"I spy you!" - 69

Now Vasupradha observed them. They were a pair of very young men. Might have been about 19 year old. Tall and well built. One was with a moustache and a day or two’s beard. The other was clean shaven and good looking. Vasupradha thought both of them were good looking and handsome in their own way.

“Now, can you tell me the meaning of your sudden barging in?” asked Pushpahaasa in a very severe tone. Even Vasupradha found that she shivered at the sharpness of his voice.

The boys (Yes, somehow Vasupradha felt that they looked like two boys who had lost their way and got stranded there!) looked as if they have been hit by a sharp arrow. She felt sad that both of them looked as if they were about to cry. Only thing was that they did not cry. Within a second or two they started looking defiant.

“I asked you who are you and what are you doing here?” asked Pushpahaasa with the same rough tone but there was a little softness in the voice now.

“My name is Adhokshaja” said the young man with moustache,  “And his name is Gadaadhara”.

“So, can you please give me the reason for your sudden appearance in our home?” repeated Pushpahaasa stressing each word.

Both of them looked at the windows. Vasupradha felt that they were trying to see whether their pursuers are still behind them.

It looked Adhokshaja was the talkative of the two. He mentioned that they are from a northern state and they have come here to try for a job.

“What job?” asked immediately Pushpahaasa.

“Medical representatives” said Adhokshja.

“What job your friend would do if he does not even open his mouth” told Pushpahaasa with sarcasm.

The other boy Gadaadhara looked as if he has been shot at. He opened his mouth to tell something. But Adhokshaja touched him on his thigh and motioned him to keep quiet.

“So, what’s the reason? Are you the only one who knows to talk tactfully? Is that why you are asking him to be silent?” Pushpahaasa threw barbed questions.

“No uncle, nothing like that” Adhokshaja opened his mouth. He had a very pleasant voice.

“I will tell uncle” said Gadaadhara.          

The two could tell a queer story. They lived in the outhouse. They felt that the house in front of theirs and the next house were having some people who were not at all friendly. They were always trying to spook these two boys.

Pushpahaasa was a little skeptical in the beginning. But his face grew serious as the boys narrated their experiences.

“We have a doubt that the people in the two houses do not have good intentions uncle. Looks like they are up to some nefarious activities” said Gadaadhara with his eyes wide open.