Cheer up Anu!

My friend Anuradha hadn't done her exams well due to various (valid) reasons. She enters class one day to find that the CAED marks were being announced. The attender was the centre of attention, with students flocking around him and badgering him and trying to look into the register containing their marks.
Anu chose to walk up to Prajwal, the class nerd and asked him as to how he'd fared.
"9.8 on 10" was the smug answer.
She then joined the slowly dispersing crowd of students and managed to catch the attender's eye and said,"Anuradha R, roll number 5."
The attender looked importantly into the register, frowned and said something that sounded like a six.
Anu was shocked. She hadn't done that well! She was very nearly expecting a zero.
"Six?"
The attender got back to her and said,"No maa.. Point six."
Anu was devastated.
The attender took in her expression and said kindly but seriously,
"Its alright maa.. nothing to worry about. Point six is rounded off to one."

*************************
Note- There is no need to feel sorry for Anu. She's a bright kid. More importantly, all of her classmates except for the class nerd and his girlfriend have got marks ranging from 0-2.

The new guy(again)

I said "Enter Rakshith".
This is a joke ok!

The new guy

Enter Rakshith.

This is the way you write stories AP

GET THE DAMN ENDING FIXED FIRST!
Then form a beginning. And then you can connect them both. You do that beautifully anyway.

Complete the story!

I kept my eyes on the little mischievous boy. He surely wanted to pull one on his sister.
I didn't know how I knew this, whether my assumption was even right. There was that light in his innocent, but not ignorant eyes, which betrayed laughter and mirth.
I was observing a family of four. The parents were sauntering about, keeping a casual eye on their ten year old son. They seemed to be at ease, mostly because they had appointed their daughter responsible for their son. This was supposed to be a family time out anyway, about time those two got bonding.
My objects under observation in today's people-watching were drifting along closer to where we sat. The little boy started to pull at his sister's grotesquely glossy and gaudy coloured purse, and pointed at the little sugarcane juice stall about ten feet off. His sister looked annoyed, but glanced at the stall, and on finding it cool, decided to sit there for a while and slurp some juice. The two of them walked closer and grabbed two mercifully empty chairs and the girl quickly sat down and began fanning her face, trying to increase the rate of evaporation of non-existant sweat.
Since there was quite a cr-
"Sue! What do you think?"
I looked around and saw Roshni with pouted lips, and Jee still with a determined face. I guessed they hadn't diverted from the topic which they had been pursusing ten minutes ago.
The answer came automatically to my lips. "Firstly, its Suhanitha, not Sue. Secondly, maybe it can work it out. Thirdly," I almost said it wasn't her business, "its too trivial to be bothering you".
Jee, Sanjivani that is, obviously won my support. She set her lips firmly as though the last word had been verbalized, but I knew from painful experience that the debate had just begun. It was the war of opinions again, if Rohit, Roshni's ex-ex-ex-boyfriend and Amrita, supposedly Roshni's nemisis, could "make it" or not. Only Rakshitha didn't seem to be following the debate closely, the other three were positively engrossed, in our group of seven. She seemed to be gazing at something , or maybe someone, else.
I turned back to watch the siblings. When I last looked, there was quite a crowd by the harassed sugarcane-wala, but now, the sister had managed to reach him, and asked for two glasses. She had to wait for a while and then she screeched for her younger brother to take the big plastic cups from her hands. The little one ran and did as he was told. He came back and sat down to happily slurp at his juice. The sister carefully got her glass too. No sooner than she sat, she reached into her voluminous purse, got out her cellphone and began texting.
The boy was.. surveying.. the scene. He would spring to action anytime.

Hey there KP!

This is just gonna be a "test post". I mean its been such a long while since I've posted last. Well its just that I'm occupied now. And well the story hasn't progressed at all. I'm hoping I can come up with better short ones. And since I'm writing this, I might as well give a tiny introduction to KP.

Well, he's as interested in reading Agatha Christie as I am. He really does try to improvise on his vocabulary, unlike me. I guess his first story will be coming up soon. So I wish you good luck. Doesn't matter if the story's good or bad, so long as you love putting down stuff that's been created in your brain(for a change). And on that note, I will try to bring in a new story. A short one. I'll give The Orphan a bit of rest.

Welcome KP! And let it flow(not rip)!

