The Disappearing Act- A fictional short story by Ms. Madhavi Deshpande

DISCLAIMER

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this Story are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and unintentional.

10th March: The day before it actually happened:

 "Reena! Open the door" Sarika Bhattacharya, Reena's mother's exasperated voice reverberated in the entire house.

There was silence from inside Reena's room. As expected.

Sarika shrugged, for she knew her daughter just too well. Reena was one of those rare girls who could keep completely mum, for days on end. Just like her paternal grandfather, Jagdish Bhattacharya.

Jagdish Bhattacharya was a respected lawyer in town and a deeply spiritual person. He was someone, who though swore by the book when it came to scientific evidence and rational investigation, but also believed that 'There is certainly more in the World than that meets the eye'.  

"Something which we have no evidence of right now or cannot see or explain rationally. But it does exist for sure." Jagdish Bhattacharya used to tell his family "Like telepathy and spirits and magic" he concluded.

"Or ghosts and witches!" Rohan, his then eight-year-old mischievous grandson had put in accompanied with the bulging and protruding of his eyes purposefully for being more effective and had laughed out loudly, in a sinister voice, like they do in the horror movies.

"Ha, ha, ha, ha……….."

Reena, his younger sister, then five years old, had shrieked in fear and hid behind her father, completing Rohan's victory.

Reena was almost a junior version of her grandfather. Like him, she was both 'half-rational and half irrational', 'half logical and half illogical', in thought and approach. And could go for days, without speaking or interacting with anyone, like her grandfather, who had been practising 'maun wrat' every Monday, for the past fifty years.

Reena could also become perfectly silent, for days on end or go into that 'silent mode' as Rohan used to call it.

Exist but cease to be heard by her family and neighbours. 

She too was known to go into a shell for days together.

The only difference between her silence and her grandfather's silence was that her grandfather's silence was a peaceful, meditative type of silence while her silence was the sulking, often angry, frustrated, or escapism type of silence.

So though outwardly, both the silences appeared the same, their silences and the underlying meaning inside them were poles apart.

Grandfather's silence was of peace and calmness of the mind, while Reena's was that of sulked mood and pent-up anger.

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12th February: Last month:

Just last month, Reena had switched into her habitual 'silent mode' after being scolded by her elder brother and more importantly by her father for watching too much TV. And that was what had got Reena in the real rage.

She had thrown off her books and torn some pages, broken two glasses, one cup, one plate, stomped her feet wildly, pulled her long hair cruelly, yelled at her brother (a common sight), pointed fingers at her father (an extreme rarity), pushed her mother harshly (an even rare happening) and stormed off in her room, locking herself in.

For days.

"Two days" her brother had announced. "It's being two days," he said in a queer voice that had become unusually soft and concerned and it was no secret that he was also one of those who really cared for her, though he was too proud to admit it outright.

"No. It is almost three days!" Sarika, the distraught mom, had sniffed a tear of helplessness and had looked properly guilty for she was one of those typical moms who always blamed herself for her children's misbehaviour or failures or faults.

"Three days without food and water…………..imagine" she shivered visibly.

"She has not gone without food and water for three days!" Rohan, the all-knowledgeable elder brother, snapped angrily. "Don't you leave food and water on the small table outside her door, only to find it finished off in less than an hour?" he reminded his mother, who herself had come up with this exemplary idea of putting food and water on the small table outside Reena's closed door, knocking on the door just once for Reena to hear and then disappearing completely. And peeping just a bit from the sides of the wall of the kitchen to see if Reena has opened the door and taken her food and water.

Which Reena promptly had!

For during such times of crisis, Sarika very well knew the importance of food on willpower and stubbornness.

A whiff of the smell of Reena's favourite dishes, was enough for Reena to open the door, come out of 'her cave' and 'compromise a bit, as she would state later.

Sarika knew the power of food, for food is not only nutritious and delicious, but it can also be a weak point, a comfort, a pacifier, can be used to sway one's thoughts and opinions, influence one's loyalty, even expresses one's love……………

'Expressing love' was exactly what Sarika was doing!

