The early morning sunlight seeped into the hostel room as Mohit stretched on the floor, doing his morning exercises. Raj, standing by the mirror, meticulously combed his hair, whistling a cheerful tune.
Madhav, fresh from a cold shower, entered the room, towel around his neck, his damp hair glistening.
Madhav:
"Alright, guys, get ready. We need to leave soon for college."
Mohit (lying on the floor): "I don't feel like going."
Raj (smirking, still looking in the mirror):
"I know why—you don't want to face your punishment."
Madhav (grinning): "Exactly. From today, you're officially on garden duty. Better start loving grass and weeds, Mohit."
Mohit (rolling his eyes): "Very funny."
Raj (turning to Madhav): "By the way, you good now? You seemed pretty shaken last night."
Madhav (shrugging): "I'm fine. Just a weird dream, nothing serious. Don't worry about it."
Mohit (getting up and stretching): "Dreams are no big deal, bro. I get nightmares all the time. Like that one where I asked my dad for a sports bike—he pulled out his belt like some action hero, ready to teach me a lesson."
Raj and Madhav burst into laughter, the tension in the room easing.
Raj (chuckling): " Mohit. You always know how to lighten the mood."
Madhav (smiling): "Alright, enough jokes. Let's head to college before we're late."
The three friends grabbed their bags and left the room.
The classroom buzzed with low chatter as Raj leaned toward Rohan, flipping through his notebook.
Raj (grinning): "So, Rohan, I bet you've already finished Vikas Sir's notes and assignments."
Rohan (smugly): "Of course. Why wouldn't I? You know how I am."
Raj (playfully): "Yeah, yeah. Always ahead of the game. I was just asking to, you know, get some ideas."
Rohan (raising an eyebrow): "Sure, 'ideas.' Unfortunately, I don't have my notes right now. Someone else borrowed them."
Raj: "Ah, it's fine. I'll manage."
Raj looked around the room, realizing Madhav was missing. Just as he turned back, Madhav walked in, his expression calm but distant.
Raj: "Hey, where were you?"
Madhav (casually): "Had to take care of something."
Before Raj could question further, Nikki stormed into the room, her voice loud and clear.
Nikki: "Alright, everyone, listen up! I've got some exciting news!"
The class quieted down as Nikki continued, her excitement contagious.
Nikki: "This Sunday, we're going on our Himachal Pradesh trip! We'll travel from Bhopal to Himachal by train, so make sure you're prepared."
The classroom erupted into murmurs of excitement, some students already planning what to pack and whom to sit with on the train.
Nikki (pointing to the back): "All the trip details are posted on the notice board. Make sure to check it out after class."
Raj (nudging Madhav): "Looks like the trip is happening for real. Finally, something to look forward to!"
Madhav (smiling faintly): "Yeah, let's see how it goes."
The classroom hummed with chatter, but Madhav sat lost in thought. His fingers drummed lightly on the desk, his mind preoccupied with the golden coin.
"I've searched everywhere," he thought, "but no place feels safe enough to hide it. Maybe… if I gave it to someone else, I could take it back later. But no, I can't risk it. Whoever has this coin will face the same horrors I've endured. I can't put that burden on anyone else."
His thoughts were interrupted by Raj, who noticed his distant expression.
Raj: "Hey, what's going on? You've been quiet for a while."
Madhav (snapping out of it): "Nothing much. I was just thinking about Mohit. Wonder what he's up to now."
Rohan (joining in): "He's in the garden, cleaning up. That's where you'll find him."
Madhav (standing up): "Alright, I'll go check on him. Raj, you coming?"
Raj (shaking his head): "No, you go ahead. I'll stay here."
Madhav (nodding): "Okay, I'll be back soon."
Madhav grabbed his bag, his thoughts still tangled with the burden of the coin. he walked out of the room.
In the sunny garden, Mohit struggled with the grass cutter, his frustration mounting as uneven patches of grass remained.
Mohit (grumbling): "Why is this so hard?!"
An elderly gardener nearby chuckled at his irritation and offered gentle advice.
Gardener Uncle: "Beta, take your time. Do it slowly, with patience. That's the secret to good work."
Mohit (sighing, then smiling): "Alright, Kaka. I'll try. Thanks."
Across the garden, hidden behind a tree, Anika watched Mohit. Her face betrayed a mix of curiosity and hesitation. She toyed with the idea of helping him but couldn't bring herself to move.
Just then, Meera approached her, noticing her gaze.
Meera (teasing): "What are you staring at? Thinking of helping Mohit?"
Anika (quickly): "No! I'm just… checking if he's doing his punishment properly."
Before Meera could reply, Rupali joined them, sensing the tension.
Rupali (smiling): "What's going on here? Talking about Mohit "
Meera: "Of course. I told Anika that Mohit always annoys her and doesn't even talk properly with her. Why should she care how he's doing?"
Rupali (scolding): "Meera, don't say things like that. You'll make her upset."
Anika, visibly uncomfortable, stepped away.
Anika (calmly): "I was just observing, nothing else. I'm heading to the library."
As she left, Rupali turned to Meera.
Rupali (disapproving): "You didn't have to say that, Meera. It wasn't fair."
Meera (shrugging): "Alright, I'm sorry. I'll catch you later."
With that, Meera walked away, leaving Rupali.
As Madhav approached, Mohit looked up from his task, wiping sweat from his forehead.
Mohit (grinning): "Look at my masterpiece, bro! I'm so perfect at everything, right?"
Madhav (smiling): "I know, Mohit. You're a true multitasker."
They both chuckled, but Madhav's mind was elsewhere. His eyes wandered around the garden, searching for a safe spot to hide the cursed coin. He noticed a beautifully crafted flamingo stone statue standing near the flowerbed.
