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

By looking at Rhys' face, not only me but all of us present there were with an 'O' shaped mouth because Rhys was one nice boy of our group who was quiet, a little genius but a nice athlete. Not into any disputes or fight instead he was the 'Mr. Peace-maker' of our group. He had all balanced traits and qualities.

Millicent kept her hand on Rhys' shoulder and told," Rhys, cool down. It was just a friendly teasing and you know Ian's behavior. His other name is 'Mr. Sarcasm'. Ian always spills shit. So don't give it a damn!"

By hearing to Millicent's words, Rhys cooled down and took a seat. The only thing in the room was a bunch of shocked people and pin-drop silence which was interrupted by Claire's giggling.

"What happened now?" I asked Claire.

She replied," In all this arguing, we forgot to find out the answer of the riddle which was the cause of this dispute in the first place."

"Yes, you're right." I agreed and then added," Ian please spill the answer."

Ian replied in anguish," Pride and Prejudice."

"Okay then guys, we should leave now. We have done our work." said Claire. And then we left from Millicent's house.

"Bye, guys. I really need a good rest today." I said to Claire & Ian and went towards my house.

I went home. It was 8:30 as I reached home. It wasn't the time for dinner. So, I went in library and began to read the book 'The Winter Tale' where I had left it last time. I read the book for at least one hour------------when mom called me for dinner," Dinner's ready." I climbed down the stairs without wasting any time. My parents were already there near the dining table. I wished both of them," Hey, Dad-------Hey, Mom."

"How was your day?" Dad asked.

"Fine but had a lot of work to do-----------Fair's coming." I replied with a smile. I had dinner with my parents. As usual the food was delicious. I had my belly filled with delicious food made by mom and I am afraid that I am going to put on a lot of weight if I go on eating like that every day.

"Good Night." I wished my parents and went towards my bedroom for a long beauty sleep. I took a hot shower. It unknotted my muscles and calmed my pulse and washed of all the fatigue of my body. I changed into my lavender pajamas and tied my hair in messy bun. I went to close the window and put the curtains on but I got distracted by the mesmerizing beauty of night. It was a moonlit night but it was a crescent moon with no clouds to hide it and stars shining dimly in the black sky-------------it seemed as if someone had sparkled the night with glitter. After appraising the night sky, I leaned in my bed and pulled my lavender quilt. I had given the sky blue quilt for laundry.

"Really, do we have to do all this? Aren't there any helpers from the fair committee?" I asked to my friends while helping them to load the stuff of our stall.

 "I totally agree." said Claire.

"Look, due to some technical problems they weren't able to come here and so we have to do the work. Instead of complaining and wasting your energy better concentrate on the work you are doing." replied Millicent or rather ordered.

"Okay." said I and Claire in one voice.

After loading all the stuff in the car of Jake, Stella and Millicent, we all headed towards the Alice Springs near Axial territory. On map Alice Spring comes in Northern territory.

Jake had a Chevrolet Corvette Stingray whereas Millicent had Holden VH and Stella had Ford Falcon XE. So we didn't have a problem of travelling. I, Millicent and Rhys were in Millicent's Car and Claire, Ian and Stella in Stella's Car and Jake, Jaxton and Sophia in Jake's Car.

"Millicent, how much time it's going to take to reach there?" I asked.

 She replied to me while starting the car," Not much, Iris just 6-7 hours."

I exclaimed as the car engine roared back to life," What? 6-7 hours! Are you kidding me?"

She replied with a relaxed tone," Iris, we're going to take break after 3 hours. So don't panic and complain. Do you get it?"

"Okay, okay don't act smart!" I ordered.

"What? I am acting smart. Then why are you showing your lazy ass traits? Answer!" she exclaimed.

 I retorted," Hey, I'm not lazy and don't you dare to say that to me. Do you get it, Bi..." but was cut off by Rhys," Language! Iris." he warned and threatened," I suppose you both are not in the mood of heating me up."

"No, I'm not." replied Millicent and I at once. Because now we knew how cruel or angry Rhys can be.

"So shut up and stop your cat fight at once and Millicent start the car and begin the journey because the others have already begun. Look there or let me drive." ordered Rhys.

As Rhys ordered, we both stopped fighting and saw where Rhys was pointing. We saw that Stella and Jake had already gone a little further. So Millicent began the journey and increased speed to cope up with the others.

We all stopped after 4 hours or more near a cafe in the Northern Territory near Alice Springs. Alice Springs was approximately 2 hours far from the cafe. I saw the name of the cafe, it was Cafe Uno. There we had our lunch because it was 12:30pm and we all were hungry. We had begun our journey from our homes nearly by 8:00 or 8:30 am so we needed to refuel ourselves and the vehicles too. Nearby there also was a gas-station. The girls were going to order the lunch and the boys were going to refuel the cars. The cafe provided mostly Italian Cuisines. So we ordered Pasta e Fagioli, Michetta bread, Pizza Margherita, Pizza Marinara and Pizza Romana. After the lunch we had some fun there playing pool game, cards and darts. After that we had coffee and then we left for the Alice Springs.

