Free Superstar: Horn OK Please by Kartik Iyengar Page A

nuzzled up against a thick layer of mist. A long winding road seemed to lead to the estate and I could see a car noisily honking, trying to get a herd of sheep out of a narrow road that led to the mansion.
    “Who are those noisy idiots?” said Goose, as he stood behind me, scratching his belly sleepily. The noise seemed to have woken him up as well.
    “I’d suppose they are the new guests who are supposed to come in today”, I said, hoping that Hound would be right about them. Maybe, they would know something about the going-ons in the ‘Mansions of the Gods’.
    “Ah! There you are, my sleeping beauties”, said Derek, “Here, dunk this coffee and let’s get cracking. Hound and I had been out for a jog around the resort. I must say the place is beautiful! From faraway this resort looks divine, carefully placed amongst the green gold.”
    “What? You guys are awake already? Damn! Let me quickly have a bath and get cracking”, said Goose, as he gulped down his coffee. I wondered if I should have a bath.
    “I’m not having a bath! I don’t care! Even if I do, it would be with the bathroom door open. No water from the bathroom, for sure, I’d stick to mineral water!” I said, too scared after last night’s bloodbath. Every inch of my body cringed at the thought of plunging into the bathtub that once overflowed with gallons of blood.
    “As you wish, Cleopatra, get ready quick. Let’s grab some breakfast and start with Room number 7. I want to see what’s in there. I spoke to Jeremy and he’s getting our rooms fixed today. He was on his way to the local market. He said it was a freak show last night”, said Hound, sipping his coffee.
    The coffee brought in some warmth after a horrible train of experiences. It helped a great deal in easing up our minds and providing solace to our restless souls that had been set on fire by the eccentricity of the previous night. I looked outside the balcony.
    The sun had already stepped out of the warmth of the night. The chirp of birds coupled with the gentle rustle of leaves made me believe in reality. I let the thoughts of the macabre dance dwindle to a drop that finally tricked down the grey matter.
    After a near-bath experience with five bottles of mineral water, we quickly assembled near the breakfast table.  Goose freaked out at the sight of the menu. A small card stuck on the food said, ‘Filet de boeuf en croute’ . Derek Googled up the name, it was a dish made of beef and mushroom stuffed in pastry.
    It was as ugly and as tasteless as the pink Nanny herself. I’d rather term it as “Nanny’s revenge”. We rammed in the tasteless breakfast quickly in our mouths and surreptitiously made way to the lobby.
    The new guests were not to be seen nor the walking stick of a nanny. Since no one was around, we decided it was the perfect time to see what’s inside the mysterious room number 7. Tip-toeing across the lobby, Goose held the doorknob and whispered, “This is it. If it’s locked, we break it, OK?”
    “Go for it!” I said, confident it would be locked. To our surprise, Goose swung open the door with ease and what we saw inside made our heartbeats stop.
    Room number 7, Suite room Winston:
    Jenny was lying on a four-poster bed, her eyes were closed and she was fast asleep. The room was barren, spare the bed at the center.
    On one side stood a good-looking Indian woman in her late twenties. She appeared to be a doctor or at least she masqueraded as one. She checked Jenny’s pulse.
    She had a stethoscope around her neck that looked like a garden snake. She reminded me of an old Brook Shields poster where she stands naked with a snake wrapped around her neck. Only difference was that this doctor had her clothes on.
     
    She was dressed in a black gown and a white poncho. She wore white gloves in her palms. With long fingers and hair tied back in a neat bun, she carried an air of sophistication around herself. I figured that she must be the occupant of the other