A Sacrifice To The Beast - Joysi G. (new reading .TXT) 📗

Chapter 1: The Test

"Good afternoon Students. I hope you are ready for the class test, and even if you are not then I don't really care because you have to take the test anyway", said the Maths professor.

"Aw man, I can't take this anymore. Maths is my enemy. ", said Sameer to Junaid.

"Yeah man, I hate it too. Well no body likes it. Maths kills your swag" , replied Junaid

"Shut up Junaid, you have been scoring straight A's in your entire session....", continued Sameer until the professor interrupted, "Sameer!, Come here at once and show us the solution to the problem on the Board ".

Sameer went up even he knew nothing about calculus. He was always a bit of a rebel. He would rather get punished than to apologize.

"All right class Sameer will show us the solution. Please Sameer continue", said the professor.

Sameer took the marker, and wrote at the center of the board, 'IDC'.

Entire class laughed.

"Very funny Sameer, why don’t you GET OUT OF MY CLASS!!! ", said the professor furiously.

Sameer smirked. At least he did not have to take the boring test.

"Anyone else wants a comedy show then leave at once. And you will be sharing F grade with Sameer".

The class was silent. Junaid got up and said "I would like to join him ma'am."

"Very well, Mr. Khan you get F minus. Anyone else?No? So let's continue".

Junaid went to join his childhood friend Sameer. This was not the first time these boys have got themselves into trouble. They have known each other since the junior class. Even practicing different religious faiths they cherished their friendship and were like brothers.

Chapter 2 : The Call From The HQ

The phone rings in an official building of the local government party named 'The Red '. It was a fine day. The office persons were doing their regular jobs until they heard their boss explaining the person on the phone and giving him reasons for the failure of their party mandate in the city.

Mr. Rajiv Singh and Mr. Chottan Kumar went to the office of their boss. Mr. Singh and Mr. Kumar were middle aged men and were very good assistant that they were called as the Two Red Lions .

"No! Please give me another chance. Please I beg you", said their boss, a 65 year old man who was talking to his senior from the Headquarters at the capital.

"Sir, don't worry, you won't be disappointed. We will do anything but fail at upcoming elections. I give you my word at the cost of my life.", He continued.

The man on the other side of the phone replied,"I don't have a use of your useless life. If you can't get my party votes then you can't give me anything. This is the second time when the workers of the steel factory have stood against us for higher wages. Now listen to me you worthless rat and listen to me very well. Media have been drying my blood by asking for the solution for this issue. You know how they sniff our incapability like hounds on blood of their prey. I will not let you to destroy my image. Elections are on the way and if you fail I will flay you alive, and place Singh from your office at your position".

Boss put down the phone, got up from his chair, contemplating the words of The Senior and threw the phone across the table. The entire office was silent. He went towards the window looking at the workers still present at the gate holding the copy of mandate presented by The Red giving interviews to the Media persons.

"Do you see them. They look so tiny. Such insignificant people. Yet they are valuable because of their votes. What else gives them right to bark in front of my office?", Boss said calmly."I want them cleared. Do you hear that Singh? And do you Kumar? I want a strategy from you."

Chapter 3: The New Girl

Sameer and Junaid were standing outside the class for punishment. A boy from another class came with the decorations and asked for teacher's permission to allow Junaid to help for the Tech Fest. Junaid was in the student committee of the school along being the famous-all-rounder stereotype. Boys were standing outside and Junaid was busy texting on the phone.

"Come on! We have a lot to do" said the boy.

"Nah, I'm busy texting and downloading. Wi-fi is strong here.", replied Junaid.

"I'll help. Junaid owes me", said Sameer.

"Thanks bro." said Junaid.

Sameer went with the boy and reached the hall. To saw new professor was standing and obviously ranting for the delayed preparations. Boy told Sameer that he will look after the invitations and hence he gave him the decors and went away. Sameer had little to no idea how to set up the stage.

"Come here boy", called the new Professor Mr. Sharma,"having problems? Take help from other students. What's your name?"

"I'm Junaid Khan from the senior year"Sameer lied. He can do anything but Junaid to get in a mess.

Professor Sharma called a girl and told Sameer to work together and went away.

The girl was pretty and was from other school of senior year and said, " So it seems the famous guy of the school knows nothing about decorations. I don't get who put you in the Student Committee?"

"Thanks, I'll take it as a compliment", replied Sameer with a smirk.

"Junaid Khan, this hall will not decorate itsel. Can it? Less talk and more work please", said Anna, for this was her name.

Sameer liked her. He knew she thinks he is Junaid. But he didn't mind as he knew Junaid already had a girlfriend. He thought to himself that a little play along wouldn't hurt anyone. So Anna and Sameer spent entire hour decorating the hall together and having nice time.

