Episode 25
Archana had to go through her regular exercises and yoga season as usual in the day. The masked yoga instructor today sounded completely different. She sounded distraught. While instructing, she had no concentration whatsoever. Sometimes, she gave completely wrong instructions which by then Archana had no problem in detecting. Archana was forced to ask,
"What happened to you today, Ma'm? Any mishaps?"
She heaved, "You know what? I will miss you."
Archana couldn't stop a hearty laugh, "Really? But pray tell, why would you miss me? I come here everyday, and spent 5 hours here. Don't I?"
The shortish, plumpish lady, who didn't seem as heartless as the rest of the ill-fated, iron-hearted beasts here paused for a few seconds and looked utterly confused. She seemed to have gulped down a sob.
Watching her dilemma, Archana told her in a comforting voice, "Don't worry! By now, I know well that you are not permitted to tell certain things. If you think it's prohibited as per your code of conduct, you don't have to tell me."
All of a sudden, the masked instructor came forward and hugged Archana tightly. Withing a few seconds, she released her and in a sobbing voice said, "Go back to your room. This is the last time we meet. We shall never meet again. Your stint with this gym ends today. Good luck! I wish you the best."
So much of emotions! Dumbfounded, Archana slowly departed from the gym. So, this was the last day for her in the gym. That meant that the end would come soon. As the Joker said in his ususal nasal voice, Archana understood that the last two tests would be completely different from the previous 3 tests. The Joker had warned Archana that 70% of the contestants failed in the fourth stage. That meant that the fourth test must be the toughest of all the stages.
At 6 PM, the disgusting face of the Joker appered on the monitor. Archana's heart probably missed a beat. She wondered what kind of torturous task the monster was going to tell her to perform!
"Don't be afraid Honey! Don't be afraid when you don't have to. Take every moment as they come to you. Life is the best gift that your God has bestowed you. You shouldn't waste a moment which is meant for enjoyment!"
Archana was shocked so many times in this hell house that she no longer got amazed. But, she had no idea what the Joker was talking about.
Looking at her confounded face, the otherwise morbid face of the Joker seemed to have smirked behind the mask. In a sarcastic tone he said,
"The next few hours are meant for your enjoyment. Tell me what you want in dinner, which will be served at 8 PM. You can order any number of exquisite delicacies from any part of the world. My chefs are the best in the world. I know you are a foodie. This may be your last meal and this is the only time when you are allowed to choose your meal. So, don't hesitate to utilize this opportunity."
Joker's words again sent shivers down Archana's spine. On one hand this lunatic fringe told Archana to enjoy her meal, but on the other hand he had the obnoxiousness to reveal that it could be her last meal. What the freak!
Watching Archana's bewildered face, the Joker said,
"You know what? There is only a thin line between pessimism and optimism. An optimist person may not be actually an optimist in real sense, while a seemingly pessimist in reality maybe an optimist. It depends on the situation and time. If you noticed carefully, I used the word may. You are educated enough to know the grammatical connotation of the word may. So, don't be afraid to unleash your taste buds, who I promise will get a field day.
Now, stop the negative feelings, and tell me what you would like to have at dinner. I will give you some choices, even though you are free to choose anything of your liking. You can order Souvlaki, Caprese, Puchero, Tom Yam Goong, Tonkatsu, Borsch. The list is endless Honey. Just tell me what are your choices."
"Pesarattu and Gongura Pachadi! Thanks! Now, can I have some private time please?" Archana curtly replied. The mere presence of the Joker seemed unsettling to her. Besides, she needed some private space to think about the impending danger.
"Of course, Honey! Take your time, as tonight at 10 PM you will face the biggest challenge that you have been facing." As soon as the television monitor went blank, Archana threw herself on the bed hiding her face in the pillow.
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In Rajan's class at the IIT, there was a student who had a sardonic sense of satisfaction in creating panic among his peers. He would invent stories that would cause trepidation among the less prepared students. For example, before the final semester he once said that he had heard that the teacher of electrical machine had told one of his colleagues that he would set the test in a way that would make sure that the 50% of the students would fail. Everyone would ask him a lot of questions like what else he had heard. But, Rajan was one of a very few students who never panicked. He studied hard throughout the year, he had no hesitations in approaching his teachers to not only clear his doubts, but also to check the answers of the mock tests. But, this time, before test, he had no such courage, he had not even an iota of confidence, because the Joker knew his weak points.
To be continued on Sunday morning
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