The Strings Of Heart

33

David's POV

I push my wet locks back buttoning my black shirt. I took a head shower in my cabin's bathroom as I felt dirty for the dinner.

Sejal said her shift ends in thirty minutes, I tucked my shirt into my trousers neatly and then put on my scent. I rolled my shirt sleeves up to the elbow joints.

I hummed to the old song playing in my cabin as I combed my hair.

I wear my shoes which weren’t polished but they look polished. Yashwanth and Vikram aren’t here to tease as they are in the auditorium room. I hope they are not making jokes out of themself.

I took my bag which is packed with the files and folders. I take my car keys, phone and Id card before walking out of the cabin.

I was about to call Sejal when my phone rang. I looked at the screen to see the unknown number.

Licking my lips I have answered the number, “hello?” It came out as a question.

“Hello, is this David speaking?” I heard a familiar voice.

“Yeah, I’m David and you are?” I pondered.

“David... I’m Kavya, Sitara’s friend.” Realization dawned on me.

“Yes, Kavya... Is everything okay?” I ask her stepping aside as I was standing in the middle of the hallway.

“No, actually Sitara and I went to a house party after the Freshers party...”

“Yes?”

“I returned home but Sitara had to stay back with our other friends. She is quite drunk and I don’t know whom to call. I cannot call her mum or to home. I’m worried about her, she is not answering my calls and...” She says and I can already feel the dreading fear take over my body.

“Kavya... Calm down, don’t worry...” I try to tell her while I, myself started feeling the fear.

“Nothing will happen to her, Sitara is a tough girl and she knew self-defence. Do you know the location of where the house party is happening?” I ask her.

“Yes... I will share the location to this number. Is this your w******p number?” She asked.

“Yes, I will start and share the location immediately,” I tell her.

“Okay.” I end the call and rush towards the elevator. I do not know how many negative thoughts started in my mind.

Sitara can be reckless sometimes, knowing her I’m sure she sometimes forgets about the surroundings and enjoys the present moment which isn’t the right thing to do sometimes.

There have been many cases of girls being drugged in the parties these days. Our hospital has been treating some of the victims. And now all I can think is Sitara and the thoughts are scaring me.

I get into my car and put on the location sent by Kavya all the while calling Sitara’s number.

The phone is ringing but no one is answering the call. Even if the phone is put in the bag or pocket, it will vibrate.

The drive from the hospital to the location Kavya have sent is about an hour drive. I roll my lower lip inside my mouth biting on it as I drive.

“Pick the phone Sitara!” I say looking at the screen.

I got a call and I answered without seeing the name. “Hello?!”

“David?” I heard Sejal’s voice.

“Yes, Sejal?” I’m busy with my thoughts of Sitara.

“Where are you? My shift ended and I’m in your cabin. I don’t see you,” she said and I close my eyes cursing.

“Hmm... I’m really sorry Sejal. I just got to know about something really important. I can’t meet you, maybe next time we can go out,” I tell her.

“Hmm sure.” I end the call and call Kavya.

“Hello? Did she answer your calls?” I ask her.

“No David, she is not answering my calls.”

“What about the others? Did you try calling your friends?” I ask her.

“I have but their phones are coming out of coverage area.”

“Okay, I almost reached the place. Try calling her and her friends. If they lift the call just call me back okay?”

“Okay.”

I have been continuously calling on her phone. I reached the location late because of the night traffic.

I parked the car to the roadside and got out of the car. The house where the party is happening is a guest house in the middle of the city.

I cross the road and walk into the vibrant house. I do not know whom to ask as everyone seem to be in their own world.

“Hello...” I tap on the shoulder of a guy.

“Yes mate?”

“Do you know Sitara Chindam?” I ask him.

“Sitara?” He faced his friends.

"Do you guys know any Sitara? Is she from our class?" He asked them.

"There is no Sitara in our class. We don't know any Sitara." They all replied.

I went over to the other side and started asking everyone about Sitara. All they did was they don't know any Sitara.

I couldn't think straight as fear consumed my mind and body. I gulp down the lump as sweat coats my forehead.

I look around, asking each and every person about Sitara. I try calling her phone but she isn't answering my calls.

I don't know why but there is this great amount of uneasiness, restlessness, sadness, and a gloomy feeling growing in my heart.

"Brother, this is a big party. Everyone is high and if she is a low key person then people don't know about her. Listen to me and go to the DJ guy, take the mic from him or tell him about the girl you are searching for. People who knew would come forward," a guy suggested placing his hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you, that sounds like a perfect idea," I tell him before walking over to the DJ guy.

I push through the people and reach the DJ guy. I signal him to step out for a minute to talk with me.

"Yes, bro? Any song suggestion you have?" He asked me.

"Actually brother, I need help," I tell him.

"Help?"

"Yes, you see my cousin is from this college and she said she is attending the house party but we couldn't reach her nor she is answering our calls. We are worried about her whereabouts, if you can take her name and call her on the mic. That would be helpful."

