"What time is it..?" [Vikram glanced at the clock, then the empty whiskey bottle.] "Vikram..." [He looked over his shoulder.] "What is this? You're drinking while we're in this situation..?" [Sheetal was furious.] "How can you be so irresponsible, Vikram? Our son is missing, and you're out here drinking? What kind of father are you..?" [Vikram snapped.] "What kind of father am I? What kind of mother are you, Sheetal? You didn't even know what was happening to our son... so don't lecture me when you're in the same boat as me..." [Sheetal slapped him.] "Don't you," [crying] "ever talk to me like that. I know what kind of mother I was." [Vikram was silent, then walked to Kabir's room. Sheetal remained in the hall, crying.]
"Officer Rahul, you are with me on this case.." "Yes, sir," [Rahul saluted.] "Take this and match the facial recognition with the CCTV cameras of the city.." "Yes, sir." [An officer took the pendrive.] "Where could the boy have gone...?" [Rathod stood before the whiteboard, Kabir's face connected to his parents by threads.] "Sheetal and Vikram didn't know where Kabir was between 6 PM and 9 PM. After 9 PM, they contacted us. Kabir left school at 3 PM, and Sheetal arrived home at 6:10 PM, according to her. That means Kabir had a window of 3 hours to pack his things and run away... and another 3 hours, giving him a window of 6 hours. Yes, I think we should go to school and find out what happened to Kabir while he was in school.." "You're right, Rahul. Let's go.." "Yes, sir."
Thirty minutes later, [knocking] "Yes, come in.." [Rahul and Rathod entered.] "Officer..." [Shweta stood, startled.] "What can I do for you, officers..?" "Miss..." [Rathod noticed her nameplate.] "Shweta.. we are here for a student named Kabir Singh.." "Yes, him. What do you want from him, officers..?" [Rathod and Rahul exchanged a look.] "You see, Shweta, Kabir has been missing since yesterday.." "What?" [Shocked.] "We want you to take us to his class so we can interrogate his friends.." "Um, okay. Follow me." [Rathod nodded.] "How was Kabir academically, Miss Shweta?" [Rahul asked.] "Well, Kabir wasn't the brightest student in the class, always failing exams. Because of this, he was always targeted by teachers.." [Rahul looked at Rathod.] "Excuse me, sir.." [Shweta addressed Mathew Sir.] "Yes, ma'am, what happened...?" [Rathod and Rahul entered the class.] "Police? What happened, ma'am?" [Mathew Sir was startled.] "They are here for Kabir.." "Kabir? But he has been..." [Rathod cut him off.] "Missing since yesterday.." [Shocked silence.] "Which one of you were the closest to Kabir..?" [Varun raised his hand.] "I was, officer.." [Rathod took Varun outside.] "Listen, kid, I want you to answer truthfully, okay? Kabir's life could depend upon your answer." [Varun was scared.] "Yes, officer." [Stammering.] "What was Kabir's behavior yesterday when he left school..?" "He was in a depressed mood, officer.." "Depressed mood? What do you mean by that, Varun..?" "Well... answer the question, Varun..." [Rathod was serious.] "Kabir was talking to Shourya. After that, his mood was off. I offered to walk with him, but he refused, saying he had something to do, so he walked home alone.." "You may go and call Shourya.." "Yes, officer." [Varun left.] "Yes, officer, you called me?" [Shourya was nervous.] "Varun told that you were talking to Kabir before he left school.. what were you talking about..?" "Well, officer, I told Kabir that Varun had snitched on him to the teacher that he bunked school the other day.." [Confused.] "Why did Varun snitch..?" "He wanted to join our group.. so we made him snitch on Kabir. [Pause.] If he snitched, then he could join our group.." [Shourya looked down.] [Rathod pinched his eyes.] "You may go.." "Yes, sir.." "Rahul, let's go. We are done here.." [They left the school.] "Something is not right, Rahul. I have a feeling that they are not telling the whole truth.." "Yes, sir. Even the students, they all were trying to hide something.." "One of the students told me that Kabir always went to Marine Lines. Marine Lines? Why would he go there? Isn't that in the opposite direction of his house..?" "Could he have been into drugs..?" "Could be. It's common for kids his age to be into drugs. Let's head to Marine Lines.." "Yes, sir."
Forty-five minutes later, "Rahul, you go in that direction, and I will go in this direction. Ask as many people as you can about Kabir.." "Yes, sir." [They went in opposite directions.] "Have you seen this boy here, ma'am..?" [The woman looked confused.] "No, officer.." "Oh, okay, thank you.." [Rathod and Rahul asked many people; none knew Kabir.] "Sir, have you seen this kid around here?" [Rahul asked.] "Oh, this boy.. yes, I have seen him.." [It was the elderly man.] "Really? Where..?" [Hope surged.] "Here. He was crying.." "Rahul, what happened? You found anything?" [Rathod rushed over.] "Yes, sir, this man has seen Kabir.." "What? Where..?" [Eyes widened.] "Here, sir. Could you explain in detail..?" "Yes..." [The man explained.] "Thank you for your help... but what happened to him, officers..?" [Silence.] "Well, he has been missing.." "Oh," [sadly.] "He was a good kid.." [The man walked away.] "Kabir always came to this place for that dog. Looks like it.." "Call the team and search the whole area.." "Yes, sir." [Rahul called the team as Rathod dialed Vikram.] "Yes, Mr. Vikram, it's Rathod.. No, Vikram, we have not found him yet... did you know that Kabir came to Marine Lines..? You didn't..? We will contact you later if we find something.." [Rathod hung up.]
"Huh? Officer Rathod..." [Vikram picked up the phone.] "Yes, officer, did you find Kabir..?" [Sheetal barged in.] "Did they find him..?" [Vikram shook his head.] "No, sir... no, sir..." [Vikram looked at Sheetal.] "Okay, sir.." [Rathod hung up.] "What did they say, Vikram..?" "Rathod said that Kabir always went to Marine Lines.." "What?" [Tears flowed.] "My son..." [Vikram moved to hug her; she pulled away.] [Knocking.] [Sheetal rushed to the door; it was the neighbor.] "Sheetal, take some food.." "Thank you.." [She took the food.]
Two hours later, [Vikram and Sheetal sat opposite each other.] [Silence filled the house.] [Vikram bought another bottle of whiskey, drinking as he ate. Sheetal stormed to her room. Vikram went to Kabir's room.] [Vikram's heart was heavy.] [He stroked the blanket, remembering tucking Kabir in.] [Tears flowed. He drank, then fell asleep.] [Sheetal ate, scrolling through photos, a tear falling on the screen.]