Part:-2 THE SEARCH
The newspaper office was already busy that morning. Reporters were moving from one desk to another, papers were scattered everywhere, and the sound of keyboards filled the newsroom.
Rai was standing near the news desk, going through a few files.
Just then, Ekansh entered the office.
His eyes suddenly fell on her.
He stopped for a moment.
Ekansh: slightly surprised
“Her…?”
He remembered the girl from yesterday.
The same girl.
But he still didn't know her name.
Ekansh walked towards the editor's cabin, but his eyes kept drifting towards her.
A few minutes later, the editor called out—
Editor:
“Rai, these files need to be checked before lunch.”
Rai looked up immediately.
Rai:
“Yes, sir. I'll do it.”
Ekansh, who was standing nearby, paused.
Ekansh: quietly, to himself
“Rai…”
He repeated the name in his mind.
For some reason, it stayed there.
Rai picked up the files and walked past him.
Their eyes met for a second.
Rai: polite smile
“Good morning.”
Ekansh: slightly caught off guard
“Good morning.”
She walked away.
Ekansh watched her disappear into the newsroom.
Ekansh: faint smile
So… her name is Rai
Eklavya’s Office — 8:15 AM
Eklavya sat in his office chair, staring at the laptop screen in front of him.
A pile of files was scattered across his desk. Emails were open on the screen, but he hadn’t read a single one properly.
His fingers kept tapping against the table.
Tap… tap… tap…
He was distracted.
Restless.
As if his mind was somewhere else entirely.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Assistant: “Sir?”
Without looking up, Eklavya replied—
Eklavya: “Come in.”
The assistant walked inside, holding a file in his hand.
But there was something different about his expression today.
Something important.
He stopped in front of Eklavya’s desk.
Assistant: “Sir… we found her.”
Eklavya’s fingers immediately stopped.
For a moment, he didn’t move.
Then he slowly lifted his eyes.
Eklavya: “What?”
Assistant: “The girl you’ve been looking for…”
Eklavya straightened in his chair.
Eklavya: “Where?”
The assistant placed the file on his desk.
Assistant: “In another city , sir.”
Eklavya immediately opened the file.
Inside were several photographs and documents.
The assistant continued—
Assistant: “She’s a trained classical dancer. We traced her through an old dance-school record. She has apparently been training and performing there for quite some time.”
Eklavya looked at the photograph.
There she was.
The same girl.
The same face he had been searching for all this time.
For the first time in months, a sense of relief appeared in his eyes.
All those days of searching.
All those incomplete pieces of information.
All those dead ends.
And finally…
He had a lead.
Eklavya: “Which city?”
The assistant told him the name of the city.
Eklavya remained silent for a few seconds.
Then he closed the file.
Eklavya: “Book my ticket.”
The assistant looked surprised.
Assistant: “Sir… today?”
Eklavya looked at him.
Eklavya: “Did I say tomorrow?”
The assistant immediately shook his head.
Assistant: “No, sir.”
Eklavya stood up.
Eklavya: “Then today.”
---
A Few Hours Later
Eklavya was already on his way to the airport.
The city passed by outside the car window.
Traffic filled the roads. People were busy with their everyday lives.
But Eklavya barely noticed any of it.
His mind was focused on only one thing.
Finally.
He took out his phone and opened the same photograph again.
A simple photograph of a girl dressed in a classical dance costume.
There was an innocence in her face.
Something about her eyes always made him stop and look at the photograph a little longer.
He stared at it for a few seconds before locking his phone.
Eklavya (under his breath): “This time, you won’t disappear from me.”
--
Same Day, Evening
By the time Eklavya finally reached the new city, evening had already fallen.
Everything around him was unfamiliar.
New roads.
New buildings.
New faces.
A completely unknown city.
And yet, he didn’t care.
He had only one address.
The dance school.
His car moved through the unfamiliar streets as Eklavya kept checking his watch.
His impatience was growing with every passing minute.
Eklavya: “How far?”
The driver glanced at him through the rear-view mirror.
Driver: “Just a few minutes, sir.”
Eklavya looked outside the window.
His heart was beating faster.
After months of searching…
Maybe, today, he would finally see her.
Maybe she would actually be standing in front of him.
He took a slow breath.
Just a few more minutes.
---
The Classical Dance School
The car finally stopped in front of an old but beautiful building.
A simple signboard hung near the entrance.
From inside, the soft sound of classical music could be heard.
And beneath it—
The sound of ghungroos.
Chhan… chhan… chhan…
Eklavya stepped out of the car.
He looked at the building for a moment.
His heartbeat suddenly became faster.
“She’s here.”
He walked inside.
At the reception desk, a woman was sitting with a register in front of her.
Eklavya approached her.
Eklavya: “Excuse me.”
The receptionist looked up.
Receptionist: “Yes?”
Eklavya took out his phone and showed her the photograph.
Eklavya: “I’m looking for her.”
The receptionist looked carefully at the photograph.
Her expression changed slightly.
Receptionist: “Yes… I know her.”
A wave of relief passed through Eklavya.
Eklavya: “Where is she?”
The receptionist casually replied—
Receptionist: “She isn’t here.”
Eklavya’s expression instantly changed.
