THE CHALLENGE.

I have the spine.

We followed Sanjay's sedan, and as I looked at the time, it was five minutes past eleven, as Amit drove the jeep, following, Sanjay and Kelly's sedan, Amit was driving today, as Jagdeesh and I had a beer each. I said, "I guess this feat will be remarkable for us, my sense tingles me." Amit spoke, while focusing on the drive, "I guess, Sanjay is tipsy, and wants to put us in jeopardy." Jagdeesh uttered, "It's really interesting when madness and curiosity happens at the same time." And he laughs, we too join him in laughing, and Amit conversed, "Folks get into trouble...I like to quote from a Holy Verse from Bhagavad Geeta. When destruction arrives the person's wisdom turns futile." I replied, "Yes my friend, but they will not understand and beat around bush, let's see the result." Jagdeesh said in a low tone, "I guess we should protect our friends, if anything befalls them, perhaps our vehicle is a convoy for them."

We agreed with him. I didn't want to impugn Sanjay, and his gang, perhaps they are doing out of curiosity which can turn severe or take someone's life. If this happen, they will be impugned, not by me or Jagdeesh or Amit, but by someone, who is Holy and above the trillions of universe, watching us from a distant or among us. Amit steered the jeep towards the left, we got down, looking at the structure. Sanjay was tipsy, and he yelled, "Guys! This is the factory; I was talking about few moments ago." I looked at the structure; it was a tall square, red-brick factory, with lofty roof and shattered window-panes. The pediment was pierced by the round window, supported by colonnades, while on the roof, stood a cupola, crowned by a weathervane, which was rusted. The streetlight on the highway emitted scarce light on the old dilapidated factory, which seemed to be towered among the bushes; however, there was something in the manifestation of the factory seemed appalled to me.

Sanjay informed that this place is a residing place of the ghosts and unholy spirits, as he heard from the rumours, and those who had gone there, were never to be seen again. Sanjay suggested the idea to play, Truth or Dare game, and those who chose dare, would have the honours to visit the old plant. Everyone agreed, however, Amit, Jagdeesh and I looked at each other, we knew that there will be jeopardy in this unknown secluded place, but we agreed on the same. Sanjay was busy with his gang, so I made Jagdeesh and Amit, remembered that there have been cases where people claimed that the secluded place or the dilapidated house is haunted, but later we busted it, and proved that these places were harboured by miscreants, who stored cocaine and other forbidden goods, and they have spread the rumour that the place is haunted. Jagdeesh and Amit agreed with me, but I also told them that there seemed to be negative vibes surrounding the place. Now we build the tenacity to resume.

The decisive hour was approaching us.

Sanjay grabbed an empty whiskey bottle, and laid it on the bonnet of his sedan, perhaps they were wonky, anyway, the game has begun, and Sanjay spins the bottle, it rotated, many eyes were fixed on it, the sweat began to flow from the brow of few friends, while the others were having their mouth agape at the bottle, I looked at Kelly, who was clasping her hands firmly, and she would behave like a tot. The pace of the bottle was gradually slowing down, and the neck of the bottle faced me, everyone turned to me. Sanjay yelled, Gotcha! Buddy, what is your option? I looked at him, and uttered spontaneously, "Dare." There was a moment of silence, and I heard the sounds of the cricket chattering.

Sanjay uttered, "Alright buddy, the game is, you have to stay in that factory." As he pointed towards the factory, I saw an owl flapping its wings and flew away from the cupola. Sanjay turned to me and continued, "You have to stay at the plant for fifteen minutes, and that's the bet." I replied, "Alright guys, I am on for it." Kelly spoke, while flipping her eyes from me to Jagdeesh and Amit, "I guess, it's a dangerous task, we don't know about this place, and it is risky for anyone." I replied, looking at her, "Don't worry, I will be safe." Kelly looked at me, and lowered her eyes, smoothing her silky hairs. Everyone wished me luck, Amit and Jagdeesh were worried, but I convinced them that I will be safe.