"Guys, tomorrow is Kabir's birthday, right?" [another person messaged] "Oh, shoot! I completely forgot." [another] "Me too." [another] "Me too... It's been so long since we've met Kabir." [another] "It's been two years, Aisha." [another] "Has it really been that long? Time flies..." [another] "I wonder what he's up to right now." [another] "Playing games, like always." [another] "Yeah, you're right." [another] "What if we go meet him?" [another] "That's a great idea!" [another] "Where should we meet?" [another] "The old spot." [another] "Ah, that brings back memories!" [another] "Yes!" [another] "Okay, bye! Let's meet tomorrow." [messages popped one after another]
Next Day:
"Where are they?" [checking the time on her watch] "Aisha!" [someone called her from a distance] "Siya!" [as they both rushed towards each other and hugged] "Oh, it's been so long since I've seen you, girl!" [muffled voice] "I know!" "What do we have here?" [voice from the otherside could be heard] "Huh?" [as they looked back] "Guys!" [as they hugged the other members of their group] "Finally, you guys arrived! I was waiting for so long," [Zoya spoke] "Hey, I was ready! Esha and Anaya were late." [Anaya spoke] "We weren't that late." [Zoya looked at her dumbfounded] "You're 30 minutes late!" [everyone laughed] "Come on, let's go to Kabir's house."
30 Minutes Later:
[knocking on the door] "Okay, guys, if Kabir opens the door, we shout 'Happy Birthday!'" [everyone agreed with Siya] [door opened] "Huh? Kids, what are you doing here?" [Sheetal spoke with a depressed voice] "Oh, wait a minute." [she opened the door as they walked inside the house] "What happened, Aunty?" [skeptical tone] "You don't look so great." [Esha spoke] [Vikram walked out of Kabir's room with a bottle of vodka in his hand] "Kids?" [the group was shocked to see Vikram in this state] "Uncle? What happened?" [Vikram remained silent] [Aisha spoke] "Aunty, tell us what happened." [worried tone] "It's Kabir." [pause] "What happened to him?" [Siya spoke in a worried tone] "He's been missing... for four days." [the group was shocked to hear this news from Sheetal] "How did it happen?" [Esha spoke] "Was he kidnapped by someone?" [Anaya spoke] "No, he... ran away." "What?!" [Zoya gasped] "Why would he run away?" "I... don't know." [Sheetal rubbed her hands while Vikram was standing there still] "Why don't you guys take a seat? I'll get you some water." [Sheetal walked away] "What is going on? Why would Kabir run away from his home?" [Esha spoke with a saddened tone] "Why don't you kids wait in Kabir's room?" "Sure, Uncle." [the group walked towards Kabir's room] "Why is it so empty? Where are all his posters and comic book collections?" [Siya spoke] "Something has happened to him in these past two years." [Aisha spoke]
Four Days Later:
"Ticket... ticket." [the bus was empty, only a few people were there. The paint of the bus from the inside was wearing down, and the seats were broken and dusty. The conductor came to Kabir's seat] "Where do you want to go, kid?" "Ahh..." [confused] "Where is the last stop of the bus?" [the conductor looked at him suspiciously] "Till Hilltop." "Oh, so one ticket for Hilltop, then, please." "That'll be 100 rupees." "Here." [Kabir handed 100 rupees to the conductor] "We're going to Hilltop, Mirror!" [barked] "You're excited, right?" [tail wagging] "Yes, you are!"
