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creatures, experiments, feelings, ghosts, islands, laboratory, life, long stories, long story, monsters, musings, mystery, pharmaceutical, ponderings, scary, scientists, sharmishtha (trisha ) basu, sharmishtha basu, spirits, spooky, spookytales, stories, story, strange island, thoughts, writings
ONE
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the island
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It was a piece of emerald studded in blue. Tall coconut groves stood at the end of sprawling white beach, apparently circling the entire island. The sapphire ocean created a ring around it; waves with white crown kissed the sands to rush back to the ocean. Flocks of seagulls and other birds were flying around, noisily.
She was watching it from the deck after hearing on speakers that her destination was near.
The steamer anchored itself on the jetty, she saw a man standing on the jetty, in the crowd of visitors holding a placard with her name on it.
That was not needed; she was the only one who came down from the steamer.
“People have superstitions against that island.” The manager of her hotel has told her voluntarily.
“The passengers, crews of ships that pass by that island claim they have seen monsters on its beaches sometimes.”
“Well, if there are monsters in that island that will be a unique experience.” She has smiled widely.
She was that daughter who brought tears and nightmares to parents. For a second she was back to her youth, she was a hyperactive member of local ghost hunter group; she used to spend nights in graveyards and haunted houses for just one chanced encounter.
All she was blessed with was mosquito bites and some encounters with little deadlier creatures like scorpions or snakes.
Once they encountered a leopard too but it was more scared of them then they were scared of it.
So the scare stories of the manager only strengthened her resolutions of joining a job in “God forbidden country” (as per her mother).
She smiled and waved at the man on the jetty.
“Ms. Julia Basu?” the man stretched out his hand. “I am Andrews Emerson!”
She recollected that the letter that came to her was signed by some S.F. Emerson, director, Salvation Pharmaceuticals.
TWO
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strange rules
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She could not stop herself from admiring his physical perfection. He had a strange easiness in his movements, graceful like a gymnast on floor. A tall, handsome man about her age, bronzed by extensive exposure to sun, his smile was warm and infectious it spread to his black eyes, and made them glow in a mysterious way those huge eyes had a strange depth and look in them. She has not seen a pair of eyes blacker than his.
Well… I won’t be surprised if he can hypnotize with them…she smiled to herself.
She herself was a frail, fair girl with huge brown eyes and a sweet, shy smile. Her introvert nature hid her adventurous spirit perfectly. A sudden glint in those dreamy eyes and firm jaw sometimes hinted the strong personality hidden inside. She barely reached his shoulder. His masculine body made her more aware of her soft feminine figure.
They left the dock after collecting her luggage.
A small car was waiting outside. He opened the door for her with a smile, “Welcome to Emerald Green. The directors have asked to take the car to Mr. Das’s residence first, will that be convenient for you or will I drop you at your bungalow?”
“It’s perfectly alright; I think it will be best if you drop me at Mr. Das’s residence.”
The steamer after blaring its horn thrice gently pushed away from the jetty to resume its journey. She stood watching it for a while.
“It comes twice a day, once when it leaves Chennai, and then when it returns to Chennai. There is no other way of communicating with the civilized world. It collects our mails.” Andrews smiled. “You might have guessed that our directors want to keep their island as natural as possible. Well we do have all sort of modern equipments and other vile things but visitors are not much welcome down here. Actually they have to get special permission to visit us. If someone is caught trespassing he is locked up for the night and escorted to the steamer very next morning.”
“What about relatives?” Julia asked because she did not have any plans of giving up her family.
“They are allowed brief visits but for longer visits the employees are given the facility of occupying our small villas on the main land, free of cost of course.” Andrews said, his eyes were on road, they were sitting side by side after she insisted that she will not sit in the backseat. “I thought Mr. Das has briefed you …” she could feel an undertone of uneasiness in his voice.
“I hope these dictatorial rules won’t make you leave us.” He turned his face and looked deeply in her eyes; she could feel butterflies fluttering in her tummy.
He smiled warmly and she could not resist beaming at him.
