Arnav is a 21-years-old McDonald's employee. He dropped out of college, and his parents hate him for that. He used to live in Delhi, but, to get away from his family, he migrated to Mumbai. It doesn't get any better there, Arnav is someone who watches the news when bored.
He saw in the News, that 3 people, one from France, and two from America died in an accident. And, all three of them had a burn mark of a bar code on their left neck. Arnav found the same thing on the side of his neck. This made him want to wet his pants.
Luckily, Arnav was a student in Fashion college, so he decided to cover it up with fake skin. He thinks that everyone who has that mark is being watched, and is later killed. Since he saw the mark on him, he has been facing obstacles.
But, after he covered it, nothing bothers him anymore,
"Oye! What are you staring at? We have work to do, so move your ass and chal!" Another employee said pointing inside,
"Ha Ha Ha, typical Naveen!" Arnav said and gave the order to the chef.
"I just heard Naveen scream at you, what happen beta*?" the chef asked, she was at her 30's,
"You sound like my mom," Arnav laughed, "And don't call me beta!" He protested,
"Aww, OK!" She said ruffling Arnav's hair,
Arnav got annoyed, slapped her hand away, and walked away fixing his hair. She laughed behind him. Arnav looked at the clock and it was about to be 3 pm. Arnav's shift gets over at that time. He decided to not make any more mistakes so he doesn't have to stay longer.
When it became 3 pm, the lady gave Arnav a happy meal and bid him goodbye. Arnav's house was at least 2 kilometers away. He was too lazy to walk all the way, so he called an uber driver. There was one nearby, so he called that one.
He reached his house, it was a one-story house. He opened the door,
"I feel great that I left the A.C on," He muttered to himself.
He took a refreshing bath and sat on the kitchen counter. He opened his happy meal,
"What did mausee* pack for me today!" He shouted,
"Burgers and nuggets! Ooh! and a cookie!" He muttered.
He was eating his happy meal happily,
RING RING*
His phone rang,
"Hello?" Arnav said,
"Arnav, you free?" the one in the phone asked,
"kya hua bhaee*?!" Arnav asked,
"Nothing, I just want to meet," He said,
"Listen, Ashish, I just go back from work, I'll come tomorrow, for sure!" Arnav said,
"I guess we'll go tomorrow," Ashish heaved a sigh and cut the phone.
Arnav kept the phone next to him, he finished eating and washed his hands. That's when he realized that he was bored, so he called Ashish,
"Get ready, I'll be there in ten minutes," Arnav said.
He changed his clothes and went to the mirror to comb his hair. He noticed his fake skin was almost about to fall. He took it out and put another one. He went to his garage and entered his Renault Kwid.
"It's been long, miss me?" He asked the car, "Guess you'll always stay quiet, eh?" He said and started the car.
Ashish is like a younger brother to Arnav, he's the only one Arnav trusts. He reached in front of Ashish's hostel, he was right in front of the gate. Ashish entered the car,
"Where are we going?" He asked,
"High street Phoenix," Arnav said,
"Finally!" Ashish sighed.
Arnav drove towards the mall, it was far. They listened to songs on the way,
"Arnav," Ashish asked
"What?" Arnav asked,
"These weird accidents have been occurring almost all around the world. Do you know what or who is behind this?" He asked,
Hearing this, Arnav wanted crash the car into a wall and blame it on Ashish, weird.
"I don't know, but it seems only people with the burn mark die," Arnav said,
"You mean the one on your neck?" Ashish asked,
"Wh-how did you-?!" Arnav stopped the car on the side of the road and checked his neck, it was half shown,
"It's time I tell you," Arnav said,
"Okay?" Ashish said trying to make himself comfortable,
"I'm one of the people who are supposed to die," Arnav told him the whole thing,
"I knew this," Ashish told with a shrug, "And I'm sorry," He said as he took a knife from his pocket.
Ashish launched himself at Arnav and tried to stab him. Arnav was fast and slapped his hand away which made the knife go away,
"Arnav, go!" Ashish screamed and pulled Arnav inside.
Ashish hit the accelerator which made the car hit a wall in the front, and the airbag came out. Ashish pushed the airbag from behind it and suffocated him. Arnav took a quick glance at the knife. He grabbed it and stabbed Ashish in the hips.
Ashish leaned towards the window behind him and coughed out blood,
"You did good bhaee,*" He managed.
"Ashish, no I'm sorry!" Arnav shouted,
"The head office-" ACKH he coughed blood, "-They are behind this, catch the-" He died,
"NOOO!" Arnav leaned onto him and started hitting him.
He stayed there for some time, and the police came. He knocked on the window, Arnav rolled it down. The police officer looked at the dead body, then gasped,
"You killed him?! What are you doing chal!* Save your excuses for the judge!" He said as he opened the door and pulled Arnav out with his collar.
He took Arnav to the car and drove to the police station. Arnav stayed quiet from the shock. They reached the police station and the officer dragged him to the DJP's office,
"You kill someone and now you're in shock?!" He asked, "Tell me everything now! Bol!*"
Arnav managed to tell everything without crying, the officer just nodded.
"It sounds true, but, evidence?" he asked
Arnav pulled down his collar and showed the officer the burn mark. And the officer nodded,
"We give you the permission to defend yourself, use a knife or a weapon, but if you dare use this against innocent people, I won't leave you alone!" the officer said as he waved Arnav off.
Arnav was very angry that his only friend was used by a Company. He was more than happy to be able to avenge his friend. He decided that he will keep his mark hidden, and if anyone asks about the incidents, he will stay on guard.
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Meanings of words*:-
beta- son
mausee- aunty
kya hua bhaee- what happened bro
chal!- come/go, depends on the situation
bhaee- Bro
Bol- forcing one to tell
YOU ARE READING
THE HEAD OFFICE
Mystery / ThrillerA company selects random people of random nationality and fills their life with obstacles, obstacles that can end in death, brutal death. A detective is suspicious and starts investigating and the conclusion he comes up with is very unexpected.
