The Treasure Trove

 

In a Metropolitan City there is a beautiful apartment named Treasure Villa, There lived more than hundred families, particularly there were three teen girls namely Sruthi, Jerris and Sowmiya sri. Everyone in the apartment knows these three. They are called as the Lovable Trio by the grown up whereas the kids and teens calls them as the Danger trio, the reason why they have these names is because they help every grown ups if they ask help at the same time they are the naughtiest girls on the whole apartment but none of the grown ups knows it since no kids or teens have the guts to complaint against them. These girls are naturally good until someone messes with them no matter who is it they would never leave them alone after messing up, well their parents are the only exception though.

One day Sruthi and Jerris are playing with Jerris’s new roller skates. Jerris is good at skating seeing her ride made Sruthi to try so Sruthi borrowed the skates after wearing she is so scared to stand up yet with the help of Jerris she stood up. She didn’t move for 5 minutes so Jerris asked her to bend a little on front and pushed her as strong as possible. Sruthi moved fast and crashed on the lady who came out of her house. The lady was the owner of their apartment’s stationery shop, Her name is Jaya, she loves her son so much at the same time she hates all other kids in the apartment. She want her son to be a well educated boy so she never allows him to talk to other kids or play with them and she never been kind to other kids too (according to her if she is kind and nice to other kids then they will use that as an opportunity to play with her son and it will affect his studies. That’s the reason). Sruthi crashed on her, Mrs.Jaya burst into anger and she took the roller skates along with her.

Mrs.Jaya : You disrespectful brats! Bring your parents if you want the skates.

Jerris : Aunty this is just an accident, we are truly sorry for it. Please give us the skates.

Sruthi :  Yea aunty we are sorry, Please give it back.. Please!

Mrs. Jaya : GET LOST!

She went inside her home and slams the door on their face. They both went to Sowmiya and told the situation.

Sowmiya : Well, What can we do?

Jerris : If I go home without skates, My mom will kill me for sure.

Sruthi : It would never happened if you hadn’t pushed me in the first place.

Sowmiya :  Hey don’t fight, what happened is happened, lets figure a way to get the skates without involving our parents, I mean your parents, since I skipped being with you today. I AM SAFE… he he he!

Sruthi & Jerris : *looks annoyed* you are enjoying this aren’t you?

Sowmiya :  Don’t mind! Don’t mind!! By the way did you heard that there was a robbery on the GKY Jewellery yesterday. They said lots of jewels were stolen.

*Jerris and Sruthi started walking away*

Sowmiya : Heyyy, don’t ignore mee!

Jerris : Aye Aye.. See you later, Sruthi got an idea

Sowmiya : Tell me the idea then

*They both left the place*

Sowmiya : Those dumbasses ! Im gonna teach them a lesson. *annoyed*

After that jerris and Sruthi went to the top floor where some guys are playing carrom, then jerris and those guys had a match then they returned to Sowmiya’s place after five hours.

Sowmiya : Where were you?

Sruthi : We went to get the skates but she wasn’t there. We thought she would have been in home for lunch.

Sowmiya : Didn’t  you heard? the police searched all the shops inside the apartment since they got information that the jewels have been kept here since our apartment is nearby to the Jewellery ! That includes Mrs. Jaya’s Shop too. I think that’s why she is in shop! Arranging her things.

Jerris : Who cares we got the skates. *they both went inside sowmiya’s room and turned on the tv*

Sowmiya : Oh that’s great ! W-Wait,What? You got it back, but how?

Jerris :  We know that police searched the place, so went to help her arrange the things. She didn’t allow us, so Sruthi said “If we arrange everything within an hour will you give the skates back?” and she accepted then we arranged it and got the skates back.

Sowmiya : You arranged it within an hour? I can’t believe it

Sruthi : She already had done half of the work we went there after knowing that there are only 30 min work. Since she haven’t ate any lunch she was tired, so she accepted it.

Sowmiya : I still can’t believe it but you got the skates, that’s enough , you are lucky have a situation like this, you should thank the informer.

Jerris : Yea! We already thanked him so no worries.

Sowmiya : WHAAT? Does that mean you know the informer?

Jerris : He he he! The thing is we are the one who informed it to the police. It was the plan Sruthi came up with.

Sowmiya : Are you kidding me? What if they find you? What am I gonna do now? They might come here anytime, you idiots go home nowww! *panickingg*

Sruthi : Don’t be a wuss! They wont come here, We informed but we literally didn’t!

Sowmiya : Wow! You have best talent of confusing others.

Jerris : Actually what happened was…

After sowmiya telling them about the stolen jewel Sruthi came up with a plan that is to inform police that it is inside the neigbhorhood shops and we need someone for information so we went to the top floor where the guys were playing (there was a cute guy who doesn’t lives in the apartment comes to play with his friends). We asked them to have a bet match in carrom against us.

Guys : Bet match? With us? Not interested. Go Home!

Sruthi : Oh you guys are scared of two girls huh? Let me give you a handicap then my friend jerris alone will play.

*guys are damn pissed*

A random guy : Fine then we give you a handicap too, Choose any guy you want! If you lose what do we get?

Sruthi : Let me tell you what you guys should do after we win, “Once you lose you gotta call the police and tell that the jewellery stolen is hidden inside a shop in this neighborhood ”

Cute guy : Why this bet?