Eklavya: “What?”
Receptionist: “She left a little while ago.”
Eklavya clenched his jaw.
He had travelled all the way to this city.
And she had just left.
Eklavya: “Where did she go?”
Receptionist: “I don’t know. She usually leaves after practice.”
Eklavya: “When will she come back?”
Receptionist: “Maybe tomorrow.”
Eklavya stared at her.
Eklavya: “Tomorrow?”
Receptionist: “Yes.”
He took a slow breath and looked away.
He had travelled all this way…
Only for her.
And now—
He had missed her.
---
The Next Morning
The very next morning, Eklavya reached the dance school before anyone expected him to.
He stood outside and checked his watch.
7:32 AM.
Then—
8:10 AM.
Then—
9:00 AM.
Still nothing.
Finally, he walked inside.
Eklavya: “Is she here?”
The receptionist shook her head.
Receptionist: “Not yet.”
Eklavya: “What time does she usually come?”
Receptionist: “Around ten.”
Eklavya pulled out a chair and sat down.
Eklavya: “I’ll wait.”
---
Two Hours Later
The sound of ghungroos echoed through the dance hall.
The dancers were practicing their routines.
Eklavya sat outside, waiting.
Every time the door opened, his eyes immediately moved toward it.
Another girl walked out.
Not her.
Someone else entered.
Not her.
Another dancer passed by.
Not her.
His patience slowly began to disappear.
He stood up.
Eklavya: “How can someone just disappear like this?”
The receptionist looked at him.
Receptionist: “Sir, maybe she had some work.”
Eklavya ran a frustrated hand through his hair.
Eklavya: “I came all the way here…”
He stopped.
His eyes closed for a moment.
He had been so close.
Yet somehow, she was always one step ahead of him.
Eklavya (quietly): “I was so close…”
---
That Evening
He went back again.
The next morning too.
Then the afternoon.
Then the evening.
Every time, he heard the same words.
“She isn’t here.”
His frustration was getting worse.
His hotel room was now filled with documents, photographs and addresses.
A map of the city was spread across the table.
The areas around the dance school were marked.
He kept checking the same photograph on his phone again and again.
Eklavya: “Where are you?”
His voice was filled with frustration.
He stared at the photograph.
Eklavya: “I’ve searched everywhere for you…”
He slowly got up from his chair and walked toward the window.
Outside, the city lights had begun to glow.
And a search that had slowly turned into an obsession for him.
Eklavya looked at the city outside.
Eklavya: “I’ll find you.”
He placed his phone on the table.
A few seconds later, a message appeared.
Assistant: “Sir, should I continue the search?”
Eklavya typed a short reply.
Eklavya: “No.”
He paused.
Then sent another message.
Eklavya: “I’ll find her myself.”
He turned off his phone.
A strange determination appeared in his eyes.
---
New Paper Office
Ekansh had come to Kolkata for an important business meeting with New Paper.
The meeting had just ended, and he was still inside the conference room with Rai's boss, going through the final paperwork related to the deal.
Meanwhile, Rai had a few documents that needed her boss's signature.
She walked towards the conference room and entered without asking for permission.
A few employees nearby immediately looked at her.
Ekansh looked up from the documents.
His expression turned stern.
Ekansh: "Do you always enter a room without permission?"
Rai stopped.
She didn't argue or answer back.
Rai: "I'm sorry, sir. I just need my boss's signature."
Her boss looked at the file.
Boss: "Give it to me."
Rai quietly handed him the documents.
He signed them and returned the file to her.
Rai: "Thank you, sir."
She turned around and walked out.
Ekansh watched her leave for a moment.
He said nothing.
But her calm reaction to his harsh words caught his attention.
---
A little later, the final paperwork was completed.
Rai's boss stood up and shook hands with Ekansh.
Boss: "It was a pleasure working with you, Mr. Ekansh. And congratulations on the successful deal."
Ekansh: "Thank you."
The boss smiled.
Boss: "We're also having a small party this week to celebrate the deal. You must join us."
Ekansh gave a polite nod.
Ekansh: "I'll try my best."
Just then, Rai's boss noticed her passing by the conference room.
Boss: "Rai."
She stopped and looked inside.
Rai: "Yes, sir?"
Her boss greeted Ekansh once again.
Boss: "Rai, meet Mr. Ekansh. He's our business partner for the new deal."
Rai looked at Ekansh.
Rai: "Hello, sir."
Ekansh simply nodded.
Ekansh: "Hello."
Her boss then looked at Rai.
Boss: "Since I have some urgent work, could you please drop Mr. Ekansh outside?"
Rai looked slightly surprised.
Rai: "Me?"
Boss: "Yes, Rai. Please."
She nodded.
Rai: "Okay, sir."
Ekansh picked up his things and walked towards the exit.
Rai followed him.
She kept a little distance from him
As they reached the door, Rai moved aside to let him pass.
For a moment, their eyes met.
Rai immediately looked away and stepped back.
Ekansh didn't react much. He simply walked ahead.
While walking, Rai handed him the file he had left on the table.
Their hands accidentally touched for a second.
Both paused.
Rai quickly let go of the file.
Rai: "Sorry."
Ekansh: "It's okay."