Madhav (casually): "Mohit, these flamingo statues are pretty impressive. Any idea how much they cost?"
Mohit paused his work, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Mohit: "Hmm, probably around 8,000 or 9,000 rupees, I guess."
Madhav: "Not bad. They look worth it."
As Mohit returned to his task, Madhav strolled over to the flamingo statue. He carefully examined its intricate design and spotted a small hollow space near its leg.
Madhav (thinking): "This is perfect. No one would ever look here."
Glancing around to ensure no one was watching, Madhav swiftly slipped the golden coin into the hollow. He adjusted the soil slightly to cover any trace, then straightened up, pretending nothing had happened.
Madhav (aloud, pretending to admire the statue): "Beautiful craftsmanship. It really adds character to the garden."
Mohit glanced over briefly and nodded, too preoccupied with his work to notice Madhav's subtle actions.
With the coin safely hidden, Madhav felt a brief sense of relief.
On the second floor of the college building, the Vice Principal stood with his arms crossed, looking down at the garden where Mohit struggled with the grass.
Beside him stood Aman, his expression smug but composed.
Vice Principal (grinning): "Thank you, Aman. It's because of your information that we caught the culprit."
Aman (modestly): "Sir, it was my duty to inform you. Mohit shouldn't have disrespected college property."
The Vice Principal's eyes narrowed as he focused on Mohit, who fumbled with the garden tools below.
Vice Principal (sternly): "No, Aman, it's more than just okay. I'll keep my promise. You'll receive 20 extra marks in your final exams for your honesty and loyalty."
Aman (beaming): "Thank you so much, sir! I won't disappoint you."
With that, Aman excused himself, practically glowing with satisfaction as he walked away.
The Vice Principal lingered, his gaze still locked on Mohit.
Vice Principal (muttering to himself): "You think you got away easy, Mohit? No. I won't forgive you so easily."
His voice was low, filled with quiet resolve.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the college garden. Mohit wiped the sweat off his forehead, leaning against the rake he had been using all day.
Mohit (exhaling): "Finally! The grass is cut!"
The gardener uncle chuckled, patting Mohit on the back.
Gardener Uncle: "Beta, you've only finished one section. There's still more on the other side."
Mohit sighed, his shoulders sagging.
Mohit: "I'll take care of it tomorrow, kaka. Can't keep the vice principal waiting too long."
Just then, Raj and Madhav appeared from the pathway leading to the hostel.
Raj (grinning): "Mohit bhai, you're a pro at this! How much do they pay you for such masterpiece gardening?"
Mohit (rolling his eyes): "Enough to keep my sanity. Let's get out of here before the vice principal decides I need to trim the trees next!"
Madhav (smiling): "You've earned your rest, Mohit. Let's head back to the hostel."
As the three friends walked toward the hostel, the cool evening breeze swept through the campus. Mohit stretched his arms, feeling the ache from the day's labor, while Raj joked about how Mohit might have a future as a professional gardener.
The night outside the hostel room was calm, but inside, the air buzzed with chatter. Mohit lay on his bed, arms behind his head, staring at the ceiling. The door creaked open, and Madhav entered quietly.
Madhav: "Mohit, are you sleeping?"
Mohit (sitting up): "No, just resting. What's up?"
Before Madhav could respond, Raj burst into the room, grinning.
Raj: "Gardener Mohit! I need a rose plant in the hostel courtyard. Can you grow one for me?"
Mohit (rolling his eyes): "Sure, just give me six months. Or better yet, take this money and buy a rose from the market!"
Raj (laughing): "Touché. Oh, by the way, don't forget—this Sunday, we're heading to Himachal Pradesh. Too bad you're stuck here."
Mohit (shrugging): "So what? I'm mastering the art of grass-cutting and plant-growing. I'll have fun without the trip!"
Madhav (interjecting): "Alright, alright, don't start. By the way, when I went to meet Mohit in the garden earlier, I saw Anika and Meera talking. It looked more like they were arguing."
Mohit (smirking): "Anika? Of course. She never misses a chance to fight with me."
Raj (teasing): "That's because you don't talk to her properly and always find ways to annoy her."
Mohit (defensive): "She starts it! I just finish it."
Madhav (sighing): "Okay, enough of that. Let's step out for some fresh air."
As they walked toward the hostel courtyard, Madhav felt a sense of relief.
The last four days had passed smoothly for Madhav, with no unusual occurrences since he hid the cursed golden coin in the flamingo stone statue. For the first time in weeks, he felt at peace. Even Mohit had worked diligently, cutting grass and tending the garden.
On Saturday morning, Miss Kajal entered the classroom, her stern demeanor commanding attention.
Miss Kajal: "Listen carefully, everyone. Tomorrow at 8 a.m., you must assemble at the college. From there, we'll head to the train station for our trip. Make sure you behave properly and follow the instructions on the notice board."
The class buzzed with excitement.
Priya (whispering to Rupali): "Are you all set?"
Rupali: "Yes, all packed. What about you?"
Priya (sighing): "Not yet. I still have to pack."
Anika (smiling): "Don't worry, Priya. I can help you if you want."
Priya (smiling back): "Thanks, but I'll manage."
At the other end of the classroom,
Madhav turned to Rohan, who was flipping through a book.
Madhav: "Hey, Rohan, did you finish your library work?"
Rohan (nodding): "Yep, all done."
Raj leaned in with a grin.
Raj: "This trip is going to be epic. We'll enjoy it to the fullest."
Madhav (smiling): "Absolutely."
As the students chattered excitedly about the trip, Madhav felt a flicker of excitement himself. After everything he'd been through, the idea of exploring the mountains of Himachal Pradesh.