Sruthi : We got information, but we don’t know its truth or not. That’s why im making this bet. Ofcourse if I lose I would call the police and we can talk good about you guys to every girls we know in the apartment. What do you think? *she smirked and guys smiled*

Cute boy : Im in!

Sruthi : Fine we choose you.

Jerris : Can I hold back suu?

Sruthi : Well since every girl in the apartment is involved, I hope you cursh him into pulp.

Jerris : Sounds good to me *cracked the fingers*

The cute boy started he shattered every coins which have been gathered in centre. With one chance Jerris pocketed every coin without any gap. Thus game over within minutes.

Cute Boy : No Way!! *Everyone was shocked*

Sruthi : Oh Yea! Did I forgot to mention that jerris is a District player? *She and jerris smirked*

Jerris : Too easy, Humph.

The pride of the guys didn’t allow to complain anything so they accepted the bet and everyone made that cute boy to do the call.

Cute Boy : Heyy don’t betray me you idiots.

Random guy : Losers don’t get a chance to speak, so SHUT UP.

Cute guy’s mindvoice: This is bad I gotta find a way to esacape *bulb lights up*

Cute guy : I don’t have any phone. So its impossible, lets give up

Jerris shows him a phone.

Sruthi : Use this, with this no one is gonna find its you!

Cute guy: Seems you are damn prepared, I have heard about you girls but I never thought you would be this evil.

Sruthi : Thanks for the compliment, Just call already.

All guys : Its not a compliment!!!

Then He called and informed …

Jerris : After that you know what happened.

Sowmiya : That’s sooo coooool! *Her eyes was sparkled* I missed it! By the way whose phone was it ?

Jerris : Oh that one *Jerris looked at and Sruthi looked back at jerris they both giggled*

Sowmiya : Heyy why are you giggling! *She got scared and ran over to the hall and searched her mobile and found it* Phew! Its not mine

Sruthi : Who said we used your mobile? The mobile we gave belongs to Mrs. Jaya

Sowmiya :WHAT THE HECKKKK? HOW?

Sruthi : Before playing we went to her shop to buy an pen, then we used an old trick that is pushing a box from the table down, when she was trying to take that box, we stole the phone and purchased the pen we want and escaped! Since she uses her keypad mobile rarely she didn’t even notice that the phone is missing. We got no calls after stealing. Then after everything when we went to help her we kept the mobile there. That’s all! Then we went to nearby juice shop to have juice and came back like nothing happened.

Sowmiya : That makes sense. Anywa-

*Sowmiya’s mom suddenly comes into the room*

Sowmiya’s mom : hey sowmi! Oh  you girls are here too huh!

Sruthi and Jerris : Hi aunty

Sowmiya : What is it mom?

Sowmiya’s mom : Just now our neighbor told me that someone from our apartment is the informer and thanks to that information police caught the culprit and the jewels too.

Sowmiya : Really?

Sowmiya’s Mom : The culprit was the son of the pawn shop which is opposite to our apartment, when police searched everyshop in the neighborhood they caught him.

*Sowmiya’s mom left the room, Sowmiya slowly turned her head towards Sruthi and Jerris*

Jerris: Heyy don’t look at us!

Sruthi : This is pure coincidence, We had no idea that the culprit is in the neightborhood.

Sowmiya: Im not looking at you for that *her expression started changing into irritation* You both went to juice shop without me? Right?

Jerris : Oh ho!

Sruthi : Heyy jerry your mom called us right.

Jerris : yea I just remembered

*they both started running away*

Sowmiya : DON’T YOU DARE RUN AWAY FROM ME YOU IDIOTS *sowmiya ended up chasing them*…… After graduating from high school Sruthi’s family shifted towards her native place so the Trio girls have been splitted.

The town where Sruthi’s native home was Gianta Hill Town. It is an area situated in the top of the mountain the beauty of this town is there are four Villages around the mountain and it takes minimum one and half hour to travel to each village. The town where Sruthi’s home was situated at the top the mountain, it is called as G.top hill village and the other three (G. Mid hill village, G. downhill village, G. foot hill village) are on the way of going downhill the last town was in the foot hill of the mountain. There is only one way that connects the town. The residents in those towns are low but there are many elder people lives here. The town is famous for the prestige LA FOLD ART ACADEMY, It is the world’s most top arts and craft academy, This academy has the most prestigious course where only 60 percent seats are available, anyone who got selected this course were always been a greatest artist in the world. There are high demands for the prestigious course students. Of course, the rest 40 percent of seats are given to the people management, they are not eligible to study under the prestigious course but they get second best course in the academy. The first 60 is purely chosen by entrance exam. The reason why Sruthi came to the town is because she loves arts and it was her dream to study at this Academy since childhood. She used to come here during her childhood to see her grandma who is the greatest origami maker in the whole town. She once said anyone who can get through the prestigious course will have an exciting future. That’s when Sruthi decided to study there, her passion in the art gave no room for the parents to complain, so they supported her whole heartedly. She got no specialty but she can draw and paint very well. After coming to the town she got five months to prepare before the entrance exam. She started going to the library which is 10 km away from her home. She used to go there via bus and come back home late that’s how much she is involved in preparation. Then the day of exam came. She was waiting for the bus in the same spot with high confidence and excitement to write the exam. A boy named Krish came to her out of nowhere.

Krish: Hi

Sruthi looked him he was good looking wears a glass and seems like a nerd, for a second she looked at his face then she turned her face in the opposite direction. The boy got nervous still he didn’t go away. He moved towards the path where her Sruthi facing and waved his hand.