Three Hours Later:
"Last stop, Hilltop." "Come on, Mirror, that's our cue to go." [Kabir hopped off the bus as the bus drove away. Kabir looked at the bus for the last time and started to walk away. Kabir removed Mirror from his bag. Mirror hopped around here and there, jumping around] [giggle] "What are you doing, Mirror?" [barking] "Come on, let's go! We have to reach the top of the hill; we'll set up camp there." [bark] "How about we race there?" [Kabir with a smug look] [Mirror barked] "Ready... 3... 2... 1... go!" [Kabir dashed, Mirror running behind him. People looked at both of them; some laughed, some clicked photos of them] "Yes! I'm first!" [screaming in joy] [Mirror came running towards Kabir, barking] "Come here, buddy." [huffing] "You did it, Mirror! You came first!" [tail wagging and licking Kabir's face as he looked over his shoulder. The sun was about to set, the bright orange light falling towards the city and the trees on the mountain. Birds flew to their nests, clouds forming patterns in the orange sky] "Would you look at that?" [mesmerized by the scenery] [Kabir howled, looking at Mirror; Mirror also let out his baby howl. Kabir laughed, hearing Mirror howl] "What?" [laughing] "Was that, buddy?" [he picked him up] "Why are you so cute?" [Mirror licked his nose] "Let's set up our camp." [as Kabir set up his camp, Mirror following him around]
15 Minutes Later:
"And done!" [the tent was facing the city; the sky was dark, but the city was lit. It was true that Mumbai never sleeps] "It looks so beautiful." [the birds chirped in the trees, insects buzzing in the grass] "It's so silent." [he looked over his shoulder, seeing Mirror sleeping; he covered him with a blanket] "So quiet... no horns, no one arguing, no one telling me to do my homework... It's a dream come true." [he lay down beside Mirror and fell asleep]
Next Day:
[Mirror licking his face] "Five more minutes, Mom..." [he opened his eyes] "What? Why are you licking my face?" [Kabir's stomach growled] [he looked at Mirror and started laughing] "You must be hungry, right?" "Excuse me." [voice from outside the tent was heard] "Huh?" [Kabir walked out of the tent, seeing a guard with a stick in his hands] "You can't camp here, kid. Didn't you see the board?" [pointing at the board] "Oh, sorry, it was very dark when I came here." "Well, now you can see it, so leave." "Yes, sir." [the guard walked away] "Looks like it's time to pack up." [Kabir brushed his teeth and packed his tent] "Let's go, Mirror." [as they walked away in the distance, following the road, not knowing where to go, just the two of them walking the road, just being themselves without caring what others were thinking about them] "Now what to do, Mirror?" [there were two roads ahead of them] "Man, why does this look like a scene from my English textbook? Ah, there's a map." [he walked towards the board] "If I take the right, it would take us to an old age home. If we take the left, it would take us to a town." [he looked towards Mirror] "What should we do now?" [confused look] "I think we should go to the old age home; we can get some food and freshen up there. What do you think?" [bark] "I'll take that as a yes." [as they walked towards the old age home]
10 Minutes Later:
"Would you look at that?" [a beautiful cottage home could be seen in the distance, with a garden where old people were laughing, some were jogging, some were chatting, leaves blowing in the wind—a scene that Kabir would imagine in his dreams was right in front of him] "You lost, son?" [Kabir looked back, seeing an old woman] "Huh?" [he didn't know what to say] "Yes, ma'am, I'm kind of lost." "Oh, dear." [surprised] "Yes, I was out camping with my classmates, and I stayed behind to rest, and I lost them. So I camped near that hill for the night." "Oh my God, you camped alone! Have you eaten anything?" "No, ma'am." "Well, then, come on, follow me." [surprised by hearing this ]
Oh my God, you camped alone! Have you eaten anything?" "No, ma'am." "Well, then, come on, follow me." [surprised by her invitation] "Oh, okay. Let's go, buddy." [as they walked towards the cottage. Many of the people looked at Kabir and whispered about him.] "Martha," [a woman in her 30s wearing a nurse's outfit looked at the old woman] "What happened, Miss Hita? What can I do for you?" [she looked at Kabir] "You see, this boy is lost from yesterday. I was hoping that we could give him a place to stay for the time being." "That's fine by me, Miss Hita." "Wonderful. Come on, son." [as they walked inside the cottage] "I forgot to ask, what is your name?" "It's Kabir, ma'am." "Kabir... what a sweet name that is." "Thank you for your kind words, ma'am." [smiling from hearing her words] "My grandson also has the same name as you. It's been a while since I've seen him." "Oh, where is he now, Miss Hita?" "He's in America. My son dropped me off here before he went to America." "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that." "Well, here is the room. Why don't you get changed and come downstairs for lunch? I will be sure to do that, Miss Hita." [as she walked away] [Kabir entered the room] "Wow, that's big." [that's what he said] He laid down on the bed. "Finally, something I can sleep on." [Mirror jumped on his chest and curled into a ball] "What happened, buddy? Are you feeling sleepy?" [yawning] "Why don't you go and take a rest?"
[Kabir changed his clothes and walked down to the dining hall. The hall was filled with the smell of warm food and the sound of gentle chatter. He saw Miss Hita sitting at a long table, surrounded by other residents.] "Kabir, come sit here," [Miss Hita gestured towards an empty seat beside her] "This is Mr. Sharma, Mrs. Desai, and this is Mr Rohan," [she introduced him to the others] "Hello," [Kabir said with a smile] "Are you hungry, dear?" [Mrs. Desai asked] "Yes, very much," [Kabir replied] "Then eat, eat! We have plenty," [Mr. Sharma chuckled]
[As Kabir ate, he felt a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time. The warm food, the friendly faces, and the quiet atmosphere were a welcome change from the chaos he had left behind. he has never felt this feeling from his parents in a long time but he felt the same feeling with these strangers he was feeling that this was his actual home and he was finally home a place were he truly belong ]