Note: the following reflects my appreciation for the blog and is actually a comment however since I am an author………. Jus using my privileges!! :)

First of all it’s really nice to see AP working hard for the blog and on the “orphan”.
(Keep it going!!!!)

Second I can’t help feel a little ashamed for the levels of participation I’ve shown lately and so…..
I will come up with a sequel myself and keep posting it along ……….
Three cheers for green scum!!!
Enough of me interrupting!!!
Bring on chapter five!!!

THE ORPHAN

Chapter 4- I couldn’t find an appropriate title for this one. :)

There was a silence broken only by the sounds of children’s laughter issuing from the Dining Hall accompanied by the clatter of spoons and knives.

Andy, who was just about to say the same thing, was surprised.

‘I’m sorry Mr. Bennington, but I’m afraid you’ll have to take me too. Its like this- Andy’s mother and I were close friends. And before she died, she asked me if it were possible for me to look after him. So I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep my promise. If Andy stays, I do. If he doesn’t then I don’t.’

‘Are you telling me that you’re going to follow this boy around wherever he goes?’

Ms. Evans went slightly pale; it seemed Mr. Bennington had touched a nerve by questioning Ms. Evan’s authority. He made it seems like as though she was demanding for the post of Andy’s personal maid servant.

‘Not really Mr. Bennington. If you were just anybody, I mean to say someone who didn’t know Andy at all, then I’m afraid we would’ve had to refuse your offer. But since you have taken a personal interest in Andy, I’m afraid its left to him to decide his future, though I will always be accompanying him, till he’s old enough, of course.’

Andy felt helpless. Things weren’t going the right way at all.

‘Alright, if you say so. You can accompany Andy to London. And you are young enough. I suppose, if you have any interest, you can join one of the Universities there that might have you, considering you’re good at splitting, of course,’ said Mr. Bennington.

This blatant acceptance seemed to have shaken Mrs. Potter. She was clearly banking on him to refuse.

‘Alright then, when are you planning on leaving Mr. Bennington?’

‘Right now. I’m sorry but there is no other time that can be fixed. My coach is waiting outside.’

‘But Mr. Bennington! We have to pack! And I haven’t resigned from my old job yet! Not to mentio-’

‘I can take care of all that, no need to worry,’ said Mr. Bennington with an air of a person trying his best to push all silly and worthless obstacles aside. ‘If we leave now, we’ll have 15 minutes to spare to catch the only train to London from here. C’mon then!’

Mr. Bennington stood up.

‘Wait!!’ Andy couldn’t take it any longer. ‘Mr. Bennington, I’d like my friend to come too. Megan.. she’s a really good friend of mine.. I’d hate to leave her behind like this.. I mean..’

But Mr. Bennington was looking out of the window, his eyes unfocused, with an expressionless face. There was just a slight hint of disbelief, but it might have been imagined. Andy felt he really wasn’t explaining too well, and if he screwed it up Megan would never forgive him. No. He would never forgive himself.

‘Mr. Bennington, you see, Megan’s been my best friend ever since I came here. And it would mean a lot to me if you could just-’

‘Who else am I going to take along next? The cook?’ Mr. Bennington sighed but his eyes were twinkling.

‘Does that mean.. that .. you’re gonna let Meg-’

‘Only if you get her right now Andy. Otherwise we’ll miss the train.’

Andy ran towards the door, ecstatic. He’d had no idea how worried he was about Megan not being able to join him. He wrenched open the door and almost collided with Megan. She was breathing very fast as though she’d just run, and said, with her eyes shining, ‘I’m ready when you are Mr. Bennington!’

THE ORPHAN

Chapter 3- Decisions

The next day dawned late and dull. Andy woke up and all the conversations that he and Megan had had yesterday came crashing down. It almost felt as if the two days were somehow fused together.

They’d sat up in the attic and discussed.

Megan was silent for a couple of minutes. Andy was reluctant to speak but he spoke anyway.

‘So, I have an offer. Leave Kidlington and then venture out to the Sea. And somewhere in between I gotta attend some school, where I have to learn a little school stuf-’

‘Oh I know..’

Megan looked really put off now. ‘I think you should go you know? Its because you really get to move on to something. I mean, it’s just like Mr. Bennington said right? One “can hardly imagine any prosperity in this place”.. So you should just go. And write to me alright? When you’re in your school?’ she said fiercely, her eyes shining.

