Shishira

The durban at the Lake view hotel saw the pretty lady walk in with two young girls. "They probably have pooled enough money to stay here now" he thought.
As they walked in one of the young girls returned his salute and winked at him. "" She is one of those lively ones, pity you don't get to see such girls very often." he thought " Most of the women who walk in here walk with their noses high up in the air"

They walked past the entrance and entered the foyer. The one with the curly hair walked towards the reception, while the other two walked backed to the lounge looking a little apprehensive.

"Hi, may I help you?", the receptionist asked Grishma who was busy reading the receptionist's name.

"Sandali! That's a pretty name" said Grishma "Hi, I'm Grishma. We're here to meet Miss Shishira"
"Hi Grishma. Could you give me the lady's room number so I can inform her that you are here."
"Well, there is a problem, We've lost the lady's card and I dont have her room number or phone number with me. I was wondering if you could look into your records and let me know her room number" said Grishma sheepishly.

The receptionist eyed her with suspicion before saying "I'm sorry ma'am, our clientelle expect privacy from us. I really can't provide you with the information you want"

"I understand" said Grishma sadly "Is there any way I can contact her. It's important. Can you at least leave a message for the lady. She can contact us if she wants to"

"Let me see" she said looking through the names in the database "I'm sorry ma'am, but there is no one by that name checked into our hotel. Do you have a second name or surname?"

"I'm afraid I don't" said Grishma. "Thanks a lot"

All three of them walked out of the foyer towards the main entrance. Varshu gave saulted the durban but he noticed the smile was missing. "Does this place do that to people?" he wondered. He hesitated for a few seconds before he ran after her.

"Excuse me miss" he called out "My name is Tejpal singh."
Varsha smiply stared at him for a while and then said "Hi Tejpal, can I help you?"
Tejpal smiled at her and said "I was about to ask you the same question miss. You look sad. Can I help you?"
Varsha's face brightened at the question. She told him the same story they had told the receptionist. "Can you help us Tejpal?"

Tejpal was lost in thought for a while and with a resolved look on his face he said "Wait here!"

He walked to the reception and started talking to Sandali. They spoke for quite some time. After a while Tejpal came out and beckoned Varsha.

"Sorry miss, but there is no one checked in by that name. Do you have any idea when she checked in?"
"Must be either today or yesterday"
"Hmm.. not many people checked in these two days. But if she is here with her family, then it would be difficult to track her down." said Tejpal
"She is here alone. I'm sure about that" said Grishma, who just joined them.

Vasanti and Varsha looked at her in surprise.

"Then there was only one lady who checked in alone, but her name is Sheetal Vaid" said Tejpal "I saw her coming in the morning today. She was wearing ..."

"A white shirt and a blue skirt" said Vasanti realisation finally dawning upon her.

Where is she?

Vasanti could not hold back her tears as she looked at both the girls. She could not believe they had grown up so much. She could still remember laddu gobbling everything that came her way and varshu with her innumerable pets.

"Vasu diiiiiii" laddu came running towards her " I missed you so much"
"I missed you too laddu. You look beautiful, young lady" said vasanti with an appraising look at laddu.

Laddu blushed and almost smiled, when a sad look passed over her "Vasu di, Varshu, I'm sorry I could not .. I tried .. I really did.. but then .. they would not listen .. I still tried and I was only 14.. and I could do nothing" she muttered incoherently.

Varshu put an arm around her and said "Don't we know you wouldn't give up easily?" and then she added with a smile "By the way, we could not understand anything you said"

"I..." started laddu

"Hold it laddu" interrupted Varsha, "Let's hold all updates till shishira is here, that way you won't have to repeat everything again. You can even tell us how you lost all the weight" she added with a wink.

"Speaking of weight, I don't look like a laddu now, so can you please call me by my name? "

"Sure Grishma! We will" said Vasanti.

"I dunno" sulked varshu "I like calling you that"

All three of them walked back to the lake and sat on the banks.

"Are you sure she will come?" asked Vasanti "After all she was not very gung-ho about meeting us. Was she?"

"Yes, I remember she was a little reluctant about meeting again." said Varsha.

"A little???" asked Grishma "She was absolutely against meeting again"

"Yes, she was." said Vasanti, "What do we do now? Wait for her?"

"I don't know. She would have come here directly.. I wonder if she has checked into that hotel." said Grishma.

"What kind of people would be able to afford THAT" said varshu, waving her hand at the hotel "It's obscenely expensive!!"

"I know some people who can Varshu and I bet Shishira is now one of that kind" said Grishma with a strange expression on her face.

"You know something that we don't" said Vasanti "Have you been hiding anything la.. Grishma?"

"Why don't I leave the updating until Shishira turns up" said Grishma.

"Ok" said Vasanti "Shall we go over to the hotel and check?"

They started walking towards the hotel with the same thought on their minds 'Where is she?'