She was expressing her love for her daughter through food!

Naturally, she made it a point to cook Reena's favourite dishes only on those days and the rest of the family…………..well, they had no choice but to……just adjust.

Reena, being well-fed and taken care of, throughout those three days of isolation, could manage to maintain her stubbornness and isolation, without a waiver. Reena's room also had an attached bathroom so she could continue to remain locked up in her room without much of a bother.

For three days.

Had it not been for those three days!

When Reena suffered those terrible stomach cramps and weakness.

Her terrible menstrual period!

With excess bleeding, her sanitary napkins were consumed in no time and with her severe stomach pain, she had no choice, but to open the door and request her mother to take her to the doctor. A routine monthly practice, really, for Reena.

So it was nature who had bent her resolve and will and had forced her to come out of her hiding and snap out of her excessive stubbornness.

So though Reena had been eating and drinking well during those three days of 'hibernation' or 'isolation' or whatever you may call it, she had been careful not to speak a word to anyone in her family.

Not a word!

Sarika noted that Reena had not merely survived, but even flourished in those three days of isolation and used to wonder as to how it was possible.

Little did Sarika realize that whatever was isolation for Sarika was solitude for Reena, who used to just love it immensely.

That perfect solitude!

Though her mother knew that Reena was the 'introvert' type, even she was surprised that a young girl could remain in such isolation for three days. "It is normal and natural, these days" Rohan, the elder and wiser sibling informed his mother "With the internet and social media connections, you just don't feel lonely. Plus she has her books for company!" Rohan had pointed out.

And her parents had exchanged that 'we always thought so' look.

Reena was the typical bookworm type of person. Someone who lived, thrived inside the covers of a fairy tale or a thriller or an adventure story, sometimes even forgetting the world around her, outside her books and imagination.

So Reena, the bookworm, the silent introvert, always hooked onto her smartphone, had comfortably survived locked up in her room for three complete days. And would have continued to live in similar happy conditions, locked up inside her room, had it not been for her painful periods which had flushed her out of her hole of a room.

For the first time in her life, her mother was happy at the pain that her daughter suffered during those days.

5th March: A few days before it actually happened:

"More books!" exclaimed Sarika, exasperated that day.

Reena had always wanted more books. There was nothing unusual about her demand and up till now, her parents had willingly agreed.

Only this time, they had refused.

Point blank. Without any discussion.

Naturally, Reena had been both surprised and angry.

"There is nothing unusual about your asking for books on your birthday, Reena!" her father was cajoling her in a low-pitched voice "It is the type of books that you are asking for that is…………is" her father broke off.

"Is irrational and not normal" his wife Sarika, completed her husband's sentence with the exact words that her husband wanted to use. Her husband nodded approvingly and thankfully.

This was something that was happening more commonly these days.

Vikas searching or fumbling for that exact word………….

Sarika butting in with that exact word……….at the exact time.

So much for a great partnership in a great marriage!

"Irrational. Not normal!" Reena had exclaimed and looked around the house.

"Yes!" Rohan had yelled with triumph. "Your choice is most irrational, just not normal…………you crazy jerk…………your weirdo!" he had rattled off.

Reena had pounced on him like a tigress. Only to be shoved off by her four-pack of a brother.

"Magic is not irrational. Not abnormal. You dumbo…….."Reena had shot off, once again lunging at him, with more anger than power.

"Magic is as real as ………..reality" Reena had tried to explain to her brother, who just did not have the grace to lose a fight against his younger sister.

"Idiot!" was all Rohan uttered as a response, since he had no rational way to argue. Anyway, 'idiot' was the most rational word for Reena, thought Rohan.

"You are an idiot! You stupid!" screamed Reena, to her lung's full capacity, irritating the others.

For no one could equal Reena in screaming. It was one of those rare things in which she excelled better than her brother, who had more muscles strength but lesser lung power than her.

