An Unsuccessful Endeavor

Slowly walked out from his bed room, Kush checked the hall and started towards the main door. The dim light from the bedroom lamp, made things little visible in the hall. Then reached the main door and with his left hand, turned the knob of the door and opened his way out of the house. Once closed the door without making any noise, he started walking. The cold breeze, made him pull his full sleeves of the shirt with his fingers to cover the dorsal surface. The sky was clouded and no sign of earth’s natural satellite. Walking briskly, he turned left at a small junction of his neighborhood and continued his walk. The path was very familiar for this 12 year kid, as it was a way to his very dear friend Tej’s house. Tej lived in a row house which was in the back street of the place where Kush lives.

While nearing his friend house, the thought of what happened in the morning flashed in his mind. Kush, thought ‘I shouldn’t have challenged Noel. I will lose. Moreover, don’t know what will happen if caught. The old man’s house was in abandoned place and no one lives there. How can I enter there and get one of his birds from the Aviary in his back yard. Tej might help me’. With all his thoughts and fears, Kush reached Tej house and found Tej standing at the gate with a bag. Kush's teeth glittered seeing Tej and the same reciprocated from other end.

"Come, we need to move quickly and be back before someone observes" Tej told Kush. Both friends scurried towards the old man's house. "Is this bag for keeping the bird?" asked Kush. "Yes, I also bought a clipper to cut the wire mesh of the Aviary".

In no time, both were in front of the old man's gate, which was away from their grouped houses. Both looked at each other and both heads nodded in agreement to get inside the house. First Kush climbed the gate and opened the door from inside allowing Tej to come in. Now both were in the compound of the big scary old house and started to walk slowly towards the backyard where the Aviary was. They could feel their hearts beat louder with every other step towards the Aviary. Now they could see the aviary. They were at the aviary and Tej took the clipper which he brought to cut the wire mesh and looked around to check anyone was around. The compound was quiet, the winds when they started were gone and also the howls of it.

‘Tej’, almost a whisper from Kush. Tej turned around, to see a frightened Kush and turned to look at what he had seen. His face turned pale seeing a big hound and a loud scream was out from his mouth in horror. Within a fraction of seconds, both rushed towards the gate. The beast followed them. Their little legs were no match to the beast. They sensed its breath so near and felt their flesh would be torn before they reached the gate. ‘Yogi’ a loud scream. It was the old man. The Hound stopped abruptly. But without stopping, both kids exited the compound and their sprint continued till they reached home