Siya and Gauri had traveled hours from the city to reach âKusum Orphanageâ, an orphanage that seemed as though it had been forgotten by time.
The old structure stood silently, its walls worn and cracked. It had been years since anyone had paid attention to the building, let alone the lives that had passed through its doors. But Siya wasnât here for the memories. She was here for one thing: the truth.
âDo you think we'll find anything here?â Gauri asked, glancing around as they walked toward the entrance. Her voice was tinged with doubt.
"We have to," Siya said with quiet resolve. "Mr. Desai must have adopted a child from here, and I need to know who. This is the only lead I have."
They approached the entrance where a few employees were casually tending to the grounds. The receptionist, a middle-aged woman, looked up as they entered. Siya wasted no time. "Excuse me," she said, her tone polite but urgent. "Weâre looking for information on adoptions that happened here, particularly one around the early 2000s. A man named Desai was involved. Can you help us?"
The woman blinked slowly, processing the question before shaking her head. "I'm sorry, but I don't recall anything. There were a lot of adoptions during that time, and even now. How am I supposed to remember everyone?"
Siyaâs heart sank, but she didnât give up. "Is there someone who has been working here longer? Maybe someone who might remember more specific details about adoptions during that time?"
The woman hesitated, her eyes scanning the orphanage grounds. "Thereâs the old watchman. Heâs been here since the beginning, might know something. You can try asking him."
"Thank you," Siya said, before turning to Gauri. "Letâs go find him."
They made their way through the overgrown paths to a small shed in the corner of the property where an elderly man sat, a worn hat pulled low over his eyes. His posture was stopped, but his eyes were sharp, watching their every move.
"Excuse me, sir," Siya called out. "Weâre trying to gather information about an adoption that took place around 2000. A man named Mr. Desai was involved. We were told you might know something about it."
The watchman shook his head. "I donât remember any specific names. Too many kids came and wentâ
Gauri looked over at Siya. "Doesn't sound like he was there for the right reasons," she muttered.
Siya nodded, her frustration growing. "But itâs a start. We need to find more."
The watchmanâs eyes flickered as if he was on the verge of remembering something, and then he spoke again, this time with more certainty. "Thereâs an old woman who ran this place back thenâMrs. Rita Kaushik. Sheâs the one who handled the adoptions. If anyone knows anything, itâll be her."
Siyaâs breath caught. "Mrs. Kaushik?" she repeated, her mind racing. "Where can we find her?"
The watchman pointed vaguely toward the outskirts of the town. "She lives near the woods now, in a small cottage. You wonât miss it. But be warnedâsheâs old. Might not remember much."
Siya and Gauri exchanged a glance. It was the lead they had been waiting for.
The drive to Mrs. Kaushikâs cottage was long and silent, each passing minute adding weight to the tension in the air. As they arrived, the cottage appeared much as the watchman had describedâsmall, secluded, and overgrown. The windows were clouded with age, and the garden was left unattended.
Gauri glanced over at Siya. "This place feels... forgotten," she said softly.
Siya didnât answer. She was too focused on what was ahead. They approached the door, and after a brief knock, an elderly woman opened it.
Mrs. Kaushik was frail but had an air of quiet authority. Her eyes were sharp despite her age, and she regarded them with curiosity as they stepped inside.
"Who are you? What brings you here?" she asked, her voice steady and firm despite her age.
"Mrs. Kaushik," Siya began, her voice calm but filled with purpose. "Iâm Siya. Iâve been looking into the adoptions that happened here around 2000. We were told you were in charge back then. Do you remember anything about a man named Mr. Desai being involved in one of the adoptions?"
The womanâs expression shifted slightly, her sharp gaze narrowing as the name was spoken. Her hands trembled slightly as she adjusted the shawl around her shoulders. "Desai, That Desai!!" she shouted . She looked up at Siya, a faint hint of recognition flashing in her eyes. "But... It's been so long. Who are you, how do you know him?â
Siya pressed on, not letting the hesitation sway her. "Do you have any records? Any files from that time? Any details that might help?"
Mrs. Kaushik sighed, looking down at her hands. âIâm too old to keep track of every detail. I barely remember what I had for breakfast some days." She paused, her eyes distant. "But I am not forgetting Desai.â
Gauri, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "Weâve heard whispers about Mr. Desai," she said cautiously. "Some people have said he didnât just adopt a child... he had a certain... urgency about it."
Mrs. Kaushikâs face shifted again, this time more sharply. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Gauri with more interest. "Urgency?" she repeated. âBut who are you? Why are you asking about him?"
Siya exchanged a glance with Gauri. âI am his younger sonâs wife, Siya," she said carefully.
Mrs. Kaushikâs expression froze, and for a moment, her eyes looked faraway as if the weight of the past was crashing down on her. âYounger?" she whispered. âDo you mean Raghav?. If youâre asking about Desai, then you need to hear it from me." She looked around as if checking that no one else was listening. "Heâs not just anyone. You wonât find what youâre looking for in files or recordsâ.
Siyaâs heart began to race. "What do you mean?"
Mrs. Kaushik hesitated before answering, her voice a quiet whisper. "You need to come inside. Iâll tell you everything.
Her voice was firm, and there was no questioning it.
Siya and Gauri exchanged confused glances but said nothing. They entered the house. With that, the door closed, leaving them with nothing but the shadow of a truth they werenât yet ready to uncover.