Spellbook

  “All set?”, whispered Akash climbing the marble steps that led to the lavish opal entrance door of his neighbor’s house with a knife on his hand. “Shall I try the door?” “Everything else is set,” mumbled Keerthi adjusting her glasses. “But, I don’t think I am” “Oh, not again, Keerthi! Remember? We have cut the deal. Just forget everything else and focus only on your task. On the count of…” “Just tell me the truth, Akash. Are we really doing the right thing?” “No. But we have exhausted all our options. It’s this or nothing for us. So, whatever happens…” “But we really don’t have to try to kill them, we could…”  “One…two…” “Akash, let’s…”  “THREEEEEEE!!” If Akash’s voice was dissolved in the creaking sound the door had made when he pushed it open, there was nothing in that house that could take away the terror that they felt when they took in the scene that unfolded before them. The magical white floors that they had once known had started to turn crimso...

THE TRAP No. I cannot do this. I am not meant to do this. I simply cannot afford to break the trust these people have bestowed upon me, all these years. There must be a way. There ought to be some way. Or.. what if I do not have any other choice? What if, there really isn't a way? The answer to that question came in the form of a text message from a familiar phone number, to my new phone, which was thrust upon me a few minutes back. The message read: “The three men you have sent here to “scare” me have given me this new number of yours, and told me to warn you, to not do something stupid, which will eventually put both our lives to risk. Seriously Ryan, new number? Uff. But I must tell you- they are just terrific. If I hadn't known your brilliance in pulling up pranks and surprises, I would have taken them to be a real gang of thugs. Phew. But whatever you do today, let me make this very clear to you. I am NOT going to get fooled this time!! See you soon;)”     ...

  Dr. Geetha Raman, with her twenty-two years of service as a doctor, would have had enough experience to maintain her composure in a situation like this, but as a mother, Geetha’s hands trembled when she collected her son’s belongings from the nurse. Along with the things she knew were very much part of Amit’s possessions, was a neatly folded sheet of paper, which the nurse said, she had obtained from his pockets. I am not a good mother was the first thought that filled Geetha’s mind, when she opened the letter her son had written. I can hardly read this. I hardly understand my son’s own words . Tears started welling her eyes when Geetha perceived that this probably would be the last chance she would get to behold her son’s writing. Though with difficulty, the mother realized that she had to read the letter. She wanted to know what her son had wanted her to know.   Dear Mom,   If all goes well, this might very well be the last letter I will ever trouble yo...