John sat idle in his office chair, an expression of shock and disbelief etched all over his face. People walked up and about worrying about themselves around him, unaware of how inconceivable John had found the doctor's words.

"What do you mean?" Asked John.

The doctor said, "I'm afraid Ruby had either taken drugs that night or she was drugged."

John sat motionless in his chair, while the rest of the world continued on with their lives.

Someone had drugged Ruby?

Thousands of scenarios emerged in his head. Pointed needles, big men with tattoos, smoke emanating from pipes, fluorescent lights, smoke filled rooms, girls and boys lost in a daze. One of them holding down Ruby as another one, pulled up her sleeve and used a full syringe on her arm.

He shook his head. This was not the time. The notion however manifested in his mind. Elbows resting on his legs, both hands held together, he stared at the floor, lost in thoughts.

For the past two days, John's focus had been completely on Ruby's recovery. He wanted her to get well as soon as possible, be up and about, and return to her normal life. Her health, education, career and in turn her happiness was all at stake, and that was his prime concern.

But now, for the first time, there were other questions bombarding his brain. It seemed to him that until now even he was recovering from her accident. But now, his brain had started working.

He took out his phone and dialed a number. Placing the rectangular device by his ear, he waited.

**

A tube light flickered restlessly at a corner. Multiple tables manned by men in blue uniforms addressed the crying, pleading citizens seated in front of them. John waited for his turn to come, his leg shaking with unease.

"How can I help you sir?" Asked Kevin. It was finally John's turn. "Do you want some water?" Kevin added.

John shook his head.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," said John without wasting any time. Kevin nodded in encouragement.

"The doctor told me that Ruby was drugged the night of her accident. He found traces of some drug in her system."

"Drugs?" Kevin asked incredulously. John nodded. Kevin mimicked John and asked, "They really found it?"

"Well not in a blood test but the doctor said that she might have been drugged because of all the symptoms her body is showing. I think someone forced drugs into her body. She was probably in danger. She must have been trying to get away from someone and that's probably why the accident occurred."

Though initially very interested, now Kevin's seemed rather unimpressed.

"Sir, Ruby had the accident because an animal jumped in front of her car. It happens very commonly by that road," said Kevin.

"But the drugs!" John said again.

"So she must have been at a party. College kids these days experiment a lot." said Kevin.

"No. Not Ruby," said John.

Kevin did not say anything. John continued.

"I know Ruby. I am a single parent. I raised that kid alone. I know she won't do it on her own. She was too responsible, even more than I am."

John was aghast at Kevin's reaction, his voice rising as he spoke.

"You are a cop. Shouldn't you find out who drugged her and put an end to this? There might be other college kids out there who may be in more danger. Ruby is lying on a hospital bed, in a coma, fighting for her life. College kids are still kids. And one of them drugged my daughter. Do you not understand that she almost died because of this?"

"Sir," said Kevin, "First of all, you said yourself that the doctor thinks so. You have no evidence right now. Please come to me with the test reports first that proves that your daughter was drugged. Two, these aren't little kids. They are over eighteen and are legally adults. If they can do things any other adult can, then I cannot consider them as kids. Three, May flower University does not come under our jurisdiction. And even if we do investigate, we won't find anything. Drug rings are so common and vast, they are spread across colleges nationwide, that it's impossible to put a complete end to it by a local police department. We, unfortunately, don't have that kind of power."

John sat silently listening to the man who sputtered nothing but nonsense, according to him.

How can anyone be so irresponsible and lazy? John wondered.

"I think I'll have to talk to your supervisor or higher officials. I'm sure they'll do something to help me, unlike you," said John in an angry voice.

Kevin smirked and met John's fierce eyes. He leaned in and said, "Sure, go ahead. Go to them. Even file a complaint about me if you want. But your daughter will be the first person to get arrested if this becomes a drug case considering the fact that it was in her body it was found on a late Saturday night.."

"Is that a threat? Are you threatening me?" John was baffled.

"Of Course not. As an officer I'm just giving you a clear picture of how things usually work in our city. If you are planning to move ahead with this, you should have a heads up about how such cases go forward. I'm helping you as a responsible cop," Kevin defended himself, putting on an innocent façade.

"My daughter is the victim here. She was forcefully drugged by someone that led to her accident. She is in a coma now!" said John.

"That's what you say. But she could have taken the drug while she was in a state of complete sound mind," shrugged Kevin. He added, "It was an accident and it was caused by an animal crossing the road on a late rainy Saturday night. It was highly unfortunate but it happened. So, for your and your daughter's well being and happy future, I think it'll be better if you stop overthinking about this and leave it at that, sir."

John left the station feeling utterly disgruntled. He caught a taxi and left for home.

She could have been of sound mind when she took it, he says. Ruby? My Ruby? John thought as the taxi sped to his destination.

Buildings hurried past in a blur, tiny yellow boxes on them like stars in the sky. The moon was nowhere to be seen tonight. It was as ominous as it could get.

John's mind drifted off to a day when he had visited Ruby at her college.

It had been merely two months after he had dropped her off, but he missed her too much. One weekend, he drove all the way to the north, to May Flower to meet her.

"Pa!"

John turned his head around and saw Ruby waving her arm over her head, her face lit up with a big smile that was contagious. She hurried to him and immediately gave him a hug.

"I missed you!" She said as she broke the hug. "Me too. So much. It's so lonely without you in the house," said John.

He then noticed three girls trailing behind her, waiting to be introduced. Ruby followed his eyes and suddenly seemed to remember her friends.

"Oh! Pa, these are my friends. You already know Maya and Hannah, my roommates. This is Sheila and this is Mary," she said as she pointed at the girls.

"Hello," the girls waved brightly at John.

With an additional chair pulled from a nearby table, the five sat around one. John had bought them each, a warm drink of their choice.

"How are your classes?" Asked John as he sipped his deep brown Americano.

"Argh," Ruby groaned as she rolled her eyes. "It has been just two months and already there is so much workload!"

"You are the one to talk!" Said Maya, "You have completed half your assignments."

"You are such a Hermione!" chipped in Hannah.

"That reminds me," Ruby sat up straight pulling out a leather bound diary that John and she had bought during their shopping spree, "I have to see if the club will meet up this weekend."

"You see what we mean?" Sheila said to John who merely chuckled.

A few kids just walked past their table, and they said their hellos to the girls, especially to Ruby, John noticed, who politely responded to their greetings.

He was glad to see his daughter getting along with her new friends, studies and college. Already taking initiative in clubs, she was showing off her ambitious and leadership qualities, on top of being a social butterfly. He smiled at the girls walking away happily, joking and laughing about some inside joke after he bid his farewell.

"Sir? This is the location, isn't it?"

Lost in his thoughts, John had failed to notice that the cab had come to a halt. He looked at the waiting cab driver, paid him and got off the vehicle.

As he walked to his house, he felt a bit upset. All those innocent days of Ruby had gone by him so fast. One day, Ruby was a little girl. He merely blinked and it was time for her to go to college. He couldn't believe that it had already been two years since that day. He missed her.

Deciding to just check upon her, John took his phone and dialed the doctor's number.

"Mr. John?" Asked a male voice.

"Yes. How is Ruby?" He asked.

"John you'd better come to the hospital. Ruby is... not doing well."