Into The Shadows by Aayush Borulkar (smart ebook reader txt) 📗

is heaven in a small bottle,” he said, opening the bottle with a pop sound. “Ek goli zindagi ki,” he said, putting a pill on his tongue.

“Hey, it’s okay. Nishant is like the Pablo Escobar of the group. You name it, he gets it,” said Abhimanyu looking at the confusion on Vivek’s face.

“And whatever he gets, it’s the best quality in the whole town, I can assure you that,” said Kaajal rolling a joint.

Just then, Ishaan, who had passed out on the couch, turned sideways and his arm hit Kaajal, who was sitting at the foot of the couch.

“Ouch!” she cried in pain.

“Somebody, please take him to the bedroom,” said Abhimanyu.

“I’ll take him,” said Vivek. “And where is the landline? I have to make a call. I will be right back.”

“There is one in each of the bedrooms” replied Abhimnayu.

“And go easy on your back. He is a heavyweight champion,” said Nishant laughing.

Vivek pulled Ishaan from the couch, swung his arm on his shoulder, and walked him up the stairs. He opened one of the bedrooms and put Ishaan on the bed, tucking him in.

“Let’s decide the thing or the treasure that is going to be hunted down,’” said Vibha.

“How about a bottle of these pills and a joint. Now that’s a true treasure, for sure” said Nishant with a burst of high-pitched laughter, the pill was doing its trick on him now.

“Richa, please do suggest something,” said Abhimanyu seeing that Richa had zoned out.

“Yeah, what?” she reacted, still bothered by the fact that she had seen Vibha and Vivek walk down the staircase together.

“The treasure. What could it be?” repeated Vibha.

“Oh yeah… how about these bottles of beer?” she suggested.

“What!? That’s lame,” said Kaajal.

Even everyone was confused as why did Richa suggest something so lame but chose to ignore it.

“Oh! there he is. So tell me Vivek, what should it be?” asked Vibha, as she saw Vivek walking into the living room.

“I mean, I am blank right now,” he said.

“Okay, I have a ‘treasure’ in my mind that might be worth hunting down,” said Abhimanyu getting up.

He ran up the stairs and into his father’s study. After a couple of minutes, he came down with the treasure.

“Okay, guys, this thing is the real deal, and I want this to be our secret, alright,” he said, holding something behind his back.

Everybody nodded as they were curious, as to what Abhimanyu had brought and he showed them the ‘treasure.’

“What the fuck! A handgun!” exclaimed Vibha as Abhimanyu showed them the polished grey .0380 ACP.

“You sure about this, buddy?” asked a concerned Kaajal.

“Yeah, I am,” Abhimanyu replied.

“Ohhhoo... That is super cool. Could I touch it!” said Nishant, utterly amazed at the sight of the gun.

“No. No. It will strictly be used for the game purpose only. It is loaded,” warned Abhimanyu.

“But who will hide it?” asked Vivek.

“How about Ram Lal? He could do it for us and plant the clues with the help of his young son,” suggested Richa.

“Yeah, right. That can be done,” said Abhimanyu. “Ram Lal! Ram Lal!” called out Abhimanyu.

Ram Lal came running into the hall. “Ji Abhimanyuji. Vo thodi aankh lag gayi thi” he said.

“Chota bhi so gaya kya?”

“Nahi vo jaga hai. Kya hua, kaam tha?”

“Haa vo is cheez ko chupana hai,” said Abhimanyu showing him the gun.

Ram Lal was taken aback by the sight of the gun but controlled his anxiety.

“Daro mat. It’s just for the game,” said Abhimanyu

“I want you to hide it somewhere in the villa and then, with the help of your son, make some clues and place them all over the house,” Abhimanyu explained.

“Let’s keep a total of 4 clues,” said Kaajal.

“Okay, tho chaar clues banane hai,” ordered Abhimanyu.

“Yes, sir, but I can’t do that because I have never played this game,” answered Ram Lal.

“Yeah, so ask your son to help you. He must be knowing a thing or two about this,” said Abhimanyu.

“Okay sir, I will try,” replied Ram Lal leaving the group.

Ram Lal and his son first roamed around the whole house, searching for a safe place to hide the gun while all the seven of them were back in the veranda, enjoying the beer and chatting.

“Ram Lal is taking quite some time now. Somebody tell him it’s not the national treasure,” said Nishant, which was followed by a series of laughter from everyone.

After about 30 minutes, Ram Laal came out in the veranda with his son, informing them that the clues were ready and well placed. They all gathered in the hall where Ram Lal handed them their first clue.

“I will go to sleep. Jarurat pade tho bulana,” said Ram Lal as he left for his small room near the villa. Abhimanyu nodded in agreement.

“I have seen many faces.

Happy faces, sad faces, all kinds of faces.

I always tell the truth, how much ever you try to deny” readout Vibha picking up the first clue.

Everyone was thinking hard for quite some time, when suddenly Abhimanyu shouted in excitement, ““Water?”

“A lie detector?” suggested Nishant, to which everybody gave him an annoyed look.

Vivek stood, thinking about the riddle and murmuring to himself. Suddenly he jerked his head. “It could be glass. Oh, wait! Do you have any big mirrors?” he asked.

“Yeah, we do,” answered Abhimanyu.

“Yeah, then this could be it,” said Vivek pointing at the second line of the riddle.

“Oh yeah! Let’s start with the biggest one in my room. That could be it,” said Abhimanyu as they ran up to his room.

He went up to the big mirror and slid it open, showcasing his collection of perfumes. And on one of such bottles, was another chit as the second clue.

“Oh, yes! Got it!” exclaimed Abhimanyu. “One down three to go.”

“Messing with me should be last on your mind.

It gives you hope in the darkest of nights.

Can help nourish you or destroy you like a stick of dynamite.”

“Ram Lal is good with riddles,” said Vibha.

“It must probably be his son. Ram Lal is too old for this” replied Abhimanyu.

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