Nightfall by Pranay Javeri (best books to read for self development txt) 📖

3. Disaster

I woke up and glanced at the clock. It was showing time as half past nine. Seeing that I hurried out of my bed quickly and I undid the window curtain so that the sunlight can penetrate into the room. It was warm and bright. Some birds were flying in the vast blue sky with few white clouds. I didn't have the time to appraise the nature because----------------I was damn late!

After that without wasting time I took a bath. With a towel covered on my body, I ran towards the closet for my clothes. I took out a blue lace net vest and with a black skirt extending till knee. Also I added black knee high leggings. Then I applied a slight makeup that would suit my dress and also put on my other accessories. Wait! I forgot to spray perfume. Look, I know I take a lot of time to get ready but it's a girl's thing.

I hurried down towards the dining table. There was bread butter, pancakes and fruit juice. I took a glass and pour the juice in the glass. Also, simultaneously I stuffed a pancake in my mouth. Then I drank the whole juice in one sip.

My mother advised me," Iris, dear, slow down. Why are you in such a hurry?"

I replied with pancakes and bread stuffed in my mouth," Mom, Om nom.... Wait a minute. Gulp... Om nom..... gulps. Mom, I have to go for a meeting in the Square Park and Millicent must be waiting outside for me. Also, as usual I'm late and she's going to give me a huge lecture on this and no one can save me from her so I am in such a great hurry."

I hurried towards the door and there was an angry girl standing in front of my door with her car and was continuously giving me a death glare. Knock, Knock.... Guess who it was? Of course, it's none other than our own impulsive, arrogant and smart ass Millicent.

"Oh! Iris, why did you come so early?" taunted Millicent.

 I knew that I am going to get a long speech on the topic 'Not to be LATE'. I knew today no one can save me from Millicent, not even my parents or hers.

When I reached near her, she started," Iris, really. Don't you understand? We have a meeting in the Square Park at 10:00 am and you come at 9:55 am. Do you think that we have a super speed like vampires or werewolves? Do you think that we're going to reach to the park in five minutes? I'm really fed up of you being late every time. Have you ever reached anywhere on time or before? Never, you have always been late whether it would be a meeting or a party or class. Really, don't you realize that one day you will have to pay a huge price for not being punctual and not valuing time? I think now it's high time for you to rectify your mistake." Ah, what a big speech! I told you so. It's Millicent, the smart, punctual and mature ass of our town. She is just twenty-one but by seeing her behavior, anyone would mistake her to be of twenty-five or more. But on the other side she's right. It's high time for me to get a little serious.

By seeing Millicent's face, which was still red like a tomato, I saw at her with my best 'puppy eyes' look. I knew she would forgive me and guess what? She did.

Then we drove towards the Square Park. We were approximately 10-15 minutes late. All were sitting in the square shed which was situated in the middle of the park and were obviously waiting for us. All of our friends had come because this was one of the important meetings of our group. Our group consisted of Millicent, Claire, Sophia, Rhys, Jake, Ian, Stella, Jaxton and I. We were like 'Best Friends Forever'.

"Really sorry for being late guys." said Millicent in a apologizing tone.

At that instant, Ian interrupted," Millicent, you don't need to apologize. We all know why you are late." looking at me with sharp eyes. And he was followed by the other friends of mine.

I looked at them and said," What? You know I take a little more time to get ready than all of you." Then I used the same trick on my friends that I had used on Millicent. But it didn't work.

Instead Claire retorted," Don't you, Iris. Don't try to lure us by your 'puppy eyes' look because it's not going to work on us. You will surely get a punishment for this but now it's not our priority. So guys I think we should begin our meeting because we have already wasted a lot of valuable time of ours due to the lazy ass of our group."

I quickly retorted," Claire, there's no need to be so rude. I apologized. If you want me to apologize once again than I'll. Guys, I am really sorry to keep you all waiting and delaying the time of meeting. I am sorry from the bottom of my heart."

After that Claire replied," Okay, if you're truly sorry and realize your mistake than we all forgive you. But promise us that you wouldn't repeat it again."

I said with a big grin on my face," Yes, I promise."

Then Millicent started the meeting," So All's well that ends well. Now, let's talk about the fair. We are going to have a stall of ours in the fair and that's for sure. But what are we going to do in the fair? I want some ideas from you all. So speak up guys. We don't have much time to waste on thinking. Just tell the idea that comes first in your brain. Okay, your time starts now."

And the first response came from Sophia," We should keep a stall of Artifacts."

Ian retorted," And who's going to bring the artifacts and from where?" Sophia pouted and sat on her seat.

The second idea from Jake," I think we should have a Lottery counter where the prize amount will vary from $100 to $1, 00,000."