Sruthi : What?

Krish: I have been following you for past 5 months.

Sruthi : So?

His nervousness raised to the peak. Yet he didn’t planned to move away

Krish : Well lemme be straight I like you and Can I love you?

*Sruthi couldn’t control her laughter !*

Sruthi : Are you asking me permission?

Krish : Its not exactly permission, just.. how to say…well something like that!

*She smiled and made eye contact, this gave him pretty high confidence*

Sruthi : Okay then, Guess my answer!

Krish : ITS AN YES *he said without hesitation*

Sruthi : I cant hear you! Can you say it loud *she kept her hand on the left leg and made the hearing gesutre*

Krish :YESSSSSSSSSSS! *He raised his voice, luckily no one other than them were in the bus stop*

Sruthi : Huh? I cant hear you.

*Krish got confused*

Krish : NO *he said in the same raised tone*

*Sruthi closed her ears*

Sruthi :Don’t shout man!

*Krish got disappointed*

Krish : So your answer is no huh

Sruthi : Yeah… Its clearly no for now. I got exam gotta go and don’t disturb me! I hope you understand *She smiled and moved a little far away*

Krish left that place and went to his friends home and told everything. His friend told him to forget her after hearing the story. Krish smiled and replied she said for now. Which means the story is just began. Don’t underestimate Krish.

His friend: Is that so! Then give me the treat. *Annoyed face*

Krish : W-Well she rejected me man. Let’s stick to that itself okay.

His friend : Oh! Treat took away your confidence huh *He smirked*

Krish : …… *Speechless*

Meanwhile She wrote the exam and came home with a great satisfaction. After a month the result came and she scored good marks but there was no call letter for her. So Sruthi and her parents went to academy. There she understood why she didn’t get selected. As per the cutoff she and another girl scored same mark and there was only one seat available. So as per the management rule they decided it with the age and the girl who compete with her is elder to her so they chose her. The management said they would give first preference in the second-best course too with full scholarship but she refused them. Basically, it broke her, since then she hasn’t eating properly, she was more like devastated since the her dream has been shattered into pieces even though she worked hard for it. Its been a week she haven’t talked to anyone, she kept staring at her grandmother’s pic since her grandmother is the only one who used make her happy when she is upset during her childhood. While seeing her staring at the picture Sruthi’s mom remembered something. She went inside her room and bought an old envelope which hass never been opened and gave it to Sruthi.

Sruthi : What? *with a dull look*

Mom : Your grandma asked me to give this to you when you met up with an devastating situation. At first I didn’t thought the day would actually come but your grandma predicted that you will suffer at some point, I think.

*Sruthi didn’t get the envelope she started staring at her grandma’s pic once again. Her mom left the envelope near her and went back to do her chores. After an hour she took the envelope and opened it. Inside the enveleope there was a letter. She took that letter……*

[(Dear Sruthi,

How are you? I know you can’t reply the answer for this question; since you are reading this letter let me assume that you are not doing well. I don’t want to bore you with silly advices, but I can tell you something interesting that is there are two kinds of treasure in this world one is the treasure which has been discovered or invented and the other is the treasure which is something you value more than your own life and that treasure for me is you. Apart from you I have another treasure (which is being discovered) too, I believe you are the only person who can find it. So, find it.

       With love your granny

P.s.: Believe in me and follow the map my dear.)]

Sruthi’s eyes filled with tears as she reads the letter. She couldn’t stop it she sobbed like a child for the first time since the rejection. After an hour she washed her face and went to hall, thanks to the letter she let loose every emotion which made her feel at ease, she asked her mom to make her something and ate until her stomach burst. Then she went back to her room, there she found a map inside the envelope it was kind of weird but the map is drawn very neatly and the specifics are drawn clearly, she kept it in her table and went to sleep. She had a great sleep that night.

          The next day in the early morning she took the necessary things in a backpack and told her parents regarding the treasure,they doesn’t believe anything about it; still, seeing Sruthi not being sad anymore made them happy. Sruthi left the home at 7am in the morning after having the breakfast and started following the map the starting point was her home and the path which have been drawn in the map is a forest area of the Gianta Mountain, so Sruthi walked there with atmost caution since it’s a place where people don’t go often. The forest is quite confusing place people easily get lost there so no one goes into it. But She followed the map. After 20 minutes of walking she saw a cottage all alone inside the woods, as she walks close she saw an old man sitting in the chair and carving wood with small chisel in his hand, a young man nearly age 30 is working on the garage with on his car and there was an young lady who seemed like 25 years old she was barbequing some meat in front of home on Bricks barbeque. Sruthi walked straight to the cottage since the X mark is being indicated on the cottage.

 Everyone started staring at her…

Lady : Hey Sweety, What are you doing inside the forest? Where are you from?

Sruthi: Hello! It may seem silly but I’m here to find a treasure

Suddenly the old man got up and walked towards the girl with a surprise look.

Oldman: Are you Sruthi?

Sruthi: Wait, how do you know my name?

Old man: So, you are Sruthi huh

Sruthi: Have we met before Oldman

Old man: I’m not Oldman my name is Stephan, that’s my son Mike and that’s his wife Mrs.Reena. Your grandma told me that you will come here someday. Come in.

Everyone went inside the home, Mrs.Reena gave Sruthi juice to drink.

Sruthi: So what was the treasure?

