Myth Busters

8. Commotion begins

A bundle of large files was carelessly strewn across the gleaming white marble floor. The marble, with its smooth, unblemished surface, gleamed under the soft light, emphasizing the stark contrast between the orderly elegance of the space and the chaotic stack of papers. The mild wind blowing through the open window caught the edges of the papers, causing the topmost sheets to flutter gently in the air. The soft rustling of the pages broke the silence, stirred by the breeze.

Parth, seated nearby, noticed the gradual dance of the papers and sighed. He rose from his place, walking over to the window with quiet determination shaking his head. With a firm hand, he pushed the window shut, cutting off the cool wind that had slipped into the room.

Rudra, noticing the papers still threatening to slip free despite the closed window, reached out for the metal rose vase lighting sitting elegantly on the corner of the table. Without a word, he lifted it and placed it on top of the bundle of files, pressing them down with a loud thud.

All ten cousins gathered around the pile of papers, forming a loose circle, their eyes drawn to the mysterious bundle now secured under the weight of the metal vase. They stood in silence for a moment, their curiosity palpable in the air, each of them glancing at one another as if waiting for someone to make the first move.

Just as Neel moved closer, his hand reaching out to carefully lift the cover of the topmost file, an unexpected stillness settled over the group. The soft creak of the file opening broke the quiet, but before anyone could catch a glimpse of what lay inside, the mansion was suddenly plunged into darkness. The lights flickered once and then went out completely, leaving the room in a thick, eerie silence. The cousins exchanged startled glances, eyes wide in the sudden gloom, the only sound now the faint rustle of fabric and the muffled breaths of those standing around.

Neel rolled his eyes, without wasting a moment, he shifted to his left, moving through the dim outline of the room towards the outhouse drawer with a practiced hand, he pulled out a flashlight. The soft click echoed in the silence as he switched it on, the narrow beam of light cutting through the darkness....

Parth:

What are you doing, Madhav?

Neel:

(holding the flashlight in one hand, aimed its beam across the papers) Just making sure we can actually see what's in these files, (with a half-smile) lets see what Bharata Durmukha has gotten us.

 The cousins leaned in closer, eager to catch a glimpse of whatever Neel was discovering. Just as his eyes skimmed the first few lines, a sudden hum filled the room, and, without warning, the lights flickered back on.  Neel blinked, adjusting to the sudden brightness, the flashlight still loosely gripped in his hand.

Neel:

(glanced up from the file, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth) Well everyone, you would not understand so... (raised his brows followed by a fake smile) Mind making some room? (Gesturing toward the couch)

Everyone rolled their eyes in mock exasperation, a collective sigh escaping their lips as they stepped away from the couch.

Rudra:

(murmured) Typical him.

They settled into a loose semi-circle around him, eager to catch whatever revelations might emerge from the files now that he had claimed the couch as his throne. 

After a scuttle moment, Neel closed the file with a sigh, he suddenly threw the file across the table, where it landed with a loud bang that startled everyone. The noise rang off the marble walls, causing the cousins to jump back in surprise.