Part 1 : http://authspot.com/short-stories/ginger-friendships-untold-stories/

Part 2: http://authspot.com/short-stories/ginger-friendships-untold-stories-2/

Part 3: http://authspot.com/short-stories/ginger-friendships-untold-stories-3/

Part 4: http://authspot.com/short-stories/ginger-friendships-untold-stories-part-four-2/

The mission

The steps looked steeper; it took double the effort to climb. As it is said with the fear the distance increases. Both Ray and Addy tried hard to hide their fears, but the shiver in legs were clear with each step they took.

The office veranda was deserted; Ray could see the peon uncle sitting next to the office room. Ray also noticed the few seniors; mostly 12th standard students inside the library with big books on biology and mathematics, there were windows to the library right from the stairs. The special part about this library was that it is open only to class 10th and up. So it was privilege to hold a membership in the main library and these two were the latest batch of inductees.

Addy was already webbing the plan to enter the library; they feared the worst to happen, hearts were in the mouth. Ray was wondering why these tiny sand grains made such loud noises. Another fear that was waving around was of being questioned by teachers, it was usual that teachers would ask more questions to students who literally ate books in library after the regular hours. It was a good on the part of teachers to make those students learn more but not on this instance. Right it will be the worst case to happen. It is not that Ray or Addy or any other in the gang was a weak student, it was just not the right time.

They could hear Narayan sir’s voice but it was more of a whisper so couldn’t make good sense of it. Finally Addy showed sign to Ray to move towards library, Ray nodded and kept walking while Addy turned around and went to the water cooler. One had to pass by Principal’s office to the cooler. He walked as slow as he could but fast enough not to raise any suspicion.

“This is not an acceptable behaviour, you are grown up and in another two years you are supposed to leave this school to a better place.”

Addy could guess this line although it was faded and the better place line sounded most clear as he passed by. It was surely the principal sir. So now it was clear that Sujith was still around. Also now, there was hope of catching Sujith later when he leaves the school. Addy went ahead caught the glass tumbler with trembling hands and drank water, most of which spilled over his shirt. Finally he gathered himself and began to walk. When fear rides each of your legs feel like 10kgs and the shiver on legs made it a tougher job to walk. Still he came back to the position where he could hear what Principal sir was mentioning -

“How long will it take for him to come?”

Weeps! Weeps!

“Please, stop your acts. Nothing is gonna change here” Principal’s voice echoed.

Addy couldn’t resist himself from holding the steps and hearing what else was happening. Stopping there was simpler for him, but it was a bad place to stop, he never knew.

“What do you think? You can go around beating people up, making a blood pool in class and still study here?” The voice was stronger than earlier. And Sujith could just cry more loudly.

Then there was the sound of a slap!

Addy was literally shaken down to the ground. He had tough time lifting himself off the ground. As soon as he was up, he ran through the corridor to the library. He forgot that he had made a mistake there! His boots sounded like big drums and it was the trigger to another trouble. Principal Sir walked out of the office to see the running kid and immediately he went back in, the half door slammed back. Then there was the ring to the Peon, on hearing the bell Peon uncle jumped out of seat and walked quickly to the Principal sir’s office.

There was silence!

Ray and Addy felt like aliens right in front of library door!

To be continued…