Doll

I somehow reached the castle with my colleague and closed friend Charl. Actually, it was his idea to go for research even at -15 degrees Celsius of Russian winter. And I knew. I knew that his out of box mind will have such useless and outdated ideas. But he was a master at convincing people. 

That day, even watchman was inside his small cabin. He was folded in his 5cm thick mattress.And after all what can you expect from a 60 year old watchman who is friend of Charl. 

He gave Charl keys of Castle and said, "Take these keys Charl. I trust you and I don't want to be here in this cold. I am going to sleep inside my room with my heater on. So, have these keys. "

"But... "

"I know nobody is as crazy as you. Don't worry nobody would bother to come here.So,you can have these as I am not going to come and open a door for you because... You know it".said watchman and then blew some air with his mouth which I saw went 4cm and then disappeared. He then went inside his cabin and again covered himself with mattress.

As soon as watchman went inside his Son turned towards me. Coming a step forward and then two. As Close he was coming to me I was able to see his tomato red face with running nose. And his nose. It was like a red ball. 'Sizz-shuu'- I could hear his sound he was making with his nose.

I knew what was coming. 

'Hey dear. You shouldn't be out at this temperature '.He said in sliding his hard heavy voice in order to make it sound a bit good. 

I just ignored him and turned my head to the right. 

He continued, 'Why? Why do you treat me this way? Because I have big fat nose? '

"No, because you are master in 'Don't know how to flirt but still try to flirt and make girls hate me'. "I said making my voice more feminine. 

He laughed and pulled me towards himself keeping his hands on my waist and said, "Hey beautiful, Accept me!"

And what really obsessed me was not his touching me but... his running nose which... Well I should not describe. 

I was about to push him when Charl suddenly pulled me handing my arm.

"How many times should I tell you Behave yourself?"Said Charl in that Iron man's voice.  

"OK. OK. Sorry my boy."said Ruce and went in his small cabin. 

And Charl... He put his both hands on his waist and moved his chin upwards glaring in the sky. Hah! Showing that he is a brave Knight. 

Charl said, "Hey, Miss Singh, I am a hero. Who always take entry in the end and 

..."

"Oh! Hero. You are just a problem like your so called big fat nose friend. After all you are his friend. And from now onwards don't come to save me. I can do it.' I said this and went inside the castle without giving him his chance to talk further on this topic. 

Charl came running and opened that freezed lock. 

When the door opened we entered into the hall. It was so big that if you want to reach every corner then it would take more than 5 minutes. So beautiful that you can't judge those beautiful illustrations just giving it a single look. 

I and Charl were visiting this hall since last 2 months.' The no joke hall' of king Biscus 2nd's Palace. 

Well this Palace was mysterios. I mean, when I and Charl started our visiting (as we were doing our research on old arts of Palace.)We came across many arts and illustrations that are out of mind. For example, vase made from broken pieces of earthern pots. By sticking with boiled rice. Isn't it weird that king Biscus 2nd, a ruler of such a big dynasty -Woshu, will keep such poor artefacts in his Palace?Well,that's why our research was fun. 

As I stepped inside the palace I switched on the torch. Because the hall was too dark due to the cloudy weather outside. I flashed my torch on the painting hanging right to the entrance door. The painting was 8 by 5 feet long. It was such an incredible painting that can't be described. The artist had used many expensive colors and brushes to illustrate minor points. It was the portrait of a very beautiful woman. Her hair were like silk threads decorated with ornaments and hair accessories. I was dragging my flash slowly from hair to her face and then to her broad shoulders and then on her beautiful gown. She was wearing an offsholder black colour gown.I noticed her figure. That perfect figure. I then saw her gown's skirt. Thousands of different flowers were made using different Shades of black. I was jealous. Suddenly, when my torch reached at the end. I saw that the woman had no legs. I mean inplace of her legs there were clouds. It was just exactly as Jinnie had in "Aladdin".She was a spirit. 

I mean what does this painting depict in king's Palace? Didn't painter knew how to end a painting just exactly how authors don't know how to end a story? Like this many questions started coming to my mind. 

Suddenly I thought where is Charl? I turned back and saw, Charl taking selfies with his tongue out. Making the king's sisters his background for selfies.This relieved me that Charl hasn't lost his consciousness and he is perfectly ok as he was doing those weird things that makes him him. 

