The Shock

Maya walked around the house like a zombie . What in the world had happened to Laya . She was haunted by all kind of bad thoughts .Did Laya meet with an accident ? But why would she leave home so early in the morning ? Nothing made sense at all . It was nearly 7 in the evening and very dark outside . Their grandmother was inconsolable .

Maya and her dad decided to go to the police station to get some help . Maya went inside her bedroom to grab her handbag . " Make sure you are carrying your ID Maya " her dad said . " yes, Appa" replied Maya.

As she was leaving her bedroom she reached out inside her handbag to take the id out of her wallet . She put her hands inside each and very nook and corner of the handbag but could not find it .Maya was really surprised . She knew that her wallet was inside her handbag till she went to bed last night . She did not carry her handbag anywhere today so where did her wallet go ?

" Appa , let me check on a few things before we leave . " Maya said . Anand waited outside while Maya went inside the house . Maya's heart started beating faster now . She opened the common cupboard that Laya and Maya shared . She gasped when she opened the cupboard . She could not see the family pic that Laya had kept inside the cupboard . She could not see the small purse where Laya used to save money . Every month Laya used to keeps me money aside and keep it in the purse under her cloths . That purse would never leave the house but now it was missing !!!

Maya sat and put all the chain of incidents from last week together . Slowly everything started making sense

Maya went outside and asked her dad to come in. Anand was getting restless . Why is Maya delaying their trip. They were all so tired already .He removed his sandals in haste and went inside .

Maya asked her mom to come to her room. Both were staring at her . "Appa and Amma we need not go to the police station. Laya left on her own will. She took my wallet , all the money she had saved till now and the family picture. All her stuff is gone". Maya said with remorse in her voice . Her eyes were all watery."

Anand and Radhika could not believe their Laya could do this to them .They were shell shocked . How were they going to convey the news to Laya's grandmother? Why did she run away ? Too many unanswered questions.

Radhika could not stop wondering where did she go wrong . She was friends with her daughters when needed . She was strict when required . Laya was her best friend . They understood each other so well . Why did Laya hide such a big thing from her ??

Anand and Radhika both stared at each other with a look of complete failure. They cannot hide it from the society for long but they have to till they can . Radhika could not stop sobbing . Anand's misty eyes made her even more tearful.

Anand had to tell this to his mother . They cannot hide this from her any longer .but how was he going to break the news ?? He started for her room ... just then he saw his mother staring teary eyed at him. She had already heard everything . She kept murmuring " not Laya ... oh my god not Laya....not again" . Saying that she went back into her room ... tears rolling down her eyes.