Chapter 1

Riddhima opened her eyes with jerk and looked around , a light was hanging over her head, sucking out the left over strength in her. She took a deep breath .

Tears rolling down her eyes , she looked at the screen in front of her , she just have 30 minutes just 30 minutes to save him. But she ..............

Tied to a chair and blood dripping off her lips how she will escape this.....

When she left Mumbai , she never thought she had to return back so soon........ But the incident which occurred in these three weeks where far more she expected from her simple life. She closed her eyes in pain and her mind flew back in time...........................................

to the day , she never thought her life would take such a turn in future.

*******

That day the train reached it's destination .

The warm climate was left far behind and was overtaken by the cold chilling winds, as the train stopped at its last destination, Shimla.

Riddhima stepped out of the train with a smile on her face , she clenched her coat tightly, this sudden change of climate would take time to adjust. Pihu came out with the suitcase.

She streched her hands and took a deep breath," WOW............ finally Shimla, i missed you so much........".

" Ma'am please side" , it was again the same man standing at the door.

" Sure", Pihu sided with a smile.

No need to wonder how her expression changed so sweet , she was home now.

Pihu ran cheerfully , and Riddhima followed her. They booked a taxi and headed home.

" Riddhi , you have completed the paperwork for the assignment or we need to work on it more." , Pihu exclaimed.

" Well you remembered it very quickly" Riddhima gave a look.

" Tell no.....".

" Yes , I have done it, now we just need to submit it to the professor tommorow."

" Good now i can rest and enjoy today".

Riddhima smiled at her , sometimes she think is she pihu's friend or mother , literally , she has to take so much care of her , be it assignments or Pihu herself , but no wonder handling this moody being is only her cup of tea . The taxi stopped at the address.

They came out and opened the door. They lived in a rented house, located in the town of Shimla. The town was not at all a crowded one , few houses nearby. High mountains and deep valleys were more in majority than the population of this hill station.

They stepped in , the house was also not very big one , but it was more than sufficient for college going students, a hall ,a small kitchen at the corner and a bedroom to the side. This was enough and far better than the college hostel.........

Pihu walked in and throwing the bag in the bedroom ,she jumped to the couch in the hall. Riddhima closed the door and opened the window , a chilling wind came in and she walked up to the fireplace at the centre of the small hall.

" Riddhi, i think snowfall will occur tonight, after so many days finally........", Pihu said with a calm voice so calm to send chilling waves to Riddhima.

"What finally man.......... this so cold and you are laying as if you are on some beach..."

" Don't talk me about those beaches, oh my good, what's the point of so much water , the sweat just surpasses everything." Pihu so called calm voice was now ready for world war 3.

"Its not like that , they were so good in the evening", Riddhima said with a peace flag but ; sorry the power was on.

They fought over the beaches and mountains for some time and finally they decided no one can win.

"I will go and make some coffee,", Riddhima stood up after the tiring debate and left for the kitchen.

" Ok".

Pihu took out the assignment from her bag and started reading it.

The day passed and snow began to fall. Riddhima rapped herself in a blanket and sat near the fireplace while Pihu stood near window unaffected by the cold, no need to wonder, she was a snow baby.....

They retired for the day and prepared themselves for the presentation at the college next day.

The sun came out , relaxing the cold winds and now finally it was there Shimla.

They locked the door and left for the college , it was not much far, but they have to walk round the mountain road . This road was one of the sightseeing places of Shimla , long mountains to one side and deep valleys to another, there were no streetlights but still it was the area were you can feel the entire galaxy over you .

The road was empty today , except the tea stall at the turn not many people were there, they walked up to the college . Pihu wanted to have her favorite tea but Riddhima was very exited for the presentation so she dragged her to the college.

They walked up to the class and reunited with there friends. Finally the psychology professor came in and the class started. The presentation was done and finally Riddhima was happy, sorry ,"Very Happy".

"So students you all worked very well on the previous assignment and i think you also enjoyed your postings to different colleges but now practical cases are more important to you. You must encounter patients and then you will get more experience of human nature and psychology.... Got it".

The students nodded and left with the professor to the patient's ward.

They walked into a dark room where an old lady was sitting , the student took out the notepad to write there notes while the professor approched the patient and took up the torch.

" She is Mrs. Oliva, she lost her family in a car accident and since then she is in trauma , she never responds , to anything even to the photographs of her children."

The professor told every detail about the patient and examined her but Riddhima was only looking at lady's eyes, everytime the professor mentioned of her family , tears were formed in it, she didn't blinked but she surely felt the pain again, again and again. The class was over and Riddhima came out and stood near the pillar, Pihu walked up to her with a cup of coffee.

" What happened Riddhi", Riddhima looked up at her.

"Nothing , just that lady, it would be so painful for her to lose her family and see her condition..."

Pihu held her shoulder,

" Riddhi........ don't take it to heart, We have to encounter such patients everyday from now .............if you will grow so sad how will you handle it................ call your mom and talk to her, you haven't done it since we returned from the trip , you feel easy , do it."

Pihu forced a smile to the most emotional person she had to handle everyday , ok ,it was only besties thing , to fight sometimes and care everytime.

Riddhima nodded and took out her phone and called her mom. They walked out of the college back to the road , while Riddhima was still on her phone with her mom. Both of them walked slowly , clenching there coat to survive the chilling cold.

" Yes mom, Mumbai was fun and the assignment is done too, ............. No...... i will come home in winter vacations now, we currently have many case studies in hand...... ok .....ok bye....love you mom".

She hanged up the call and looked at the road, it was already dark and the road was fog laden, No clear vision, they turned at the corner and walked past the tea stall. As they crossed the stall slowly , Riddhima noticed something...............................

And this was the point when everything changed.

********

....................................................

P.S.

"30 minutes", and " 3 weeks" .

Got your Catch.