So when it came to yelling and screaming with that typical shrill in her voice which was both sarcastic and irritating, Reena always won.

Hands down!

And Rohan always backed off, looking properly defeated.

Without a single physical punch!

"Magic is very real" Reena continued in her high-pitched voice, which still had that shade of ridicule in its tone, something which she reserved to mock her elder brother. "What is so wrong if I want to read about magic?" Reena thundered and wanted to know.

Only instead of her brother, her father, the wise lawyer, answered, meekly. Falteringly.

"There is nothing wrong in reading about magic" her father agreed "It is only that we don't want you to ………………..to" again his voice trailed off uncomfortably.

And he looked at his wife as if imploring her to complete the awkward sentence.

Sarika, understood it without a word, and rose to the occasion like a dutiful soldier and said plainly and simply "We don't want you to practice magic………………..especially…………." and here even the rational Sarika's voice shivered a bit and she looked at her son as if imploring him to complete the awkward sentence.

Rohan, understood it without a word, and rose to the occasion like a dutiful soldier and said plainly and simply "We don't want you to practice ………black magic" he completed his mother's sentence and looked satisfied at a job well done. Reena had noted that he had stressed the word 'black magic' loudly and clearly and an uncomfortable silence had fallen on the family.

Now no more words were required to express the family's combined disapproval and the three of them (huddled as one) allowed the meaningful silence to settle between them.

The air in the room suddenly appeared heavier than it was! 

For it was no longer an empty air!

It was the air full of meaning, the air full of uncomfortable feelings, the air full of unuttered words, hence heavy.

"Black magic!" uttered Reena in total disbelief. "What black magic are you talking about?" she questioned as if questioning a criminal.

"The disappearing act!" Rohan thundered in the same tone and pitch since he knew that it would be mighty difficult for his parents to speak the truth. "We just…………hate……….hate the disappearing act in magic"

"The disappearing act!" repeated Reena slowly to herself bewildered and then after a short pause finally said "But that is not black magic! It is a very common act. Have we all not witnessed so many famous magicians of the World doing the disappearing act? What is so wrong with it? It is just like any other magic. It is certainly not black magic" Reena almost spat at the words 'black magic' as if these mere words had given a bitter taste to her mouth.

"It is" Rohan obviously stood his ground, firmly and strongly, in a tone that indicated that he did not wa

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nt to discuss it any further and a decision had been made and that he had ruled out and classified 'the disappearing act' as an act of black magic. And that was all and final!

"I am not a witch or a devil!" Reena had retorted back, more hurt than angry.

"It is a normal magician's act" Reena had explained, her voice acquiring the tone of a person trying to convince a person rather than to fight with him "Only it requires lots of practice for perfection…that is all"

Reena had looked around. 

At her family members.

Who were just not convinced and her instincts told her that they would never get convinced, no matter how strong or convincing her arguments would be.

"If you buy me the right books on the disappearing act……………and if you allow me to practice……..even I can become a master of it" Reena implored hopefully, tears welling up her eyes, for she instinctively knew that she was fighting a losing battle.

Reena's pleas were however met with a stoic silence, which meant that the answer was a big 'NO'.

"Don't you know that I have already mastered the card tricks, the rope tricks, and the anti-gravity tricks……….."Reena cried out passionately "This is just a step forward……….a bit difficult ………..but if I get the right books and guidance, I promise you that ………………"

"You will get nothing of that sort!" her brother's curt voice, cut into her sentence and froze her and her ambitions, mid-way.

She wondered why her brother felt the need to speak so authoritatively, especially when he was not the person who was paying for her magic books since he was still in college and had not earned a single paisa in his entire life so far.

"Why can't I become a magician?" Reena questioned simply "Am I asking for too much?"

"It is not a question of too much or too little" her brother's authoritative and stern voice once more filled the air "It is just not normal…………….for a girl in our family……….to do something as weird as…………magic. Had it been gymnastics or juggling, maybe we would have agreed"

Reena did not miss the word 'we' uttered by her brother.

