"[A girl from the back of the group spoke as everyone looked at him.] What happened on October 2nd and 4th?"
"[The boy was nervous to speak. Rathod, seeing this, walked outside with the boy.] Now tell me, kid, what happened on those days."
"On October 2nd, Kabir bunked school. I saw him running from Marine Lines, heading towards the bus. I was shocked to see him skip school. The next day, he arrived at school. I saw him talking to Varun. Later, he was called by the dean. I overheard their conversation. Kabir told the dean that he hadn't studied for the test, and he would fail. Later, Kabir was called by Mathew sir for the test, and Varun left for his class. I saw him talking to his friends."
"What did he tell them?"
"[Man, Kabir is such a dumb person.] What do you mean by that? [I mean, he bunked yesterday, and today the dean and Mathew set him up for a test. We were going to the club after school. Do you want to come with us, Varun?] Yes, of course. But first, you have to do something. [Yes, what do I have to do?] We want you to call Kabir's parents and tell them he bunked school. [What? You don't want to come with us?] No, I will do it."
"Then Varun dialed Kabir's parents and told them everything. Later, Mathew dragged Kabir into our class and shouted in front of everyone, telling him he was dumb and couldn't do anything in the future. The next day, I told Kabir what Varun did. He was quite depressed and left for home alone."
"Why didn't you tell us this earlier?"
"I was scared they would remove me from their group." [The girl looked down.]
"Go now." [Rathod walked back into the room with the girl.] "Let's go, Rahul, we found our answer."
"Yes, sir. And you all listen up. If we call you to the police station, you have to come, and you will not leave the state. Do you understand that?"
"What are you...?" [Mathew erupted.] "I have to attend a wedding. I have to go."
"[Hearing this, Rathod removed his gun and pointed it.] Listen here, you little shit. A kid is missing, and you have to attend a wedding? I know what you did. You better count your days. Do you understand that?" [speaking loudly]
"Yes, officer."
"Good. Let's go, Rahul." [Both of them left the school.]
"What did the kid tell you, sir?"
"Kabir was pushed over the edge in this school. This school made him run away. File a complaint with child protective services about this school. They will handle the rest."
"Yes, sir."
"[Where are you, kid...]"
"Hmm, look at the view, Mirror." [Kabir looked out the window as they passed trees, mountains, and farmland filled with crops. Seeing this filled his heart with joy.] "Mirror, look at those." [A group of elephants passed.] "See that baby elephant?" [A baby elephant was holding its mother's tail with its trunk as Kabir removed his camera and clicked a photo of the elephants.] "[As Kabir pointed his camera to Mirror] Mirror? What happened, hey buddy?" [He nudged him, but there was no response.] "Buddy, what happened?" [People in the bus looked at him.] "Anyone here a doctor? Please, my dog needs help..." [He cried.]
"What happened, kid?" [The conductor walked towards him.] "It's my dog, he's not breathing. Please help me." [He looked at him.] "There's a vet 2km away."
"Yes, please take us there."
"Sorry, kid, but that's not our route."
"What?" [He looked at him helplessly.]
"Stop the bus."
"What? Stop the bus?" [He shouted loudly.]
"Okay." [The conductor told the driver to stop the bus.] "[Kabir jumped out of the bus.] Go straight from here and take the second left. There will be a vet there."
"Thank you." [Kabir rushed down the road.] "Come on, buddy, don't die on me. You're the only thing I have." [He took Mirror under his shirt.]
40 minutes later...
"Anyone there? Help me. Please, my dog needs help." [Kabir banged on the door.] "Please... help me." [Tears rolled down his eyes.] "[As the door opened] Please help me, my dog..." [The nurse took Mirror inside. Kabir followed her. She took Mirror into the operating room. Everything was silent. People moved around him, but he couldn't hear anything. He started to wobble. Everything around him started to spin as he dropped unconscious.]
"Nurse, the boy has fallen down!" [People looked at Kabir lying down.] "Someone pick him up." [A man picked Kabir up and laid him on a stretcher.]
3 hours later...
"Ugh, what happened?" [Kabir sat up, holding his head.] "Mirror!" [He jumped off the table.] "Where's Mirror? Have you seen him?"
