Part 5
Scene 19
At school. Ginny's maths teacher has suddenly announced for special class after school for 2 hours. Ginny comes outside to tell Sweety that she has class. Ginny is surprised to find Lucky waiting for her. Ginny goes to him.
Lucky: [smiles] How was school Ginny? Where is your bag?
Ginny: [straight face] I have special class for 2 hours.
Lucky: Oh! Ok! I will wait here.
Ginny: No need Daddyji! I will come by myself.
Lucky: Look at the weather beta. It is getting dark very early and it seems there will be heavy rain in sometime.
Ginny: [calm but stern] Daddyji! I know to take care of myself. I am not a child. Daily I come home alone right? I will take care. You don't worry please!
Lucky: [confused] But Ginny...
Ginny: You don't trust me?
Lucky: It is not about trust beta. [reluctantly] Ok. I will leave. But be careful. If it is raining heavily give me a call from the school ok? Don't come alone then ok? And careful about the roads..it will be slippery. Check for manholes. One minute[goes to the car and brings an umbrella] Have this with you.
Ginny: [takes it] Where is Maa?
Lucky: She is at Nanu's. [pauses] You don't have any other escape route..you are stuck with me today[smiles]
Ginny could not stop smiling.
Ginny: Bye Daddyji!
Lucky nods and Ginny leaves. Lucky calls Sweety and informs her about the class. He decides to go to office.
Scene 20
The class gets over 30 minutes earlier. Ginny gets ready to leave when her friend Megha comes. Megha studies in a different section but she is a good friend of Ginny's.
Megha: Hi Ginny!
Ginny: Hi Megha! You also had class?
Megha: Yeah..Chemistry!
Ginny and Megha both make faces hearing Chemistry.
Megha: You are leaving? Your parents have come or you are going on your own?
Ginny: [keeping her notes inside her bag] I am going on my own.
Megha: In that case, shall we go to the new coffee shop that has been opened? It has been a long time we spent time together.
Ginny: [thinks] No Megha! Not today. I have to get back home before rain.
Megha: Hey..Don't worry. Driver has come with car. I will drop you home.
Ginny: [feels good] Oh! Then it is fine! Let us go.
Megha: Yeah. I will take my bag and come. We have to wait near the gate. Driver will come in 10 minutes.
Megha takes her bag and comes.. Both Ginny and Megha waits for the car. Car arrives and both of them leave to the coffee shop.
Scene 21
Megha and Ginny reach the coffee shop. It is far off from the school on the outskirts. Megha knew of the shop as it is near her house.
Megha and Ginny have a great time catching up. In course, they completely lose track of time. Ginny suddenly looks outside and finds it very dark.
Ginny: [shocked] OMG! Megha! It has become very dark outside. And it is going to be nearly 7pm. I have to leave immediately.
Megha: [understanding] Yes. Let us go. We will do one thing. My house is just nearby. I will go home and ask my driver to drop you. Then he will go to pick up my father.
Ginny agrees and both leave. Megha gets down at her home. It has started to rain heavily with lightning and thunder. Ginny is feeling a little nervous. What will she say to Sweety for being late.
Scene 22
Sweety is back home and does not find Ginny or Rocky home. She tries calling Lucky but the phone lines are all jammed because of the rain. Sweety is worried. Rocky comes and Sweety is a little relieved. He is totally drenched in rain.
Sweety: Haaye! Haaye! Look at you! Go..go..first change your clothes. Dry your hair or else you will catch cold.
Rocky is about to leave.
Sweety: Rocky! You saw Ginny in school?
Rocky: She had extra classes today. Probably the teacher extended for one more hour.
Sweety: Is that possible?
Rocky: Yeah Yeah...Don't worry. She will be back any time.
Sweety again calls Lucky to ask him check in school. But she cannot get through the line.
Scene 23
Ginny could not see anything outside through window because of the heavy rain. The driver is driving cautiously. There is not much vehicle movement outside. Ginny decides to call Sweety and inform her as she will be worried. She asks the driver for his phone and tries calling. But again there is no network. Suddenly the car starts stuttering and stops mid way.
Ginny: What happened Bhaiya?
Driver: Let me check.
Driver goes to check the problem. Ginny looks nervously around. There is no one on the road apart from the occasional cars speeding. The driver gets into the car fully drenched.
Driver: I don't know what the problem is. I have to bring a mechanic only. I cannot call anyone because of network problem. What shall we do?
Ginny: [confused] Uhmm..Bhaiya..where is the next bus stop or auto stand from here?
Driver: You need to walk less than a kilometre. You will reach the bus stand. You can get autos also there.
Ginny: [scared] Ok Bhaiya! I will walk to the bus stand. You inform Megha.
Driver: Shall I come with you?
Ginny: No need Bhaiya. I will manage.
Driver: Ok! I will also go and search for a mechanic. You go carefully.
Ginny gets out of the car. It is raining severely. She remembers the umbrella Lucky gave her. She takes it out and starts walking slowly towards the bus stand.
Scene 24
Sweety is very worried now. It is going to be nearly 8pm and Ginny has not reached home yet. Classes got over by 5pm itself according to Raashi. Rocky is calling Ginny's classmates. Sweety is calling Lucky. She finally gets through.