‘But I’d really imagined us learning how to split together,’ said Andy quietly.

Splitting was something of an every child under fifteen or sixteen yearned to learn. It was a state of the human body where the emotions of the concerned being would detach or “split” form the body. It was just like a human body, but more emotional, since it was the bare emotion itself.

‘Well, me too. But things change right? And everything happens for your own good too.’

‘I suppose,’ Andy said slowly. ‘Maybe it is a better options after all. I mean we could always meet up right? And maybe after I finish my schooling I can come here and both of us can go to the Sea together!’ and he brightened up and said, ‘Or better yet! I’ll ask Mr. Bennington if it’ possible for you to come too! And I can refuse if he doesn’t agree, and that way he’ll just have to take us!’ he finished triumphantly.

‘Well, I think you should take it a bit easy you know. I mean you’re in no position to bargain, frankly. You just have to ask politely, not just demand,’ Megan said, looking marginally cheerful now.

‘But.. oh alright!’ Andy looked a bit grumpy.

‘And what if he flatly says no?’

‘What? You think he will? But why?’

‘Why would he unnecessarily want to drag the two of us to London? London’s the heart of all the exciting things that are happening. The people who live there are all important in some way or the other. He might just be taking you there out of courtesy because she knows your father! But to drag the whole orphanage there-’

‘Not the whole orphanage! Just you! And come on! He’s filthy stinking rich! You can just make out by the clothes that he wears.. Wonder how his house is like!’

‘Well, I’m not keeping any hopes up. And I think we’d better go.. Potty’ll be wondering where you’ve been.’

The two then got back into their own dormitories. It was very convenient for the two of them to share adjacent rooms with the attic right above them.

Andy got ready for breakfast. Breakfast was always held at seven sharp and lateness wasn’t allowed. Andy felt a pang. Of what, he didn’t know. It would be weird if he had to adjust to new timings in his new school if he decided to go. He felt indecisive as he walked down the stairs to the dining hall- a large, grubby, slightly messy place with many stools. There were about thirty to forty wooden stools huddled around three large tables joined together. It was about six fifty, and there were only about ten children assembled, all of them with sleepy, morning faces. Megan was among them. Andy walked over to where she was sitting and pulled up a stool.

‘Hey,’ Megan yawned, though her eyes were more alert then usual. ‘Sleep well?’

‘Kinda,’ mumbled Andy.

‘C’mon you lot! Set the plates!’ called one of the kitchen maids. The few students rose and sauntered off to the kitchen, where they carried plates to the dining hall and set the plates for everyone.

It looked like Megan had a lot to say, and opened her mouth quite often, but didn’t seem to know where to start.

‘Meg, I’ve already made up my mind alright? Its either both of us or nothing. And besides, we have over an hour to discuss, which I don’t wanna do but since you seem so-’

Just then, Mary, one of the household maids, came scurrying towards Andy and squeaked, ‘Mrs. Potter here wants to see you. Right now. She didn’t tell me why but I saw the gentleman from yesterday come in a coach!’

Andy, who was surprisingly calm, stood up and followed Mary without a backward glance at Megan.

It seemed to be the same scene as the previous day. Mrs. Potter was grim faced and at her desk, while Mr. Bennington had his back to the door, and surprisingly Ms. Evans standing resolutely next to Mrs. Potter.

Andy walked in while the Mary closed the door from outside. Andy sat down next to Mr. Bennington on invitation by Mrs. Potter. Andy sensed Mr. Bennington’s slight discomfort and he knew no one else could.

‘Andy, Mr. Bennington has unexpected plans. He has to leave in a few hours to London. And that’s why he’s here extra early today,’ Mrs. Potter sounded a little cold, as though Mr. Bennington had no right to come an hour early without prior notice. She continued, ‘In fact, he’s got his coach waiting for him outside as we speak. He would like to know of your answer to his proposal immediately. Will you join him and attend whichever school he sends you to?’

Andy felt uncomfortable. He’d rather thought that he’d be alone with Mr. Bennington and he could chat with him genially and somehow pull Megan into all this. But with Mrs. Potter here he felt compelled to put on his best manners. And even with Ms. Evans he felt slightly uncomfortable.

