Part 10 - Blindfold

Every time Vysna sent a wave to it she'd toppled the bowl and either spilled the water or endangered the fish. Growing frustrated every passing minute she paced around her room. Markand had called to confirm the day of the next lesson. Aaden and Tashvin had connected with their pets but Vysna was still struggling. She thought now that if she wouldn't connect then maybe she won't be able to give the tests like her brothers.

It was 4 am, she got out of her room, down the stairs and to the kitchen. She thought that making a cup of hot chocolate would soothe her nerves.

She got the tin of drinking chocolate out of the cupboard and placed it on the counter.

" What are you doing? It's late." She was startled by her mother.

" Mom, you scared me. I was making hot chocolate. Do you want some?" She said.

" Sure," Leysa said, sitting at the dining table." But why are you up so early?" She said.

" I have been trying to connect with blue, the fish that was given to me."

"You named the fish, blue?" Leysa asked.

"Yes, it's blue in colour, so blue..." She said.

" Very innovative," she chuckled.

Vysna rolled her eyes." Aaden and Tash have already completed the task and I am lagging. I don't want to be put out of the tests for a silly reason like this." She placed the two cups of chocolate that she had made on the table and sat in her chair.

Leysa took a sip from the cup,

" Hmmm.. this is good." She said and placed it down." Did you ask your brothers how they connected?"

" Yes, they said it just happened. They didn't say anything in particular that they did differently. But whenever I try I almost kill the fish every time." She scowled.

" Don't worry so much, I am sure you will achieve it soon." She consoled her.

"Mom, I don't have time. Uncle Markand called today to fix the timing for the next lesson and I have not completed even the first one yet." She sulked in her chair.

" Tell me, what all have you tried," Leysa asked.

" I have sent it waves plenty of times. I thought maybe the glass bowl was causing a blockage so I have also put it in the bathtub and submerged myself in it too but no response. The fish is dumb and I am dumber to think that I can achieve it easily." She said.

" You are not dumb. So what if it is taking time? There is no rule as such that you should be able to get it on the first try itself." She said.

"But Tash got it right the first time," Vysna protested.

"So what, everyone takes their own time. It's not a competition." She said.

" But it is a competition, Mom..." She realised what she had said. Leysa's expression changed.

Suddenly the room felt too silent. Leysa looked lost in her thoughts and Vysna didn't have the nerve to disturb her.

She got up and checked the time.

" Come with me," she said "Go put on your swimwear and get blue along with you." She said as she walked towards her bedroom.

"Mom. Where are we going? What is going on?" Vysna was confused but did as she was told.

Both of them grabbed their jackets and Leysa drove them to the lake.

The sun was about to rise from the horizon and the lake looked serene. It was drizzling and windy and the usual morning walkers were nowhere to be found.

" Go try the same thing in the lake, as long as no one's here we are safe." She told her.

Vysna agreed and started wading through the water along with the bowl in her hand. The water was cold and piercing and she was struggling to get a proper footing in the moist soil underneath her. But she kept moving deeper balancing the bowl near her. As she reached a point where the water came to her waist she bent her knees and let the fish swim out of the bowl. She placed the bowl on the floor of the lake and submerged herself completely in it. At first, her vision was blurry and dull due to the lack of light but as the sun rose higher she could see underwater. The view was different this time, the lake looked more vibrant and full of life. The vegetation underwater was dense and the fish were plenty.

Vysna put her head out and took a deep breath and submerged inside this time determined to stay inside for a longer time. She dived a bit further and sent a wave specifically concentrating on the blue fish that she had left in the water a few moments ago. But in vain she couldn't see it anywhere. She did it again increasing the intensity.

Leysa stood in anticipation at the edge of the lake hoping that her daughter was not disappointed this time. She could see a few ripples on the surface of the water which shocked her. If the frequency could reach the edge of the lake then these waves must be quite powerful she thought. She saw that Vysna had come to the surface for a breath once again and dipped inside. She was getting restless.

