All
rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
Copyright Shreya Goswami 2011.
This is a work of fiction. Names,
characters, places and incidents are either the product of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance
to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely
coincidental.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes:
This eBook is
licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be
re-sold. If you would like to share this book with another person,
please do. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Dedication: To my Maa, Baba & Bunu
Princess and the Guard
“But I really really want that!”Screamed Tanya at the top of her voice, which left dramatic resonance in the big hall of the Museum.
“There’s sound for ya!”Said her brother Rohan, flickering his tongue at Tanya.
Mrs. Roni was surprisingly quiet and unusually tactful at quieting her daughter. There was calm in her which for once, suggested her indifference at the tantrums of her ten year old. She looked at all the timeless articles with such rapt attention, that the old curator was left bemused. Mrs. Roni absorbed the surrounding, and became one with the ancient and strongly mysterious spirit.
“What’s this Mr. Franco?” asked Rohan, excitedly pointing his finger at a grotesquely crafted gargoyle placed in the topmost rung, whose eyes followed you wherever you went.
Tanya half glanced at it ,and then returned to the magnificently jeweled doll, her only object of desire. “That is a rare piece of art, my boy, left here by the Goths, and later restored as the property of the Museum.This gargoyle is believed to be a Guard against evil.”Mr. Franco declared, and continued in all seriousness, “Mrs.Roni, I am afraid we are way past the closing time. You may of course, come back tomorrow or any other day.”
Mrs. Roni looked at him for a while, confusedly, then slowly gathered his words, turned to her kids and sighed. “Alright, we’ll rush off. C’mon guys let’s go! Tanya stop pulling her, you can’t have it. It belongs to someone we can never meet or know.” The last words were more to herself, than to her stubborn girl. But Tanya was glued to the spot and no amount of persuasion could move her. “Rohan! Help me with your sister!”Mrs. Roni pleaded.
But Rohan continued moving all around the gargoyle, charmed by its haunting stare.
“Oh Tanya! Please understand dear! I’ll take you to that toy store. You can take any doll you want from there, I promise.”
“But what about princess? She’s so beautiful!”Tanya exclaimed.
“Remember that doll, all in pink and white with beautiful curls? We’ll buy that for you sweetheart. Now please come.”The hapless mother continued.
“Well ok!” Tanya reluctantly agreed.
All four of them stepped out of the Museum, and Mr. Franco asked Mrs. Roni to hold the flashlight for him, while he frantically searched for the right keys.
“Mom, I left my bag inside. Can I go get it?”Tanya asked.
“Of course! Rohan, go with your sister and help her find it!”Mrs.Roni ordered and proceeded to talk with the curator.
Mrs. Roni looked on as the kids went inside the dim-lit hall. A few minutes passed. Mr. Franco found the keys. The kids were still inside.
“Hey! Come back quick!”Mrs. Roni became worried and planned to get in, when both of them returned, looking exhausted yet somehow mysteriously pleased. Mrs. Roni urged them to get inside their blue sedan, waved Mr. Franco goodbye and got in. The old man turned back to lock the massive wooden door.
Then a very strange thing happened. The entire city had a blackout. Even the Museum which was provided with a special power grid was enveloped in darkness and however much the curator wanted to close the door, the panels remained unmoved. Even Mrs. Roni’s car seemed to have a mind of its own. It did not start..
After pacifying her kids, she stepped out of the car and started walking in the pitch dark street towards the Museum, to help the hapless man who was repeatedly calling her name.
“Here take the light, and help me with the door.” Mr. Franco said.After a few failures they were finally able to close the door. Immediately, the electricity shot back. Mrs. Roni looked through the glass window inside the Museum.
Tanya and Rohan were both freaked out , when she reached the car. “Mom you are so mean!”Barked Rohan. She drove them straight home. The kids rushed to their rooms, and she asked them to clean up. After keeping the food ready in the oven, she went out to shop..
“Come down you two!”She was exhausted. But the kids were still grumpy. She went upstairs and knocked at Tanya’s door with a flashy gift pack. “Come in”, said Tanya.
“What’s that?”She asked excitedly.
“Open up” smiled Mrs. Roni.
She quickly tore down the green shiny wrap. Rohan peeped through the door.
“It’s so lovely Mom”.
Then after a pause, she smiled brightly-“Great! Now my Princess gets a sister.”
“And a Guard!” quipped Rohan from the door.
Mrs. Roni fell down on the bed. Her kids quickly came forward and flourished their trophies from the Museum!
*************Samapta********************