The Little Cave On The Beach

By Miraya Dhar Vyavaharkar

A cold wind blew. The suns rays were blinding. A loud thump came. Then Ira pushed off her blankets and opened the door. “What is it?” she said groggily “It better be important because – oh it’s you!” Ira said finally looking at who was standing in her doorframe. “Yes, it’s me sleepy head“ said Ira’s best friend forever, Estela. “Seriously, how long do you sleep?” said Estela. “Definitely not as much as my brother. Oh look, here he is now”. Sure enough, there was Ira’s ten-year-old younger brother, Arish. “See? Right now he is only opening his door, while I have already walked two feet away from my bedroom!” said Ira with worrying triumph in her voice. “Well, I bet I can make it to the breakfast table before you can!” said Arish now running towards them. Ira made the choice to run right after him.

After everyone reached the table (much chaos involved) breakfast was served the Maheshwari way (the fancy way) “Mum, did you give me my lucky spoon?” asked Ira panting from her race. “Yes, I think “said Mrs. Maheshwari from behind a newspaper. “Well, there’s no spoon near me, I’ll go get one,” said Ira.

After Ira and Arish had changed and finished breakfast, they were set to go to their favourite spot – the garden dump, aka the plant graveyard. It was a little dug up area in a corner of their building, where the gardener stored all the old seeds, tools, and dead plants. The children ran down the stairs and into the plant graveyard (cause let’s be honest; it sounds way cooler) Ira sat on an old flowerpot leaving the others to climb onto anything they could find. “Guys guess what!” said Estela excitedly “What, see I guessed it“ “Ira, stop it, anyway, my parents are taking us to Mangalore! its only eight hours away too and that’s by car” said Estella. “When?” asked Arish. “Any time, its winter holidays“ said Estela. “Next Friday?” asked Ira inquisitively. “Yeah, that works” answered Estela, picking at her nails. “So till then, hide and seek” asked Arish, clearly bored. “Definitely” said Ira with a grin on her face. Soon it was time for them to go to their respective flats, whether it be the third floor (Estella) or ninth floor (Ira and Arish).

The next day it was Ira’s and Arish’s turn to be first. They ran down to the third floor to meet Estela. Arish rang the bell and then flinched at the sound of it “you seriously are a scaredy cat“ said Ira. “Well, I have less noise tolerance and besides I’m younger than you” said Arish. “First of all I’m only two years older then you and are you trying to make a point?” asked Ira just as the door opened. “Aah it’s you, she is in her room“ said Estela’s mother. They went into a room – it was decorated with purple and white – Estela’s favourite colours. In the middle of the room on a white and purple bed was Estela. She was crying and hugging her pillow. “Estela! What happened?“ asked Ira. “I-I lost my pendant, the-the one I got in London. And now, now I won’t ever get to wear it again” sobbed Estela. “Umm, I can help you look” said Arish tentatively. “No use, I tried “said Estela, wiping her tears. “Guys, I’m sorry but I don’t want to play today” said Estela, more stable now. “Okay, bye then“ said Ira. “Bye” said Estela

Days passed quickly and soon it was Friday. It was a short plane ride there and the hotel was only a walk away from the airport. The first thing they did was go to the beach. But the water was too cold to swim in (who would have known it gets cold in winter) so they decided to explore the beach. Eventually they found a cave. “That looks interesting, as far as I know there are no bears on beaches” said Ira. “As far as you know! As far as you know is about as far as this pebble to my toe“ said Arish, pointing to a pebble on his flip-flop. “Ok, then Estela and I will go into the cave -- you know what, I’ll go in that cave“ said Arish hastily. “Thought so” whispered Ira. It was a small cave and in the middle the floor seemed to be cracked. In the wall there were two small shiny things but most noticeable were some words engraved on the stone:

I was here first, I will come again and I will rule again, and nothing will stop me, not this time.

“Wow that is creepy“ said Estela. “You bet” agreed Ira. Just then then a st0ne slab fell over the cave blocking the entrance.” No, no, no, no, no! Please open, please open!” said Ira, clawing at the slab. Finally she got up and said “We are stuck, yay”. “Well, we need to do something” said Estela. “What about this crack in the ground? It could help” said Arish desperately“. “Fine” sighed Ira. They all tugged and pulled on it until it gave way. The stone was heavy but once they broke it apart from the floor they could see a dazzling light, a mix of green, yellow, and pink. “What is –“ started Estela but then the light sent out a powerful blast that knocked all of them down. Suddenly a wave of strength washed over Ira and based on their exertions her friends too. Only now she noticed what those shiny things in the wall were – her spoon and Estela’s pendant. She saw red, literally whatever was causing her and her friends and possibly someone else too lived here. Her thoughts bottled up in her until the cave exploded. “WHAT WAS THAT?” shouted Arish. “Something“ said Estela, looking at her hands. “It’s going to be a lot more difficult now” said Ira. “For what?“ asked Arish.

“To live”, said Ira.

By Miraya Dhar Vyavaharkar