Vysna could see a few faded dots moving towards her. And then these dots increased gradually in size. One of the dots she recognised was blue-coloured and was moving at full speed in her direction. She swam backwards to the spot where she had placed her bowl and picked it in her hand. To her surprise, many such fish were swimming towards her and she didn't know what to do. So she settled her feet at the bottom and held the bowl open for the fish to swim in.

Then she waded out of the water and held the bowl up to show her mother. Leysa couldn't believe what she was seeing. The bowl was filled with fish of different colours.

" What is this?" She asked.

" I don't know Mom," Vy was panting,

I think I called them all at the same time. And now I have," she counted the fish," seven of them." She laughed.

She let go of all the fish back in the water and sent a wave specifically for the one that she wanted and waited patiently. In seconds her blue was back in the bowl and she carried it back to the car.

" This is the weirdest thing that I have seen. And believe me, I have seen many weird things in my lifetime." Leysa said, shaking her head." Come on let's get you home." She said and they sat in the car to drive back.

" Mom, thank you. You are the best." Vysna said and hugged her. Leysa smiled.

Markand had set up the class after the next two days on a Sunday. He had taken them to the outskirts of the city where there was a small forest. And a little further into the forest were very old caves.

It had rained heavily on the previous day, the soil was very damp and slippery and the air was extremely humid. All three of them had to wear raincoats which made them very uncomfortable. They were standing at one of the caves.

" This cave is very special." Markand said." It's one of the oldest caves in our city." And your task today is going to be a little different than what it was the last time."

They were waiting for him to continue. " Okay, this cave is unique in a way that it has many entries and exits but not all exits are good ones. Only one of the exits leads to the other side of the hill where I have placed a final flag." He gives each of them badges to wear." There are several flags placed in different locations within the cave. The colours of the flag, coordinate with the colour of the badges that are given to you. Your task is to find the right colour flag and collect them. And meet me at the other end of the hill where the final flag is placed." He smiled.

They looked at the badges that they had got, Vysna had a yellow colour badge, Tash had an orange one and Aaden had a violet badge.

Tashvin raised his hand." Sir Markand, how many colour flags are there for each of us to collect?" He asked.

" Each of you has to collect at least three flags. More flags, more points." He said. " Seems easy enough right? he smirked.

All three looked at each other.

" You are going to complete this task blindfolded." He said.

"What?"Aaden said. They started protesting with him and discussing with each other.

"Quiet..." He shouted. He took out a tablet in his hand." I have all the locations of the flags here with me. And these are the blindfolds." He gave them one each." These are special types of blindfolds. You cannot tamper with them. You can take them off only once you reach a flag to check whether it's of the right colour. If you take them out earlier than needed I will be indicated immediately and you will be disqualified, there is no chance for cheating. You will only pick the flag of the colour that is assigned to you. You cannot help each other. You all will be getting an hour to complete this task. Wishing all of you all the best. Let us enter the cave."

They entered the cave, which had a large opening. The smell of the cave was metallic and was covered with stalactites and stalagmites. There was water dripping from the roof and they could hear the sound of wind passing through the crevices.

" Are there animals here?" Tashvin asked.

" Not that I know of," Markand answered.

Tashvin sighed.

" Alright, put on your blindfolds. And because I am feeling a bit generous today, I will give you all a small hint. Stand in your place, don't start moving immediately. Think about how you are going to do this. Plan out, then start. Wish you the best of luck. I will meet all of you on the other side." Saying this he exited the cave. " Your time has started already." He shouted from outside the cave.

Aaden placed the blindfold first. Then Vysna and Tashvin did the same. They all stood there not knowing what to do.

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'Curiouser and Curiouser ' cried Alice🤔

Let's see what they do next. Guess in the comments.

Hope you all like the chapter update.

Love ❤️

RTW