The Confession of the Psychopaths

ACT 1

"Dhruv, you're going too fast!"

"Yami, first get a driving licence, then I'll listen to you."

"D, she's right, man. It's pouring. And we're driving on hilly roads."

"Yeah, we don't want a crash in the middle of nowhere."

"Don't worry, children. Nothing's going to happen to us."

Dhruv hadn't heard the car horn sound through all the jabbering. The car appeared suddenly and nicked the sideview mirror. Dhruv slammed his foot down on the brakes and pulled the handbrake as the SUV spiralled out of control. It rammed into a tree at a speed of sixty kilometres per hour.

"Well done, you ass!"

"Quit the smart aleck talk and get out!"

The six youngsters jumped out of the car into the pouring rain. They inspected the damage the car had sustained upon crashing. There was a huge dent where the car had collided with the tree and one of the front wheels had come off.

"Look at your work of art, Picasso!"

"Shut up, Zaheer!"

"Don't you dare tell me to shut up, Dhruv. Who told you drive like this was some street in London at 2 AM?!"

"Cut it out, you two. Think of how we're going to get this wreck of an SUV to town."

"I'm actually a little more worried about having to return the car in such a condition."

"Thanks, Hayaat. That really cheers me up," mumbled Dhruv.

"At least show some shame, you clown!" snapped Neeta.

Dhruv was about to retaliate when somebody called out from behind him.

"Need any help?"

"N-" Dhruv started to speak but Zaheer stamped on his foot.

"Yes, please."

A tall man in his mid-sixties opened a wooden gate and walked up to the group.

"Crashed car, huh?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, you won't get any network on your cell phones in this weather. Why don't you all come inside? Once the rain eases, I'll radio the police station to send a tow truck up here."

The group hesitated slightly. The man smiled.

"Ah, I think I know what you're wondering. Old man inviting us into his house on a stormy afternoon. Must be a ghost. I assure you that I am as human as Mrs Bhaskar next door, maybe even a little more than that irritating witch. Come on."

The group followed him past the wooden gate. The old man latched it.

"The strays try to come in sometimes," he answered the question before it was asked.

"You stay alone, sir?"

"No. I stay with my younger brother. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Ranvir Kashyap."

"I'm Gaurav. This is Yami, Hayaat, Neeta, the tall guy is Zaheer and our reckless F1 driver is Dhruv."

Ranvir pushed the door open and everyone stepped inside. The lights came on and before the group stood a man almost identical to the one they'd just met, only his eyes were a different colour, his eyebrows weren't as thick and he didn't limp.

"Ah, Reggie. These kids had a bit of an accident outside. I told them that they could wait in here until the rain eases and the tow truck is able to make its way up. Kids, this is my younger brother Rajvir."