I reread the email for the seventh time, just to make sure it wasn't one of the fake ones. Its contents were unambiguous.
"Dear Ms. Banerjee,
We are pleased to inform you that you have successfully passed the Stage II Selection Test of our admission process at the College Of Espionage. Please report to our field agent tomorrow for your Stage III Test.
Our agent's location is in the attachment. Once again, we remind you, not to disclose anything to anyone about Admission Tests for the College Of Espionage or about the College itself.
Regards
J.L
Research and Analysis Wing
GOI"
Please note the email shall disappear in 50 seconds. The attachment cannot be printed, nor can you take a screenshot.
The attachment was password protected, containing a clue in Braille which I had solved in three seconds. My mobile timer beeped to inform that fifty seconds were up and immediately the email vanished. Instead, "404 error" filled the laptop screen.
I pulled myself up from the hydraulic chair and crashed on the bed, staring at the rotating blades of the ceiling fan. It seemed like a dream. I knew I would crack Stage I. It was easy for me. A hundred clues including encryptions, which had to be solved within an hour.
I was always good at deciphering clues. Something I learnt from Dadu that is what I called my paternal grandfather. I wish I could share the news with him. Damn the code of secrecy!
A knock on my bedroom door pierced through my bubble of exhilaration.
"Come in," I groaned propping myself on my elbows.
"Fatty, mom wants you to drag your humongous ass for dinner." It was my irritating little brother.
"You call me that once more Leo and you will be solving your mathematics equations yourself." I snapped.
"Awww, I am sorry. Don't be so mean," he pretended to look hurt, "I solemnly swear never to call you Fatty, Fatty!"
He vanished as I threw my pillow at him, which bounced off the closed door instead. Grudgingly I dragged myself downstairs to join my family for dinner. Thankfully, it was not the pointed gourd curry again.
My parents and grandparents were already halfway through their meal, while my brother was immersed in his phone. I still could not accept the fact that he had a Smartphone at fourteen, while I got my first ever cell phone on this eighteenth birthday.
"Looks like No-Phone-while-eating only apply to me." I complained filling my plate with a generous portion of the sautéed cauliflower and potato, along with two chapattis.
"I am just reading the suggestions for exam." Leo said innocently. My mother however snatched his phone and kept it on her lap.
"Don't take advantage of your parent's preoccupation young man," Ma warned Leo.
My brother rolled his eyes finally concentrating on his meal.
"Meena, have you decided yet?" My father asked, looking up from his plate of food.
"Not again." I muttered.
"If you want to sit for the medical entrance examination this year, you need to submit your entrance application form within this week." My mother spoke this time, a little sternly.
When most of your family tree is filled with doctors, it is taken for granted, that you too shall follow their footsteps. Numerous times, I had tried to tell my parents that I had no desire of becoming a doctor, but could not garner the courage to do so. The only thing my parents expected from me was to follow their footsteps and become a doctor.
YOU ARE READING
The Rules Of Pursuit
Roman d'amourHe uncrossed his legs and leaned forward in his chair. "Tell them partner, who was it?" "It was Natasha." I said unevenly. "Lie." He hissed. "It was me." "You really thought that I was the kind of guy who would leave one girlfriend and jump to anot...