So, I decided to explore every painting in that hall. To get my answers and then I flashed my torch on the next painting placed at 2m distance from the first painting on the same wall.It was the portrait of same lady as first one. But in this painting her toungue was out. 

This suddenly reminded me of my childhood. When my elder sister was teasing me. I used this 'tongue out' as a weapon to tease her back. And yes, can't forget Charl. 

Anyways, I wasn't able to link questions that were coming to my mind. So, I decided to answer these mysteries. 

"Charl! "I called.

But I didn't get answer. So I turned. He was listening songs with earphones. 

I stepped towards him. And pulled his earphones. 

"What?!"He exclaimed. 

"Nothing. Just got some questions to be answered ".I said. 

"Then go answer them. Why you always ask for my help? "

"Oh! I am Just asking you to go home before evening.I think you are done taking selfies with those princessess.So let's go."

"But I wanted to... 

"Make it tommorow's want and let's go."

Without saying anything he followed me to the door. When I pushed it I wasn't able to...I don't know but it seemed as if somebody is pushing it and not allowing me to open. 

"Hey babes, you can't open it. It is me and only me who can open it.You just get side."Charl said in the voice of Captain America. 

Well, I knew the coming result.

I got side. He now began opening it from one hand-two-hands and legs and finally his whole body. After trying for ten minutes he was sweating. I went to the glass window so that I could ask the watchman and then I saw 'cheesy force snowfall with storm combination.I saw that the watchman's small cabin was totally snow covered. Everywhere wind carrying lots of snow. It's was looking as if 'Tom and Jerry ' show is going on of the time of CHRISTMAS. 

Charl came after me and said,"So we are going to spend a night in this dark palace!No.I can't live alone with a girl of same age as mine in night. Noway. What if at night you get some odd ideas? And where do you think we are going to sleep? Robi! Answer me! I am hoping you are not thinking of sleeping on the same bed... "

I just ignored him and went on searching for some clues for this mystery as I didn't had any idea of wasting this golden opportunity. 

So, I used the stare and reached first floor of the castle. I started from the first room. I entered here and saw some board games. Chess, Chinese checkers and Panchang.I got the idea this is room where king used to play. Then I went to the next room. But I don't know why, it was empty.

"Why are you searching for such rooms. I know some rooms with soft cusions"said Charl popping out of blue. 

"Will you shut up Charl? I don't have time to sleep."

And I went on my searching. I checked about 12 rooms but got nothing. So, I thought to climb a stare again. And I reached third floor. But this was kinda different from all others. I looked back and saw that Charl was coming. Sweat was flowing from his head and that too because he was just following me from room to room. Well, some people have amazing sweaty glands that just flow because it want to. 

Without waiting for Charl I went to the one and only room present on that floor. I first thought it is a court. But soon after I was about open the door, I saw the stucked Paper notice on that door, stating:

            WARNING 

"NEVER EVER OPEN THIS DOOR. IT IS KING'S ORDER"

"Oh, This room! "Charl's sound came from my left.

I turned my head and saw he was standing very close to me and was smelling very bad because of sweat.

"So you know about this room? "I asked. 

"Yeah, king used to say that this is the room where he used to have a talk with his beloved queen's spirit."

"Spirit? "

"Yes, After two years of her marriage Queen died. So, one day king announced that Queen's spirit is inside this room and he used to talk with queen's spirit in the afternoon after lunch. Also king has warned that even after his death, Queen's spirit would not leave this room because this is her castle. If anybody who would open this other than king then he/she would die."

"What nonsense".

"No.It is not nonsense. It is true and everyone believes this. That's why till now nobody is allowed to go in".

"Hey Charl! Looks like you are coming after watching a horror movie yesternight. "

I pushed the door because I had to solve this mystery and get the title of "Sherlock Holmes."But a very big and heavy lock was hanging there. 

"Look the spirit don't want you to come in. Robi, Iisten me.Let's go. It's dangerous and also, they say spirits are most powerful at night. Robi. Let's go."Said Charl.

"Will you shut Charl? If you are afraid you can go. Also, I didn't asked you to come after me.. But yes, hand me the keys. "I said. 