Chapter 4: Appeasing The Public

The Red Office, later that day, Mr. Singh and Mr. Kumar are planning to silence the steel workers to stop their strike. They are accompanied by the Boss in the office.

Mr. Kumar: "To put a leash on the dog one must put a bone in front of it."

Boss: "If you are asking me to bribe the heads of the factory then forget it. I have already done that. This situation is uncontrollable plus there is no time. If we have to do anything it must be done NOW!"

Mr. Singh: "There is another way. It seems there is no order in the city. Someone has to discipline them. Today it's the steel workers. If they win people will not fear us."

Mr. Kumar: "We could have done that already if the Media had not poked their nose in this matter."

Boss: "There is a veteran worker or as I'm told. He is the driving force of the entire strike. People see him as a hero. News says that he stands for the human rights and truth and such nonsense. If you silence him, the strike will end."

Mr. Singh: "All right then. Sir we just need your permission to take all the measures. And the workers will be silenced for good."

At the evening Singh and Kumar went to the workers office to the old veteran worker named Mr. Jha. The workers hoping to get a higher wages were waiting patiently outside the office.

"Good Evening, Uncle ji", said Singh and Kumar. "We have brought a very good news for the workers. Why don't you see it for yourself?", continued Singh by placing a file on the table. The file seems a bit heavy.

The old veteran placed his specs and opened the file. He looked at the file and stared at the two men intently. A handgun was placed inside the file.

"Do you like our 'negotiation'?"said Kumar jokingly.

"You will not get way with this. I will.....", replied the old man furiously but was interrupted by Singh. "Now now Uncle ji, there is no need to raise your voice.", he said by taking the gun and aiming it at the old man and he continued, "Here is the deal. I will pace this bullet inside your head if you defied out letter to stop your strike. And don't even think that I will not do this because I can."

The office was silent after some time the door was opened. Old man came out he was sweating and looked troubled. The two men followed him and stood as angles beside the old man to give their statement of negotiation to the Press.

Reporter asked about the decision of the old man. The old man stood in silence then took composure and said, "The strike will not stop. We are fighting for the truth and our rights. We will not stop at any cost and I certainly reject the letter of negotiation from the government on their face."

Reported asked for a reply from the two men who were not expecting this reply. Kumar said, "We will see what we can do to help the workers in every possible way, now if you please excuse us." And they went away disappointed and angry.

Chapter 5: The Brewing Of Coffee And Troubles At The Fresh Street

Many days later Sameer posing as Junaid tried to befriend Anna. They used to come at the cafe in The Fresh street. One day Sameer waited for Anna and he called her to know her whereabouts. Anna apologized that she could not come because of her busy schedule. But she promised she would take him at her Farmhouse for the party someday. So Sameer called Junaid for his assignment given at school. On his way Junaid saw a van waiting for someone. He felt a bit odd as the van started but was not going anywhere. An odd way to wait for some one Junaid thought. Moving forward, he heard the pedestrian screaming. The van was going to hit a person outside the grocery store. Junaid hurried and jumped in front of the van to push the man out of its way. Yet there was a crash. People rushed towards the scene to catch the driver but he got away. The man whom Junaid saved was Mr. Jha who knew who was behind this accident. People helped the injured and they found one dead young man who stood not very far from Mr. Jha. Junaid saved Mr. Jha's life. Mr. Jha went to the dead man and cried out, "Oh my son! Oh my dear boy".Mr. Jha has lost his son. He thanked Junaid for his help.

The van stops in front of an abandoned house."Is it done?", asked Singh. "Almost sir, if that boy had not intervened.", replied the driver.

Singh asked him about the boy who saved their target. Driver didn't know much about him but he remembered Junaid's name.

Chapter 6: A Night Of Joy And Enlightenment

It was Diwali, a festival of lights. Ever since after the accident Mr. Jha was very lonely. He refused to stand for the workers rights and became unsocial. Just like every time Junaid celebrates Diwali with Sameer. But this time boys decided to celebrate with Mr. Jha. Sameer told Mr. Jha that he should not feel lonely and disheartened. The workers of the steel factory and they were with him. And so Mr. Jha vowed to fight for the rights for the workers until his last day of life.

The celebrations were done and Junaid and Sameer were sitting outside staring at the fire that was burning at the centre of the lawn.

"So did Anna called you again?", asked Junaid.

"Yeah, but I can't keep lying to her. You know I really like her. I will not keep her in the dark. She has called me at her farmhouse for the party. There I will tell her who I am", replied Sameer.

"Boys its getting late you must head home", said Mr. Jha with