Andy took his time and reluctantly said, ‘Erm.. I think so..’ He didn’t look at Mr. Bennington while he spoke. Instead he gazed at Mrs. Potter’s worn out pen-stand.

‘And are you willing to place yourself entirely in Mr. Bennington’s care?’

‘Yeah.. I guess.’

He was examining the contents of the pen-stand now.

Mr. Bennington spoke softly, ‘Andy, I need a sure answer. Now. You see? I cannot make this offer again. Now’s the ideal age for you to learn what you can about splitting. I’m off to all sorts of places after London in a weeks time. And I can come back only after three or four years. You can learn all this later no doubt, but I insist on you learning whatever you can now; when the time’s right.’ His eyes were blazing again, with that fiery passion Andy had begun to admire in Mr. Bennington.

‘Mr. Bennington, I’d truly like to go with you-’

‘But there’s a problem.’

It was Ms. Evans who spoke, and what was even more astonishing was the fact that it looked like she had Mrs. Potter’s full support.

THE ORPHAN

Chapter 2- A New Prospect

Mrs. Evans knocked softly on the door to Mrs. Potter's office and entered the room. Andy saw a tall and expensively dressed gentleman sitting before Mrs. Potter’s desk. Mrs. Potter’s eyes narrowed a little when she saw Ms. Evans.

‘Where’s Lucy, Stephane? I thought I’d asked her to bring Andrew..’
‘Oh, she’s gone on an errand Mrs. Potter, I offered to bring Andy,’ she said smoothly. She inclined her head slightly towards the gentleman and said confidently, ‘I’m Stephane Evans, Mr. Bennington. You can say Andy’s been left in my care since the demise of his mother. I was a close friend of hers.’

She remained standing, ignoring the only unoccupied chair.

‘Come here Andrew,’ beckoned Mrs. Potter. ‘Mr. Bennington here says he’s an old friend of your father's. He has something interesting to say.’

Andy, who’d been dawdling near the door, walked awkwardly past Ms. Evans and around the broad desk towards Mrs. Potter. He looked at the gentleman for the first time. He had thick black hair and his hand was presently stroking this strong clean-shaven jaw. He had astonishingly bright black eyes, with a slight twinkle in them, as though he already knew of the animosity between the two ladies in the room.

He spoke with a clear, deep voice, ‘You look a little like your father, and especially the jaw highlights the similarity.’

Andy felt a bubble of pride in his heart, but didn’t say anything.

‘Excuse me, but can I speak to Andy alone for a few minutes?’ he addressed the two women. Ms. Evans glanced at Andy, gave the tiniest nod and walked out, and held the door open for Mrs. Potter. Mrs. Potter, on the other hand seemed slightly reluctant. She stood up slowly and heavily, while the chair made a noise on the wooden floor as it got pushed back. She slowly exited, without another glance at Andy or Mr. Bennington. Ms. Evans shut the door quickly and quietly. Andy felt that Mr. Bennington must be important if he could get Mrs. Potter to leave her own office.

Now that Andy was alone, he felt older and more responsible. He felt he could handle anything the man threw at him. Mr. Bennington, though, surveyed Andy for a while, with a small smile.

‘Would you like to come with me to Atlan, Andy?’

Andy became fully alert. He couldn’t believe his ears. He also had no recollection of this man ever coming home to visit his father, and had no idea as to trust him or not. He suspected Ms. Evans of knowing Mr. Bennington before hand, since she'd nodded, Andy thought he was supposed to say yes. Then again he’d be able to get away from Kidlington.

‘This doesn’t mean a quick getaway alright?’ he said, beginning to laugh, as though he’d read Andy’s mind. ‘This will take some planning. Though I’m pretty sure we can manage it in well within a month,’ Mr. Bennington said.

‘But why?’ Andy blurted out.

‘Why I make this offer? It’s like this: your father and I are old buddies. I was once a sailor too. Yes I was, though I may not look it,’ he added, seeing Andy’s expression of disbelief. ‘We were fine sailors. At one point of time, when we made enough money, I branched out to lead a peaceful, quiet life. Whereas he stayed on. He loved the Sea more than anyone else I know. But I heard he became virtually bankrupt after that. I heard of your mother's death,’ his voice became gentler. Andy, sensing that Mr. Bennington was about to speak few words of condolences said quickly, ‘And you’ve heard from my father?’

