One by Seven Series

Crescent Moon Teeth

Annual exams just passed by, summer vacation had started for Rajiv, Ranjitha, Kripa, Vikram, Kailash, Bhuvana and Akshay. Seven cousins who used to visit each others’ place, for every summer vacation. Those were the golden, mischievous and happy days of their childhood.  Even though they quarrel all of them liked and loved each-other dearly, that was the uniqueness of their relation. Their childish-quarrel never lasted more than an hour or so.

Rajiv the eldest of all of them was the gang leader and the creator of all wired ideas (which was innovative and thrilling to the rest). They used to play from sunrise to next day sunrise! Apart from normal hide and seek, running and caching, cricket, shuttle, and various indoor games, they had their own innovative games; Water-filter (ghost hunting), Whale (catching and pulling down under water), corner-shoppe (selling), 7c Bus (running and climbing an imaginary bus), Military Academy (fighting-hitting). Favorite of all of them is re-enacting of action movies. Every vacation had a memorable story.

One afternoon in Rajiv's and Ranjitha's home Allahabad:

 Rajiv “hey since all of you have come to north India, today we will try to play famous kite fight, what to you say?”

Kripa “not a good idea, because none of us know how to fly a kite.”

Rajiv “I will teach you all, it’s not a big deal.”

Kailash “but will there be sufficient space in the terrace for all seven of us, to fly the kite.”

Ranjitha “I am not interested, it’s very hot.”

Bhuvana “even I am afraid to handle that kite thread, it may cut my fingers.”

Vikram “Another problem will be pooling the money for seven kites; I don't think it will easy to persuade   our parents.”

Kripa “Akshay, what do you say?” Akshay “since I am the youngest I will not get a kite for my own, so what the big deal about my opinion.”

Rajiv “cha, I have never seen a spoil-sport like you guys. Chalo I have an idea! We will divide into 2 groups and have kite fight, so we have to purchase just two kites, and can over come the constraint of the space in terrace. What do you guys say?”      

Kripa and Kailash “uhmm ok.”

Some how the money for two kites (Rs 2, each) was conquered and two medium size, pretty kite were ready to fly. Wind and Rajiv’s teaching techniques were helping, and the kites started to rise up! All of them were surprised by their kite-flying art, and slowly the kite fight started, competition geared up. All of them were involved and trying to fly their group higher and higher, Rajiv's group was about to be out-beaten by the other, which would be a humiliation to him. So Rajiv was trying to elevate the kite.

Bhuvana 'hey Rajiv, you better climb-up over the water tank, so we can beat them”'.

Rajiv 'Cool bhubs'

Ranjitha 'Rajiv! Be careful, it’s just a game, if next door uncle sees you, we will land in big trouble'

Rajiv climbed up and the kite took a great elevation, they there applauding and Rajiv to prove his might further stepped behind for stabilizing the kite.

Alas! Rajivvvvvv

Rajiv was falling down from the water tank.

Rest of them ran for his rescue, without any success Rajiv hit the ground facing down. To their surprise he was conscious and moaning with pain.

Ranjitha 'Rajiv...blood'

Rajiv was like a Dracula with blood pouring form this mouth. His Tee was soaked in blood.

Bhuvana 'Patti, amma, mani.....rajivku.....”

Kripa, Vikram and Kailash rushed to shut her mouth and in the attempt fell on Ranjitha and who in turn banged on Rajiv.

Rajiv ' hey stupid people keep quite, if you shout like this our parents will come to know. Be silent. First any one of you get some water for me, then we will decide what to do.'

Akshay went to get water for all. In the mean time the strategy plan was unfolded.

Ranjitha ' you are losing lot of blood, do something soon'

Kripa ' we can’t hide this from our parents, wound is visible'

Kailash 'no plan, no thinking, come we will go to doctor first'

Rajiv ' guys please understand the situation, after this do you think they will give us this much of freedom to play?'

Vikram ' I agree Rajiv,…..I think this is the first time I agree with you.'

Dup-DUP-DUPPP..GHRRR

All of them turned back to see five big monkeys, landing next to them from near by tree. They now knew what to do next, RUN.

Rajiv was the one to lead followed by Kailash, Bhuvana, Vikram, Kripa and Ranjitha...all were running downstairs yelling at their might...”aiyo monkey...aiyo monkey varudhu..”

In the second flight of stairs Rajiv fainted and the rest of them stumbled over him.

Patti 'Oh GOD! Look out you all are falling over each other. Don't worry, monkeys will not harm you. Don’t panic, Rajiv, Rajiv...'

Two servants came with a stick and chased the monkeys out. Rajiv was rushed to hospital.

Evening when all of them went to visit Rajiv, in his room, he smiled and greeted them with a crescent- blue moon shaped teeth!

Rajiv’s Mom ' I don’t know what will happen to you kids, whenever you all are together all of you act strangely. What was the need to panic so much when monkey was chasing you? At least for Rajiv and Ranjitha it is a common episode, how many times Rajiv himself have chased those monkeys away? But I don’t know why, today he was the first person to run downstairs? What was the need? See because of panic he fall down from the stairs and broke his tooth. Please kids from next time act wisely'

All of them were nodding their head vigorously to their aunt and were hiding their smile.

During dinner Patti was narrating the monkey chasing the kids and how Rajiv broke his teeth because of that, to Rajiv's father.

Akshay 'What? Monkey chased and broke Rajiv's tooth...?'

Vikram and Kailash ' Yes Uncle'

Kripa and Bhuvana 'dai Akshay'

Akshay ' Oh, yes I remember, I came down to fetch water, because Rajiv was bleeding. I was not there when monkey chased them'

Rajiv grinned at his father with crescent-blue moon teeth...