"I can't leave you alone with that spirit. And I will not give you keys. Watchman gave me because he had trust on me."

"Mr trustee. Just give me the keys or you are no longer my friend. "

Didn't knew this blackmailing would work. But Charl gave me keys immediately. I took the biggest key from the bunch and put that into the lock and then turned it 360 degrees and again 180 degree and to my surprise the lock opened so easily. 

"Didn't I told you, it's nothing. By the way you go off.I don't need you. I said. And entered the room. I checked my phone it was showing 1:10 am. I turned back Charl was coming. 

I dragged the flash of my torch from corner to corner. Everywhere, 100 painting of the same beautiful woman I saw in the 'No joke hall'of the palace. And each and every painting didn't had leg. 

I was about to come to the conclusion that painter really didn't knew how to end a painting when suddenly Charl said, "This is Queen's painting."Wife of king Biscus 2nd.King had a painter and that painter used to make such paintings of queen's spirit exactly same as king described."

"How do you know about such stories?"

"Because I am Biscus 2nd."

I walked till I didn't reached the door opposite to the entry door. And this had a lock hanging on it. And this time it was too small. I saw the key Bunch, for the smallest key. But that small and thin key was broken. 

"See. You didn't listened me. Queen is doing this. You will hurt yourself. Let's go from here."

"Charl. Go yourself. And I am not going to go until I reach my answer. "I said. 

Suddenly, I took out a hair pin from my hair and put that into lock. 

"Now, you are trying to open this ghostly lock with your 'Oggy and the cockroaches 'idea? "Charl said humourosly. 

And lock opened. I opened the door and a vase fell off from the table and it broke. By this Charl got scared that he ran away. He ran till he reached the stares. 

He turned back and saw I was not behind. So, he again came running towards me. I flashed my torch on the floor and saw that many mice were running from one place to another. 

This room was without painting. There were only 4 tables in the four corners of the room with 4 vases on the tables. 

I knew, Charl is going to say something. So I went on and opened the door again. This had no lock. So I entered directly. There was a very big water pool. And a big doll house so big that I hadn't seen before.Opposite of the pool there was big table with a old wooden box of size 5*2 feet. 

"Robi,this is last room. You shouldn't have opened this. Now Queen will kill us."Charl said. 

"Wait Charl. Let me just walk around in this last room. Please."I requested Charl for the first time. 

I followed the wall and reached the opposite side of the door to the table. 

I was about to open it when Charl exclaimed, "No Robi! Please don't open this. "And this time there was no joke, humour or request in his sound. But it was an advice and an order to a best friend from a best friend. 

"Please! Just listen me Robi. I am not joking. Don't open that. "Charl again ordered me. 

"No Charl. Sorry but I can't step back after coming here. "I said seriously. 

"Please. Please Robi I can't lose you. Please don't do that."Charl requested.

I heard a softness and tension in his voice. I turned my head and saw that drops were rolling Down from his soft cheeks.He was crying. 

But I had to choose. 

'No Charl. You can't convince me this time.'

He started running towards me to stop me forcefully from opening it. 

But I turned quickly and without thinking anything I opened the clip and then lid. Suddenly, Charl pushed me into the pool and picked up that box himself. 

I saw his face. His eyes were closed and he was trembling because of fear with the box in his hands. But when nothing happened he opened his eyes and saw something in the box. 

He started laughing. He was only laughing and laughing and wasn't stopping for a minute.

I felt good that now Charl is in his true self. 

I swam to the end of the pool. And went to the box. I peeked inside the box. There was a doll in the box. A normal female doll. 

This made me laugh but ofcourse not like Charl. 

"Now, I understood what does Queen's spirit portrait with her tongue out meant. She meant, 'if you are thinking that I am a spirit then you are a fool' Charl said while controlling his laugh. 

"king loved playing with the doll. He thought that people will make his fun. So, he was hiding this. But he didn't knew we have a SherlockHolmes.Similarly,king must have had many funny hobbies that these mysterious arts depict. " Charl said. 

I went outside and ordered Charl to close all doors and to keep this king's cute nature a secret. 

I saw that now storm had stopped and it was showing 5am. So, I just went outside from the palace and took a great sleep for the whole day as I had already taken a cold bathin the pool because of that stupid Charl.