‘No Andy, you know it’s hard to communicate with someone who’s been out in the sea for so long; I daresay you’ve tried hard enough,’ his voice was still gentle. It was true though. It had been three years since his father’s last visit. Mr. Bennington continued, ‘That’s what I reckon should be clear. The answer to my proposal is only based on your decision. I know that you might look up to Mrs. Potter as your temporary guardian, and I will have no qualms if you do seek her advice. But I should let you know, that your father would be pleased if he knew that you would be studying in one of the most prestigious schools under my guidance.’

‘Studying?’ said Andy, quite concerned that he would be going to London to study and not on an adventure.

‘Why of course! Why else would I ask you to come to Atlan?’ Mr. Bennington smiled. ‘Well, I don’t intend to be offensive but I can hardly imagine any prosperity in this place,’ he said a little apologetically.

Andy thought of the none too exciting years he’d spent in the orphanage. He thought of Megan and his other friends, and felt sad and somehow guilty. Even Mrs. Potter seemed very kind and homely. He felt leaving all this behind just to study in some fancy school wasn’t worth it. But he wanted to think it out carefully.

‘How much time can I have to think this out?’ Andy asked.

‘Well, I’m leaving tomorrow by midday, so I’ll drop in tomorrow morning. Will you please call Mrs. Potter Andy? I really must get going.’

Andy found Mrs. Potter in the kitchen, dealing with the cook who was complaining yet again that there weren’t enough pans. Ms. Evans was nowhere to be seen.

Andy went upstairs to his room which was empty; the others were clearly still in the garden, as there were occasional screams and shouts. He climbed on top of the bedside table, he had to bend almost double so as to avoid his head hitting the low roof. He slowly pushed in one of the large wooden planks, to reveal a large black hole. He heaved himself upwards through it into the attic above. He carefully replaced the plank, cutting off the light through the temporary gap. He looked around and saw Megan with an unhappy smile as she sat about five feet away, her face illuminated by the only patch of light entering through one tiny skylight.

‘Did you listen?’ Andy whispered.

‘Every word of it.’

Just a little bit.......

It’s not always that people feel optimistic and it’s not always that optimistic assessments are premium, though I powerfully consent with the point that people are at their best only when they are optimistic as optimism in my opinion, is a synonym for feeling joyful with your “self”.
And when people are exclusively content (at least momentarily) nothing matters and nothing really can or will lug them down.
It’s kind of elevating for both the person experiencing and if I may say the people directly involved with that person.
My point is simply to highlight the importance of feeling, if not “content”, comfortable with yourself and though occasionally you really can’t do much to change things around you to get that rhythm right, it’s wise to clasp on when the situation prevails.
Now I ’am not a preacher and to be truthful the points at this juncture are purely intitutive but usually they work for other people, counting on my observations.
If your one of those people who know you’ve got what it takes but just waiting for that “one fine day” for someone to pop up in your life and provide that source of inspiration you long for, ……well……it is possible…… though the probabilities are low, and its advisable to re- strategize and move on and try to inspire yourself. On a more self addressing note I think I need to keep revising whatever I’ve written so far so as to not forget the piece of wisdom I just penned.

THE ORPHAN

Chapter 1- Introduction

Andrew was really bored. He was the adventurous type and being cooped up in a smelly old orphanage didn’t count as an adventure. He’d thought of running away a countless times. But since he was practical, he knew he didn’t have anywhere to run to.

Andrew sat on his window sill looked longingly out into the cold Sea. It was his window sill even though he shared his room with three others, as he was clearly their leader. The sun looked meek and timid, hiding behind thin mist. It looked like it was about to snow again. He decided to have one last match for the day, and went down to the garden.

Andrew Garcia was twelve and, like all children of his age in the orphanage, felt he was ready to go. Everyone knew where to go. They all wanted to leave dreary Kidlington and become sailors or pirates; they were inspired by Andrew’s tales of the Brave Spaniards who ventured out into the vast sea. His father was Spanish and mother English. The family lived happily like any other family, till it was broken. Andy’s mother had cancer and he didn’t know of it, though he knew cancer was a deadly disease. When Andy was seven, his mother died after months of suffering. Andy’s father was a sailor and as he was forced to go out to the Sea (he couldn’t earn a decent living on land), and Andy saw himself being nudged into the orphanage. It wasn’t really like an orphanage for him though. More like as though he was baby-sat by Ms. Evans, a close friend of his mother’s, for years.

