Dusk wrapped Shaktiganjin a serene blanket. Dark clouds could be seen in the distant sky. The fort looked forbidding as the clouds floated around it.
The clouds resembled puffs of smoke and gave the monument an eerie, almost haunted look. His overactive imagination was already forming images of witches flying about on brooms and entering or exiting from the huge stone windows,
He was going to join work at the very fort in about two days time. He was aware that though it was visible to him from the window his house , the fort was actually a good distance away.
In the next two days he was expected to get used to the life and ways of Shaktiganj, something he could not achieve by staring out of his window.
He needed to step out and look around. On arrival he had not even taken a gppd look at the place he was staying.
His uncle was taking a nap so he decided not to disturb him as he slowly stepped out, pullimh the door close behind him.
Rohan basked in the gentle breeze. He kicked a stone absent-mindedly as he took a stroll.
Shaktiganj was adjacent to woods and a haven for various birds. The chirping all around heralded the end of the day for the feathered creatures as they flew homeward.
This place stirred mixed emotions within him. He felt at peace and at the same time there was a lurking feeling of unrest at the back of his mind. Two emotions that were arguably not possible to be harboured simultaneously, However, there was no denying those were the two feelings dwelling within him. One part wanted to relax, almost as if it was homecoming , while there was a lingering feeling something totally unexpected was about to occur.
He looked up still musing on his thought and saw he had reached the open ground not far from Destiny Villa and there was a 'fair' in full swing. That brought childhood memories to fore along with a smile on his lips and he seemed drawn towards it.
As he walked around the fair looking at the bright stalls he felt a sense of nostalgia wash over him. It was all very familiar and at the same time mysterious. This feeling scared him.
He had always been a fun loving outgoing person and always made friends easily. This town was no different. During his last previous visits .he had built a good rapport with many.
At times it would get awkward for him as he would not be able to recall meeting some people previously but they seemed to know him, He grinned to himself recalling what his uncle always told him 'You tend to be way to friendly for your own good young man. It becomes a burden on your memory cell to keep track and they give up.'
Maybe his uncle had a point and he should tone down his easy going nature a bit. Though he did wish he had company right then. It's not much of fun to walk around in affair alone. He had tried to coax his uncle to accompany him but as usual his attempts had failed.
His eyes widened when they met with the face of that one person he would always dread to meet. He turned away in a hurry not wanting her to see him.
How the hell had she reached this place? They had come across several times during inter school/ College fests mad competitions and they had not been pleasant encounters.
The sound of a balloon bursting caught his ear making him turn his head in the direction of the sound.
Shoot the balloons! He felt a thrill course it's way through him. It had been years since he had done this. He immediately went forward towards the stall and paid the smiling broadly man at the counter who handed him an air gun.
"Even this ancient place has such games?" Rohan asked but managed to only get a blank expression from the man attending the stall.
He shrugged and slowly took out some of the Pana- the currency that Elvis had given him and made the payment
YOU ARE READING
Hide & Shadow
AdventureWhen eighteen year old Rohan got a job offer his first instinct was to turn it down. After all he still had a few years of college left and he was too young for a full time job. Destiny had it's own plan however. Little did he know relocating to Sha...