Illusion (don’t believe what you hear)

Illusion (don’t believe what you hear)

          I entered the principal’s room and told him I had finished all the formalities. He asked me a few questions about my experience, my antecedents generally, the mode in which I propose to use the knowledge I acquire and finally, he said, “When do you wish to begin?”

          “Now,” I replied.

          “Well, these two records you should maintain, the first one is late comers’ record and second one is dress code record. M….m the other one is disciplinary record as you are a new students’ counselor I’ll maintain this.”

          I glanced at the records.

          “One thing Mr. Senthil,” principal continued, “when the students make mistakes, you should make them realize their mistakes and not punish them even verbally”

          “These nitty-gritties I know sir.”

          “Ok all the best” he walked off. I went to the reception hall. It was 9.30 am. From there I saw, a father and his sons rushing into the school. Wow, I was tempted to counsel the parent. I’d list out all the points the student had to face for coming late. The person next to me buzzed, “He is a politician, the area counselor.” But I know no one could stop me when I had decided to follow the rules.

          I stopped them and began entering their names in the record. The father gazed me and told, “I want to meet principal”.        

          “Yea, sure. I’m working as per the principal’s order.”

          After a while I heard the principal’s voice from his chamber, “Senthil, be flexible, remove the names from the record.” 

I, Ant (an action thriller)

I, Ant (an action thriller)

          This was the first time ever my mother had allowed me to travel alone, and I had to promise her to behave myself and above all I should stick with my group…. And it was precisely that promise that was to be broken first of all. We were walking deep inside a thick forest where often robbers pop up to pick our things.

          We turned left side. Our group had to travel toward east. This is shadowy and our journey by walking so nice. Because I was empty handed. But so much of my co-travellers were having big packages in their hands. Suddenly one of our group leaders screamed in a strangled voice “Fire!” and collapsed in a dead faint. This produced a most violent commotion. No one remained in his place and we all made a dash with each other. How was it that we had not noticed before this the smoke. I simply cannot understand it. Here and there red glow, as of burning coal, flared up.

          Three great pillars of smoke, through which tongues of flame flickered, rose on either side of our group. I saw that some workers ran and came by me. I stared their cold, energetic faces; their eyes were reflecting the flames with an almost blood-stained glint, inspired instinctive terror. They pushed me and ran away. Not knowingly I got up and ran after them. But they disappeared.

          As for myself, I took refuge near a big wet plank and sat down on one of its lower rungs. I looked horror-struck at the ruddy foam that boiled and bubbled beneath me and sent spray up to my face. I kept saying myself: “So that’s where I shall have to die at the age of nineteen!” Then I made up my mind to ran rather than be roasted alive. The flames rose in an arch above me and I could clearly distinguish their howl from the crying voice of our group.

          As I was running I saw a big wide hole. “Jump!” I cried myself, stretching out my arms. At that movement, the success of my bold attempt, the conviction that I was safe from the flames filled me with quite incredible strength and courage.

          I ran rapidly toward my group. Only a few of our group were lost, eight in all. Nearly all our baggage, I fear, was lost. But I got the courage that no one could destroy all of us. Even you. Before using fire to kill us in your backyard think twice. You can’t kill us.  

The Scanner

   The Scanner

          We were seated in our staff room as she walked swiftly by us, turned a corner sharply, and was gone.

          “Wow,She is a great-looking girl” I said to Shamala, who was deep in preparing Shakespeare for the next class.

          “Do you mean the girl, walking rapidly with noise, as if she is the only one wearing heals.” Shamala asked me.

          “You heard the noise! Just now she crossed.”

          “Yep,with that dull colored cotton dress on. It’s a copy of college girls from Mujse Fraaanship Karoge, and poor, and also failed. The shoes does not go with that dress. You’d think, though, that a navy blue jeans with it, especially with her Zero Gravity perfume on her.”

          “Zero Gravity? I didn’t notice that.”

          “Good heavens, that is the only perfume comes with 33% more and 25% discount.”

          “Is it? But I’m using Fa.”

          “So you are sitting near me. I don’t mind fair natural make-up. But you should use scraper to remove hers.”

          “I didn’t look at her face.”

          “I know you are comparing your tummy.”

          “Is she not a good looking girl?” I asked, thinking my complement has failed.

          “M… m, you may be correct.” Shamala told. “I was busy with Shakespeare and I didn’t notice her particularly. What is correct – Marloew or Marlowe?"