Disguise
843 Words
"What's the matter?" asked Tej, driving the car. Advika was sitting next to the driver's seat. She turned to look at him and sighed.
"I can't wait to go back to the temple, but, there's something uncanny about it," she said.
"Of course, there is," said Tej as he took a right turn.
"No, I mean, it seems dangerous, to go there again," she said and stared at the blue sky.
"It feels like someone or something wants us to go there, again," she said.
Tej stopped the car as they arrived at Advika's home.
"Take some rest," said Tej. "Don't think much."
Advika nodded her head and stepped out of the car.
~~~~~
"Forest?" asked Indra and removed a thick book from the shelf.
"Yes, legend has it," began Dai Ma. She sat on the chair nearby. "The book can create anything, any place it finds fit."
Daksh hid near one of the windows of the ancient library where Indra and Dai Ma were conversing.
"But why do you think the book will create a forest?" asked Indra and sat next to Dai Ma, placing a few books on the table.
"It does what it finds fit, Indra," said Dai Ma. "It has the power to create an environment, a safe place for itself."
"And yet, here we are, trying to protect it," added Indra and opened one of those books.
"The book chooses her master, a person it finds to be righteous, strong, and intellectual," read Indra from the book. He looked at the cover.
The Legends of the Elements by Grey Moore, it said.
"The book will train the people it picks, and prepare them for the ultimate war," he read and sighed.
War? Daksh thought as he pressed his ear against the windowpane.
~~~~~~
"Why not?" asked Maya and shut the door of her bedroom. "Because it's too risky," said Advika wearing her earphones.
They were on a conference call.
"I think Advika is right," said Ray lying down on his bed. "We were nearly caught yesterday. We should wait."
"I agree," said Tej. "Let's disguise and go," said Zarna. There was a brief pause. "We can, actually," agreed Advika. "Let's decide what we'll disguise as, and then decide the date and time," said Maya. "Okay then, guys think of a person or character, but it should look normal, we don't want to grab attention," said Tej.
"Okay, we'll discuss our characters, I mean costume on the group chat," added Ray. "Yes, we'll post pictures of ourselves disguised as some character on the group and then decide," said Zarna.
"Okay," said Tej and Advika in unison.
~~~~~
Advika rummaged through her wardrobe. She removed a blue tank top and a denim jacket, along with a brown three-fourth. Mom might have a wig, she thought. She went towards the door. "But what will I tell her? Why do I want that wig?" she wondered.
"I might have to steal it then," she said and went to her parents' room.
She quickly opened the drawer below the mirror and took the wig. "Sorry, mom," she whispered and sped towards her room.
~~~~~
Ray, removing his headband, set his hair with some gel. He put on a white cap and glares, looking in the mirror in front of him.
"No," he said, removing the glares and looked around in the room.
He picked up the round spectacles kept on the table and walked towards the mirror.
"Nice," he said and smiled.
~~~~~
Tej wore a fake mustache and applied a bit much oil in his hair. He dressed in a full sleeve white shirt and a khaki pant.
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Maya wore a knee-length black skirt and a half-sleeve white top. She applied some kohl in her eyes and some powder to make herself look fair. She braided her curly hair and applied some lip balm.
~~~~~~
Zarna, dressed in a cami top and black jeans, tied her long hair into a bun and applied some foundation and kohl. She wore fake eyelashes and put on a dark red lipstick.
Should I wear specks? Or should I try wearing a wig?" she wondered. She opened the cabinet and removed round spectacles from it. "Maybe I should wear this," she said and put it on.
"Now I look different," she said, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
Advika wore a blue tank top and brown three-fourth. She removed her specks and wore blue colour lens instead. "This will make my hair look longer," she said and put on the wig. She wore a denim jacket and applied some powder to improve her complexion. "Maybe I should not apply a lipstick," she said and closed her closet.
"I hope I'm looking at least a bit different," she wondered as she took her phone and clicked a selfie.
Her phone vibrated as her friends had sent their photos on the group chat. They all agreed on their attires and decided to go to the library the next day, morning, even if it meant bunking college.
- Writer
