An Act Of Jealousy

Chapter 3

The first thing Kamal noticed was that Kabeer was grinning. If something made Kabeer happy then it was probably terrible. Also considering the fact that they had just heard that the trophies intended to be given to the winners of the Football and Basketball matches were lost... it could be nothing good.

Kabeer's jovial and currently intently assessing face turned to his friend Vijay in triumph. Kamal always wondered how Vijay could handle Kabeer's mere presence and how on earth was that boy always silent?!

But these thoughts were instantly banished from her mind as the entirety of the situation returned to her. The trophies were stolen!! Ignoring Kabeer and Vijay, Kamal turned to her best friends. Excitement was shining on Mira's face, Pavan looked a little apprehensive and Kiran seemed like he was still trying to get his mind around the event. She smiled and was going to say something when Kabeer's disembodied voice from behind her spoke aloud, clearly intended for them to hear, even when it addressed his friend.

"Come on Vijay, we're surely going to find those trophies! Just imagine how we'll be rewarded. No one is going to care about the matches now... None of those people will find the trophy anyway!"

Kamal whirled around. "You are going to search for those trophies?"

"With that pig-headed brain of his, he won't get anywhere" Mira added, looking really amused.

"Ya, like you would even dare go search for them" Kabeer shot back, glaring at her.

"Of course I'm going to search for them and I'm ready to bet anything that my friends and I here will find it before you do" Mira retorted.

Even though all of Kamal's instincts were telling her to stop the stupid challenge from being carried out, she didn't say a word. Honestly, it always surprised her that Mira could get involved in everything and somehow loop Kamal in too. She couldn't even tell how Kiran and Pavan behind her were reacting.

Kabeer only smirked at the four of them and said "challenge accepted" before sauntering off with Vijay tagging behind.

Kabeer's remark roused Pavan, Mira, Kiran and Kamal into action. None of them wasted any time They just took up the challenge to find the trophies before Kabeer or anyone else did and charged headstrong into the fray.

"So, both the trophies have been stolen" Mira said, being a person of action, as they continued their journey towards the roofs. "And no one seems to have any inkling as to who stole it. Unless this person hasn't been informed"

"The person we heard from is a teacher from our school." Kiran spoke up. "She's been here for many years. So I'm pretty sure she knows what's going on. Does anyone know who the man was? I wonder why he was being informed. I don't think he's from the school staff."

"No he isn't from our school!" Pavan suddenly exclaimed. "He's the principal of Green-Wood High. I saw him give the prizes in my friend's interschool championship. I think that was last year or the year before. My friend's school lost that -"

"We don't need to know whether your friend lost the match or not, thank you" Mira interrupted.

"Don't snap Mira, that's not nice," Kamal told her. God! Her friend was so straightforward.

They had reached their spot by then and Kamal sat down before continuing. "Now, let's do this like Jane Marple does. Who had the motivation to kill the victim...no sorry, steal the trophy?"

"Who's Jane Marple?" Pavan asked.

"She's one of Agatha Christie's heroines" Kamal replied offhandedly as if everyone would know this. When she didn't get any recognition from Pavan, she questioned him severely.

"Don't tell me that you haven't read....wait, do you even know who Agatha Christie is?"

Pavan shook his head and replied "Was I supposed to?"

"Oh no, you weren't." Kamal huffed "Only that, Agatha Christie is one of the best crime writers in almost the whole history of crime writing. Only a few others, like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle exceed her."

"Oh... she writes books, and this Sir Arthur person is also a writer I believe?"

"Sir Arthur Conan Doyle." Kamal corrected him coldly. "I hope you've heard of Sherlock Holmes at least? Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wrote the books about him."

"Yes, I've heard of Sherlock Holmes." Pavan replied gleefully "I watched the movie and a bit of the new T.V show....."

He trailed of after seeing the expression on Kamal's face and hastily changed the topic, while Mira and Kiran were trying hard to keep loud bursts of laughter from bubbling out. Kamal only sighed. She had had too much experience with Pavan and his total inability to read a story book.

Kamal noticed that Kiran was not in the conversation. When asked what happened, he pointed to someone crouching near the clump of trees outside the window of the principal's office, on the ground floor of the building.

"I'm quite sure this person is the trophy thief..., though obviously there is no proof." Kiran said hesitantly. It was a big accusation to make.

After sometime, Pavan spoke, "We have to do something or he'll escape."

"How do you know it's a he?" Mira asked "it could be a woman as well..., but I know what you mean...aren't we going after the person?"

"Yes, you're right. It may not be the thief; though that is likely, but whoever it is, they do not have the right to listen to the principal's conversations." Kamal replied, agreeing to Mira's and Pavan's points. Everyone now looked at Kiran.

Kiran grinned, "Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go and find out who it is.... But we ought to be quiet and I know a way there without letting the person know that we are on them. Come on!!"

A/N: Enjoy.... I have nothing else to say really. Again - FEEDBACK!!! :)

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