 "At last, we are here." I exclaimed as we reached to the site of fair.

 "Yes, we are." said Rhys.

 "So what are we going to do now?" I asked to all my friends.

 Jake replied," Now, we have to give our entire stall's stuff to the Fair volunteers and they will setup the stall."

"Yeah, so we don't have to setup the stall. But guys where are we going to stay? Where are we going to spend the night?" I asked.

 Jake replied," We all are going to stay in my vacation house. It is not much far from here. Just 2 hours or less journey, I suppose."

"Hey, let me drive the car now." said Rhys to Millicent. Millicent was stunned a little due to his increasing possessiveness and caring. I knew that he liked Millicent but I was stunned due to his heroic tone. Millicent and Rhys were staring each other for nearly a minute. So, I was the one who spoiled their staring game. "Hey, are you both going to spend the whole day staring into each other's eyes or going to make a move towards the car. We have to go." I said with a sharp voice and stiffened tone.

They both were a little shocked due to my sudden interruption. "What? We aren't staring into each other's eyes. I was just......" said Rhys.

"Yes he is saying the truth and you control your mind and tongue. Or I am going to kill you one day." followed Millicent

"Okay, Okay. I am sorry." I chuckled and dragged Millicent towards the car. This time Rhys was driving, Millicent was sitting beside Rhys and I was as usual on the back seat like small kid and Millicent and Rhys like my parents.

It was nearly evening as I saw the sun set slowly down. The air was a little cooler than before. The weather made me feel dizzy. I yawned and stretched my hands and fell asleep on the back seat in no time.

"Iris, wake up. We reached Jake's House. Wake up you lazy ass." I heard Millicent shouting and shaking me.

I replied," Let me sleep Millicent." And then suddenly I suppose a bucket full of cold water was thrown on my face and I was wide awake by now still struggling with my blur vision and also shivering as it was cold outside. Once my vision was cleared, I saw a boy with an empty bucket in his hand and laughing and also bunch of others beside him laughing as well. Knock! Knock! Guess who it was? It was none other than the sociopath, sarcastic, obnoxious and nerdy-----------------Ian.

I screamed," Ian you nerdy sociopath! I'm not going to leave you." But before I could catch him, he was far away where my hands couldn't reach to catch him. But then I got up to catch him but Millicent held me by my hand and said," Iris, you should better go and change your clothes or you will catch cold. Better go and have a shower." I replied," Okay" to Millicent.

Then I left for the house. It was big house. Had 5 bedrooms with bathrooms, a kitchen and one big living room. Also it had a big library and a big lawn cum garden outside with a swimming pool. It really was an awesome vacation house to have fun. Jake indeed was a lucky guy.

Without wasting time, I went in my and Millicent's room. After removing my wet clothes, I took a hot shower and after that I scrubbed my body with a towel and also dried my hair. After that I wore my night dress and then

Millicent came in," Iris, come fast we are going to have a movie night."

I cheered," What? Really, are you kidding me? Which movie are we going to watch?"

She replied with a weird expression," They are planning on watching a horror movie."

I asked hastily," Whose idea it is? Wait let me guess Jaxton. That guy really has to keep his supernatural love aside and think."

Jaxton loved all types of supernatural. He himself wished to be a werewolf or a vampire. Sometimes he acts like wizards. How can one be so weird? This time he has brought a horror movie. I don't know whether I would have the chance to see tomorrow's sun because I don't like ghosts and their movie. So, God help me!

"Iris, are you alright?" asked Millicent," What were you thinking about that you don't sense people around you?"

 I replied," No, nothing. I was just thinking about the horror movie." "

I think you're scared, Iris." teased Millicent.

I gave a slap on her shoulder and chuckled," We'll see whether who is a scardy cat and who is a brave lion."

Then we both went down. All were already there with the lights off and popcorn in their hands. But the movie wasn't started yet. I think they were waiting for us. We quickly took our places and started eating the popcorns.

THE MOVIE BEGAN.....

"Who's there?" asked the heroine swallowing a lump- as the door of her room was knocked by someone. There was the typical suspense cum dangerous music in the background. By hearing that sound every other girl in the room was frightened including me. As the girl moved towards the door, the background music got higher and higher. And every other person in the room watching movie was either biting nails or watching with eyes wide open or holding the hand of the person beside and some were just relaxed as if nothing had happened. As the girl reached near the door, we could hear her heartbeats and then there was pin drop silence for some seconds and the silence is broken by the creaking noise of the door.

As the door opened suddenly the ghost appeared and all of us except the boys screamed like mad. And our screaming continued till the movie ended. As the movie finished, I