The Novel

THE STORY TRAP

My immediate decision made him cloud nine, he urged to reach my hand and we both shook on mutual business understandings.

"Wow, that's a hell of a move Irfan. I thought you would take days to decide" he poked a sharp smile at me "but you are smart and quick, I like that"

I was blank and numb. I was trying to gather some strength to speak.

"Okay, Irfan now let's talk business".

I nodded with full concentration.

"We give you the best offer and time than others all we need is a story like the way we ask" he snapped.

"Wait for what?" I thought "The story as they need, this doesn't make any sense" I was confused so I abruptly stopped him and raised my question.

"Sir! Hold on what do you mean by a story as we need?" my question made him laugh.

"So you don't know how the system works" he continued laughing for few more seconds "ahhh kids" he mocked. "Look Irfan we give you a theme and you give me a story it's simple as it is"

"It doesn't look as simple it is," I thought but I regretted all my thoughts and decided to go for because I don't think I will get a better offer and I need some money for my personal use right away.

"Okay, sir will do" I made it short.

"So the theme is Life"

"Life?" I doubted.

"Yeah, Life" he snapped.

"Okay, I will do my best sir"

"Good then we can go through all the formalities right away," he said and called his personal assistant.

Moments later he became busy just like always and I walked away from his room along with the P.A. They gave me a bunch of papers to go through and sign. I read as much as possible and etched my signature wherever it required. The P.A gave me cheque filled with money and a bold signature on it, the money is more than what I got over all for my previous book. I was amazed but I kept everything inside and walked away from the building. After few minutes without my sense, I was dancing on the road like a drunken mad man. I could feel I was flying high, I realized money can make someone fly even without wings. With immense joy from my head to toe, I withdrew money from the bank and reached my room safely. I kept all the money in front me and admired it for hours without moving an inch.

When your hand is filled with money all you can do is just celebrate without worrying about anything. To give some honour first I went to the book store and bought tons of books even the shop keeper was amazed and gave his best wishes for my new book. Later I went to the liquor shop to purchase some expensive booze and some expensive cigarette. For the next three days, I was high with alcohol and cigarettes. After that I bought some expensive branded clothes, shoes and watch and took my local friends to expensive bars and restaurants. I insisted myself pay the bill to show my standards were raised.

I forget myself with the money, and then one fine morning I woke up from a hangout I slowly moved like a snail to reach the bathroom. I was thinking "what the hell I just drank last night; still, I can't see anything clear". I prayed I should reach the bathroom safely but my leg slipped and I fell down heavily but fortunately, I got no hit, I fell on the tons of books I bought and that's when I realize I totally forgot how many days I spent without working on the new story. I washed immediately and checked the money that had left in my account; it gave me a heart attack there was nothing left than very little money. I pushed myself to check on the mini statement "Wow god why the hell I spent this much on booze, food and cloths" I become worried.

I decided to get some ideas. I started to read the entire book but just like always. I read the index and few pages I got bored and threw the book away and I took another one and the process goes on. All these books just gave me entertainment not a single piece of idea. My head started to ache so I kept the book away and leaned back with closed eyes and that's when my phone ranged.

"Hello is this Irfan" I heard a sweet voice of a girl, her voice was really satisfying.

"Yeah, who's this?"

"Irfan we are calling from print work publishers" something choked my throat "we haven't heard a word since you left and it's been more than one and half months. You haven't updated anything or even a word about your new book or you plan. Our chairman is really disappointed and he wants' to hear some updates as soon as possible" her sweet voice came to a tragic end.

I stayed quiet.

"Irfan are you there?"

"Yes, yeah I'm working on it tell him I will update as soon as possible" I blabbered completely.

"Okay fine be quick don't make us reach you again like this".

I hanged the call and I realized I was trapped in this story and I need to find a way soon to get out of it.