Mr. Stephan: *coughs* Actually, the map you had is a part of the treasure map, there are totally four parts apart from yours there are three more. I have one part of it. If you want that map you have to defeat me in a challenge.

Sruthi : What challenge?

Mr. Stephan : I’m a Sculpturer. I make wooden models, I am going to teach you the sculpting for next two days and we both have to make something in the third day. If you make something better than mine you win and you will get the map. If you can’t defeat me, you have to go home and one more thing your grandma challenged me on the first day of her class and defeated me, unlike me she is a genius artist. What about you kiddo?

Sruthi : Oh ho! Are you trying to provoke me using my grandma? *she smirked*

Mr.Stephan: You think you are worthy enough to be provoked *he smirked back*

*This touched her nerves and she was pissed*

Sruthi: Fine Oldman! The challenge is on.

Mr.Stephan : Also, I’m not old man I have a name call by that.

Sruthi: Defeat me and earn it, OLD MAN!!

Mr.Stephan : You arrogant kid

*Mrs.Reena enters and stopped both of them*

Mrs.Reena : That’s enough both of you, Sruthi come with me let me show your room, you get refreshed and come have lunch.

Sruthi : Thanks sis!

She went to the room, refreshed meanwhile the old man called Sruthi’s Dad to inform them that she was staying at his home in G.Down hill village that’s when she realized that she was in the G.Down hill village. During lunch old man asked about the treasure, Sruthi told him about his rejection, depression and reason for treasure searching. After lunch Mr. Stephan taught her how to use and sharpen carving gouges, how to carve the shape of the subject with various gouges, how to carve without breakage. Sruthi stopped right there and took some woods, equipment and went to her room. She stayed in her room for the whole day, she even skipped her dinner and came out on the next day in the morning to learn the rest. After having her breakfast Mr.Stephan taught her undercutting to create shadow lines and the illusion of depth and how to work up on the background for greater clarity of the subject. For the rest of the day she was practicing on it and She challenged him on the next day. Both had half a day to do anything the wish to do. The old man made a bear and his work is so great the lines, eyes, ears, mouth, nose everything is chiseled perfectly and he completed it in just three hours, whereas Sruthi have been working for half a day and finally she came out of her room with the sculpture of Mr.Stephan in her hand. Everyone were surprised that she made Mr.Stephan as a sculpture, Its not perfect as Mr.Stephan’s bear but the sculpture was good enough to be identified correctly.

Old man: I appreciate your work, but this is not enough to defeat my work.

Sruthi : Is that so?

*She gave a smirk and went back to the room and bought a big sculpture and kept the oldman’s figure which she made into that big one*

Sruthi: This is what I made!

*She made the whole house of the old man including her son and daughter who were working on the car and BBQ scenery. She recreated that scenery which she saw on the first day when she visited the Oldman’s place into a sculpture. This Shocked the old man. He was totally impressed. He lost the challenge so to give the map he went to her room there he saw a lots and lots of wasted woods*

Mr.Stephan: Holy crap! You wasted this many good woods! *he got angry a little, Sruthi walks towards him and kept her hand on his shoulder and wisphered*

Sruthi : This is what you get when you challenge me old man.

After that she thanked everyone and left the place. Mr.Stephan smiled and said she is a great child to his son.

Mike : Even after she wasted many woods, you are telling she is great. Im confused Dad.

Mr.Stephan: She is the same as her grandma, but the difference between them is, when my dad shouted at her grandmother for wasting the wood, she punched him and ran away compared to her this girl is sweet *he started laughing, listening this made mike laugh too*.

Sruthi followed the second part of the map and ended up in an abandoned barn after 40 minutes walk from the oldman’s home. There are no house near the barn and the barn is locked. 

She got confused and had no idea what to do, as the sunset began she saw a fire at some distance from the barn, She went towards the fire and there had another house. Sruthi knocked the door. An 35 year lady came out, Sruthi told her about the barn and the treasure map.

Lady : Well I don’t know anything about the map or something. But that’s my barn, after my grandma’s death we closed it. If you want you can search for the map.

Sruthi : Yea Mam! I want to search it, Could you give me the key of the barn? Mam.

Lady : Well sure, but its night already, you stay here and start the searching tomorrow.

Sruthi : Thank you for your help Mam.

Lady : Don’t call me Mam. I’m Mary I work as professor in the Art Acadmy.

Sruthi : Really? *her eyes became sad*

Mary : What happened?

Sruthi : Actually……….. *She told everything to her*

Mary : Oh Ho! That’s bad…I’m sorry, If I was the chairman I could have done anything but unfortunately I don’t have any powers

Sruthi : It’s okay, I didn’t expect you to help me. Still thanks for considering.

Mary: But that rejection gave you this new work right, so don’t worry everything happens for a reason.

Sruthi: Thanks sisy! By the way where am I right now? I need to inform my parents can you tell me the name of this place.

Mary : This is G.Mid hill village.

Sruthi : I See.

After the conversation they had dinner and went to sleep. Next morning Sruthi got the key and went to the barn they opened the barn its full of webs dust and total dirty kingdom. Mary bought a bucket, broom stick and mop and gave everything to Sruthi.

