What if you
could read someone’s thoughts?Would someone take advantage of you? Or will you
use someone to your own advantage? This story is a political thriller about a
seventeen year old orphan boy who has the power to read people’s thoughts. The
chief minister of the state who has his eyes on becoming the next prime
ministerial candidate of his party comes across the orphan boy and begins to
use him to his own advantage. As the opposition party unveils scam after scam
trying to pull the ruling state government down, the chief minister continues
to use the boy to amass money and a powerful clout around him. As the boy
realizes the potential of his powers he falls in love with the chief minister’s
beautiful daughter. This story is about how they use each other to realize
their dreams and aims and how the player becomes the pawn.
What Makes
This Story ‘Real’
The story explores the mindset
of people as the power they have corrupts them thereby using each other as mere
stepping stones without realizing the value of their emotions. It also talks
about the scams and how some people would go to any lengths to hold on to the
powers they have.
Extract
“Come Shinde.” Umakant said
as Shinde came in. Along with him was a boy. The boy stood timidly behind
Shinde, as he bent low to touch Umakant’s feet.
“Who is this boy?”
“This boy is miracle, bhau!”
Shinde said. He was grinning from ear to ear showing his paan stained teeth.
“Is he another one of those
who claims to have seen Krishna Bhagwan in his dreams?”
“No bhau! This boy can read
people’s thoughts.”
Umakant stared at Shinde and
then at the boy.
“Is this some kind of a
joke?” Umakant said.
“Trust me bhau.”
“Acha!” Umakant took a long
look at the boy standing in front of him. “Boy! Can you tell me what Shinde is thinking?”
The boy looked at Umakant
and then at Shinde. He wasn’t grinning anymore. Beads of perspiration had
appeared on his bald head.
“He wants to
become the CM when you have become the prime minister of the country.” The boy
said.
Umakant
stared at the boy for what seemed like eternity. He then looked at Shinde and
burst into laughter. Shinde started laughing too. Umakant pulled the boy to
himself and ruffled his hair. He motioned Shinde to leave. Umakant picked up
the cell phone and dialed a number.
---
Shinde came
out of the CM’s house happy with himself. He was sure that in the next election
he would get a ticket. He hopped on his bike and started it. He came out of the
gate and as he turned corner, a speeding SUV hit his motorbike on the rear.
Shinde’s head hit the road, and the white boundary wall of the CM’s house was
splattered in red.
Endnote: This is my entry for the HarperCollins–IndiBlogger Get Published contest, which is run with
inputs from Yashodhara Lal andHarperCollins India.
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