Just call him please.” He begged.

Karan was again put on hold until Matt returned. “Long story short, Shyam’s missing. Don’t worry Karan, I’ll let the force know that Amba’s been kidnapped and that Shyam’s missing.”

“No!” yelled Khushi.

Karan looked at her in shock. “Khushi, our daughter-”

He never got to finish the sentence because Khushi shoved her phone in his face. There was a text that read: Don’t get the police involved or I’ll kill her. S.

“Matt, can you keep this investigation on the down low?” asked Karan.

“Why?”

“We just got a text that told us not to involve the police or they’d kill her.”

“We’re going to need to see that text.”

“We’ll be back as soon as we can.” He cut the call and turned towards Khushi.

“I already booked 3 tickets to London. The plane will leave in 6 hours. Get packing Karan, our daughter’s life is on the line.” Khushi said with authority.

Karan nodded and headed towards his room to start packing. Khushi went to find Logan and NK to tell them the news.

2 hours later, Khushi, Karan and Logan had headed off towards the airport. A while after that Arnav called NK.

“NK, how are you? How are the wedding preparations going?” he asked. He was in a good mood and decided to make small talk before he got down to business.

“Not good considering what has happened.” He replied wearily.

Arnav’s heartbeat sped up and mood went down. “What do you mean?”

“Shyam’s kidnapped Amba so the wedding’s been postponed until they find her. Karan, Logan and Khushiji have gone back to London to find her. It’s all a big mess. Plus he sent them a text that told them not to involve the police so everything’s happening in low key. I’m really worried Nanav.” He told Arnav before realising that Arnav probably called him for something important. “Now what did you call me for.”

“I don’t remember.” Mumbled Arnav before cutting the call hastily and going in search of his sister.

He found her sitting in the garden sipping tea and reading a magazine.

“Chote.” She said as her eyes light up.

“We need to talk. Come with me.” He said harshly.

Anjili’s smile dropped as she saw the look in his eyes. She knew something serious had happened or her brother had finally snapped. Either way, she was prepared for this, she knew she deserved it. She promised herself that she would take his lashings quietly and be thankful that he was still her brother.

“Lead the way.” She said quietly.