The Mysterious Fruit

After reaching Florida, Niamat decides to find a hotel for Robert and Tom to stay before going to her hostel, which she had pre-booked. (Her college hostel). They searched the entire city, but not even one single room was empty in any of those hotels Then, they happened to find a hotel near 'Friends of Florida State Forest'. To their wonder, the entire hotel was empty.

Tom – "Ah! At last, our luck is back! We literally spend the entire day searching for a room in hotel, and among around 80 hotels, not even a single hotel had one empty room. But finally we can have one now. I can't wait to rest. But which room are we gonna choose. I mean, this entire hotel is empty. Didn't anyone noticed this place… or?"

Niamat and Robert – "Or?"

Tom – "Or is there any ghost or deadly creature around, as this place is very near to the forest!"

Robert – "Oh, come on Tom! Didn't you see the name of this forest? It's Friends of Florida State Forest'. Of course, even the animals over here will be friendly, and you call yourself an archeologist and you are afraid of ghosts? Weren't you waiting for an adventurous journey?"

Tom – "I am not afraid of ghosts! I know they exists though. Moreover, who cares if they are actually here, and Robert… just for your information. I am an archaeologist, not a paranormal expert. So it doesn't matter, if I am afraid of ghosts or not!". "(It would have been better if we had booked room from India itself! At least, one of us should have remembered this)" (Aside)

Robert – "Yeah! But... you guys deal with so many dead bodies. So, who knows you had come across a ghost too. Wait... does that mean, that you are scared?"

Niamat – "It's ok. There is nothing wrong in being scared, and, even if there are any ghost over here, then don't worry, because, even ghosts don't harm those people, who don't harm them."

Tom – (Smiles) "Thank you Niamat. Well! Niamat, did you see something?"

Niamat – "What?"

Tom – "Robert's behavior. He tried to pull my leg. Oh! I miss that rude, angry, stupid guy."

Robert (Gives a fake smile in a sarcastic way) – "Ok, then from now, I will start behaving rude, angry and stupid again. Will it be fine with you Tom?" (Looks at Tom in a sarcastic way).

Tom – "No, no… I meant that, it's so good that you are behaving normal...."

Robert – "Huh?"

Tom – "I mean... it's so good that you are behaving so humble and kind."

Robert – "Better!"

All three starts laughing aloud.

Niamat – "I guess people didn't liked coming here because of the name of this hotel. It's so weird. I mean who names their hotel 'INVISIBLE'."

Tom – "Might be, it's invisible to all!"

Robert – "Ah, so we can see it because, we are aliens, is it?"

Tom – "What's wrong in dreaming? I am trying to make our journey adventurous! Why do you always have to be this analytical?"

Niamat – "Is anyone of you even planning to book a room, or spend your entire vacations on road?"

Tom – "Heh... come, let's go."

They booked two rooms very easily and even it wasn't expensive. It was just 1000/- (in Indian currency), for 10 days, for one room.

The receptionist – "You guys are lucky that you all have arrived, when our hotel has been providing special offer for its customers.

Niamat – "Sorry, but, is there any festival or anything. I am just curious."

The receptionist – "Beyond a festival."

Niamat - "Sorry?"

The receptionist – "I mean... a hotel can give special offers, even beyond a festival, couldn't it?"

Niamat – "Hm!"

The receptionist – "Well! How did you guys discover this hotel? I mean... not everyone can find it, as it's in such a remote area, you see. So only, our customers also haven't come here. So only, we had planned to give a special offer to our first customer of the day."

Tom – "Alright... so we were finding everywhere, then we found this place. Well! Don't you think, you should change the decor of this hotel? I mean it looks so childish and girly

Niamat – "Hey! Tom!"

The receptionist – "I understood, what you meant to say young man. But, neither there is anything wrong in being childish or girly, nor is there anything wrong in using fairies for the decoration. Because, fairies have always been a dream. Such a dream, that everyone wishes to be true, but no one thinks, if it actually exists. Even if anyone does... they are laughed at or they limit their theory to just a dream. So, our hotel gives people relive their childhood dream of living in a fairyland."

Niamat, Tom and Robert looks around them. The only thing, they can see, are the statues of fairies. Even the receptionist was wearing a fairy costume. In the middle of the hall... there was a statue of a couple, holding two new born babies. One baby was hold by the woman and other with the man. The love which sparkled in their eyes, gave a clear hint that the couple were the parents of those two babies. The woman was feeding a strange fruit that no one had ever seen, to the baby leaning on her arm and the man was about to feed the same strange fruit to the baby that he had vertically on his hand. This made Robert suspicious regarding the place.

Robert – "Tom! I feel this place is strange. Do you feel the same?"

Tom – "Which thing on Earth doesn't look strange to you?"

Robert – "A…"

Tom – " Ok! Don't start quarrelling again. Well! What made you think this?"

