The Hidden Folder: An Engineered Thriller

By Debasish Rath

The story revolves around bunch of friends who meet during their engineering days.The heart of this story is the biggest puzzle that the author wants to solve about some mysterious activities that he has been observing since the beginning of his engineering days.The mystery haunts him and affects him during his entire four years. Unknowingly the entire bunch of friends als get dragged into things which they never ever wanted to be a part of. The story takes a big turn when the mystery is solved which leaves everyone in a big shock. This story is about strength, love, passion and suspense which unfolds and brings everything to a stand still.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing India
• Release date: May 12, 2014
• ISBN: 9781482822403

Debasish Rath

Debasish Rath is a Mechanical Engineer working with a Spanish multinational and is an alumnus of General Electric Co. He graduated from Biju Patnaik University of Technology, Orissa. Currently he stays with his family in Mumbai, India .Apart from his current role as an Senior Engineer in the Spanish multinational he loves critiquing movie , photography and is a creative person who believes in doing things differently. He loves travelling and listening to music.”The Hidden Folder” is his debut novel which is a combination of fiction and real life incidents. The author is passionate about thrillers and has tried to reflect the same through this book. The idea of this book popped up in his mind when he recalled one incident of his college life when he was fooled by a fake story which was told to him by one of his close friends. He felt to portray the things that might have happened if the fake story would have been real.

Book preview

Copyright © 2014 by Debasish Rath.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4828-2241-0

      eBook          978-1-4828-2240-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

The story is a mix of fiction and real life incidents. Any resemblance with any individual living or dead is purely coincidental. This book has no intention to defame any organization, institution or locality.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

To order additional copies of this book, contact

Partridge India

000 800 10062 62

[e-mail]

www.partridgepublishing.com/india

Contents

Prologue

1   In The End

2   Jab We Met

3   Day 1

4   Move On

5   The Exams

6   Miss Saxena

7   The Reality

8   After few weeks

9   What a Day!!

10   Señor

11   Really?

12   The Day!

13   Get Lost

14   2 Years to Go!

15   The Placement Interviews

16   Final Semester Begins

17   The Last Chapter

Concept & Acknowledgement

Dedicated to all my friends.

Prologue

Quote

Really? I am not a fool to believe what you are talking. I said.

That is the truth buddy. Abhijit said.

I was unable to digest what Abhijit just said and left. I chased him and kept asking him to tell me the reality. May be I was too innocent to understand what he said. Or maybe I was a big fool to trust what he said.

After one day of anxiety to find out the reality, Abhijit came to me.

I was just fooling you Debu, how could you just believe such bull shits, He said.

Leave it Abhijit, now you have already revealed me the secret and you want to make it up for that. Any ways do not worry, I will keep it to myself. But how did you find that out? I asked

It’s not true Debu, I was just trying to fool you He replied.

Unquote

At this point of time, I do not want to say what it was, but one thing, which thrilled me, was that, if what Abhijit was saying was true then it is going to shock the entire college. Eight years after that conversation, I felt to pen down everything that happened or could have happened if Abhijit was true.

1

In The End

I cannot believe what happened yesterday, I have been thinking long and still the same feeling of disbelief is gasping me every time, Gaurav said and started walking towards the bus.

Three boxes of books and two suitcases was what he was trying to carry with help of some juniors.

Three boxes of books? Are you kidding me? asked Ajit. Did you read all those?

Gaurav smiled. But I wore all the dresses I brought with me in the other 2 suitcases. And I cannot forget the outfit of wearing a blazer without shirt and just underwear that freaking night.

Ha Ha Ajit realized what Gaurav was talking about.

Yes, it was real fun. So will you be joining your family business after this? Gaurav asked.

Ajit was about to reply when a guy passing by heard that and said, he does not have a choice, neither had he studied, nor he got a job and having crores of rupees in bank account will never encourage anyone to study. Ajit stared at him. He puffed tons of smoke and started walking, turned around and said, you all are coming to Sujit’s marriage right?

Yes, both replied.

I still cannot believe that I was able to sustain here for 4 years, Gaurav said and pulled one Cigarette from his pack. Yes and look at you, you are smoking, said Ajit.

Gaurav was the most innocent guy when he joined college. He was the guy whom every parents would look forward as an example while screwing their children. But after 4 years . . . .

I enjoy smoking; I do not want to be called a dumb ass. I have enjoyed my 1 year out of the 4.

Ajit giggles 1 year? What about the rest 3 dude? Suddenly Gaurav hides the cigg and starts waving hands to Neha. Ajit does the same but without hiding anything.

So are you leaving today? enquired Neha.

No, I am just taking my boxes and suitcases for a walk.

Ha Ha, you are so funny, said Neha and started approaching, Gaurav quickly passed the cigg to Ajit else Neha to find out that he was smoking.

Ajit and Gaurav were the rommies for 4 years. Ajit was a rich kid and never did anything in his 4 years. Not even Beer mixed with water, and tried his best to stay away from Books. Nevertheless, the f***ing university was able to scare even such determined minds. As a result, even Ajit had to study every now and then in his 4 years. 48 nights, one before each semester exam . . . There were 6 papers in each semester and 10 more for clearing those 10 back papers throughout his career. So you can calculate and balance the equation.

I never knew that you smoke, Neha asked Ajit with a tone as if Ajit was caught watching porn. Ajit smiled and replied Occasionally.

So did you get a confirmed train ticket? Neha asked

Yes I got one, replied Gaurav

I too packed my bags but I am struggling to get a ticket. Can I join you and we both can share the berth? Asked Neha.

