The Mysterious Fruit

The next morning Niamat left the hotel at 6:45 AM. Whereas Robert went to the receptionist.

Robert – "Sir... I am sorry for my yesterday's behavior."

The receptionist – "Hm... its ok son. I can understand. If I was in your place, then even I might have did the same thing. I am happy to know, that Niamat is with right people."

Robert – "What?"

The receptionist – "Nothing... why don't you go for a round. There is lot's to discover in this place. Take Tom also."

Robert – "Hm."

While Robert and Tom were discovering the hotel, Niamat on the other hand, was in her college i.e., 'Florida State University' Though, it was her first day in college, she made a lot of friends. Her day was pretty good. But, at the end of the day, while she was about to leave for her hostel, few seniors appeared out of nowhere and snatched away her bag.

Niamat – "Ah... excuse me! Can you please give back my bag?"

Senior 1 – "Bag...? Which bag? Do you mean, by this boring piece of rag?"

Senior 2 – "You know what freshie, we use this, for which you call bag... for throwing all our waste clothes. You know, litter bag, or disposal bag!"

All three starts laughing.

Senior 3 – "And just look at her clothes. Oh aunty ! Where did you get those from? You know, you look so untrendy,"

Senior 2 – "Oh Sharon (Senior - 3), do you seriously think, this idiot is trendy?"

Senior 1, 2, 3 – "Ha... Ha... Ha.."

Senior 1 – "Christina (Senior - 2), why don't you check her rag, oops... I mean, bag?"

Senior 2 – "You are right Diana (Senior 1). It would be cool if we do so. Ha... Ha... Ha...!"

Senior 2, i.e., Christina turns Niamat's bag upside down.

Senior 2 – "Oh! Looks like our foreign freshie is not just an aunty... but a nerd too. Just look at all these things... Just books. So boring!"

Niamat takes up all the books and puts back inside her bag.

Niamat – "Yeah! I have got just books. What else should a student bring to college then? Makeup? Oh! So sorry, coz neither it's a parlor, nor am I so ugly like you to put on makeup all the time!"

Senior 3 – "Hey..."

Niamat – "…Let me complete my sentence first. I heard you all, now you all will hear me. First of all... you think by wearing these kinds of clothes, you become broad minded and independent? So for your kind information, broad mindedness comes through our work, not through our clothes, and nor will you be called independent, because by behaving in this way and by disrespecting books, you have showed that you are still so much trapped within your negative emotions and your social stereotypes. I have come here to study. You have no idea about what I have been through past so many years. So better, leave my way, and you dare mess up with me again, coz none of you have seen my anger yet. I don't wish to quarrel with anyone, coz I have come here to study and I would love to have friends, but not enemies! Coz that could just spoil everything. Anyways, do you want to be remembered as a Hitler?... (Takes a deep breathe) I am sorry if I am hurting you all. I usually respect elders and want to follow it here also. So better be in your limits. Alright didi."

Senior 3 – "Didi?"

Niamat – "Hm... it means elder sister in North Indian languages."

Senior 3 – "What do you mean by elder sister? Hah?"

Senior 2 – "Do you mean that we are old?"

Niamat – "Oof... [Takes a deep breath]. How annoying (Aside). Did I say that? I called you so, coz it's the way of giving respect. After all, you are elder to me."

All the seniors looked at each other in rage and then looked at Niamat, who was about to leave, as her friends Tom and Robert were waiting for her near the gate.

The seniors pushed Niamat down, seeing which Tom and Robert came running towards her.

Tom and Robert – "Niamat!"

Senior 1 – "Oh see! Now this kid requires help."

Niamat – "Can't you all decide my age at once?" (Aside) [Looks at Robert and Tom, who looked really angry]. "It's better if I would leave this place as soon as possible, coz Robert and Tom look very angry. Before things gets out of hands, we must leave. (Aside). "Tom, Robert let's go. We have to go to discover this place... remember?"

Robert and Tom starred a glance at the seniors.

While Niamat, Robert, and Tom were about to leave, the seniors stopped Niamat.

Niamat – "I respect you... but if you don't let me go now, then...."

Senior 2 – "... Then what?"

Senior 1 – "Ok then. Let's do one thing. We are gonna let you go, only... if you are successful, in showing us an unique bird, which no one have ever seen in this state, and also... it should be touchable. That too within 7 hours."

Niamat – "What?"

Tom - "It is a very dumb challenge. The one's who have never been sighted before, that too in a place like Florida, it is practically a hub of birds. How is it possible to get it within 7 hours and that too, someone, which can be touchable also? Niamat, don't accept it. Moreover, you had arrived here just yesterday. How could you possibly accomplish this task? These girls are just trying to bully you!"

