I was attending a meeting at work, when mom called. 

The playschool van had come to pick up my little angel – Pumpkin – at the appointed time.  But there were no other kids in it!  And, the girl who helps the teacher at school, the one who usually comes in the van to escort the kids, was not there either!  

That was not all.  The empty van was seen only by the maid – she’s the one who walks Pumpkin down to the building entrance when the van comes.  So, she actually sent her off in the van … in spite of this situation. 

(Thank God, she had the sense to come up and tell mom about it!  But then, it got worse.) 

Mom panicked on hearing about the situation.  She immediately tried to contact the teacher to school, to verify if all was ok.  But the number was not reachable!  Thinking on her feet, she sent-off the maid to the school – it was a 10-minute walk away – to confirm if Pumpkin had reached… 

Finally… the maid called from the school phone to confirm that Pumpkin was well.

I’d seen it many times, in movies.  I’d read about it in novels too.  But, I never thought it would happen to me.  Until today.

I cannot describe how many thoughts raced through my mind in that 4-minute phone conversation with mom, while she was narrating all this to me.

Of kidnapped kids and evil kidnappers… little children getting lost at malls and airports, and being found by the wrong guy… all the movies I’d ever seen on that subject flashed before me in an instant. 

This was not happening.  Not to me.  The wife was out of town too.  What would I tell her when she returned?  Where would we find our daughter?  In what state?  Even if I leave office now, it’ll take an hour to get there.  Shit! Why did my office have to be so far away from home…

For a moment, I lost the ability to think clearly…  Until I heard those words : “Pumpkin was well.”

Needless to say, I called up the teacher and gave her a good piece of my mind.  She was profusely apologetic and swore that it would never happen again.  In any case, I wouldn’t let it.

I hope you never have an experience like this, as long as you’re alive.