"What mirror?" [The nurse was confused.]
"The dog that came with me."
"Oh, that dog. Come with me."
"Thank you." [Kabir walked with the nurse into the room where Mirror was sleeping, with a tube going through his mouth.] "What happened to him?"
"There's an abnormality with the dog's lungs. They are smaller than average. This might be genetic. Due to the high altitude, he wasn't able to breathe properly." [Kabir dropped down, crying uncontrollably because it was his idea to come to the mountains, and because of him, Mirror was in this condition.] "It's all my fault. I brought him here. It... it was all my fault. I'm sorry, Mirror." [The nurse walked out of the room, leaving them alone.] "[Kabir stayed in the room, crying.] Poor boy, he thinks the dog's condition is because of him. It must be hard for him." [The nurses talked to each other.]
1 hour later...
"[Kabir walked out of the room and headed towards the reception.] Excuse me."
"Yes, what can I do for you?"
"I wanted to ask how much it would cost for Mirror to stay here." [The nurse talked with another about Mirror's condition.]
"Oh, okay. Your dog is ready to be discharged."
"Oh, thank God!" [Kabir sighed.]
"Your fees will be 1200 rupees."
"[1200? That's a lot. I only have 1500 on me. But it's for Mirror.]" [Kabir paid the nurse. The nurse walked out with Mirror in her arms.] "Mirror!" [Mirror jumped out of the nurse's arms and rushed into Kabir's arms.] "[He hugged him.] I'm so sorry, Mirror!" [Mirror licked his face.] "Come on, buddy, let's go!" [He picked Mirror up and walked out the door. His eyes widened.] "What are you doing here? Vijay?"
"Surprised to see me?"
"What are you doing here?"
"What am I doing here? I'm looking for you, kid."
"But why? I thought you were at the old age home."
"Come on, let's take a walk, shall we?" [As they walked together.] "You know, the police came this morning looking for you." [He was shocked to hear this.]
"What police? Why?"
"Why, kid? You ran away from your own home. That's a valid reason for the police to be involved. Even your parents came..." [Kabir stopped in his tracks.]
"They came?"
"They were quite worried about you." [Kabir scoffed.]
"Oh, they care now that I've been missing. They're only worried about their image."
"They're your parents, kid. Of course, they'd be scared."
"No! They're not. They only care because their only son, who would make them look good in society, has gone missing..."
"What are you really here for, Vijay? Did you contact the police? Are they here to take me away?" [He started to walk away.]
"Wait a minute, Kabir. I haven't contacted them." [He stopped in his tracks.]
"Then what are you really here for?"
"I'm here to come with you on your journey."
"What?"
"Yes, you heard me correctly."
"What changed your mind?" [Vijay put his hands in his pockets.] "My reports came. I have Alzheimer's, and it's worse than they expected. I'll forget everything, kid. Everything. Who I was, or any other person. I know... but I want one thing. Someone to remember me. That's all I ask from you, kid."
"Fine. You can come."
Thank you, Kabir." [Tears rolled from his eyes.] [They hugged each other.]
"So, how are we going to Kashmir? Any idea? I missed our bus because of Mirror."
"What happened to him?"
"He… [took a deep breath] has an abnormality with his lungs."
"Oh, poor guy. We're a trio of broken things, right?" [Vijay laughed.]
"Yeah, you're right. So, how are we going, Mr. Vijay? We don't have a bus, remember?"
"Who said we needed a bus?" [They walked towards the parking lot.] "We're taking a car. Yes, it's my baby. I bought her when I made my first 100k. It's a 199…" [Kabir cut him off.]
"1993 Defender 110, 3.9L engine, V8 with a manual transmission. Someone knows his stuff."
"Yes, I'm kind of a car geek, so I know my stuff. Well, then, let's hop in."
"Yes, sir." [As the three of them hopped in and drove towards the horizon.]
The Defender rumbled to life, a deep, satisfying growl that filled the air. Kabir, sitting shotgun with Mirror curled up on his lap, watched the scenery blur past. The mountains, once a distant promise, loomed closer, their peaks dusted with snow. Vijay, a seasoned driver, handled the winding roads with practiced ease, a quiet smile playing on his lips.