Mary : Its all yours *She said and went*

Sruthi was standing in the centre of the forest with a broom stick in her hand with confused look, she looked at the barn for a second and after a big sigh she took the bucket and went inside to start the cleaning work. After several hard work of removing nets and killing pests. She returned to Mary’s home at evening like a girl who lived in forest for years. Mary couldn’t control her laughter after seeing Sruthi covered with dust. Then the next day both went to the clean barn thanks to Sruthi’s hard work they searched everyplace they couldn’t find anything, there was a small locker at the corner of the barn it’s a black cube shaped iron locker where the key lock is placed at the below the box, they used the same key which they used to open the barn, it suited the box and after unlocking a handle bar popped up in the front side of the box Sruthi pulled the handle bar it opened like a drawer inside the drawer there had the next part of the map. They both giggled and hugged each other shouting. WE FOUND IT. After that Sruthi thanked Mary and went towards the next X mark. After 30 minutes of walking in the hardest pathway. She somehow reached the G.Foot hill village. There was house one after another on the foothill of the mountain. The right side of the last house has a big steep from the top of the mountain and its full covered with forest where half of the forest is been deforest (half of the trees has been cut down) there was a Metal fence which separates the forest from the houses. 

The third house from the last is the house where the X mark have been mentioned in the map.

          Sruthi went there and knocked the door. An old angry lady came out and shouted “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU WANT?” Sruthi replied patiently that her grandmother’s treasure map is here and she came to get that map.

Old lady : I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING. GO HOME

Sruthi : I wont go, until I get the map.

Old lady : IS THAT SO? FINE… SEE THE STEEP, THOSE PEOPLES ARE DESTORYING THE FOREST ILLEGALLY, IF YOU STOP THEM DOING IT. I WILL GIVE YOU MAP ORELSE GET LOST.

She slammed the door after saying that. Sruthi went to the neighborhood and asked about the people cutting trees.

Neighbor:  It all started 10 years ago when the old forest officer retired. They appointed a young officer; he was quite a greedy person he made a deal with some contractors and sold those acres of forest with fake documents and got paid for it. We don’t have any link with any kind of lawyers this became advantage to him, that officer sent some lawyers to us and betrayed us. The only thing we are able to do right now is protest against it daily. They cutting the trees will increase the high chances of landslide. If a landslide comes then all our homes will be buried. We asked the officer, he said if we give him more money than the contractors, he would sell it us. But we don’t have that kind of money. So, we are kind of suffering here. There was a couple who used to protect the forest with the old forest officer. After his retirement and the death of the old couple things went out of our control. The old lady near my home, she was the close friend of the old couple. She once fought for it. Now no one supports her so she hated everyone in the village. Anyway, be careful with her.

Sruthi: Thank you mam! I will be careful.

Sruthi went back to the Old lady’s home and knocked the door

Old lady : WHAT?

Sruthi : If I made them stop cutting trees, Will you really give me the map?

Old lady: IM A LADY OF MY WORD. YOU HAVE MY WORD, ONLY IF YOU MAKE THEM STOP.

Sruthi : Fine, I will do it. Can I stay with you until then?

The old lady was shocked at the same time excited a little and she let Sruthi to stay with her. The old lady introduced herself …

Old lady : I’m Jancy, Whats your name?

Sruthi : I am Sruthi

Old lady : Sruthi huh nice name. What are you doing?

Sruthi told her the flashback too. After hearing it the old lady laughed.

Sruthi : Why are you laughing? *She got mad*

Old lady : Seems you already have problems, how are you going to stop these people from cutting tree? Im quite interested to see what’s going to happen.

Sruthi: Let me tell you one thing Old lady. Never underestimate anyone, Okay?

Old lady : Hmph! I have seen many like you. Just go and get refreshed

Sruthi : hmph !

She went to refresh herself with anger, then the day went they doing nothing, the next day Jerris and Sowmiya came to the old lady’s house.

Old Lady : Who the heck are these two?

Sruthi: Those are my friends.

Old lady: Do you think this is a hotel or what? Inviting your friends as you wish?

Sruthi : Shut up old lady. If I cant make them stop cutting trees then I will pay you for everything.

Old lady: Lets see *she nodded and went to the kitchen*

Jerris : Who is that old woman?

Sruthi : She was an idiot friend of my grandma. Forget about the old hag, the reason I called you girls is we need to stop those guys from cutting the trees.

Sowmiya : Danger trio is back in action huh?

Jerris : sounds interesting to me.

Sowmiya : Do you have any plan Suu?

Sruthi : Yea, but before that we need an lawyer who is an environmental specialist. Can you find someone jerry?

Jerris :  I know a lawyer. He is quite talented, Im not sure about his specialization, but I think he will help. Lemme ask him and tell you.

Sruthi : Good! Sowmi, you completed your crash course for ethical hacking right.

Sowmiya : Yea! I just got my certificate.

Sruthi: Girl! You are awesome. I still don’t belive how they gave you certificate in the first place, but we got no other option, so okay I accept it. First, we need spy them, do you have any idea!

Sowmiya: One of my senior has small drone, I can ask them to send it and why the heck are you being so dramatic, don’t I look like a computer genius.

Jerris : I know why its hard to believe.

Sowmiya : Why?

Jerris: Well you don’t have the  hackers look, the computer genius mostly wear glasses right.

Sruthi : You are a genius, jerry. That’s exactly it, now I understood, hmm hmm.

Sowmiya : Which part of the above statement is genius for you?

Jerris : Oh come on, I can understand your pain. Wait I have a spare glasses, close your eyes.

Sowmiya : I wont *she refused*

Jerris : Pretty please just once, If you don’t close your eyes, I wont join you in the ARMY.

