Whispers in the Pagoda
Amit pov.
I was making a shocking face at Father. My eyebrows were raised so high they almost touched my hairline, mirroring the disbelief churning in my stomach. The news Father had just delivered felt like a cold wave washing over me.
Then Father said to me, his voice grave, "I just called Mr. Verma. He confirmed that he got a call from the police this morning. He and his wife are frantic, understandably. They are on their way to meet his son at the hospital now. The police are investigating the whole situation." He sighed, running a hand through his hair.
Me - "It's really shocking news that Deepak was kidnapped." My voice was barely a whisper, the reality of it still sinking in. Deepak was a sweet kid, always smiling. Who would do something like this?
Father - "Thank God, and Inspector Jha. Apparently, he and his team reached the factory just in time. If he hadn't reached there when he did, I don't know what would have happened to Deepak and the other children who were being held." A shudder ran through him, and I could see the relief etched on his face.
I - "Yes." I couldn't shake the image of what could have been. It sent a chill down my spine.
Then I came back to my room to take a bath. The warm water did little to soothe my troubled thoughts. The image of Father's worried face and the news of Deepak's kidnapping kept replaying in my mind.
After eating a light meal, my mind still restless, I found myself with some free time. Instead of aimlessly wandering, I lay down on my bed. It wasn't long before my physical surroundings faded, and I drifted into my sea of consciousness. From there, as always when I sought solace and knowledge, I entered the pagoda of knowledge.
Any time I have time, this ethereal space welcomes me. It's a place where the air hums with untold stories and the shelves stretch into infinity, laden with books containing the wisdom of ages. I come here to read and gain knowledge, to lose myself in the intricate tapestry of words and ideas.
So today also, seeking refuge from the unsettling news, I came here. There, amidst the floating islands of parchment and whispering scrolls, I saw Kiara also there, defying gravity as she flew in the air. Her brow was furrowed in concentration as she held a big-sized book in her small hand and diligently read it.
It was looking really funny, the sheer size difference between Kiara and the book. The book seemed almost as big as her torso! She was so deeply engrossed in its pages that she didn't even register my arrival. Her lips moved silently as she traced the words with her finger.
Then I secretly reached near her, my footsteps making no sound in this tranquil realm. A mischievous grin spread across my face. And I said to Kiara in a very low voice, a playful whisper, "What are you reading?"
Kiara jumped in the air, startled, letting out a little squeak of surprise. The large book slipped from her grasp and tumbled down towards the ethereal floor. Her eyes widened in a mixture of shock and annoyance as she turned to face me.
Then I saw its cover as it hovered momentarily before gently landing. It was a romantic novel, its cover depicting a couple in elaborate ancient attire, locked in a passionate embrace.
Kiara - "Why did you do that!" she exclaimed, her voice a little shaky. "Tumne to mujhe dra hi diya!" (You really scared me!)
I - "So, what were you reading with such intense focus?" I raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on my lips.
Kiara - "Nothing," she mumbled, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Tumse matlab?" (Is it any of your business?) She tried to sound nonchalant, but I could see the embarrassment in her eyes.
I - "Okay." I decided not to tease her more. There was a delicate vulnerability about her in this space, and I didn't want to shatter it.
I turned away, my gaze drifting towards one of the quieter areas of the pagoda. My fingers trailed along the spines of countless books until I picked up one that called to me. Its cover was adorned with intricate drawings of various plants and bore the title, "The Green Wisdom: A Compendium of Plant Life and Their Uses." Intrigued, I settled down to explore its pages, the earlier unsettling news slowly receding into the background as I immersed myself in the fascinating world of botany.