STOLEN HEARTS

CHAPTER - 9 ARYAN IN THE CUPBOARD

Sonia was suspicious. "Papa? What are you doing? What's happening?"

The Colonel nervously twirled his moustache, trying to think on his feet. The enemy had foiled his plans, what could the solider say? "Nothing dear, just...just playing chess dear and also, of course, planning your marriage."

Sonia turned to the table and sure enough there was a chessboard there and it looked like a game was in progress.

She turned suspiciously to her father once again, "Did anyone else come here?"

Both the Secretary and the Colonel were alarmed at the question, the Secretary stammered, "No, no, no, Sonia dear, why do you say that?"

Sonia turned to Barky, "Poor Barky, someone gave him something nasty to eat and he's all sick. There's an empty pack outside from some place. Someone was here who fed him this horrible food."

She showed him a chewed up packet.

"But no one came here Sonia. Did you see anyone here?" The Colonel turned to his Secretary.

"No I didn't see anyone here, did you see anyone here?"

"No, I didn't see anyone here."

"Yes, after all, if anyone came here we would have seen him here wouldn't we? After all we..."

Sonia caught on this and suddenly said, "Him? How do you know whoever it was, was a 'him'?

The Secretary was tongue tied at first and then found his voice, "It must have been a 'him'. A girl wouldn't have walked around the grounds at night feeding dogs."

Sonia's suspicion radar had been turned on. "Did any man come here Papa? Now don't lie to me."

"No, no, no one came here, we're just playing chess and we saw no one."

"Playing chess, huh? OK then, whose turn is it?"

The Secretary and Colonel spoke together pointing at each other simultaneously, "His," they said.

Then both realised their mistake and then pointed to themselves, "Mine."

Now Sonia was on full alert, "Papa, are you drunk?"

"No, no..."

"Come breathe out, let me smell your breath."

But instead of breathing out the Colonel breathed in with a great sound.

"Papa, I'm saying breathe out, not breathe in. Come on now."

The Colonel breathed out.

"Hmm, OK you haven't been drinking, but both of you are acting strange."

The Colonel countered; offence was the best defence, "I think it's you who has been drinking tonight."

"Not even a glass of wine. I am a bit shaken up after that accident! That's why I returned so early! Hmm, but what are you guys doing here?"

"Just thinking of your marriage dear."

Sonia seemed to calm down by this, "Don't worry Papa, it'll be all right."

She moved to hug him, "Oh papa, you are so cold. Why aren't you wearing any sweater? There's one in the cupboard, I'll get it."

Suddenly both the Colonel and the Secretary jumped in her way.

The Colonel fanned himself as beads of perspiration really formed on his forehead, "No dear, it's so hot, so hot."

"But I'll get you a sweater, or you'll catch a cold."