THREE
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picture perfect
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The island was beautifully planned. The roads were well maintained with trees on both sides. Small picturesque houses were scattered on both sides, at enviable distance from each other. Every house had a medium sized garden around it, with swings. The houses did not have any boundary walls that promised safety from burglars or intruders.
“These trees bloom almost round the year. They are some local species with huge fragrant flowers.” Andrews said following her eyes. He pulled the car under one of the trees.
It was filled with huge, mauve flowers, the sweet fragrance a bit like gardenia was heavily spread all around the tree, petals of the flowers were scattered under the tree, decorating the grass. She noted that both sides of the road had a carpet of well trimmed grass.
She sat down under the tree after asking Andrews if it was okay to delay the visit to Mr. Das’s house for fifteen minutes.
“Take your time.” He smiled.
She picked up a handful of petals and inhaled, they filled her heart with sweet fragrance.
“Here!” Andrews was standing before her with a flower in his hand. “…a beautiful flower for a beautiful lady.”
It might have sounded naïve in someone else’s mouth but his warmth and smile made it genuine.
She reached out for it, their hands brushed and she felt a bolt of electricity passing through her body. She pulled away her hand with a deep blush, the flower shivered softly in her fingers.
She reprimanded herself …. Grow up!
She has never felt this strong attraction for anyone, she has had her share of brief relationships but no one was able to hold her attention for too long. She was too much to handle. Indian boys got intimidated by her free spirit and independent personality.
“Let’s go!” she got up after a few minutes of uneasy silence.
The flower was truly beautiful, one single bloom filled up the car with its fragrance.
She noted there were four or five varieties of the tree, all in full bloom, white, mauve, pink, orange and yellow.
“They all have their own distinct fragrance.” Andrews remarked. His warmth has already melted the uneasiness of her mind.
The car pulled up in front of a small bungalow.
“Our directors believe in simple living, high thinking.” He chuckled
FOUR
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Peter Pan
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A red graveled road lead to the bungalow through the garden and lawn. It reminded her of the enchanting drive of Rebecca, both sides of the road were bordered by trees and bushes, well maintained, healthy full of flowers or beautiful, healthy foliage. It was rustic and well groomed- someone has taken care to bring that feeling to the level of perfection.
The house was visible clearly now; a marble white house with red roof and other decorative works.
“The architect Mr. Saxena had a hard time planning these houses.” Andrews smiled. “They are beautiful and unique.”
“Every house has some common features but everything else is different from one another. No two houses in the island are replica.”
It was a small cozy bungalow built in Victorian style, huge windows, spacious porch, the roof was utilized as another garden it seemed, she could see the flowers from down here.
“Mr. Das is very fond of trees.” Andrews remarked.
She blushed a little realizing that he is keenly observing her. She looked at him he was watching the roof top too.
“If he invites you, and you love plants you will be enchanted by his collection. Most of the people of our island love gardening but he is king of us all.”
“His favourite passion is creating new types of plants by blending genes of available ones.”
“The trees you saw on the way, they are his creation. He has blended the genes of gardenia with various types of plants to give us those plants.”
“They are called Chitrachampak after his parents Chitra and champak.”
“They are beautiful, amazing.” She was pleasantly surprised by this unique information.
He smiled softly, “There are nine varieties of them. I will show them to you tomorrow if you are free of course.”
“I will be so happy…” she blurted out then fell silent, hoping he could not sense her eagerness to be with him. Everything about him was creating a magnetic attraction. His warm voice, its sonorousness, his knowledge, his personality… she was feeling absolutely helpless against this magnetic pull.
“The pleasure will be all mine!” he warmly smiled looking deeply in her eyes.
…it would be so nice if he felt the way I do… the thought flashed in her mind and she quickly reprimanded herself for acting like a teenager.
A short heighted old man was waiting for them in the porch. He stepped forward to meet them, “How was the journey Ms. Basu? I am Avik Das!”
“Quite pleasant sir.” She smiled. “Please call me Julia!”
