A Dose of Intrigue

I am a budding writer, and I would really appreciate everyone’s views about my very first mystery story.

Introduction:  First part of story is set in Delhi, India, and I am a teenage boy. The detective is my older cousin, and …..well I won’t reveal any more than that. Hope you would enjoy the story !

Chapter 1

I was relishing cool, pink watermelon juice on my verandah, the hot loo of Delhi hitting my face. The temperatures were a record-breaking forty seven degree celsius. The commotion of cars, autos and buses were audible from where I sat.

Robin, my cousin, was coming for lunch today and I eagerly waited for him. He was nine years older to me, yet, he was my closest brother.

 Ma had prepared delicious food, and the aromatic smells issuing from the kitchen made my stomach rumble in hunger.  My dog, Zeno, was sprawled peacefully by my side. As I was stroking him, he sat up abruptly, his ears cocked. I thought Robin had arrived, and turned to look at the gate.

A tall, moustached man had entered, wearing dark sunglasses and was walking towards the house. I went inside and informed Father that a man had arrived. He went out.

I sat down to watch the tv show he was watching. Pandit Jasraj was singing raag Bihag, his eyes shut, as if he willed desperately to be part of the song and float away with its tune.

After a few moments, I heard loud laughter from the veranda, and went to see what was happening. Father was sitting with a glass of pink watermelon juice in his hand, and Robin was sitting by his side sipping the pink liquid.

I hurried to the veranda, where I was greeted by Robin. He was a tall, fair man, had sharp features, complimented with jet-black hair and was in his mid-twenties. His deep voice rang out-

‘How are you Roy? Keeping very busy nowadays ?’ he smiled.

‘Very good, thank you. And how do you know that I have been busy ?’, I asked curiously.

‘ Your nails are overgrown, your fingers are blotchy, your hair overgrown and untidy, and there are dark bags under your eyes.’

‘Yes, of course.’, I replied, laughing.

‘By the way, Father’, I said remembering the man who came earlier. ‘Who was that man in dark glasses ?’.

To my annoyance, everyone started laughing. I looked around at them questioningly. Father stifled another bout of laughter and said –

“ It was Robin, he was disguised as that man!”

This time even I laughed for I knew Robin’s eccentric ways. After everyone had calmed, I looked at him and asked –

‘But why were you disguised, Robin ?’

‘ So that some people don’t recognize me’, he replied.

 I was about to probe further when Father announced that we should have lunch. I stood up and went with everyone for lunch.

But my young mind had already interpreted the true meaning of the events.

I had come to know about Robin’s profession about two years ago. He was a private investigator. And I had been insisting to go along with him on a case ever since.  I was waiting to ask more, and perhaps convince him to do so. But the sudden ringing of Robin’s mobile phone interrupted my chain of thoughts.

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