Rachel looked at the clock. It was only half-past nine. Too early to call Nate. She missed him. Of all the things that made up her life right now, she wanted more of him. She couldn’t wait until they were married and she could go down south to live with him. What a joy, that would be! Oh well. Let’s watch some TV instead.
The Steven Curtis Chapman song, though usually loud, was barely audible above the din of the TV. Her elder brother, David, was adding more noise to the room by just being there. Faint as it was, she still heard her mobile ringing from her room. It’s not Nate. That’s not the ringtone I’ve set for him… Who could it be? Curious to find out who could be calling her at this hour on a Sunday evening, she picked up her mobile and looked at it. It was Cecil. Interesting. She thought. She answered the call.
If her brother or her mother had been in her room, they would have been wondering as to why Rachel had such an expression of shock on her face. Pure disbelief was written over the pretty features that made her smile usually light up many hearts. Oh my God! She couldn’t believe what Cecil was telling her. She had known that Nate was going on a bike trip that afternoon, but it had seemed totally harmless. To hear that
“How’s Nate taking all of this?”
“He seemed pretty okay when I left him…”
“You left him? Where are you now?”
“Our mobile phones were not working. I came to get help, and am currently at a police station in the city.”
“Where’s Nate?”
“He’s still out there on that deserted Highway, searching…”
Cecil’s voice trailed off into silence.
“How could you leave him there alone? After what just happened? Are you mad?”
“Listen, Rachel, it’s not that big a deal. My cousin, Susan, and her friend Rohit are there with Nate. The three of them are together.”
“Still…”
Rachel wasn’t thinking straight. She was thinking Nate. To expect a woman so in love to think about anyone other than her lover, when her lover seemed to be in possible danger, is a great expectation. Rachel was not prepared to fulfil any such great expectations. She was brought out of her private reverie by Cecil’s gentle voice.
“Don’t worry, dear. Things will work out.”
Cecil spoke with a hint of bravado that he could not, that he did not feel.
“Right now, Rachel, we’d like it if you could inform Nate and
“You’re asking me to tell the parents of the man I love, that their elder son is missing?”
Rachel was incredulous. She wanted all this to go away. She wished it was all just a bad dream. But it wasn’t. It definitely wasn’t.
“Yes. I know it’ll be difficult… That’s why it’s best if you called. I’ve already informed Sudha’s family”
“Okay… I guess I have to do that.”
Giving in. Not giving up. Rachel knew what the situation demanded. This was no time to fool around. No time to not want to give bad news. Someone had to do it. And it had rather be her than someone else. With dread, Rachel pulled up Nate’s Dad’s contact on her phone, and dialled.
Ten minutes, dozens of tears, a lot of hurt and a thousand questions later, Rachel got off the phone with Nate and Shiloh’s parents. It hadn’t been easy, but she’d told them. She’d told them all what she knew. Now, it was upto them to deal with their grief. She had a good portion of her own to deal with.
Left to her own thoughts, Rachel brought to the forefront of her mind that nagging thought that had been buzzing around at the far reaches of her mind ever since Cecil had called. Should she go to be with Nate now? She knew she wouldn’t be able to do much to help the situation. But Nate would definitely be glad to have her comforting presence around. She decided to think of the pros and cons of going or not going, but couldn’t come up with a concrete solution. She took the dilemma over to her mum.
Rachel’s mum, as usual, wisely told her the facts – her presence would add further complications to an already-complex situation, as Nate would have to take care of her as well, while looking for his bro. Yet, her presence could help Nate find a little comfort during this harrowing experience he must be having. After stating the facts, her mother looked straight into her eyes and saw that Rachel was hurting. The solution was simple.
“Go to Nate.” Her mum said.
“Are you sure, Mum?”
“Yes, of course. You must be where your heart wants you to be.”
“But I don’t have a place to stay there…”
“I’m sure you can stay at Sudha’s place, dear. Just go. Take the next flight out of here.”
As Rachel packed, her mind was a whirl. She had only one thought inside her head – I’m gonna see Nate in a few hours!
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