———————————————————–
Two hundred commandments and a specter
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He handed her over a bundle of papers, “Read them carefully, these are the two hundred commandments we all had to sign before joining Salvation.” He winked again, “Disobeying them means instant deportation.”
Julia realized that she was forming a subtle allergy for this man who was deliberately trying not to act his age.
She got up after drinking the juice placed on the table feigning tiredness. “I will read them by tomorrow, will that be okay sir?” she has already made up her mind to keep a polite distance from this man.
“Yes. Of course young lady.” He smiled. “The driver will come tomorrow morning at your lodge to take you to school to meet Mrs. Ghosh.”
She has been placed in a lodge for the night, if she decides to join after reading the rules and regulations she will join the school as yoga teacher from tomorrow, she will have her own bungalow in school premises.
“Will you keep Ms. Basu company today Andrews? If you are free of course.” He winked again.
She hoped that the remaining directors are matured.
“Mr. Das is a shareholder. He has invested quite a fat lot of money in Salvation.” Andrews said softly as the car was pulling out of the bungalow confirming her that he is able to read her expressions like an open book.
She prayed in her heart that she was not that visible to others, especially to Mr. Das.
The car next stopped in front of a small sea-side cabin.
“Hope you will like it for a night.” he smiled as he stood opening the car door for her.
She came down; a sudden gust of wind blew her dupatta and wrapped it around his body. They both reached out for it spontaneously and their hands brushed together again.
He softly, slowly disentangled it from his body, looking at her flustered face, his eyes bore to her soul. She could not hold his gaze more than a few minutes- but those minutes seemed like eternity, she felt he saw her very soul and how his name was already written all over it.
They started to walk towards the cabin silently.
The day flew by. She tossed and turned all night; dreaming all sort of crazy dream, deep at night she felt someone was standing at the window of her room and watching her. His eyes were two pieces of golden flame.
She could not make it out whether it was a dream or she really did saw something. The chirping of birds woke her up at dawn. She checked the watch; it was five that meant she had five more hours before reporting to Mrs. Ghosh. The rules were really too much but she wanted to give it a chance and decided to join the contract for one year at present.
SIX
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Morning in paradise
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Only reason was Andrews. She could not neither analyze the mystery behind its intensity nor bear the thought of leaving him behind without trying at-least once whether the pure magic will bloom in its full glory if given time and scope.
He was any woman’s dream come true; warm, affectionate, handsome, sophisticated, well educated, virtuous and intelligent.
He was the only son of one of the directors of Salvation.
A crisp gust of wind brought her back to present…. In her bed, in a lodge, thinking about a person she has met only yesterday….
She yawned and stretched and looked out of the window. The ocean was visible from behind a small cluster of coconut trees and Rose bushes. It was deep blue and inviting.
The bushes were filled with white roses, beautiful huge flowers. She could see the butterflies flittering on them, adding their rainbow hues to their pristine beauty.
She just could not stay indoors…..
She quickly changed into salwar suit and stepped out. She started to stroll in the beach. The place was truly a piece of heaven. The sand was soft, powdery; white it was bordered with trees and bushes.
A ring of emerald then white and finally turquoise blue of the ocean…. Cool! She could see that in her mind’s eye and the picture made her smile happily.
May be, the decision of staying here for a while is wise after all.
“You are an early riser!” she almost jumped.
It was Andrews in a track suit. He looked stunning in that deep blue track suit. It fitted perfectly to his athletic body and added sophistication to his rugged appearance.
“Did I scare you? Sorry!” the mischievous twinkle in his eyes told her that he was lying, he quite enjoyed startling her.
She beamed at him, at the entire world in fact, all of a sudden the morning became amazing, full of colour and beauty. He started to walk with her.
“So…. Did you read the commandments?” he asked after a while. His dark eyes waiting eagerly…..
“Yes.” She laughed, “I think I will give it a trial.”
He beamed and she blushed.
———————-
SEVEN:
The stroll together
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They were acting like two teenagers in love for the first time in their life; so happy to be with each other….the world centered in the body of the other.
