Revenge of the Noble Spirit

By G.S. Dutt

Nikki came back and sat down on her bed. Esha's face came flooding into her mind. 'Where could she be? How will those ruffians treat her? Will she be in Dubai or have they taken her to India?' These thoughts kept troubling her.
Much later in the night, someone nudged her awake. She rubbed her eyes and sat up on the bed. She was taken aback to see little Akram standing by her side.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wisdom Tree Publishers
• Release date: May 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9788183284080

G.S. Dutt

G.S. Dutt has held top management positions in Indian and multinational corporations. One of the most widely read authors of children's books, his rich and varied experiences vividly come through in his writings. Dutt's first book for young children, Red Giant and the Little Girl, was published in 2003.

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— CHAPTER ONE —

Beach House

It was a secluded beach house, about a hundred feet from the water’s edge. Tastefully designed, the living room, kitchen and guest room were on the ground floor; the first floor had three bedrooms and a study. An open terrace provided a panoramic view of the surroundings. The house had a beautiful garden at the back and lush green lawns on either side with the frontage opening to the sea. Nikki had come to this lovely beach house to spend a few days with her best friend Esha. Both Nikki and Esha were not only classmates, but also roommates in the hostel. Before the school closed for a short break, Esha invited Nikki to accompany her to their family summer house at the beach. The way she described the place, Nikki found the offer irresistible.

Esha’s parents, the Kapoors, lived in the city but every summer they visited the beach house for a holiday. Mr Kapoor was a senior officer in a top investigating agency. He looked forward to these visits not only for relaxation but also as an opportunity to do some fresh thinking on his cases. Mrs Kapoor, being an artist, found the surroundings idyllic for painting.

It was Nikki’s second day in the beach house. She was playing with Esha in her first-floor bedroom. Mrs Kapoor came and said, Esha, your Dad has got an urgent call from his office. He has to go back for two days. Some foreign dignitary is coming with his wife. I am required to go with him for a special function to be held in their honour tomorrow evening. I think you both can come along with us.

Esha said, Mom, it is a matter of two days. You don’t have to worry about us. Sarojabai is here during the day. We shall be fine here.

Nikki added, Aunty, I came here only just now. I don’t want to leave this lovely place so soon. In any case, we have to return to school by the weekend.

Mr Kapoor also came in. He said to his wife, Seema, why do you force the girls? If they want to stay here, let them. I don’t think they will have any problem.

Esha asked, What time will you leave?

Kapoor replied, Soon after lunch.

Before leaving, Kapoor explained the security system of the house to them. He said, Anyone trespassing into the house will set off the alarm in the security agency’s office. Also, you can alert the security agency by just dialling a one-digit number.

Seema Kapoor was somewhat concerned that the girls would be staying alone in a lonely place. She said, Sarojabai will be in the house till seven in the evening. She will cook your dinner and shall be back in the morning to give you breakfast.

When they came to the portico to see them off, Mrs Kapoor, looking concerned at the girls staying alone at night, said, Take care girls. Don’t open the front door to strangers.

That evening Nikki and Esha were having a lots of fun, being on their own in the house. They had finished their dinner and were absorbed in video games. They were particularly enjoying the Nintedo car racing game. Nikki, who had a steady hand, was winning practically every game to the chagrin of Esha. At one corner, the stereo was blaring Brittany Spears’ popular number, ‘Oops! I did it again …’at full volume. Both of them were oblivious of the outside world. Suddenly, Nikki looked at the clock on the wall and exclaimed, Oh, my God! It is past midnight.

Esha said, Let us pack up. We must be up early tomorrow, to go for a swim.

Yes, said Nikki. Today the sun was already upon our heads when we entered the water.

Esha asked, How about a hot chocolate before going to bed?

Why not? I am game, said Nikki.

They switched off the TV and the player and went to the kitchen. Esha made the chocolate which they sipped slowly, giggling and gossiping away about the goings-on at school.

It was close to 12.30 a.m. when the girls went to bed. Esha fell asleep the moment she hit the bed. Nikki was still trying to sleep when she heard some noise outside the room. She sat up on the bed and listened intently. It appeared as though someone was coming down the stairs from the terrace. After a while she felt that someone was trying to open the door of their room. Nikki shouted, Who is there?

There was no response. It was quiet again. Nikki woke up Esha, Esha, there is someone outside our door, she whispered.

Half asleep, Esha muttered, You must be dreaming.

No, I’m not, said Nikki. I heard someone coming from the stairs and then trying to open our door.

Esha was now fully awake. She switched on the lights but the lights did not come on. She was surprised and said, Why, what has happened to the lights?