So he had now started considering himself on par with his parents. In a flash, Reena realized that from now onwards, her brother, who had unilaterally assumed the role of the speaker and judge, would lay out rules and regulations for her, maybe even sidelining his parents.

"It is not a question of magic or even black magic" her father's feeble voice which was both soothing and a balm on her hurt pride, could be heard in the room "It is just that……….you get totally………..too much involved in whatever you read…….that you almost start believing in it…….and living in that imaginary world of yours, without paying any heed to the actual real-world outside you. We……….don't want you to read about something that will become your life, your reality…………..we want you to have ……….a simple…..life" and he stopped.

And relaxed.

For after many days, he had finally completed his sentence on his own. Without his wife's assistance or interference.

"A simple life" Reena cried incredulously "Whoever told you that magicians have complicated lives? They only appear to do incredible and complicated things, which are beyond our comprehension…that is all."

After a moment's thought, she added "Don't you remember Grandpa telling us that 'There are more things in this world than what meets the eye? Magic is just one of those incredible things"

And looked at her family, with a renewed sense of hope.

For she felt that at last, she had argued well and that too rationally, for all to agree.

But she was met with the same disapproving silence as before.

"One day…………….you will all regret your decision………..especially when I become a World famous magician" she had shouted at them and had stormed into her room, and had locked herself up once again as a protest against their irrational behaviour………….from the past few days.

Initially, for the first four days, Reena used to collect her food and water left on the small table outside her closed door by her mother as per her habit and routine.

However, for the last few days, the food and the water had remained untouched.

Sarika thought that Reena must have refused to eat her lunch because she had cooked the cabbage and potato which Reena just hated, but when Reena had not eaten the 'pasta in white sauce' that Sarika had prepared for the dinner, she knew that Reena was mighty upset.

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10th March: The day before it actually happened:

"Reena! Open the door" Sarika Bhattacharya, Reena's mother's infuriated voice reverberated in the entire house.

There was silence from inside Reena's room. As expected.

It was past dinner time and Reena had not picked her favourite 'pasta in white sauce' dinner too!

Rohan and their father, having realized the gravity of the situation and annoyed, also knocked angrily.

"This is getting too much! She is blackmailing us, making us miserable" Rohan burst out. After all, how could he let go of yet another golden opportunity to blame his kid sister and point out one of her many negative traits? "Stubborn! She had become very stubborn these days!" he added forcefully.

During lunchtime, when Reena had not opened the door, he had already finished calling her names like 'stupid', 'selfish', 'attention-seeker' etc. and now had no choice but to pick out another apt adjective to describe her.

"Stubborn!" repeated his mom and agreed instantly. "A typical Bhattacharya trait" she added and Rohan agreed so spontaneously that he had conveniently forgotten that he was a typical Bhattacharya and that too a real blood one!!

Rohan had looked at the other real blood Bhattacharya- his father- the eldest Bhattacharya of the family, who had no choice but to keep mum to denote acceptance of his wife's wise statement.

All three then continued banging on Reena's door. Loudly. Angrily. Continuously.

So it would surely not be long before the much annoyed and irritated Reena, would open the door of her room with a ferocity equivalent to her pent-up anger and yell at them asking them to 'Shut up.

But nothing of that sort happened!

Which was strange, and the three looked at each other, with a look of bewilderment on their faces. "She is punishing us by going to bed hungry and not opening the door" Rohan pronounced and asked his parents to go to bed "We will check tomorrow," Rohan said.

 

11th March: The day when it actually happened:

The next morning, when Sarika found Reena's food, cold and untouched, she panicked. And her mother's instinct told her that something was terribly wrong.

"Reena! Open the door, please" Sarika's tone was almost pleading and frantic.

The loud noise woke up the 'scholar' Rohan, who with a look of irritation on his face, rushed towards Reena's room, banged her door, and shouted.

"Reena! Stupid" Rohan yelled at the top of his voice. "Open the door, you fool. Have you not had enough troubling our poor parents?" Rohan asked.

