| Points: | 5 |
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The Mystery of 'Mota House' and the missing idol
It was a cold wintery day and with just a pullover on, Aditya shivered as he stood beside his vehicle. In front of him was an old building. Above its main doorway was prominently painted 'Motivation Hall'. With doors missing, windows hanging by their hinges and plaster coming off in many places, the building seemed unused for years. Even Mother Nature had taken shelter inside the rooms and halls, with bushes growing up, wherever there were gaps in the flooring. Besides its gloomy facade, the building also had a sinister look about it. At such a prime location, why is it abandoned? Aditya wondered. More puzzling was the fact that the name 'Motivation Hall' appeared to be freshly painted. Was he missing some link here?Aditya has been a private investigator for a while. Ever since he first read a Sherlock Holmes book, he idolized the master detective from Baker Street and longed to become a detective himself. After post-graduating in forensic science, without seeking other careers, not even the police force, he took up private investigation as a full-time profession. In the last 10 years that he has been in the profession, he has made quite a name for himself. The town's top police brass were aware of his credentials and would often seek his help in solving many of the intriguing cases the police came across.
This was however no ordinary case. A precious stone idol had been missing from the town's museum. The idol believed to be hundreds of years old had great historical value. There was every likelihood, as in many previous instances, it would find its way into a foreign land. The only person who had a clue about the whereabouts of the idol was the curator of the museum, who on realizing the theft, followed the thieves to their hiding place. Unfortunately, before he could reach the police and raise an alarm, he in his hurry met a road accident. Badly injured, he was put on the ventilator. The only words, faint and indistinct, he could mutter before losing consciousness were, 'mota house'.
Three days had elapsed and Aditya was nowhere close to seeing daylight in this very puzzling case. The police had given up and sought the ace detective's help. There was pressure from higher-ups to find the idol before it was smuggled outside the country. After all the country's heritage and treasure was at stake. Every nook and corner of the town was searched, but to no avail. There was no place called 'mota house' in the town.
By 'mota house' what did the curator want to suggest? Aditya repeatedly asked himself, while driving through the town. He was almost on the verge of passing it when a certain old building caught his attention. It was in dilapidated condition and 'Motivation Hall' was written on it. He stopped his vehicle and stared at it. Like a lightning strike, a sudden thought struck him. What if, this was the building the curator wanted to refer? Perhaps, it was motivation hall he meant, but could mutter just 'mota house' in his semi-conscious state. Without wasting another moment, he immediately called up the police. Soon a police contingent arrived and thoroughly searched the building. And lo, the missing idol was finally found concealed within the debris. The thieves, however, were not there and perhaps sensing police action, made good their escape.
Meanwhile, the curator, who miraculously recovered from his injuries, later revealed that the old building aka Motivation Hall had a rich past. Built during the Raj, the place was a meeting point to motivate people take up the cause of independence. As for the fresh coat of paint to the name, an NGO had taken up the cause, intending to restore the building to its lost glory. Long abandoned, the place was otherwise a good hiding place for the thieves to hide their prized possession before smuggling it out. However, the ingenuity of Aditya, the clue 'mota house' by the curator and the fresh paint job poured water to the thieves plan. With the idol restored to its rightful place, all's well that ends well.
- Competition entry for the Creative Writing Story Contest