Sowmiya : Fine I don’t wanna join the army.

Sruthi : What ARMY?

Jerris : Don’t you know the BTS Army?

Sruthi : Since when you became a BTS fan.

Jerris : 9^th Grade

Sruthi: So whats ARMY means?

Jerris: it’s a fan club, every K-pop has a fan club and each has their own names like

BTS - A. R. M. Y

TXT - Moa

ENHYPEN - Engene

BLACKPINK - Blink

NCT - NCTzens

ASTRO - Aroha

EXO - Exo-L's

GOT7 - IGOT7

TWICE - Once

ITZY - Midzy

MONSTA X – Monabebe etc..

Sruthi :  Wow! You turned my brain off, that easily. Im amazed.

Jerris : Forget that! Please Sowmi pretty please close it.

Sruthi : yea Sowmi it really looks good on you, close your eyes for us please.

Jerris : Pretty please just once, please please please please.

Since they both saying, she closed the eyes and jerry had funny eye glass with eyebrows and nose. She put them on sowmiya. Sowmiya opened her eyes, Sruthi took a picture of it and obviously their laughter made her mad, they both ran away in a second. Sowmi had got a big wood lad, she started searching them with that, like a beast waiting for her prey to show up. After that they got caught and both got very good slap and everything went to normal.

Jerris : The lawyer called me. He said he will help us; he will be here by tomorrow morning.

Sowmiya :Same here the drone will be here by tomorrow morning too. So what now.

Sruthi : Now its time for sightseeing, since you came here, lets have some fun.

They three went to the village and had lots of fun, the climbed over the steep and Sowmi and Sruthi made jerris roll on the down steep, then they went to play with some random kids in the village and the kids won every game, yet they returned home like nothing happened even though those kids insulted them beautifully. They made up their mind that if they eat everything will be fine and reached the old lady’s home where they are currently staying.  The old lady was harsh but her food is quite tasty, they enjoyed the meal. The next day the law friend of Jerris named Benjamin came. Sruthi told everything to Benjamin.

Ben: So, this is what’s going on huh? First, we need a solid evidence to prove their agreement is fake or we can do something else. *He looked with confidence*

Sruthi : What is it?

Ben: We can transfer the officer.

Sruthi: Is that even possible, normally it’s a hard process, but if we pull some strings, we can light a fire under his superior’s chair and makes him provide transfer immediately.

Sowmiya : Regarding the files, I can take it from their computer if I get access to them.

Jerris : So the specs I gave you will be the prefect disguise for you Sowmi. I can lent it to you. *She laughed*

Sowmiya : No one asked you anything idiot *pretty annoyed*

Jerris : By the way, I asked my friend to send his ATV Bike, so that we can travel in the steep with zero issue.

Sruthi : But we do have an issue here?

Jerris : What is it?

Sruthi : Well you driving the bike.

Jerris : Huh! The joke is not funny.

Sowmiya : I feel the same as Sruthi, Since when started learning to ride bikes?

Jerris : Didn’t I tell you? I’m currently in the training to become a racer.

Sowmiya : You? A racer? This is best joke we have ever heard off..HAHAHAHHHAHAHHAHHA!

Sruthi : AHAHAHHAHHAH! *my stomach hurts*

*Jerris got worked up and showed them her racing video*

Sruthi : Unbelievable! So basically this idiot became the computer expert and that idiot became a racer and I still being same awesome girl. Oh god this sucks.

Jerris : you are not awesome idiot, you just have no idea of how much you suck that’s all!

*Another fight began jerris and Sruthi fighting eachother, Whereas Sowmiya trying to stop them and somehow she ended up beating them, Meanwhile Ben is watching everything as he was inside a movie theatre, then he decided to make a move after completely enjoying the fight show*

Ben : Excuse me. Sorry to interrupt you, where am I gonna stay?

Sruthi : Ofcourse in this house.

Old lady came to the hall since its too noisy and hearing what Sruthi said peaked her anger; She rushed like a burning steam engine.

Old lady: YOU MUST BE KIDDING ME! WHO THE HECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE KID? YOU ARE IN NO POSITION OF DECIDING ANYTHING ABOUT WHO STAYS AND WHO NOT STAYS. THAT’S IT, NO ONE STAYS HERE EVERYONE GET THE HECK OUT OF MY HOUSE NOW OR I WILL THROW YOU BRATS AWAY.

Sruthi : See old lady if you have problem with that, you can stay on the neighbors home. No one is going out of this place. *Sruthi talked back frimly*

Old lady: WHAT DID YOU SAY? *She tried to beat Sruthi but Sruthi caught old lady’s hand*

They both started fighting eachother, rest of the fellows ignored them and went to do their work. Ben and Jerris went to the forest officer’s office and somehow they bugged that office with mini camera and microphone (which Sowmiya  bought along with her as she heard its gonna be a big operation from Sruthi when she called her) and then they gave the officer a legal notice. Before the officer making any move against them. Ben used some of his network and pulled some strings and made the officer to transfer immediately. The officer got transferred after two days, luckily, with the spy cam they got every video information against the contractors. All they need is the evidence regarding the fake document. The day before the transfer, the officer’s system has some problems (this happened due to bug they inserted in the CPU) so they hired a computer mechanic from the neighborhood (Since he have to copy all the data which he stored in that computer), but the one who went there was Sowmiya (She didn’t wore that funny glass disguise though), she got every data she needed, with everything available, they were completely prepared for the battle. The next morning (exactly after seven days since Sruthi came to that old lady’s home) there had a small land slide from the top of the steep, no one got caught in that, there was no other life endangerment either, the place where the trees where being cut are the only place affected, with this Ben warned the contractors that if they didn’t stop the work that he will use everything and shut down their every work. Somehow the threatening worked out well, in addition they even accepted to give those land to the people of the foothill village. Everyone in the neighborhood heard about the girls and their effort, they thanked those girls wholeheartedly and gave them a mini party that night. The girls enjoyed the party and came back to the old lady.