Sweety: [frantically] Luckyji! Where are you??
It is very noisy. Lucky is somewhere outside. Sweety is unable to hear properly.
Sweety: Can you hear me Luckyji?
Lucky: [in car] Sweetyji! I can't hear you properly. Your voice is breaking.
Sweety is unable to hear Lucky. The call gets disconnected.
Rocky: [tensed] No Maa. Ginny is not in any of her classmates' house. Shall I go to school and check?
Sweety: [confused] Let us wait for Luckyji to come back. He is on his way back and is caught up in traffic. [to herself] Kahan chali gayi yeh ladki!
Scene 25
Ginny is walking to the bus stand. It is pitch dark and she cannot see anything on the road. The rain is making things worse. Ginny is struggling to keep the umbrella as it has started to wind. She is totally drenched in the rain in spite of the umbrella. Ginny is searching for some shop with phone so that she can call her parents. But it is a highway and there is not a single person on the road. Ginny suddenly feels someone following her and turns back immediately with fear. But there is no one. Ginny is feeling very scared.
Scene 26
At Ahluwalias.
Rocky: Maa. Let me go and check at school at least. May be like last time she got locked in some room.
Sweety: [thinks] It is possible. I think Luckyji is going to be late due to traffic. Ok. You go and check. But be careful. How will you go?
Rocky: I will call our auto guy. He will be around the corner.
Rocky takes an umbrella and leaves. Sweety prays. She gets a call from Lucky.
Sweety: Hello! Luckyji! Can you hear me?
Lucky: [voice breaking] What is the matter?
Sweety: [cannot hear him properly] Ginny has not come home yet.
Call disconnects again. Sweety throws the phone in anger. Lucky is confused in the car.
Scene 27
A car speeds past Ginny splashing muddy water all over her. Ginny stops walking and considers the situation she is in. She wishes never to had accepted Megha's invitation. She is confused what to do now. She remembers how Lucky had instructed her not to go alone in the rain, about roads being slippery. She sees a manhole open where water is rushing in. A car stops in front of her. A stranger asks if she needs lift. Ginny is very scared and denies the offer and starts walking fast. The car goes past her. Ginny stands on the deserted road alone. She could not control herself and starts crying.
Ginny starts walking again searching for the bus stop. She trips over a stone and falls down on the mud. She is unable to get up because of the slippery road and with umbrella in one hand. She closes the umbrella, keeps it in the bag sitting. She then tries to get up. After slipping couple of times, she manages to get up. While getting up, she sees a bus stopping at a distance. It is not far off. Ginny opens the umbrella back and runs to the place. The bus meantime leaves as she gets to the bus stop. Ginny takes deep breathes due to running. There is no one in the bus stand. Her bad luck continues as there is not one single auto. She is glad at least there is one street lamp giving some light. Ginny sits on the platform in the bus stop. She realises for how long she has been walking. She feels very tired.
Ginny: Where have I got myself into such trouble? How much worried Maa will be? How am I going to get back?
It was like God listening to her, an auto comes by the way. Ginny stops it.
Auto: Where you want to go?
Ginny sees, there is already a person sitting in. Ginny tells the place to the auto guy.
Auto: It will take Rs 600. You have it?
Ginny: [shocked] Rs.600!!?? But..
The auto guy realising she does not have money leaves immediately. The rain has reduced considerably but there is heavy lightning and thunder. Suddenly two drunkards on a bike comes and stands in front of the bus stop looking at her. They both stare at her. Ginny is so scared. She does not know what to do. She gathers courage.
Ginny: What? What do you want? Just go away.
Man 1: [drunk state] Why? You are looking nice. Shall we go triples?
Ginny: [shocked]
Out of nowhere, the guy driving the bike starts and races from there. Ginny stands there shivering in cold and fear. Suddenly she senses someone standing right behind her. She turns around and is shocked.
Lucky is standing there breathing heavily. It seems he has come running. He looks at Ginny with relief. He is totally soaked in rain.
Lucky: [totally concerned] Ginny! Are you alright? [looks up to God] Thank God! You are safe. [looks at her] Beta! Tell something. [Holds her face in fear] Are you alright? You are shivering!
Ginny cannot believe her eyes. Her father has come. Her father has come for her. She could not hold herself. All the fear she has gone through has turned into relief. She hugs Lucky tightly and starts crying badly. Lucky is shocked looking at her Ginny crying like this. He embraces her.
Lucky: [concerned] Don't worry beta! I have come na...Stop crying!
Ginny releases herself from the hug and looks at Lucky. She remembers what he told her in her room. He told her he will always be there for her..Always. And he has kept his promise. She remembers how she did not trust him. She starts crying again and hugs him. Lucky stands there confused but he continues to console her. He understands what his daughter must have gone through. He feels he was late to save his daughter from such a situation.
Lucky: [bring Ginny in front of him] Sorry beta! I was late! I should have come before. But I lost you from the coffee shop. [wipes her tears] Sorry Beta!
Ginny: [shocked] You followed me?
Current Affairs