Robert – "Everywhere the only thing you find are fairies, and those fruits, that the couple is feeding those infants. Have you ever seen them? And why is there, not even one single customer? There was so much of rush in other hotels. Didn't even one among them, felt of going elsewhere and find another one for themselves? Have you seen the way he speaks? And..."

Tom – "…Whoa... whoa! Calm down Robert! You are thinking too much."

Robert – "What?"

Niamat – "I really love the decoration around here, sir. I know this couple and these infants are also a part of this decoration. But, I just want to know... does it holds some other reason too? I mean, it's completely fine, if you don't want to say anything. Also, these wings... it's so unique. I have never seen one such before. Who had designed it?"

The receptionist – "You liked it? It was designed by God."

Niamat – "What?"

The receptionist – "Just kidding! It was random!"

Tom – "Yes."

Robert – "Do you feel nothing strange about this place?"

Tom – "To be honest... I felt weird, when I came here first. You might remember that, you were making fun of me.... But, when that receptionist said the reason behind all this, I was ok with this. The only thing, I still feel weird is"

Robert – "What?" (Curiously).

Tom – "Which person is so addicted to fairies at this age? I mean... ha... ha seriously... fairies. ha, ha, ha..." (Looks at Robert starring Tom in anger)" No, I didn't find any strange thing. Neither, in its name, nor in its population of customers, nor about the place where it is situated, nor about fairies statues all around us. Not even in his behavior and the way he speaks is just the way he speaks. It's his life, his tongue, he will behave and speak the way he wants. Until it doesn't harm us. It doesn't affect us. So stop bothering him. Alright?"

Robert – (Stunned)" Well! Why are you defending him?"

Tom – "Becau..."

Robert – "It's ok! I understood." (Aside) "Such an idiot!"

Meanwhile Niamat and the receptionist keeps speaking.

The receptionist – "We made it but anyhow...whatever happens on Earth, it happens with God's wish, so indirectly… it's made by God only right?"

Niamat – (Nods the head) "Yes you are right."

The receptionist – "But, why do you ask about the statue of that couple?"

Niamat – (Smiles) "Ah… nothing. I just felt, it is different so… not everyone keeps this statue… so I asked you sir… sorry…."

The receptionist – "It's fine, you shall never resist to speak about what is there in your heart!" (Looks carefully, at Niamat's eyes) "Hm… is, a fairy couple holding two infants so different?" (Niamat starts stumbling) "It's ok, you will know, when the right time comes. After all, you can get nothing before time."

Niamat simply nods her head. While Robert sees the receptionist starring at Niamat.

Robert – "Look! I said know, this man is weird. Just look at the way, he is starring at Niamat."

Robert goes straight to the receptionist, while Tom comes behind him.

Tom – "Robert… Robert. Wait for me!"

Robert – "Can you please give our room keys sir? (Rudely)

Niamat – "Robert! Is this the way you speak to elders?" (Whispers to him) "Why are you so rude?"

Tom – "It's not his fault Niamat. This man was starring you."

Niamat – "Oh please! Can you guys please stop now! Sir was just helping me, know this place better!"

The receptionist silently overheard the entire conversation.

The receptionist – "Here you go! Your keys!"

While Robert was about to take the keys, the receptionist said.

The receptionist – (Suspiciously) "Remember.. only these keys can lead your way into this hotel!"

Tom – (Snatching the keys) "We know it sir. Thanks for informing us."

Niamat – "Alright then, you've booked your rooms, so as our work is done, I will go to hostel now. We'll meet tomorrow."

Tom – "But Niamat… "

Niamat stopped by looking at the sky. It was pitch dark, She looked at her wrist watch. It was 7:30 PM.

Tom – "Sorry Niamat! Because of us, you got late. Why don't you stay back, and go back early morning!"

Robert – "Yes Niamat... Tom is right. Moreover, you have come here today only.... so, it might be difficult for you to find your way, in this dark."

Tom – "Did you see Niamat? Robert agreed with me. This place is really good, very good. It has turn this rude..." (Looks at Robert and starts stumbling)". I mean... so busy person, so extrovert!"

Niamat and Robert looks at each other, as though, they didn't understood anything... kind of confused.

Niamat – (Smiles) "Alright Tom and Robert! I'll be going to hostel tomorrow... and Tom, whatever you said, I completely agree with you."

Tom – "Thanks!"

Robert – "Tom and I will share one room for today, and you take another."

Tom – "Alright! Let's go then, I am too tired."

Tom goes to his room. Robert follows him. Whereas Niamat went to the right side of Robert and Tom's room. Before getting into the room, Robert looks down, (from the first floor) at the receptionist going towards the couple statue.

Robert – "He might be going to close the gate. Probably Niamat was right. I was too rude with him. I should say him sorry. Though, he did wrong, but he is elder to me. I'll say him tomorrow!"