“Have you ever been to the school?” she asked desperate to change the topic.
“Oh yes. It’s a small island we all go everywhere but laboratory of Salvation. That building is a fortress and absolutely inaccessible to anyone but the scientists and Mr. Das.” He said, “No one, not even the directors are allowed everywhere in that fortress.”
“Mr. Das is the show-runner of that fortress. It is his brain-child and his life. He never married fearing his family will take his brain-child away from him.”
She felt that he was not very easy about Mr. Das, she could guess why!
“I have asked the chauffer to hand over the duty to me today.” He said smiling, “Hope you won’t mind. I want to be there when you become a part of our island.”
She shook her head vigorously.
He stooped down and picked up a conch shell from the beach and handed it over to her.
“Do you know if we press it to our ears we can hear the ocean’s roar inside it?”
“Never had the chance of trying it; I was born and brought up in Kolkata. My family suffered from travel phobia so ….” She laughed out loud as she remembered those boring holidays sitting at home, watching television or movie. “Their unnecessary fear robbed me off the joy of traveling on my own or with my friends too. “
“Well I kind of settled my score in other ways.” She smiled mischievously. “This is the second time I am on a beach.”
“I can’t imagine a life away from it.” He said softly.
“I guess I know already why!” she nodded. “I am afraid that your island is already bewitching me.”
“Our island!” he looked deeply in her eyes as he said the words.
She smiled and lowered her eyes, she was afraid that she will end up doing something silly if she stared into his eyes for too long.
“You will love it here.” He said softly and with an air of determination. As if, he will take care of that.
The sun was rising in the eastern horizon the blue ocean started to turn into red.
EIGHT
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THE SPARK
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They sat down on the beach, watched the sun rise slowly from the ocean to climb up in the sky.
She checked her watch, it was six thirty.
“Let’s start walking back towards your lodge. I will come at eight to pick you up, keep my breakfast ready… I am already starving.” He smiled like an old friend she has known for ages.
“So, what will mister have for breakfast?” she smiled naughtily as she stood up and dusted away the fine particles of sand from her clothes.
“Any Indian breakfast… as long as its heavy.” He smiled, “I am a heavy eater. I relish eating.”
“Dosa?” she asked.
“Divine!” he nodded.
The lodge was visible at distance.
“I will be back after shower.” He waved his hand as he jogged past it.
She showered and changed into a sari. A golden pure silk sari, she loved the feeling of soft silk against her body and its material gave her a false plumpness, gently covered her frailty. Everyone said she looked gorgeous in that sari. It was elegant, just perfect for first appearance in a school and to look gorgeous.
She ordered the breakfast at eight and sat down in the verandah to wait for him.
The car pulled in fifteen minutes early. She stood up.
He came down wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. She stopped breathing for a while as she stood watching him walk towards her. His dark hair has created a black halo around his handsome face. He smiled warmly at her as his eyes fell on her and then stopped there. Something changed in his eyes, just the look she wanted to see on that face hovered on his face for quite a substantial time then he overpowered it with a blush.
“So you know how to drape a sari.” He chuckled, trying hard to hide his open admiration, “You look amazing in one.” He stretched out his hand he was hiding behind, it held nine flowers of nine different colours and the entire place filled up with fragrance, as if they were standing in midst of a spring garden not a verandah.
“Thanks.” She smiled happily. “Well, I had to wear one in my school, as uniform for four years.”
“Apart from that, I love to wear one, even though I have to wear salwar suit mostly because they are convenient.” She added.
“They are so beautiful!” she softly kissed the flowers.
“You can keep them in a vase, they last for weeks….” He said. “I hope you won’t mind…..”
He handed her the polythene packet dangling in his hand. It was carrying a exquisite vase.
“You are spoiling me!” she feebly protested but his eyes stopped her from saying anything further.
He helped her in placing the flowers in vase and together they returned to the verandah, sat down side by side.
The breakfast arrived sharp at eight.
NINE
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Victorian rules
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He drove her through gorgeous landscapes to the top of a small hill. The high walls around the premises said it was the school. Even though the security arrangement seemed a tad higher than it should be.
