Ch. 12: Where's Riya

“ Hello, it‘s me Riya’s bestie Jasmina. You are aunty, right, I mean Riya's mom. ”, said the voice from the other side. Hush, this is Riya‘s phone, then. I just got off for a moment, thought Riya’s mom. But she usually don't leave her phone unattended. Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a voice from the phone startled her, “Hello, Aunty are you there”

“Oh beta it‘s you. Yeah I am here”, says Riya’s mom, breathing a sigh of relief. Imagination is really a dangerous thing, she thought. It begin to run riot at the slightest instant.

“ Oh Aunty how are you”, asked the voice from the other side..

“I am good but leave me for the moment, and tell me how did your exams go. And what do you plan to study next”, asks Riya's mother stoping her midway.

“ Oh it was fantastic aunty. As of now, thinking to go for B. Com in accounts and then go on for chartered accountancy ”, replied Riya's friend jasmina.

“ B. Com, chartered accountancy. Great great. These courses must have great demand, na? You know I don‘t know much about these..In our days girls didn’t have much freedom and not enough information. Just followed what Papa said”, said Riya's mom.

“Oh thanks. Yeah Aunty, these courses are in great demand, you know. And doing commerce almost necessarily means you go for C. A., accounts, etc.”

“Didn‘t Riya have similar plans”, adds Jasmina, albiet she knew Riya’s lack of interest in these courses.

“ No na.. I mean I don‘t know this girl hardly tell me these things. I doubt if she knows the importance of these courses. God save her”, said Riya’s mom

“Ok Aunty. Anyways where's Riya”, asked Jasmina, reiterating her question.

“ Haa.. ”, just on hearing the question, the realisation dawns on her. She has not seen Riya seen entering the house. Where is she, thought Riya's mom.

“ Hello Aunty, are your there on line. Can you please pass on the phone to Riya”, said Jasmina.

“Haa Riya. Oh wait for a minute,let me search for her”, said Riya's mother.

“ Oh don't worry aunty, You just tell her to call me back when free.. Okay byee aunty”, said Jasmina.

“Ok beta, bye”, said Riya's mom ringing off the phone. I completely forgot about this girl. I haven‘t seen her since she came home. God knows what is girl is upto, though Riya’s mom.

“Janebi(Riya‘s aunt), where’s Riya have you seen her”, asks Riya's mom as she enters kitchen.