

Popular Choice Runners Up: Ficlets
cheers2all
for
Entry No. 6
βBakshi!!!β
Byomkesh Bakshi was enjoying a peaceful moment on the beach, away from all his cases, watching the sunset, birds, and a ship sailing in the distance, when an uncharacteristically disturbed Arnav Singh Raizada rushed towards him.
βI swapped Khushiβs jalebis with that creamy sweet yogurt thing Satya Di had sentβ¦β Arnav said breathlessly, as he reached Bakshi.
βMishti Doiβ Byomkesh interjected. Satya, his wife had it sent over and asked Arnav to trade it with Khushiβs jalebis when he was complaining about her unhealthy eating habits.
βYes, thatβ¦β Arnav acknowledged impatiently ββ¦and I think it has backfired!β
Bakshi's curiosity was piqued. βBackfired? How?β Arnav had Bakshiβs full attention βDid she not like it?β
βWellβ¦I didnβt wait to find outβ Arnav said awkwardly, fidgeting with his Rolex. βKhushi was very angry when I snatched her jalebisβ He looked up feeling distressed but continued, nevertheless. βShe tasted the Mishti Doi, muttered something in Bengali and ran awayβ Arnav completed in one breath as he sank down besides Bakshi, uncaring of ruining his custom fit Armani suit.
βWhat did she say that has got you so depressed, Raizada?β Bakshi asked, trying to understand the situation.
βIt sounded vaguely like β Ami tomato balushahi or something.β
Byomkesh shook his head at the absurd situation as he hunted for a song on his phone. Shoving it under Raizadaβs nose, he went back to appreciating the sunset as his friendβs hesitant smile grew to a full-blown grin while watching the cheesy Bollywood number.
MinionBoss
for
Entry No. 5
Bablu repeated, βItβs quite simple. See this empty street. Find out why. The first person to do so will get the chance to lead the next time we are called to solve a case.β
Bilu raced down the street to the house with the empty chair, while Bhombol went after the man that had turned onto the street. Bachchu and Bichchhu divided the houses and started knocking on doors. Bablu smiled on seeing their eagerness. He knew that they would all find the reason and he had a feeling that Bachchu and Bichchhu would get to it first. He rubbed Panchuβs head and asked, βWhat do you think? Who will get to the answer first?β
Panchu fixed him with a solemn gaze as if agreeing with Babluβs thoughts. Bilu came rushing and responded, βTheyβve all been kidnapped.β
βWrong,β Bablu said. Bhombol had also come back in this time, but his face fell at Babluβs reply and he turned back to get a new response.
Bichchhu heard something and stopped Bachchu, βListen. Do you hear that?β
Bachchu glanced at Bichchhu and both yelled out in unison, βItβs namaaz time!β
Bablu nodded, βCorrect.β
Bilu scowled, βNot fair!β
βWhatβs not fair? Why did you and Bhombol assume that something had gone wrong? We need to keep an open mind until we have more details. Thatβs what they did. They kept an open mind and heard the azaan. Remember if you assume, you will only look for clues to prove yourself right,β Bablu responded.
oye_nakhrewaali
for
Entry No. 4
As the train rattled and Inspector Kishor Chattopadhyay read through the "Kasuati Ka Keher" he joined the pieces of the murder mystery that had left him stumped for the last seven years.
But what he failed to understand was the duality of Love. Love is supposed to be kind and giving. But the Love between Rani and Rishi wasn't kind, or, at least, he didn't feel so. But he also knew that love could be insane. Could Love have such two different faces? One was when Rani and Rishi moved on from the speed breaker in their marriage by being soft with each, and the other face was just scary. They had gone to the lengths of killing a man, of cutting Rishi's arm.
"You wouldn't cut your nails for me," His wife muttered in her sleep, and Kishor agreed. He loved her. His love had just one face, and he hoped that he would never have to look at the monster in him, at least when it came to love.
and
Quantum-Dot
for
Entry No. 19
"O Satyanweshi, please wait for a moment...."
Byomkesh saw a little boy running towards him.
After doing a brief Namaskar, the little boy presented his strange request. Byomkesh had not had such a case so far.
"Satyanweshi, I haven't seen my father for so long; he left me here in Nischindipur without even informing me of his whereabouts. Can you please find him and let him know that his Kajol isn't happy without him? And tell him to return immediately to his Kajol."
Byomkesh listened attentively to the words of this small boy. For a while, he felt as though his own son was voicing his complaints about his father. He couldn't return home for more than a month due to several back-to-back cases. He sensed that his son might also be looking for him like this kid, wondering when his Baba would return.
"Well, Kajol, can you please call your mother once? And I need to know every detail about your father. What's his name?" inquired Byomkesh.
"My mother's no more..... My father's name is Apurba Roy. Ranu Pisi says that Baba went to some faraway land by ship over the bottomless sea. Is his wanderlust more dear to him than his Kajol?"
"Oh, I think I've heard your father's name before. Is he the famous writer?"
"Yes."
"Well, Kajol, he shall be back soon. I promise that I'll look for him. Until then, let's come with me; I have a little boy the same age as yours."

Edited by tournesol - 3 years ago