Hide & Shadow

Chapter 1

Rohan folded the document carefully and placed it on the table in front him. Slowly he reached out for it again and unfolded it and skimmed through it again frowning at the contents though he had already read it countless times.

Rohan closed his eyes while taking a deep breath in and pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers of his hand while the other hand held on to the sheet of paper.

"Tea."

Rohan almost jumped out of his skin as that one word pierced through the silence startling him.

Swinging his head around even as his eyes snapped open he saw Aunj, his paternal uncle looking down at him with an amused expression on his face.

"You scared me Anuj Chacha! Why do you always have to creep up behind me like that?"

"I don't. It is not my fault if you are not a focused person." Anuj commented wryly as he pointed with his eyes towards his hand.

Rohan sighed as he leaned forward to take the clay pitcher from his uncle's hand.

"Thanks- Hey this looks like Coke!"

"That is what tea looks like without milk...."

Rohan groaned silently. "Sorry I forgot to get milk."

He took a sip and pulled a face.

"..and sugar" his uncle finished.

"Sugar! I was not supposed to get sugar!"

"Sorry I forgot to get sugar." Anuj mimicked his nephew as he chuckled softly.

Rohan grimaced as he took another sip before setting the pitcher away on the table. He was not really fond of tea and drank it mostly to give his uncle company.

Without milk and sugar two sips of company was all he could manage.

"How did you manage to fail in your exams?" Anuj asked while pointing towards the paper still in Rohan's hand.

"Fail?! Whatever made you think that? You know I am a collage topper." Rohan retorted his eyes narrowing at his uncle's words.

"Okay so your Girlfriend dumped – er broke up with you..."

"I don't have a girlfriend!" Rohan almost shouted. "I am only eighteen for God's sake Chacha!"

"I was already in love and engaged to the woman I loved at the age of seventeen," Anuj shook his head at his nephew. "If it is not studies or girl problem then what can trouble a eighteen year old boy?"

Rohan rolled his eyes at his uncle. As though those were the only things in a man's life!

"Job." He answered his uncle's question.

"Job?" Anuj frowned. "Are you getting hired or fired?"

Rohan's lips twitched. Over past few years he had worked in several part time jobs.

"Hired." He answered. "Full time job." He continued when he saw his uncle was about to say something.

"Full time? But you are still in college. How can you work full time without even graduating." Anuj frowned.

Rohan nodded his head in agreement. "I need to concentrate on my studies. The college authorities may be thrilled with this and may waive off the attendence requirement but I still need to study and clear my exams."

Anuj's eyebrows shot up in surprise "Your College authorities are actually all right with this offer?"

Rohan sighed "They are the ones who conveyed this news to me and handed this offer letter. They think this collaboration will be a wonderful experience for the college and open new avenues for future studends."

Anuj shook his head . "Rohan I don't think it will be a sensible idea for you. You may get a secure job but that will be a dead end from there onwards. I am sure you do not want to be toed down so early in life- if at all. You would want to have your options open. After all life is not just about having a career."

Rohan smiled "Thank you Anuj Chacha for helping me make up my mind. I will go tomorrow morning to college and refuse the offer."

"You do that sonny boy." Anuj said a he stood up and stretched his torso. "Say no and be very firm no matter what they say."

"I was also thinking the same but since the offer was so tempting, I mean the place is almost like a war fortress – cordoned off from the rest of the world. Shaktiganj has a aura of mystery...."

Rohan talked on without realising his uncle had frozen on the spot his legs still in the process of stretching seemed to be rooted on the floor.

"Shatiganj.." Anuj whispered making Rohan stop talking and look at his uncle who had a glazed look in his eyes.

"When are we leaving?" Anuj asked his voice barely audible.

"Leaving?" Rohan frowned in confusion "What..?"

"You go and ask your Principal tomorrow about the details. No, why delay? Go now and fix everything."

"Chacha ...What.. I mean No .. we are not.. you just said...." Rohan blabbered on stupefied.

"I will start packing." Anuj said completely ignoring Rohan who ran after his uncle as he walked out of the room looking as though he was in a trance.