Wild, exasperated, and angry, Tharun threw his phone and slammed his clenched fists onto the glass table, and blood dripped down like raindrops. But it was too late now; nothing could be undone.

He woke up, feeling shattered from a drenched pool of sweat. He jumped out of bed and grabbed his glasses to check the time on the blue clock hanging on the wall. It was early morning, 4am.

Tharun was a handsome, tall, well-built figure who regularly attended gym sessions. With wavy hair and an infectious smile, he was easygoing and friendly.

As he leapt out of bed to reach his bottle to gulp water, he noticed something flashing in the corner of the curtain. He was startled. Slowly approaching the ivory-hued linen curtains, he was shocked; he couldn’t believe his own eyes.

Two trembling hands covered his face as Tharun reached out to see who it was. In the dim light, he was shocked to realize how he could share the same room without a hint of conscience.

“How long have you been here?” Tharun asked, drawing his attention to the little boy hiding behind the curtains. The boy, around seven years old, stood in front of him with his eyes brimming with fear. Desperate for love and warmth, he replied, trembling, “Since you saved me from those nasty, dangerous men. I followed you secretly.”

“But I left you with the caretaker at the children’s orphanage,” Tharun said, astonished. “How did you manage to escape from there?” Tharun was taken aback as the young boy replied that he had traced Tharun’s footsteps. Panic set in.

“I was taken along with other boys and girls from the orphanage. We didn’t know where we were going,” the boy explained. “We were told not to discuss or share details until we reached a safe place. The thugs had sharp weapons and threatened us into silence while they transported us. We were terrified. They waved their guns and shouted at us. But somehow, I managed to escape from them at night. I remembered you giving your address, so I followed it.”

Tharun was a journalist who visited the Helping Young Hands orphanage to gather information for an article. During his visit, he inquired about the orphanage’s functioning and funding and how they intend to seek support for their future plans. The officials vaguely answered in an inconspicuous manner that triggered doubt for Tharun. As he moved out after the discussion, slowly, a little boy approached him and tried to initiate a conversation without anyone noticing him.

The little boy was Krishan. Krishan had been kidnapped from his family in Kurunegala. After his abduction, his parents had made multiple attempts to find him, but a year passed by, and they had no success. He was brought to the orphanage through an unknown resource, and his name has been kept anonymous. Since then, he has been beaten and threatened that he would not be able to meet his family if he disclosed the ongoing activities with outsiders. Fearful of not reuniting with his family, Krishan kept matters to himself, with the faith and hope that one day he would meet his family.

With little courage, Krishan approached Tharun, seeking help to convey his pathetic situation. He approached Tharun with tears, overwhelmed, and silently stood without uttering a single word. Tharun knelt down and asked him what made him approach him and why he was crying. Slowly Krishan whispered, “I am in danger, please help me.” This puzzled Tharun as he recalled the discussion with the officials; he figured something unusual was happening at the orphanage. Determined to uncover the truth before reporting to the media and authorities, he investigated further.

The abductions were happening quietly in remote areas, far from Colombo, where the children were eventually brought to the Helping Young Hands orphanage. They were then moved to other countries, where they faced exploitation. This child trafficking scheme was orchestrated by a well-planned mafia operating in the shadows. The children were illegally adopted and forced into labor. Krishan was just one of many children who had been trafficked through the orphanage, using fake passports and illicit methods to escape scrutiny.

Tharun had developed a keen interest in cybercrime after completing his master’s degree in journalism. Coming from a media family, he was passionate about pursuing a career in the same field. His journey in mass media began in childhood when he wrote stories and presented a children’s show. He loved engaging with people and devoted his free time to volunteering at homes and orphanages.

As Tharun’s career progressed, he became a full-time journalist for a reputable newspaper. He gained exposure to various assignments, covering stories during the conflict situations. With his research, investigation, and the network support, Tharun compiled a detailed report on the illegal transportation of children from the orphanage and sought police support to rescue them.

Tharun devised a plan to capture the trafficking gang with Krishan’s assistance. Krishan had been secretly spying and providing Tharun with information about the schedule and activities at the orphanage since his meeting at Krishan’s residence.

Everything was going according to plan and reached a tense climax when the orphanage organized an annual trip from Colombo to Jaffna, where the children would travel by bus and then be illegally transported on a ferry to a nearby island.

The operation was meticulously planned. Tharun and the police aimed to apprehend the gang on the premises. However, the orphanage’s leader received a tip-off about the police’s impending arrival; consequently, the children were evacuated in the early morning hours at 5am.

The following day, around 8am, Tharun and the police arrived at the orphanage, only to find it completely deserted. They searched tirelessly for Krishan and the other children but found no trace of anyone. The police and Tharun spent days following leads to Jaffna, desperate to protect Krishan.

Countless sleepless nights passed, filled with distressing dreams of Krishan. Each morning, Tharun woke up startled, tormented by guilt for putting the boy’s life at risk. In his subconscious, he kept repeating, “I will save you, Krishan; don’t worry! I’m coming soon to rescue you!” Tharun, being an only child, felt a deep bond with Krishan, who was like a little brother to him. He had promised to save Krishan and the other trapped children.

The arrival of Krishan into Tharun’s life had felt like a dream; now, the thought of losing him caused Tharun immense pain. Finally, through an intelligence source, they managed to trace the location where the children were being held.

Upon reaching the site, Tharun was devastated to learn that Krishan had been killed by the gang’s leader, who had grown suspicious of the boy’s unusual behavior and tortured him to death. In his final moments, Krishan never mentioned Tharun or revealed anything; he kept everything to himself out of fear. The remaining trapped children conveyed and provided narratives that were reported during their course of abduction, and they were left alone as the gang escaped.

In a fit of rage and despair, Tharun pounded his fists on a nearby glass table, blood dripping down like raindrops, but it was too late now… nothing could be undone.

Though the other children were rescued and reunited with their families, Tharun struggled with the trauma of the incident. He received mental health support to help him cope and ultimately moved out of the country with his family, seeking a fresh start. But the thought of little Krishan is a scar etched in Tharun’s memory.