Sai heard the voice of the stern lady every time he tried calling Laksha. Panic bubbled in him; gradually, the news was given to her family and other relatives and friends. A massive search, beginning at hospitals and reports of accidents was conducted. The television at their house was tuned into some news channel or another to check if any major incidents had been reported, with fervent prayers going on at the other end and a hope that they did not hear anything awful. As time passed, the panic increased manifold, and the painful task to approach the police was the next step made by the distraught family. The extended family from all over India was alerted. Pallavi, who felt that this had happened because of her invitation to Laksha, was completely shaken. Laksha’s mom was strong enough to talk to all the relatives and friends who tried to help in the search for the lost girl, but her father, the man of few words, sat in a corner looking like a crumpled sheet of paper. At every ring of the phone the whole family pricked their ears.