It looked more like a jail that kept prisoners in.
“When it comes to bringing up children our directors believe in the stories of Charles Dickens- spare the rod and spoil the child.” He laughed when he saw the horrified expression on Julia’s face. “No they don’t believe in physical punishment or psychological torture, they believe in firm rules.”
“All children enter this fortress from nursery or before, if their parents are too busy in their career life, or if some sad incident leaves them orphan.”
“They are allowed to return home when their parents pick them up after school… that is till they are ten years old. After that, they go home only when their parents are willing and free and they have school holidays.”
“So that arrangement is certainly made to keep prisoners in; by the time they are sixteen or seventeen they become desperate for the life outside their Ashram, which they are not allowed at all. You know kids, sometimes they become desperate!”
“Our directors have another dictatorial rule; no one is allowed a second issue. All children of Emerald Island stay in Emerald Island when they become adults. Now, we are facing a strange problem, two adults marry and result in one child so our population is diminishing in a steady scale. So, most probably we will be allowed two children in place of one soon.”
“Sounds like twisted island?” he smiled as he read her expressions clearly. “I thought I will tell you these things before you take your decision. “ There was softness in his eyes that made her heart feel at peace.
“If you look through the eyes of our directors they say that children deserve a life of purity till they are adults. Present world is full of blood, sex and violence. Every parent has full right to save their children from that ugliness. So they teach their children everything in world but in the right time, in the right way, so they don’t become perverts or hooligans.”
“They have nothing to worry about fitting in the wicked world outside, they go there as visitors from time to time, they know they don’t have to adjust to its crooked ways because their future is safe at home. Some stay there, but once they start living there they are not allowed back here, not even as visitors.”
TEN
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Mrs. Ghosh….
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“That’s harsh!” she could not resist herself from saying. “A little like communist states, is not it? Too afraid of outside influence! Afraid that the stories of outside world that will corrupt the gullible minds!”
“You can say that!” he said.
They covered the remaining distance silently. Both lost in their own thoughts. The car pulled up in front of the school office; another amazing specimen of architecture and planning.
“I used to be so miserable that we students were not allowed in the garden attached to the school office. Even now, it’s a privilege to the staffs and their visitors. So I guess if you will allow me I will finally be able to satiated my long coveted desire.” He laughed merrily and then on a sudden impulse reached out and held her hand, “All the best!”
She shivered and glowed with the wonderful feeling of his skin. It was soft, warm and very firm. it seemed she has known that touch for years.. or maybe more.
“Please don’t give up on us without trying if something good comes out of these rigid rules.”
“I will.” She warmly smiled. Her face still warm and glowing from the memory of that surprise joy.
“I will wait for you here…… no I will come back a couple of hours later, because Mrs. Ghosh will take you to see your home and the school.” He said. “If she lets you out for the rest of the day I will love to take you to a small trip before collecting your luggage.”
“You are spoiling me!” she laughed happily.
His beautiful face glowed with the same happiness which she knew was making her face radiant.
He pulled the car out of the driveway and disappeared outside the building gate.
She stepped inside the building.
… there is something in the water, air or both of this island! She thought to herself. Every staff she met on her way to Mrs. Ghosh’s office had the same amazing physical perfection and graceful movement. She felt she was walking around in a gymnasium where the best gymnasts practiced.
They were very pleasant too. “Don’t smile at strangers” was not a dictum here. Everyone who caught her eyes smiled warmly.
A tall, elderly lady showed up at the end of the corridor, her white hair was neatly tucked in a bun. Some rebellious ones were creating a beautiful halo around her graceful face.
“I am Amrita Ghosh!” she reached out and clasped her outstretched hand. “I know you are Julia Basu.” She smiled warmly.
“Welcome to Spring Blooms Academy!”
ELEVEN
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A dream home
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Just as Andrews has assumed, she took her to a quick tour around the school premises after she signed the necessary documents.
The school compound was huge- it looked like a tapovan (ancient Indian schools situated in the middle of forests, where teachers and pupils lived in huts).