Gaurav felt excited by the thought of sharing his berth with Neha, but a frictional force in his mind was telling him not to say yes.

That’s a great idea, Ajit screamed.

Gaurav gave a hard look to Ajit indicating not to support this.

Understanding the concern Ajit quickly managed, No No. Rakesh is already joining him, it will be difficult for three of you to share a berth. It was already 4 pm and the train was at 9 pm from a place that was far away from Gunupur.

Yes, that is the place where we studied for 4 years. Gunupur, I am sure many of you might have never heard about that place. It is one of the places where you would never like to go back but I am sure everyone misses that place a lot more than they hated when they came there.

Neha was upset. Gaurav started walking with her and Ajit struggled to finish the cigg.

Gaurav had a huge crush on Neha since 1st year. But things did not go well when Gaurav was getting transformed into an Engineering student. Gaurav planned a Trekking trip with Neha in the nearby hills. Till that time he never expressed his feelings towards Neha and both were doing well as friends. That day when they reached the hill top Gaurav pulled out a Coke from his bag and offered it to Neha. Neha grasped the Coke and started enjoying it with the fresh air on the Hill top. Gaurav was trying to pull out the rose from his bag which he brought to express his love towards Neha when suddenly a pack of Condom fell out of his bag which Neha saw. And that was disastrous. After that they did not speak for many months. One day Gaurav got hold of Neha and explained the whole story that the guys used Condoms as balloons to celebrate birthday in Hostel and that’s the reason why he was carrying that packet. Neha was convinced to some extent but after that incident, Gaurav never had the guts to go back to her and express his feelings. Ajit knew the whole episode as Gaurav used to express all his personal matters to Ajit.So same day after Gaurav returned hostel Ajit asked, did you explain her matter?

Yes, said Gaurav with a witty voice.

Ajit replied, now what?

Now I have to find another girl for that pack of condoms. And both burst into laughter.

So you don’t Love her? Ajit asked

I love her, but now I need to decide on if I really need a true love or a girl for that pack in my bag. And he winked at Ajit.

You Asshole, said Ajit.

So Gaurav was walking with Neha and was 3 hours away from the place where he had to catch the train when suddenly Rakesh came running towards him to say him Good Bye. Neha could guess the whole scenario that Rakesh was not travelling with Gaurav and with great anger left the place saying Good Bye to Gaurav.

Be**en c***d, you can’t do a single thing properly, Gaurav said to Rakesh.

Why? What? What did I do? Rakesh asked

Ajit explained the scenario to Rakesh and he said, that was a great chance, you should have shared the berth with her.

I don’t want those feelings to be back again, I am pretty happy having a 2.4 lakhs/ annum job going home. Gaurav said.

Then why do you bother if she is angry? Rakesh asked.

I am about to leave this place and I don’t want to hurt anyone before leaving. Gaurav Said.

Ok, good bye friend Rakesh said. With few drops in his eye.

So Ajit is going till Rayagada? Asked Rakesh

Yes, He will drop me and come back, said Gaurav and boarded the bus.

Both boarded the bus and the juniors helped them lift the luggage to the roof of the bus

Ajit asked, are you really an Engineer?

Ha Ha, why? Replied Gaurav

No yaar, after yesterday’s incident I need to ask you this question.

True, said Gaurav

The bus started roaring when it reached the ghat section. The journey every time from this place used to be scary with narrow roads and dangerous ghats.

Both fell asleep and after sometime realized that the bus was not moving and there was some noise around. Both woke up and to their surprise realized that they were half way and the entire traffic was stuck in the steep ghat.Both got down to understand what had happened, it was 7:30 pm by that time.

I think we are stuck, we cannot catch the train, Gaurav Said.

Seems like Neha’s bad wishes has worked, Ajit replied

They asked the nearby people regarding what the matter was and came to know that there had been an extremist’s attack on one of the police jeep and that was the reason why there was a big roadblock.

Extremist’s attacks were not that common but we always knew that place was engulfed with too many of those. Gunupur was always on high alert. There were restrictions to move around after 12:00 midnight. You cannot make noise, cannot celebrate parties. Police will screw you up if you are caught playing or celebrating with high noise after 12:00.

I think we cannot go back to hostel either, How am I going to get confirmed tickets again? Its so rush now a days with summer Holidays. Gaurav Said

I think you are destined to share a berth with Neha, just call her tomorrow and ask if she has got a ticket from somewhere. Ajit Replied

I think I have to face her again tomorrow and I have to apologize for today’s mistake. Gaurav said

Up to you if you want to share a berth with her, Ajit Giggled

I think that adventure is surely on cards. Gaurav Giggled and both did a Hi5

So what to do now? Asked Gaurav and pulled a cigg from his pack.

Let us wait and see when we will be able to get a bus back to Gunupur Ajit Replied

Both took out the luggage from the bus and rested near a small shop.

It was amazing 4 years I would say. However, the incident which happened a day before still leaves me in a state of shock. Gaurav said.

Same here. Ajit Nodded

It was amazing how we people who never knew each other came to the Hostel and became friends for life time. Gaurav Said

Not all, but definitely our group. It was great bonding and fun, I will miss everything. Ajit Replied.

Do you remember that we were the first two to reach the hostel and then the rest started coming. Gaurav Asked.

Off course, I remember that day very well, Ajit Replied

2

Jab We Met

I was climbing the stairs of my Hostel, which was the first time when I saw Gaurav, a shy and nervous looking person. I was happy to see him the same way as I was.

It gives you immense confidence when you are not the only one who is nervous in a new domain. And that’s where you become great friends with the other idiot who is nervous too.

I had a bad habit of