Sruthi :  What do you think about me now old lady?

Old lady : Don’t get cocky over some measly thing, the mother earth helped you or else you would have done nothing. You are just lucky to have a landslide. That’s all!

Sruthi : Listen old hag we are not lucky, we made our own luck.

Sowmiya: Lemme tell you something granny, firstly that was not a landslide at all.

Old lady: What do you mean?

Sruthi : Ben, Care to explain?

Ben : Sure why not, on the day after the transfer I went to the top and blocked the road with a lorry (Ben smashed his own car with a lorry to make it look like an accident so that the road will be closed for a day). When they blocked the road, no one is allowed there so with the help of some police officer, we took many lorries with full sand and debris loaded then we dumped it all from the steep, which looked like a landslide and we made this at midnight without the knowledge of anyone. So that’s what happened.

Old lady : Oh dear lord! You guys are worse than the contractors.

Sruthi : Seems you got some idea of whom you are messing with right old lady?

Ben:  It’s all Sruthi’s idea. Thanks to Jerris driving skill we found an easy way to take the lorries to the top without anyone noticing and the spy cam and police helped us to make sure there is no one in the spot. Thus, it became success.

Old lady : Oh young girl, do you think these stuff make me afraid of you? *she smirked* and where is that big girl with you.

Sowmiya : Oh she! Well she is having an eating contest with an uncle, She said she wont come unless she defeat him.

Everyone started laughing and the day came to end. After that everyone returned to their home. Sruthi stayed there one more night.

Old lady: I think you have heard about the old couple who was being the guardian of the forest.

Sruthi : Yeah! The neighbor aunty told me.

Old lady: The guardian couple are none other than your grandparents. Today you kind of looked like your grandmother. She is as crazy as you, well to be particular she was much crazier, No matter what the problem is she always has a solution. So don’t get depressed again kiddo, you seem a type who becomes strong during heavy pressure, here *She gave her the last piece of the map and patted Sruthi’s head and went to sleep*

The next morning Sruthi thanked the old lady and said goodbye to everyone in the neighborhood and left the place, she followed the map and it made her go inside a cave that cave is filled with rocks and it’s a great steep she climbed every rock and, on the top, there was bright exit. Sruthi walked through the exit and reached the X mark, what she saw surprised her. The X mark is none other than her home. She came back to the place her home but she was standing behind her home. She looked at the map clearly and there was an X mark beside the pipe line connected to rainwater harvesting. She dug below the X mark and there she found a treasure box.

Sruthi: Finally! *Her eyes are filled with excitement*

Sruthi opened the box and it had a letter and a bunny shaped origami

Sruthi: HUH? Another clue? Oh grandma, I bet you are enjoying this from heaven! Ugh!

She opened the letter.

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Dear Sruthi

          Congratulation on finding the treasure. You may have been wondering where is the treasure right. Take every map you have and join them together (Sruthi joined the map together) you will find the shortest route to every village of Gianta town,your grandfather is the person who found this route. He discovered it while coming to see me before my marriage. Such a silly guy he was, anyway no matter what the problem we have in our way we try to pass them, if we can’t pass them then we shouldn’t give up, we should create another path like your grandfather did, so no matter what you are suffering from, there is always a way to resolve it. Be strong and be happy my dear and this short route is the treasure that we discovered, it’s the path that your grandfather created to see me before my marriage. This pathway is total secret, you should never share it with anyone because if people figure that there are ways then they will destroy forest for roads. So keep it as a secret!

P.s.: Bunny is for you! Hehe!

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Sruthi : Well granny, this is the best thing you have ever said to me, I am so thankful to you. Thanks to you my mind is cleared, I am gonna try the entrance next year too. This time I am gonna score more so that no one will find a chance to reject me. But I have gone through some hellish work just to find this route map! Thinking about this pissing me off.

She took the Bunny origami, it seemed little weigher so she opened it up, it had a key inside it, the key looked similar to the black cube box she saw in the barn. That’s when Sruthi remembered that there was a black box inside grandma’s room, She ran over there and opened the box. Inside the box there was a book. Sruthi took that book and everything inside the book surprised her, she ran over to her mom with happy tears and said I found the treasure! I found the treasure!

Mom : You mean this book?

Sruthi : Its not any random book, it’s a diary in which granny has scripted every origami she ever made, there are steps for making them too… *her eyes are sparkled with joy*

Mom : Good for you, I’m glad that you are happy dear. I was worried *She hugged Sruthi*

Meanwhile Sruthi’s dad came running into the home after returning from his work

Dad : I GOT IT, I GOT IT ! (while running he saw that Sruthi returned and he ran towards her and hugged her and gave her an envelope)

Sruthi : What is it Dad?

Dad: See it yourself dear.

Sruthi looked at it, suddenly she opened the envelope and read the letter, her eyes filled with tears while reading the letter. She hugged her dad and cried out loud.