"You dumbo!" Rohan added because he knew that the word 'dumbo' was a pain in the ass for Reena and she would never let go of an opportunity to answer back when addressed as 'dumbo'.

"You dumbo!" would be Reena's favourite reply.

Rohan wanted to hear just that!

So he repeated "Open up, you dumbo!" and waited.

There was no reply from the other side of the door.

Only an eerie silence.

Which was disturbing. For the first time in so many days, Rohan felt scared though he tried not to show it for fear of alarming his parents, to his surprise he found his voice shaking, or 'was he himself shaking?' he asked himself tensely.

A few minutes of banging and shouting was ensued by a few minutes of tense wait and was again followed by more banging and shouting. There was still no response from the other end.

Though he did not want to do it, Rohan realized what he had to do.

So he rushed to his room, got his mobile, and dialled the police headquarters.

When the Police realized that a young girl was not opening the door, they asked Rohan to call the Fire brigade and get them to force open the door.

Within minutes (though it seemed like hours to the Bhattacharya family), the fire brigade arrived and started forcing open the door.

They were promptly followed by the Police, who also barged into the house and started taking notes.

"Any argument with your daughter?" Inspector Shinde asked Vikas Bhattacharya, one of his routine questions when he handled cases of teenage kids.

Vikas Bhattacharya slowly nodded his head and explained the incident which had led to Reena locking herself up in her room. "A minor issue……….." Vikas started unsteadily "We had refused her permission to attend an extra-circular course and buy her some books….. We wanted her to concentrate on her studies, instead" he rounded it off, cautious to keep out the name of the extra-circular course 'Learn to be a magician' until asked.

"And you did not find her action weird?" Inspector Shinde asked.

"No……..not really….this is not the first time, I mean… she has locked herself in before and come out after two days" Vikas Bhattacharya explained.

"Three days!" Mrs Bhattacharya was quick to correct.

"She has become too stubborn, these days, and feels that she can get anything that she wants by throwing a tantrum and locking herself in" Vikas went on and Rohan nodded vehemently.

It had been over twelve minutes when the door was finally broken open.

Mr and Mrs Bhattacharya, Rohan, Inspector Shinde, and Havaldar Jadhav entered the room after the fire brigade personnel.

"It's empty!" shouted the fire-brigade personnel, quite pre-functionally.

"Empty!" Rohan exclaimed for he was the first to understand the implications of the incident.

"Empty!" Mr and Mrs Bhattacharya, exclaimed in a whisper, after surveying the empty room in disbelief.

"Empty!" Inspector Shinde exclaimed and asked, "Is there any exit from this room?"

All three Bhattacharyas nodded 'No'.

"You think she might have run off with her boyfriend, like Mishra's daughter" Havaldar Jadhav, butted in, wanting to provide his bit of information and experience to impress his boss.

"You never know, for sure!" Inspector Shinde shrugged his shoulders to say, though he did not say anything and only kept looking at the three Bhattacharyas.

"She doesn't have any boyfriend!" Rohan declared confidently and everyone realized that he must be certainly keeping a tab on his sister's whereabouts. Instantly, Inspector Shinde believed him and did not probe that 'boyfriend angle' any further.

"Then where is Reena?" cried her mother "How can she just escape from this locked up room?" she was looking at Inspector Shinde for an answer.

Shinde, who was busy examining the latch which was used by Reena to bolt the room from inside and which had been recently been broken by the Fire- brigade personnel, once again shrugged his shoulders and said "Don't know. Weirdest case I have ever handled. How can anyone just disappear from a locked room?"

'Disappeared!' Rohan said in a whisper, but everyone heard him, loud and clear.

Vikas Bhattacharya was now holding Reena's diary and read a line written by Reena dated yesterday.

 "I am desperate to learn the disappearing act and have picked up a few tricks on the same from the social media and internet." Reena had written. "Tonight, I am going to carry out my disappearing act…………and tomorrow, if you don't find me in this room, it means that I have become a successful magician and have really……….disappeared!".