Chapter Thirty-Four: Soothe Cold Hearts

Virat was intensely focused, his fingers flying across the keyboard as he delved into every piece of information he could find about the brand. A steaming cup of coffee sat untouched beside him as he ignored everything else, his eyes fixed on the glowing screen in front of him, searching for any clue that might lead him to his missing sister.

"Virat, your coffee," Anushka said, but her words fell on deaf ears. She tried again, but still no response. Finally, she had to close his laptop to get his attention.

"What?" Virat huffed, irritated.

"I've been trying to get you to drink your coffee for the past five minutes. What's so important that you can't even take a break?" Anushka asked, arms crossed in frustration.

Virat pushed his glasses up on his nose, rubbing his tired eyes before finally reaching for the untouched coffee. He grasped the handle, running his thumb along its rim, feeling the warmth seep into his skin as if it could somehow bolster his resolve to broach the subject. Meeting his wife's gaze, he began hesitantly, "I think I might have found something about Nehmat..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Anushka threw her arms up in frustration, her expression betraying her impatience. "Don't start with that hope again. You've said it so many times before, but it only ends in disappointment, for both Vamika and me. So, spare us from that," she said firmly.

Virat's face crumpled in frustration. "Anu, I know I've said it many times before, and I understand how Nehmat's searches have led to nothing but disappointment. But this time, I'm certain about it," he insisted, his voice tinged with determination.

Anushka chuckled bitterly and replied, "And what's so different this time?"

Virat took a sip of his coffee, letting the warm liquid flow down his throat, sending a sensation of heat spreading across his chest, dispelling any lingering hesitation. "It feels the same as the first time when I was drawn to the baby's ward in the orphanage. And yesterday, when I saw the imprinted words on that bottle, it drew me in the same way," he explained earnestly.

Anushka dropped her guarded demeanour and spoke up, "Be clear, what exactly are you talking about?"

Virat placed the coffee back on the table and leaned down below the desk to retrieve the wine bottle, causing Anushka to gasp and narrow her eyes. "You've been drinking?" she questioned, her tone a mix of surprise and disapproval.

Virat almost dropped the bottle in surprise at Anushka's gasp. "What? No, it's not what you think. It's just something I saw when I went to grab Shubman from the bar. You know I've quit drinking a long time ago," he explained quickly, trying to reassure her.

Anushka scanned him, trying to gauge if he was telling the truth. His eyes held sincerity, and she nodded in response. "Okay, fine, I trust you. But what does this bottle have to do with Nehmat?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.

Rolling the bottle in his hand, Virat turned around to show Anushka the words on the label. "These words are the same as the ones that were in Nehmat's bedroom, with the same sign," he explained, pointing out the similarity.

Anushka examined the contents closely. Indeed, they bore the same words that Nehmat had in her bedroom, framed alongside other items. But was it enough to prove it was her? Looking up at Virat, she asked, "Is this really enough to find Nehmat? How does this prove it's her?"

Virat bit his lip, trying to suppress a smile, which prompted Anushka to ask, "What's so funny?" Virat smiled before pointing to the brand name on the bottle. "How could I forget? Her favourite cartoon character was the mischievous five-year-old," he explained, his smile widening at the memory.

Anushka took a seat next to him, still puzzled. "You're confusing me. How does this brand have anything to do with a mischievous five-year-old?" she asked, seeking clarification.

Virat chuckled, his eyes twinkling with fond memories. "I remember Nehmat used to come home from school and plop down in front of the TV without even changing out of her school clothes. Her eyes were glued to the screen, and Mom had to practically drag her away to get her to eat," he reminisced. "She might have created such an elite brand of wines, but she had to do something childish with this too, naming the brand 'Buri Buri' after 'Buri Buri Zameon'."

Anushka's eyes widened in surprise as she quickly opened her phone's browser to search for the owner of the brand name. In bold letters, it read "Nehmat. P. Kohli." Virat sighed heavily, clutching the bottle tightly in his hand.

"I'm not sure if it's really her," he confessed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Maybe I'm just making assumptions to make myself feel better. I'm sorry, Anu. Maybe I've just lost it from not being able to find Nehmat, and I'm grasping at anything that might bring some happiness."

He was torn. On one hand, he wanted to follow all the clues and find Nehmat. But on the other hand, he hesitated. The name had no concrete face or claims attached to it, and he didn't want to risk disappointing anyone, especially Vamika.

Before Anushka could respond, the continuous ringing of the doorbell echoed through the house. Vamika, who had been engrossed in her homework, opened the door, irritated by the disturbance and the lack of response from anyone else. She was surprised to find her uncle at the door, huffing and breathless.

"What do you want?" she demanded, narrowing her eyes at him. But before she could react further, he pushed past her and hurried towards Virat's bedroom, leaving her gasping in shock.

"How dare you?" she exclaimed, stunned by his audacity.

Shubman, still breathless, barged through the door of the couple's room, disregarding any sense of politeness. Both Virat and Anushka turned their heads toward the door, startled by the sudden intrusion. They looked at the young lad, who appeared dishevelled from head to toe. Despite having taken a bath, his frantic running had left him looking like a ghost.

"Paaji, I heard you found Nehmat! Where is she? Where is she?" he exclaimed urgently, his eyes wide with desperation and hope.

Vamika rolled her eyes in exasperation. "What did you put in your coffee this morning? You still think you'll be able to find Nini?" she retorted sarcastically, clearly unconvinced by Shubman's sudden burst of energy and hope.

Anushka scolded Vamika, "Vami, he's your uncle. Show some respect and talk properly."

Vamika let out a mental sigh, but she maintained her composure in front of her parents. However, she didn't hold back in her response. "I would show respect if he didn't leave Nini for us to find, which seems nearly impossible. Plus, I respect adults, except him," she stated firmly, her frustration evident in her tone.

Vamika, once sweet and kind, had undergone a noticeable change. She appeared more irritated and frustrated now. While she respected everyone else, she held a deep disdain for Shubman Gill. He was the reason Nini left – yes, her aunt and dad played a part too, but she couldn't care less about her aunt's actions. At least her dad made efforts to find Nehmat, but Shubman left her for another girl without a care in the world for Nehmat. To make matters worse, he even married the other girl.

Anushka looked at Vamika and said gently, "Vami, that's not like you. Don't talk like that."

Vamika glared at Shubman, his towering figure only fueling her anger. "He's the one who made me this way," she declared, her tone seething with resentment.

Shubman was ready to argue back with the six-year-old before Anushka intervened. "Please, don't start, both of you, like always," she pleaded, before delivering the long-awaited news. "And yes, we have found Nehmat."

Tears and excitement danced in Shubman's eyes, but Vamika remained expressionless. "Mumma, no, don't say that. I know we're going to be disappointed again," she said, her voice tinged with resignation.

Virat wiped away his tears and turned to look away. "Don't, Anu. Don't let my imagination become another disappointment for her," he pleaded softly.

Vamika shrugged, glancing at her mother. "See, that's disappointment starting again. I saved myself," she muttered, turning away. But Anushka's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Stop, darling. This time, I've seen the clues with my own eyes, and they do lead to your Nini," Anushka reassured her daughter. Then, turning to Virat, she urged, "And Virat, it's her. What more do we need? Let's go before it's too late. Let's go before it's too late."

When Vamika heard so much reassurance in her mother's voice after three long years, she stopped in her tracks. She longed to see her Nini again, but the disappointment of past failures had made her incredibly negative. Yet, something in her little heart whispered, perhaps it was a voice. "Does your heart speak?" she wondered. But the voice silenced her doubts with a firm reminder: "It's time to reunite and soothe the heart that has grown cold."