Ms. Evans was quite young and very pretty. She wasn’t like the other hags who took care of them. Ms. Evans worked as a part time teacher in a school next to the church in their little village on the Sea coast. She did the dishes and the laundry, and looked into few of the Orphanage's financial aspects and in turn, Mrs. Potter, the owner, let her live there.

Ms. Evans and Mrs. Potter disliked each other heartily. For the children, of course, Ms. Evans was the goddess of everything nice and fun, and hence they supported her in every Evans versus Potter showdown that would happen once a week. On one such occasion,

'What’s this? A delivery?' Mrs. Potter was surprised. They’d never received parcels or anything of that sort before. Her tiny beady eyes took in the label "To Ms. Evans". An ugly look settled on her face as she began to rip the brown paper apart.

'Er.. Excuse me ma’am but that’s for Miss Evans,' said the delivery boy.

Mrs. Potter, short though she was, tilted her head back and glared at the boy down her nose. 'And how do you know I’m not Miss Evans hmm?'

The boy blushed a little and stammered, 'You see, er.. she bought this dress in the shop where I work, and said this had to be delivered, see?'

'No I don’t see,' snapped Mrs. Potter.

Just then, Ms. Evans came lightly down the stairs and took in everything, from the partially opened parcel in Mrs. Potter’s plump little hands to the delivery boy’s plea for help.

'Excuse me, Mrs. Potter, but I do think that you shouldn’t open someone else’s parcels,' She added a little sarcastic smile to show fake politeness.

'This parcel is addressed to the orphanage. This is not your place. Nor do you have an address to address your little dainty things.' Mrs. Potter lashed out.

'Where else was I supposed to address it to then?'

'Maybe you could buy your own place.'

'Maybe you can find someone else to pay your bills.'

Mrs. Potter glowed pink for a while, and then thrust the parcel into the trembling boy’s hands.

It was never clear why they hated each other. Of course it was always pinned on jealousy. But somehow everyone felt it wasn’t the real reason. They sensed something guarded whenever the two used to speak to each other (growl more like).

It was turning dark. And the children continued with the war they were engaged in.

SPLAT!

There were screams and giggles from the girls and shouts of glee and triumph from the boys as they were engaged in a snow-ball fight in the spacious garden. It was the boys versus the girls as usual and the leaders were Andy and Megan. Megan and Andy were fast friends, and usually the cause of mischief.

Andy was using his all-time famous and unbeatable strategy, and Megan had yet another counter attack planned, and it looked like the girls were about to win after a really long time. Just then, the side door opened and Ms. Evans stepped out. The kids halted their game momentarily and badgered Ms. Evans to come play with them. But Ms. Evans’ usually pale cheeks looked flushed, even before the cold could properly affect her.

'Come Andy, Mrs. Potter’s calling.'

'But I haven’t done anything yet!' Andy said indignantly.

'There's someone here to see you Andy,' and to the others, 'Get on with it the rest of you!'

As Ms. Evans impatiently pushed Andy towards the door, he exchanged a significant look with Megan.

My second contribution to green scum (I'd better start thinking of better titles)

It was past two in the morning and it was very dark. There were few diffused patches of light on the floor near the windows caused due to the dim street lampposts.

The two intruders crept stealthily across the hall on bare feet- not a sound was heard. They quietly slipped through the doorway and reached the stairs and looked at each other. This was it. No turning back now.

Lisa and Frances had marked down number 13 a month ago. Though the inhabitants were quite rich, they didn’t seem to be wary of burglars. Their burglary alarm was dreadfully simple to be silenced by the amateur criminals. They had the whole house under surveillance and knew every nook and corner.

Lisa first tiptoed up the stairs and glanced around. She then nodded to Frances who was waiting at the bottom and then hurried off quietly to check on the inhabitants- a Mrs. Alastor and her three month old child. The father was away on a business tour. Lisa had only one door to guard, which made things a lot easier than it was last time. She put her head near the keyhole and was satisfied to hear steady breathing. She hoped Frances would hurry up.

Frances set off and reached the huge study. He flashed his torch once around the room. The walls were lined with shelves that contained the best books on law. There were few locked windows at regular intervals. The large mahogany table and cushioned chair glared at him imperiously from across the room, as though he could never pull it off in a hundred years. He smirked and his eyes fixed upon the moderately sized safe that was on the left wall, its iron handle catching the light.