Mom: What is it? *She took the letter from Sruthi*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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To

Miss Sruthi,

G. top hill village.

 

Dear Sruthi

          We are sorry for the inconvenience. Due to some circumstance, we are available with an open seat in the prestigious course, we want you to be a part of our academy. For admission bring this letter to the academy.

                                                                                                    Principal.

 

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Her mom’s eyes filled with happy tears too, then they went to the academy for admission. They went to the principal’s room, He asked them wait and then a man showed up. Principal got up and that man sat on his chair.

Principal : This is the Chairman of this academy.

Chairman : You are the one I heard about huh?

Sruthi : Heard?

Dad : Well sir we are so thankful for this, we felt really sorry for my daughter. The rejection made her suffer a lot. May I know how she got the seat? Does anyone refused to join this prestigious course sir?

Chairman : Hahah! No one would do that sir, Well your daughter got a special seat.

Sruthi : Special seat?

Principal : Actually, we removed a seat from the management quota and added it to the prestigious course so that you can get admitted.

This shocked Sruthi and her parents at the same time confused them.

Dad: I know I shouldn’t ask this since we got an amazing opportunity, but something is fishy here, sir. Why would you go that far for a girl sir?

Chairman : Two days back I got a Mail from the Founder of this academy, he had mentioned your name and said you are missing this talented girl,
After seeing your entrance score we thought, we can give you a chance. Losing a seat in the management quota is a loss for us. But after seeing your work myself, I thought its fine to take a risk. Life is exciting when risk are taken right. So I made a gamble with a committee and admitted you.

*Sruthi’s eyes filled with happy tears.  But she was still confused. *

Sruthi: May I know the work, which you mentioned. I don’t remember me doing anything specifically in fact I don’t even have any specialization.

*Chairman took his phone out and showed her a pic*

Chairman: This is the work I was talking about. The founder mentioned that you defeated him on his specialization. That inspired me a little, I am expecting more from you, Sruthi. All the best.

Sruthi mind voice: Holy crap! That old man is the founder, maybe I should have shown some respect to him. Anyway, everything went fine. So not think about that.

Dad : Sruthi.. Sruthii…. Sruthiii…

Sruthi : Oh sorry! Yea dad.

Dad :  Come lets go home.

Sruthi :Yeah sure dad.

They went back to home and the first day of the college came, Sruthi got ready as fast she can and walked towards the bus stop and waiting for the bus then Krish showed up.

Krish : Thank goodness.

Sruthi : What?

Krish : I know you would get admission on the academy. But a part of me doubted that you won’t come here. I’m sorry about that.

Sruthi : Huh?

Krish : I’m sorry I didn’t meant to hurt you or something.

Sruthi : Forget that, What do you want?

*Krish gave her a gift box*

Krish : I just wanted to give you this, CONGRATULATION ON JOINING THE ACADEMY. I will be waiting for you!

Sruthi mindvoice: Weird!

Bus came and she left the without saying anything but she accepted the gift. Krish was standing in the bus stop all alone without knowing what to do now. While riding the bus she opened the box it’s a ring box and there was a letter (it’s more like a small piece of paper) above the box, it said that…

[ “if you like me wear the ring or if you hate me throw the ring outside, no matter what you choose I will gladly accept it - regards Krish”.]

Sruthi smiled and didn’t wear the ring she kept it inside her bag. Her day went so amazingly she learned a lot and the days was so good for her. At the evening when she returned to the bus stop, he was waiting there. After she came he looked at her hands and he saw no ring so started leaving without any word. He looked sad and disappointed. Yet he accepted it. Suddenly something hit his head from the behind. He turned back and it was that box, he opened the box there was no ring inside.

Sruthi : It belongs to you take it yourself.

Krish : What.. what about the ring? *he wisphered slowly*

Sruthi : HUH? I cant hear you.

Krish : WHAT ABOUT THE RING?

Sruthi : Well that belongs to me right, So im keeping it , She showed her right hand and she have wore the ring in it. *She smiled, seeing her smile he started jumping out of happiness*

Sruthi : But this doesn’t meant I accept you and you are still not allowed to love me!

Krish: Wait, what does that mean?

Sruthi : Lets be friends first then we can see about the rest later.

Krish : Sure mam! *he said with the innocent nerdy smile face, his specs face looked like a small boy who thanks is happy after getting a lolipop *

Sruthi : Mam? *she cracked into laugher and she started walking towards her home*

Krish : Excuse me … Um… if you don’t mind can I ask you something?

Sruthi : Sure! What is it?

Krish : Welll….

Sruthi: Just spit it out already!

Krish : May I know your name please?

*After hearing the question, it felt like her head got hit by the lightning, she turned into stone for a second then she slowly turned around with an blank look and looked at his nerdy face then looked at the ring he gave her then again she looked at his face and again ring, again face then again ring , face, ring , face, ring ,face, ring, face, ring ,face. Then she stared like a ghost and..

Sruthi : S.E.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y?..................... (He followed her for five months but no nothing about her, total nerd. Still she fell for him).

AFTER 3 YEARS, she got graduated and then they both got engaged and she became a pioneer in the artist world, she invented many kind of art style and techniques. She even published her grandmother’s origami techniques as a book along with her research technique. The book became the best selling Art book in the world. She named the book “THE TREASURE TROVE”  which became a treasure for all the artist around the world.

THE END