Tarkik was known as a genius, a 14-year-old prodigy who could crack any code, decipher any cypher and make technology dance at his fingertips. His home was the prestigious Himshikhar Boarding School nestled in DevBhoomi, a hill station embraced by the majestic Himalayas in Northern India.
As he sat under the sprawling oak tree, looking out at the panoramic view of the valley below, he couldn’t help but marvel at the exquisite balance of tranquillity and vibrancy this quaint town exhibited. Tarkik loved the quiet, the peace, the sweet symphony of nature that was only interrupted by an occasional bird’s chirp or the whispering of leaves in the cool mountain breeze. It was the perfect backdrop for his challenging cryptography exercises.
The tranquillity shattered when Aindri, his lively and adventurous friend, burst onto the scene. “Tarkik,” she gasped, her face pale, “Ma Durga’s idol…it’s gone!” Handing him a cryptic note, she sat next to him, her eyes reflecting fear and determination.
Tarkik and Aindri were an unlikely pair. He was a quiet, studious boy with a knack for cryptography, coding, and technology, while she was a fearless adventurer, always seeking the next thrill. They had first met in Class VIII at Himshikhar Boarding School and had been inseparable ever since. His analytical abilities were perfectly complemented by her resourcefulness and courage. Together, they transformed from mere classmates into a dynamic problem-solver duo.
The note was a puzzle, referring to a family of tennis players with an unsolvable problem. It read:
“A mother, her brother, her daughter, and her son are tennis players. As a game of doubles is about to begin:
[1] The mother’s brother is directly across the net from her daughter.
[2] Her son is diagonally across the net from the best player’s sibling.
[3] The best player and the worst player are on the same side of the net. Who is the best player?”
Tarkik furrowed his brow, an exciting challenge in front of him. He knew the answer was crucial and could lead them to the stolen idol.
“Let’s see…” Tarkik muttered to himself. He began outlining the tennis court, illustrating the problem and brainstorming solutions. Aindri watched her respect for Tarkik grow. He considered different perspectives, discarded theories, and navigated the cryptic maze.
He took a deep breath, shut his eyes, and saw a tennis court spring to life in his imagination. He mentally positioned the family members according to the clues.
“Mother’s brother and the daughter face each other,” Tarkik murmured to himself.
“And, the son stands diagonally opposite to the best player’s sibling,” Aindri interrupted, “which means the son is not the best player!”
“Correct!” Tarkik opened his eyes, “Which means he is also not standing next to mother’s brother, as the best and worst players are a team. The mother must be the best player. The son is diagonally across from her brother, making him the worst player.”
Aindri stared at him for a moment before breaking into a grin, “Tarkik, you’re brilliant!”
Eventually, he arrived at the conclusion that the mother was the best player.
“But, why mother?”, interjected Tarkik, “What is her significance in the robbery?”
“Huh, that could only mean one thing,” Aindri said, a lightbulb moment. “The mother could be a metaphor, Tarkik. It’s a reference to Ma Durga! Should we check other temples dedicated to her?”
“We can, but we should not,” Tarkik muttered as if in deep thought. “There are too many temples in the town dedicated to Ma Durga.”
Suddenly, as if coming back to his sense after a deep slumber, Tarkik said, “We should check other ancient temples dedicated to Ma Durga, especially the Ma Katyayni Mandir on the outskirts of Devbhoomi.”
Aindri agrees, “That could be a starting. Yes.”
“Not starting, but it is where we will find the robber,” Tarkik quipped smilingly.
“How are you so sure?” Aindri was surprised.
“Later,” Tarkik said as he grabbed her hand to go, “We need to inform Inspector Sharma first.”
After a few hours, in the dead of night, Tarkik, Aindri and Inspector Sharma were hiding in the forest at Ma Katyayni mandir, waiting for the robber to return.
Despite his reservations about Tarkik’s theory, Inspector Sharma found himself accompanying the two teens to the remote Ma Katyayni Temple. For him, this was the last unexplored lead in the puzzling case of the missing idol.
In the heart of a dense deodar forest, the ancient temple was bathed in the ethereal glow of moonlight. A figure, shrouded in darkness, moved stealthily around the temple’s entrance. The man’s suspicious behaviour confirmed their suspicions. A surge of triumph flooded them as they emerged from the shadows, cornering him just as he was about to smuggle out the stolen idol. The local police were called, and the thief was apprehended.
Once the commotion had died down, Aindri and Inspector Sharma turned to Tarkik, their curiosity piqued. “How did you know the thief would return here, of all places?” Sharma asked, admiration creeping into his voice.
Tarkik cleared his throat, about to unravel the logic behind his theory, “The Ma Katyayni Temple is one of the most secluded in town. A perpetrator would logically avoid crowded places. Secondly, he isn’t our actual thief. The cryptic note was likely meant for him, not for us. If he had acted alone, he would’ve left town by now. Most likely, our criminal is a local, an intermediary in a larger smuggling ring.“
A sobering silence settled as Tarkik’s voice turned grave, “A more unsettling theory lingers. It’s clear that our real thief remains hidden, wanting to gauge our abilities. Why else would he leave breadcrumbs? But let’s hope that’s just conjecture.“
Inspector Sharma interjected, his voice ringing with authority, “We’ll unearth more details soon. After all, we have his accomplice now. Let’s see what my way of questioning will reveal.” He gave them a knowing wink.
On returning to Himshikhar Boarding School, Tarkik discovered a second cryptic note waiting for him. He read it aloud,
“Thou hath solved my first test, but the challenge hath just begun. Await my next message, young Tarkik.”
The room hummed with suspense, the only other sound being the rustling of the note as Tarkik folded it back. A shiver ran down his spine as he questioned, “How did this note land in my room? Is someone from the school entangled in the smuggling web?“
An ominous shadow of doubt hung over them, but it was rivalled by a rush of adrenaline. They had solved their first mystery, but it was clear their escapades had just started.
With a mischievous spark in his eyes, Tarkik turned to Aindri, “Are you game for the next enigma, Aindri?”
Her reply was a fiery whisper, echoing in the silent room, “Bring it on.“
In the tranquil lap of DevBhoomi, at the foot of the magnificent Himalayas, the captivating saga of friendship, courage, and cerebral might was just unfolding.