He sneaked up to the safe and put his bag gently on the floor and felt the cool metal.

“Not too long buddy, you’ll be open in a jiffy.” He set to work.

Not five minutes had passed since she last saw Frances that Lisa began to feel fidgety. She didn’t want to guard a woman who was sleeping soundly anyway. She thought she might be able to help Frances and crept back down the stairs and into the study room, where she saw him hard at work. She slipped in.

“Are you done?”

THUNK!

Frances had dropped something metal and heavy onto the well carpeted floor, but the sound was loud nonetheless.

“What do you think you’re doing? Sneaking up at me like that?” he demanded angrily.

“The woman’s asleep, might as well help you here. And don’t look at me like that. Its safe enough.”

Just then, there was an unmistakable sound of a baby wailing.

Mrs. Alastor jerked awake, and sat up on her bed slowly. She then walked a short distance to the cradle and lifted her crying baby and made soft crooning noises to comfort her. She looked sleepily at the luminous arms of the clock. It was 2:15.

Maybe her baby was hungry. It was the third time this week she’d wailed in the wee hours of the morning.

The baby stopped crying and Mrs. Alastor put her down gently into the cradle and put on her bedroom slippers. She trudged down the stairs and towards the kitchen. Then she distinctly heard a noise in the study.

“Let hope she doesn’t wake up,” whispered Frances “if she does and causes trouble it’d be your fault.”

Both listened with bated breath. For quite a while, the baby wailed and then there was nothing.

Maybe they’ve gone back to bed, thought Lisa. But suddenly, a footfall was heard on what seemed to be the bottommost stair!

Quick! Hide!, mouthed Frances. Both Frances and Lisa dived behind the desk at the same instant, resulting in a collision, Lisa yelped.

Her heart missed a beat.

What in the world-

Mrs. Alastor quickly walked to the hall and reached the side door which opened out to the garden. She saw the green light of the burglary alarm blinking innocently and heaved a small sigh of relief.

“Now that that’s working perfectly, what- ohhh”, she muttered, comprehension dawning on her.

She quickly walked to the study and her suspicions were confirmed once she saw the study door ajar. She stood at the doorway, carefully looking.

They lay hidden behind the huge desk, scared to breathe. The lady was scrutinizing the room. They heard her mutter “I must’ve been mistaken” and leave the room.

Lisa and Frances exhaled and slowly crept out of their hiding place once they’d made sure there were no more noises heard from the lady. All of a sudden, light flooded the room. The two spun around, the bright light dazzling, and saw Mrs. Alastor’s finger still on the light switch. Their hearts sank.

“What do you think you two are doing?” she enquired in a weary but stern voice.

“Nothing mum.. we were just-”

“We were sleepwalking. We just found ourselves here-”

“Yeah can you believe it? Must’ve been some shock for us eh?”

“Enough.”

The two children’s explanations were silenced at once. Mrs. Alastor looked at her children’s innocent faces and smiled inwardly. She quickly put on an impatient face though, and said, “I’ll deal with you two later on when the sun has properly risen. Till then please try not to blow up this place. Honestly, what were you two doing? Playing detectives?”

My first contribution to green scum

"Someday, somehow, I'm gonna make it alright but not right now.."

Those lines from Nickelback were playing softly in my ears from my mp3. It was a perfect day- just cloudy to shield the sun, but the clouds weren't threatening to rain. As I took a turn to my favourite park, I got a call from my best friend Jaya.
"Hello! Sup!" I said.
"I.. Well.."
My heart sank.. I really hoped there was no snag in the plans.