Niamat – "I have to do something before Tom and Robert gets angry." (Aside). We are getting late. We need to go. So, you can bully me later!"

Senior 2 – "Didn't you heard what Diana said? Moreover, you keep saying that you respect elders. Then, why aren't you doing it? Go, bring a bird that no one have ever seen in this state, and remember.... it should be touchable."

Senior 3 – "Go... you have just 7 hours dear, go!"

Tom – "Niamat don't!"

Niamat – "But they are right! Am I not disrespecting them?"

Tom – "What right? I thought you guys consider me dumb. But right now you are being dumb. Even they are disrespecting you, so how on earth will that be taken as disrespecting"

Niamat – "But they are my seniors, moreover, its my first time here. If I fail to do this task, then they might think how incapable I am!"

While Tom and Niamat were indulge in their conversation... Robert goes behind a nearby tree and secretly takes out his latest work - a drone, but in the form of a serpent eagle, with feathers attached to it and flies along with him.

Robert – "Here you go!" (Aloud)

Everyone looks at Robert.

Tom – "This bird is..."

Robert – "… Very beautiful... right? Now let these seniors see it and let Niamat leave. Ok?"

Senior 2 – "But how did you get it all of a sudden?"

Tom – "Oh shit!" (Aside)

Robert – "It is my pet... that's why, while booking our tickets, I had taken permission to bring it."

Senior 1 – "Oh really! Then where is your permission letter?"

Robert – "It's in the hotel!" (Smiles) "You asked for a unique bird that no one over here have ever seen, also that can be touchable, I brought it. As far as I know, Serpent Eagles aren't found in Florida, and you can touch it too. So as you said... let Niamat go now. Now that's a different thing, if these species have been brought in any of the zoos of here. But, what you have said, we have done it. So, now it's your turn to do what you agreed to..."

Senior 2 – "We haven't yet touched it."

Robert, with the help of his remote control (Secretly), makes the Serpent Eagle sit on his arm and then, asks the seniors to touch it. All the three ladies comes at once to take the Serpent Eagle on their arms.

Senior 3 – "Please! I want it to sit on my arm, just for once!"

Senior 1 – "Me too."

Senior 2 – "Me too!"

Robert – "Hold on! This wasn't the deal. You are supposed to just touch it. So touch it one by one."

Senior 1 – "But please... we have never seen something like this. Moreover, since it's your pet... so, it won't harm us too..."

Senior 2 – "Yes... please... I am sorry for our behavior but please let us hold it for once!"

Robert – "It's too heavy. It weighs..."

Senior 3 – "We don't care of its weight. If it's heavy, we all will hold it together. right guys?"

Niamat – "Ah?"

Senior 1 and 2 – "Yes!"

Tom – "Now, these girls will find out everything." (Aside)

Robert – "But..."

Before Robert could say or do anything, the trio snatched the bird and Robert lost his balance and as a result of this, the remote control fell from Robert's hand and broke. As the remote control broke, even the bird turned into an action figure, as though, it froze in its position. The seniors understood what happened.

Senior 2 – "You liars! Not only this weird nerd, but also her friends are losers. I take back my sorry, coz you all don't deserve it. And you, freshie..."

Robert – "…Niamat. Her name is Niamat."

Senior 2 – "Oh! So what are you gonna do, if I don't call her Niamat?"

Niamat – "Stop it guys!"

Niamat leaves the place by saying the above sentence.

Senior 3 – "Ah! See... that looser ran away."

Robert – "Oh just shut up!" (In a very high temper) "Did she behave wrong with anyone of you, that you all are behaving like this with her? Moreover, you all just mentioned a unique bird, that is touchable and that no one had ever seen in this state. Wasn't this bird exactly what you asked for? Weather it should be a drone or a real bird, you all didn't mentioned it. Did you? Didn't you all liked it? It's made of metal and wires, but still every one of you longed to hold it. Is there anything, you all want apart from this? (Stares at all of them). Let's go Tom, let's find Niamat!"

Robert and Tom runs in order to find Niamat. Whereas, all the seniors remains stunned by the words of Robert and senior 2 (i.e., Christina), takes up the broken remote control, looks at the frozen metal bird and then looks at Tom and Robert running to find Niamat.

While Niamat kept wandering around, thinking about what happened at college.

Niamat – "I thought, at least for few years, life is gonna be fun, but what happened today, will I be able to manage everything? Was my decision of coming here right?" (Aside).

She was thinking all these things, when suddenly, she realized that she had subconsciously entered the forest. She looked back. The entrance of the forest was visible. Luckily, she didn't went deep inside it.

Niamat – "Oh no! Tom... Robert..." (Pats her head) "What have I done? Why was I angry on them? I shall go back!"

Niamat was about to go back, when she found a unique bird. 'A Dodo'!