CHAPTER 1 - THE CALL

"John!" his mother screamed, "you are not gonna miss lunch today."

"Maybe we'll talk about it later", John replied and his mother could hear his voice echoing as he left for school.

That day was really important to John. He could afford missing anything but not sports days. He had been going through sleepless nights and dreams with his name on everybody's lips. He could himself visualize the faces of the rival school captains staring at him with sheer agitation. Moreover, it was his last sports day and he couldn't afford to miss it. But now he had to somehow make it to the bus stop.

John sprinted until he could hear his heart beat. The bus had already gone about fifty metres ahead. John sprinted even more faster banging the bus and shouting "STOP!" simultaneously. A voice from inside called out, " Hey John , this isn't any race track. There's still time." John had used almost half of his energy and finally the bus stopped.

He got into the bus just to find out everyone laughing at his sweat bathed body.

He sat at his seat brainstorming strategies for his 400 metre race. He finally reached school and it seemed as if John's long wait was gonna yield precious fruits.

The events began!

Many schools competited. John went to the counter to know the timing of his 400 metre race. "4:30 PM", said the official. "What! How could it be? It's usually held in the morning session", said a surprised John. "Yeah , but since there are many schools participating, we had to keep the track events at the last", said the official who wasn't in any mood for a conversation.

Time passed and finally it was 4:15 PM. John's school was on par with their rival school of 250 points. This 400 metre race was to decide the winner. John was asked to report at the track, and the race was to begin.

John's heart was beating faster and faster.

"ON YOUR MARK" the voice came.

"SET"...."GO!"

The athletes were on their way to reach the finish line. John was on number 3 and their rival school was leading. He had forgotten all of his strategies and just wanted to cross the finish line at any cost.

"200 metres left!" the voice came.

John sprinted as fast as he could easily grabbing the first position. But there were still 100metres left. John could hear everyone cheering for him and also started thinking of how he was to recieve the gold medal from the guest of honour.

John turned right to see everyone looking and pointing at him with admiration. But something caught his eye. A mysteriously dressed man who covered his whole body from his hair to his feet, his eyes covered with black spectacles, his body covered with a black worn jacket and a huge hat that prevented anyone from even getting to judge even the least of his appearance was staring at him.

Something about the stranger struck John and he slowed down consequently, tripping through his feet. There was mayhem all around and all the other participants got the hope of another chance to seal victory. Within a matter of few seconds , the race was over, and John couldn't even make it last.

All the formalities of the Sports Day got over, and no one bothered to talk to John who sat in a corner with anxiety. He wasn't much worried about losing the race. He was only concerned with the stranger. Despite wearing black spectacles the stranger's vision was stuck right into John's eyes as if he was expecting something from him.

John was the last to leave school and there was no bus available. The stranger's thoughts were still encircling his mind. John had to call his mother so that she could pick him up. He already started preparing himself to face his mother who could even judge the slightest change in his facial expressions.

With hasty steps, he walked towards a nearby telephone booth still thinking about the stranger. Even before he could lay hands on the telephone, it started ringing, all by itself!

Millions of thoughts caught John's mind: "Who could it be?" "Who could be calling a local booth?" "Is someone watching me?" "Is this call meant to be for me?" Something seemed to disturb him. The whole day seemed to be more like a nightmare to him. But now his condition was similar to a ship stuck in the middle of the sea.

"Ok!" , he said to motivate himself, even though he knew it wasn't gonna be of any use.

With trembling hands and nearly frozen fingers, he picked up the phone. "Hello?" , he said.

There was no reply

"Hello?" , he said now agitated with everything that had happened since that morning.

"Ah! John, you got a tough voice kid! More manly than I expected I must say."

"H...Hello! Who's this? H....How do you know me?"

John, with mixed emotions of frustration and fright cut the phone. He didn't know what to do next. He wanted to call his mother but even touching the phone seemed to be the last thing he'd do even if he was offered millions.

He came out of the booth and spotted a bus standing right in front of him. It was an old bus, covered with mud on either sides. He had never seen that bus before. He even started sensing something fishy in this bus too. But the thought of calling his mother and narrating to her the events of the day which she wasn't likely to understand seemed much more risky than getting on any bus.

John reached home by 7:00 PM. And as a matter of fact, he couldn't believe that the bus was no trap, but just an ordinary one.

As soon as he reached the doorstep came his mother's voice "John, you're half an hour late."

I was getting ready to pick you up. "

His mother noticed the look in her son's face.

"Look! if you loose the race, there's not much to worry about. It happens! You can't change what's written in destiny!"

"I wonder what this DESTINY is planning for me." , John murmured and went upstairs.