As usual the freaky guy Ian interrupted," Dude, from where you are going to bring so much money, from your father's salary or mother's jewellery. Hey it rhymed. Great."

Jake got heated up and caught Ian's collar and said," Don't you poke a joke on my parents, you ..." and was cut-off by Millicent," Cool down Jake and Ian you please don't criticize everyone's idea. Instead give us an idea rather than criticizing others' ideas. Do you get it? Now you both go and occupy your asses."  All this was getting more and more interesting and intense.

After few minutes, Claire spilled out an idea," We should have a Taro Card reading stall. What say guys?"

This time instead of Ian, Millicent spoke," Taro Card------Huh-------um------Do you really know how to read Taro Card?"

Claire replied," No, I don't." This time I spoke," Then who's going to do that work? Do you know any Taro card reader?"

She replied," No and why are you both asking such questions to me?"

Ian replied to Claire," Dumbass. You are saying that we're going to have a Taro Card reading stall without a Taro card reader. That means you are telling us to cheat people. But I think you should know that we are not a bunch of cons."

Claire replied," Whoa... Whoa... Slow down Ian."

Then all started discussing or rather arguing especially Ian about the idea for stall and in the midst of the discussion Rhys got up and spoke," Guys, just slow down. I have a million dollar idea. We should keep Treasure Hunt Competition. We'll give the teams participating some hints or riddles through which they can find the treasure. Also for participation they will have to pay a little amount. What say guys?" And there was pin-drop silence and every one of us was looking at Rhys.

Millicent screamed," Rhys, you're a savior. Today you have saved our group." and hugged him and I saw something that no one saw and was shocking. I saw that Rhys' face had turned red like a tomato and had a big smile stuck to his face. Maybe--------he had some feelings for Millicent or it was just me imagining things. So, I decided to be quiet and investigate about this case later.

Suddenly my series of thoughts was broken by Millicent," Iris, Iris, Are you alright?" I nodded my head and then went towards my friends and joined their group hug.

After that, we had to divide work of the Treasure Hunt. So it was decided that the riddles will be created by three people and that committee was named 'Creation'. Creation consisted of me, Claire and Ian.

The next committee consisted of two members for sequencing the riddles and that committee was named 'Sequence'. Sequence consisted of Millicent and Rhys.

The third committee had the work to finalize the positions of the riddles. So it was named 'Position' and it consisted of Sophia and Jake. Stella and Jaxton were going to handle the finance and were under the fourth committee------------ 'Finance'.

After creating the committees, we decided to take a break as it was lunch time and after the lunch the committees were going to meet on their decided timing and do their job. Our committee had the first shift because we were going to create the riddles and pass on to the Sequence committee.

"As rain turns to streams as it falls down the mountain, droplets flow down you when they leap from the…" I said to Ian and Claire and further asked "How is this riddle?"

They both answered in an exciting tone," Awesome!" I gave a big smile because the first riddle was ready. Ian added," Wait, let me guess the answer and the answer is... is Fountain."

Ian was the second to give a riddle," I love a good mess, they fill up my belly. It doesn't matter what kind, clean, funny or smelly."

I smirked," Wait a minute let me guess. The answer is...... is Ian's mouth i.e. trash can."

Ian retorted," Good Joke, Iris." and gave me a tight slap on my shoulder. Seeing Ian's annoyed face, Claire and I had a hearty laugh.

Claire contributed a riddle," Our colors and shapes we show with great pride. When the wind blows, we go for a ride."

Ian replied," Hey, that's an easy one."

Claire pouted," Then tell the answer 'Mr. I Know Everything'."

Ian replied with a hand gesture of Peace- making to Claire," Easy there. The answer is Flag. Right, Claire?"

Claire pouted," Yes, that's right."

Ian was this next to give riddle," Just sit on this and you will go high! Just kick your legs to help you fly." So in this way we completed our work till 6:00 pm. Then we three went to the Sequence committee to submit our riddles.

"Faces to the sun, they sit in beds for hours, your next clue's not inside, and it's hidden in the........ This one's great. Who wrote this?" Millicent asked.

Claire replied cheerfully," It's me. Thank-you, Millicent & the answer for this is 'Flowers'."

Rhys interrupted," Hey this one's great too. A man and his fortune need one thing for life. Will Jane and Lizzie each become a wife?"

"Thank-you, Rhys." said Ian," But can you guess the answer? It's a little complicated."

"Wait, let me guess." ordered Millicent "Man, fortune, Jane and Lizzie.....umm...Huh...Huh...I know this but it's not hitting my brain."

Ian teased," Millicent you better don't talk about brain."

Millicent replied," Ian, you...." but was cut off by Rhys," Ian mind your tongue. Better don't tease her or I'll break