The 7 Signs

Chapter 2

It was Wednesday and we had assembly on one of the big ground of our school. It was the first assembly of the school since my first session in class VII. In the 2 hour assembly the principle spoke about the well doings of class XI and XII last boards. We were trying to stand but the sun destroyed our energy. It made some students go unconscious.

Well I didn't fall and stood in a statue position then we returned. While, I was returning Rakesh and his friends tackled my leg from back and made me fall on the floor. "Heeey, see the pencil thief!!" said Rakesh. "I am not a thief! Rakesh" I shouted.

Before Rakesh would hit me, our math teacher got him and scolded him, His friends got away at once.The teacher made him say sorry to me. I then soon returned and sat with Charboda.

"What happened, Aditya? He asked. "Nothing happened!" I said.

I think he noticed my tensions and tried to make me comfortable.

"I have tried to make the exact meaning of sign!" Charboda told me excitedly.

"I think day by day these signs are increasing!" I said

"You are right, but for now our main motto is to catch the real pencil thief!" he said.

"Are we solving this problem?" I asked.

He took his time and then replied "Yes!"

That day in break time when we entered the bathroom expecting another sign, but we were shocked to see there were only two. Just then something clicked Charboda's mind.

"The guy writes the sign after the break time!" he said.

"Oh, it didn't enter my mind!" I said wryly.

"Aditya, you keep an eye on every person entering the bathroom during this period; he/she might try to write it!" He said.

"And you?"I asked.

"I will ask other classes. About any report of missing pencils!" he added.

Charboda went and I hid myself in one of the bathroom doors. In a few minutes I heard many voices coming inside the bathroom. They were unknown faces, fighting with each and other and some just chatting. I came out of the bathroom and mingled in them. But I couldn't find the person writing the next sign. Then the bell rang and the bathroom emptied. I too came outside of the bathroom and went to the class room. When I met with Charboda and told him that he was right.

 He told "There is no case of pencil disappearance in any of the sections."

"It means it is just happening in our section!" I asked.

"Right I mean Yes!" Charboda said.

"And no one is that dumb to write cryptic!" he added.

"What's Cryptic?" I couldn't  understand what he just said.

"Cryptic is the language of symbols and the signs written on the wall or papers, example Egyptian symbols or even Chinese is a cryptic language." Charboda explained.

"Do you know cryptic?" I asked.

"Unfortunately I don't, but I think somebody in our class does!" he said.

"I wonder who it is." I said.

"It couldn't be me As well!" he said.

An idea clicked my mind. "Is cryptic language hard?" I asked.

"Yes, any cryptic language is hard to write or understand!" he said

"May be we can find the culprit by knowing their intelligence level. Like the ten toppers in our class, one must be knowledgeable about cryptic language!"

"Maybe you are right, Before me the next 10 toppers can understand Cryptic but low achievers cannot write cryptic." He said.

"Then we should see the toppers list!" I said excitedly.

We got up and went to the notice board. The list was long but we needed close ten.

1. Nikhil (Charboda)

2. Akarsh Kumar

3. Ritika Chatterjee

4. Manu

5. Mohit singh

6. Arpita kumari

7. Prashant

8. Darsh Raman

9. Pukul

10. Areeba Tailem

"Maybe a girl can enter boy's toilet and write the symbols!" I suggested.

"I don't know." He said.

We noted down all the names and returned to our desks. I between the math classes, Ritika came towards Charboda and asked him a question. I saw his face, it was like stone, I felt that he was shaking.

"Please, solve it it's a doubt!" she asked.

"OK, I think I can." He said nervously.

I was giggling, Ritika looked at me and I quickly turned my face. "What happened to you Charboda? Solve the question!" I mocked.

In about five minutes of time he gave her the copy back with a well defined answer. It took five minutes because his hands were shaking and he couldn't write it properly.

I told him that she likes you after Ritika went and he smiled.

"Maybe because I am intelligent" he said.

"It could be!" I said

When the math period ended I went to the bathroom with a pen to check if cryptic sign is there and to my astonishment it was painted.

I noted the symbol and went to the classroom. Charboda noted it and smiled at me and said "We are doing la Poirot's work."

"La Poirot's? Who is this guy?" I asked.

"Hercule Poirot is the frictional detective made by Agatha Christie; I have read every book of her." He said.

"Oooh, Detective......Now I understand!" I said.

"I am a big fan of detective stories like Sherlock Holmes and Poirot." He said.

"That's why you are trying to become a detective!" I mocked.

"Yes, you can say that way!" He said.

When we returned from school Charboda called me to his home.His mother greeted me warmly and led me inside, it was a huge house where the floors were polished and everything was neat and clean. Well, generally I am not really fond of cleanliness but it was far cleaner than a five star hotel. Then I saw Charboda wearing Avenger's shirt and he led me to his room.

When I entered Charboda's room I was shocked I saw many posters of famous detectives like Sherlock Holmes etc and a shelf full of detective stories and comics.

"Wow!" I shouted.

"That's common for a mad guy!" He told

Then we sat on a glass table and planned that we should try to know about the person who is writing the Cryptic language.

"Do you think it could be written by a student only?" I asked him.

Charboda stood silent, I think my words hit him and he sat on the chair then something clicked.

"Your sentence gave me an idea!" he said silently.

"What? " I asked.

"Listen!" he said.

......