"Sure brother, tell me her name and from which group she is from."

"Sitara from interior designing, second years," I tell him.

"You stand here on the stage, I will make the announcement and turn on the lights. You can see her if she is in the crowd," the guy said.

The crowd groaned in annoyance when the music stopped.

"Hey ladies gentlemen, we have an announcement. Sitara of interior designing, second years please answer your phone. Sitara if you are here come here. Or else if anyone knew where she is come forward and meet me up here," the DJ guy announced.

I watched through the crowd to see everyone looking at the DJ man but there isn't Sitara.

Like a hope, a guy walked towards us holding a beer bottle. "Is the lady tall and slim?" The guy asked.

"Yes, I will show you the picture." I pull my phone out and check my gallery. I do not have any of her photos so I text Kavya who is online to send Sitara's photo.

"She is Sitara." I show the guy Sitara's photo and his other friend joins.

"She is the one we saw an hour ago..." The girl says.

"Huh?"

"There was an accident, the car crashed into a current pole," the girl said and I felt a shock ran through my body.

"Oh yeah... Yeah... There was an accident that happened. She was in the car with others," the guy said.

"Pranav I guess, and the others are Isha and Nithya," the girl added.

"It was pretty serious when we crossed the place. They said someone hit their head probably a girl."

My heart stopped beating for a second, my hands are shaking and I don't know what to do or what to say. There is this strange gloomy feeling.

"Do you know which hospital they took them to?" I ask them.

"Medicare hospital I guess," the guy replied.

"Yeah, that is the hospital they have taken them to," the girl said.

I stepped out of the house with a scared heart and mind. Everything around me is slipping away as I thought of Sitara.

"Nothing happened... Sitara will be safe..." I tell myself buckling my seat belt.

I don't how I was able to drive to the medicare hospital. I'm scared of stepping into the hospital and hear something bad which I don't want to know.

Fisting and unfisting my hands I ran into the hospital breathing heavily.

"Good evening sir, how may I help you?" The front desk lady asked.

I'm a doctor I have seen many accident cases in my life but this time I'm scared thinking it's Sitara.

I just pray that it's not Sitara and whoever it is they are safe.

"Hmm..." I'm breathing heavily and it's hard to speak. I took deep breaths controlling my breathing.

"There was an accident happened near madhapur road number four or five. Car accident and youngsters..." I don't know why it is difficult to say.

"They are taken to the emergency ward and operation theatre. Operation is going on, the girl is in critical condition," the lady said.

My heart dropped, I can feel my stomach and throat tightening. "Where is the emergency ward?" I ask her.

"Left hallway and straight."

I ran towards the left side, the hospital is bustling with visitors and patients. I run to the emergency wards and check the limited beds with a heavy heart.

I don't see her in the emergency wards so I run to the operation theatre. I stop running when I saw Sitara standing before the operation room.

I breathed heavily, gulped down the lump, bend down placing my hands on my thighs. A few seconds later I walked over to her. Because of my footsteps, she turned her head and saw me.

"David?" Without thinking much I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly.

I blinked my eyes as tears rolled down my cheeks without me knowing. I sighed as she hugged me back.

"Are you okay? What happened? Why are you here?" Sitara questioned. I pulled away from her and scanned her from head to toe to see if she is hurt.

"Are you crying, David?" She asked placing her hand on my arm.

"Where is your phone? Why were you not answering the calls? What happened? Do you have any idea of how scared we were? Do know how scary it was while trying to know about you..."

"David... Calm down... I'm sorry that I didn't call. I do not have my phone with me. I lost it somewhere while helping my friends. I was busy bringing them to hospital and filing the details and everything," she explained.

"Why don't you sit down..." I licked my lips nodding my head. I sat down on the chair and watched the family sitting a few seats away from me as they cried.

"What happened?" I asked after a period of silence.

"Not here... I will tell you later," she said taking the seat beside me. I stood up and she looked at me.

"Please don't leave..." She held on to my hand. I felt something tingle in me looking down at her face.

"I'm just going to make a call and be back." She leaves my hand. I walk away and call Kavya to inform her.

After informing Kavya I go back and sit with Sitara. Hours passed before the doctor stepped out of the operation theatre.

"Nothing to worry about, she is safe but we need to keep her under observation for three nights. You can see her once she wakes up," the doctor said.

I watched as Sitara sighed closing her eyes. "Thank you so much... I don't know how to thank you beta," the parents of the girl say to Sitara.

Sitara talks with them and I wait. "Let's go," Sitara says. I nod my head and follow her.

She gets into the car buckle her seatbelt, "I can't go home. I told mum that I'm staying with Kavya. Drop me at Kavya's," she says leaning in the seat.

"It would be good if I drop you at Kavya's. You can stay at my apartment. Did you eat?" I ask her.

"No, I'm actually hungry."

I call a restaurant, tell them to pack my order and that I will collect it from the takeaway counter.