neelwrites/writingonthewall/FFfAW/fiction/flash/shortstory/14/11/2017

FFfAW Challenge-Week of November 14, 2017

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https://flashfictionforaspiringwriters.wordpress.com/2017/11/13/fffaw-challenge-week-of-november-14-2017/

WRITING’S ON THE WALL

By Neel Anil Panicker

As a kid Inspector Sharma hated going to school.

While his classmates unfailingly attended school even on days when they felt slightly under the weather hoping that by just walking past the imposing school portals, all their illnesses would vamoose like the near extinct Sunderbans Royal Bengal Tigers, young Sharma would be safely tucked in bed, having successfully convinced his guileless parents about being afflicted with one indecipherable illness or the other.

But that was over four score years ago; an age when innocence reigned supreme, when young and old, man and woman__all behaved well, treating the world and its backyard as one large family.

All that was in the past. Circa 2017, the present, stared out at the Senior Crime Branch cop from the semi-blackened brick-kiln back walls of the school washroom.

“Sir, it looks like an inscription, maybe some encrypted code language that the killer left behind”.

Inspector Sharma looked sideways, honouring his junior with a smirk.

What’s the body count so far, Pandeyji?”.

‘Seven, as of today.’

Inspector Sharma felt a knot forming inside his chest. Hurriedly, he unbuttoned his chest buttons. He knew heart attacks among his tribe were a dire occupational hazard.

©NEELANILPANICKER2017 #FFfAW #FICTION  #FLASH #SHORT STORY #197WORDS