It was the 31st of March. It was Sushant's birthday and we'd planed a surprise for him. Well, not much a surprise as he would obviously have been expecting it. Since it was the holidays, everyone was expected to turn up. I was to arrive at Coffee Day in 10 minutes, I was a little early, so I thought I would take a couple of rounds in the park and think about the next trick I would play on my friends.. I'm quite the prankster, so I guess April Fool's day is my favourite day of the year. Ha! My friends could never compete with me, so they'd stopped trying to put one over me for a couple of years. Anyway, back to the phone call.
"Please don't tell me someone messed something up."
"No.. Its pretty serious. Well, Narayan said he'd pick up Sushant from his house and come over right.. they've met with an accident"
My heart missed a beat.
"Well?? Are they ok? Where are they now? Who told you this?"
"Not exactly ok.. Narayan wasn't driving his bike, he thought he'd give the birthday boy a treat, which was a mistake cuz he doesn't have a lisence yet.. He crashed into an auto rickshaw. Sushant had the helmet on thankfully. He isn't hurt at all surprisingly. But Narayan is."
"What!" I squeaked, "What’s happened to him?"
"He had a wound on the head. He was immediately admitted to the hospital one street away. They say its just a hit on the head an that theres no internal bleeding and all that. He’s in the general ward. I’m just going in to visit him. Come over to the Minerva Hospital.”

“Right. On my way. See ya.” I cut the call and hailed the nearest auto.

I was there in about fifteen minutes. Jaya was near the entrance waiting for me. We quickly took the elevator and reached the 7^th floor. As soon as the elevator doors opened, I spotted a sombre looking Sushant amidst bustling people in a huge corridor.

“Hey.. Not exactly the the birthday I had in mind” he said with a sheepish grin. “Damn.. why did this have to happen today of all days?”

“Don’t be stupid.. this would have been equally awful anyday. Now, is he in this ward?” I enquired, pointing to the door nearest us.

“Yep, that’s the one.”

I pushed the door open visualizing an unconscious Narayan with white bandages wrapped around his head. Instead, I saw an emaciated old man near the window. He was leaning out.

I was a little surprised. Narayan was nowhere to be seen.

“Er.. sorry to disturb you but is there another patient here? A boy about my age?” I asked looking at the second bed which was currently unoccupied.

“Window!! Boy.. fell out..” His voice sounded constricted, and as though it pained him to speak every word.

I rushed to the window and I gazed down, all the way down and I couldn't help but feel giddy not because of the height but because there was a whole lot more in store.

The old man wasn't pulling my leg. I saw a huge gathering, but it was jam packed, I couldn't see the thing creating all this scene.

My heart felt as though it was getting ripped in two. I rushed out into the corridor and to make things worse I couldn't figure out were the elevator was (you see I have a hopeless sense of direction). Each floor was a maze and I swore I’d kill the architect.

"Excuse me! Where's the elevator?"

And she replied in Hindi!

Yeah great help!

"Sir I can't find the elevator! " I exclaimed desperately and almost out of breath.

A little startled, a doctor explained that it was in between the two pillars to my left.

Ha! What a strategic location! Now I swore I’d not only kill the architect but the Vaastu guy involved with the design.

"Oh but the lifts are under service you've got to use the stair case. They’re at the end of the corridor towards the left."

"How can you clean the lifts during working hours? Where is the sense?" I screamed, all eyes now on me. The doctor looked taken aback which irritated me even more (Didn’t he know this was an emergency?) and I ran to the staircase, all the way down …well at least half way … I needed my breath back.

Now I was pissed off with the doc, the lady for speaking in Hindi, the old man for not getting immediate help, the architect, the vaastu guy, Jaya for abandoning me on the seventh floor and Narayan , for being so dumb as to look down a window and fall, Sushant for causing the accident and even the irritating clean combined smell of Dettol and Lysol was equally contributing.

Finally there was the exit to the Minerva hospital. I ran out into the complex but there was no gathering!

This can’t be happening!

Wait a minute, this can’t be happening!

My friends were right there! All of them in perfectly good health.

And then I cracked. Sudden realization.

This was the best prank ever played and I cried because it felt like I got dropped off from a rollercoaster from the highest point. And in a while there was Jaya hugging me. All smiles …

Sushanth was beaming and Narayan looking perfectly fine and for some reason the doctor whom I’d screamed at earlier!

Ah! it was Narayan's father. God! Was I dumb! I knew Narayan's dad was a doctor and also the resemblance was too close to mistake.

"Sir, can I have the number of the architect who built this thing?" I asked pointing at Minerva.

He smiled and enquired and after explaining my story we were all hooting!

Narayan's dad went back to the hospital and we moved to Coffee Day to celebrate Sushanth's birthday and me being a victim of the world's best prank.

Heyy! Beginner here!

Well... lesse how well I can get a fiction get going. Just to warn you, read the subject again.