“Is it safe to have those woods around us?” she asked uncertainly.
“There are no ferocious animals there, not even snakes. We take care of that very strictly.” She smiled reassuringly.
“You will fall in love with them. I so love to take a walk in them after school, the sudden encounter with a herd of deer, or a rabbit darting across the path… a peacock resting on a branch… these small ecstasies fill up the soul for days to come.” She continued dreamily.
Finally she stopped her car in front of a perfect little house.
She could see her name was already written on the letterboxes on both side of the gate.
“This is my residence?” she gulped.
“You don’t like it?” Mrs. Ghosh asked. “We can look for another; there are quite a few empty ones.”
“Oh no… it’s amazing. I just want to be sure that I am not dreaming!” she was staring at the house.
They crossed the well-maintained garden to reach the porch.
The porch surrounded the house, it was wide, spacious. A flight of stairs descended to the lawn that again surrounded the house. A beautiful belt of luscious green grass with small patches of well maintained seasonal flowers.
“Gardeners come regularly to maintain the garden.” Mrs. Ghosh said. She opened the door and handed her over the keys.
The house was big enough to keep a small sized family in it. Three bedrooms, living room, drawing room, a small library, a small gymnasium, a huge hall on the first floor with massive windows that came down almost to the floor and reached up to the ceiling.
“There is another thing. A surprise you may love or hate. It just clean bowled me!” she pressed a small button on the wall and half of the roof slid to one side. There was a thick glass roof above it.
“You can slide the entire roof to view the sky, in nights it’s a pure dream.” Mrs. Ghosh said.
There were two switches on the panel- for half and full sliding.
TWELVE
——————–
First few steps
———————
“We have taken the liberty of furnishing the house for you. When you buy your own stuffs, we will retrieve the furniture or accessories you will like to be removed.” Mrs. Ghosh said. “I use this room for painting, relaxing; often I fall asleep in this room in the night, listening to a song, watching a movie. Then late at night the patter of raindrops wake me up or may be a sudden crash of thunder. These experiences are so amazing!”
The room was made in such a way; there was a beautiful king-size bed on one side, arrangements for setting up a home theatre or less.
Everything about that room was relaxing; the sitting arrangements were small divan, or carpets thrown on floor with big cushions. It was decorated in pastel shades, pink, blue, red, yellow, cream and more soothing soft colours were sprinkled around the room in form of furniture and accessories.
Amrita’s cell phone beeped. She picked it up and walked away from her to have her conversations.
“Your handsome date is waiting in my office.” She smiled sweetly. “So what do you say about the house young lady?”
“It’s amazing.” She beamed happily.
“Today is Friday; the school is closed on Saturday, Sunday. You can move in any day before Monday. I will suggest Saturday night at the max; then you will have the time to relax for a day and two nights before starting your job. It will be quite a heavy load. Our present yoga teacher will teach you the ways, she is pregnant; so she will be taking a break for five years. By that time we are hoping that we will have enough students to keep a senior and junior yoga teacher.”
“Our directors are working on that for last one decade. We were having an alarming decline in population before that. The things have sorted a bit, some of the young couples are merrily having two or more issues. Three is now the new final number.”
“We are expecting at least fifty more new students by the end of this year, and steady inflow every alternate year or so. By the time Monalisa will be back there will be at least two hundred more students in your class.”
“The yoga classes start from nursery itself. There is a gymnasium and martial art stadium too.”
“A perfect body holds the perfect mind.” She chuckled gently as the car pulled in the driveway of the school office.
Andrews was waiting on the portico. He smiled at her when she stepped out of the car. He folded his hands for Mrs. Ghosh, she beamed at him.
“You will be given your own car from the school. Oh, by the way, the teachers can go out of the school premises but they will have to register at the gate and will have to return before eight or spend the night outside.”
“Hope it’s not too harsh!” Amrita said after a brief pause.
She chuckled a bit before shaking her hand and stepping inside Andrews’s car.
TO BE CONTINUED……