Nikki asked, Is there a torch in your room?

No, replied Esha. It’s in the kitchen’s drawer.

They both listened carefully. It was all quiet. Five minutes passed. Esha said, Sometimes the lights go off at this place.

Nikki said, But what was that noise which I heard a short while ago?

Esha replied, The door might have rattled due to the wind.

Nikki did not say anything. But she was not very comfortable. She said, Let us get the torch from the kitchen. At least we should have some light with us.

Okay, replied Esha.

They could not see anything in the darkness. Holding each other’s hand, they walked slowly to the door. Esha turned the knob quietly and peeped out. She could not sense any activity outside their room or anywhere in the house. She whispered, There is nothing out here. Let us go.

They walked noiselessly down the stairs and entered the kitchen which was situated just in front of the stairs. Esha located the torch and turned it on. She said, Let us check the light panel. It is in the corridor.

They went to the light panel and looked at it in the torchlight. All the switches were on.

Something seems to be wrong, said Nikki. Your Dad had mentioned the security agency. Why not contact them?

Okay, said Esha. The telephone is in the hall. Let us go there.

Holding hands, they went to the telephone. Esha picked up the phone. The line was dead. I cannot understand this, said Esha. The telephone line has nothing to do with light. Why is the phone dead?

Now both became alarmed. Esha added, Some-one has not only meddled with the lights but has also disabled the alarm system.

Nikki asked, Are there any people living in the neighbourhood?

Esha replied, Not closeby, but there is a beach house a little distance away from our home, which is usually occupied by our family friends, the Sharmas, every season. But I heard my Mom telling Dad that the Sharmas had not reached so far.

Nikki suggested, Let us go outside and see whether any other beach house has light. Perhaps we could get some help.

Okay, agreed Esha. Let us go and see. She opened the front door and stepped out in the night.

They had hardly left the portico when they heard the front door shutting behind them. They stood rooted where they were. Esha said, My God! I had put the door stopper. This means someone is definitely in the house. For a moment neither of them spoke. Fear coursed through their veins.

Nikki said, Let us go to the beach and look around.

It was a moonless night. The whole area was enveloped in darkness. In this darkness they could not see the other beach houses. It was scary in the night and the roaring sea waves were making them jittery. Esha said, The beach house where the Sharmas stay is about a hundred metres to the right, but I am afraid to venture that side in this darkness. Moreover, for all we know, the house may be empty.

Nikki said, It looks like we will have to spend the night in the open. She thought for a while and added, Esha, why not go back towards the house? The surroundings are familiar. Even in the dark we could find a place to hide till the morning.

Esha responded rather doubtfully, What if someone is really in the house and spots us?

Nikki suggested, Let us hide in the garden at the back. No one will come there.

Okay, let us go, said Esha.

Gathering courage, they moved back towards their house. They stopped at the front gate and listened carefully. There did not appear to be any activity. They waited for five minutes. It was all quiet.

Nikki asked, If there was anyone in the house, he seems to have left. What do you say? Shall we go in?

Esha looked shocked. She queried, Are you kidding? Even if I had the courage to go in, we cannot.

Why? asked Nikki.

Esha replied, The door has an automatic lock; when it is closed, it gets locked. The keys are in the hallway drawer.

Nikki said, Let us go to the garden. We could hide behind a tree.

They slipped across the side lawn and reached the garden. Using the torchlight, they cleared a small patch below a tree and sat down. Esha asked, What if a snake comes here?

Nikki retorted, What if an elephant comes here? Then added, Don’t be a chicken. This is not a jungle but a well-maintained garden of a house. Have you ever seen any snake here?

Esha did not reply.

After a little while, Nikki whispered to Esha, I think I saw a fleeting light in the room above. Just look up directly above your head.

Esha looked up and whispered back, Yes, there seems to be someone there.

Whose room is that? asked Nikki.

This is my Dad’s study, said Esha.

Are there any valuables in that room? asked Nikki.

Esha replied, No valuables; only his computer and some books and papers.

Nikki said, Give me the torch. I will climb the tree and see what is happening up there.

Esha handed the torch to Nikki and said, Careful, don’t fall.

Nikki said, Don’t worry, I have been climbing trees in my village. She put the torch in the pocket of her pyjama top and climbed the tree. When she reached the upper branches, her eyes were at level with the open window of the room. Suddenly, there was a burst of light in the room. In the light of what seemed to Nikki a powerful torch,

Reviews for Revenge of the Noble Spirit

[Sudhiti Khar · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

friendship of the two girls and all those situations they went through. it was a very nice story and i just loving it while reading....