A TERROR ATTACK IN THE SCHOOL

It was a bright; sunny morning. I sat on the dining table; opened the newspaper and began fluttering through the pages. My eyes suddenly widened, when I read the headlines “TERROR ATTACK IN MUMBAI”. I rubbed my eyes and read it once again, but it was all the same. I was surprised to read this and promised to myself, to stay alert till the matter was under control. The next day, I informed “The Gutsy Six” (Vishnu, Aashvi, Ashmit, Nakul, Nysa and Me); about this. This surprised Vishnu the most; he always becomes hyper when he hears something against his country. We left for our school, as we had our term exams that day. I had not forgotten about the article, which was still running in my mind. It also said that a conversation was overheard by a school girl at morning 7:00am, between 4 men, who were dressed in full black, with bags on their back and guns on their shoulders. Their faces covered with masks. They were talking in a weird language and were probably referring to a famous school and ONGC. (Photo only for pictorial representation). A shiver ran down my spine, as our school is also one of the most renowned schools of India. I prayed to God, to prevent a bad omen to happen. With these thoughts, I just tagged along with my friends to the bus stop. We got onto the bus and we were off to school. At the school gate, Nakul observed that the watchman had changed to a new one. He wore a full black uniform; with a logo on it. In the examination hall; everyone was quickly going through the History notes, before the bell rang. I was so much engrossed in revising, that I almost forgot about the newspaper article. Finally the bell rang; the invigilator entered the hall with a bunch of papers. I was so tensed and I am sure that even the members of our team would have been worried about the paper. After getting the paper, the reading time started and I quickly started going through it. One of the questions in history paper read as, “Jainism is against violence…………’’. The moment I read it, an alarm rang in my mind, regarding the newspaper article, which I had read in the morning. Suddenly, the alarms went off and the PA system went live. Everyone’s ear turned towards it and a teacher said in a hasty voice,” Some terrorists have entered our school, students are requested to stay alert…… Bang! Bang!’’. Two gun shots were heard and PA system got silent. A fright wave spread amongst the students, like a wildfire and left them in panic. Our team came in front of the examination hall and asked them not to panic and keep calm. The invigilator who also was in a panic readily agreed. First of all, we latched the door of the hall. Then; Vishnu and Nakul along with few strong children began lifting up benches and started to stack them one above another; against the door; to block it. Ashmit and me along with some students, volunteered to arrange the chairs along with the tables. Aashvi and Nysa along with few other girls volunteered to break the chalks and form chalk powder. They also tried calming down some students, who were in a state of shock. The sound of the gun shots seemed to be increasing and suddenly a man dressed in black with a hood on his face; appeared. He tried to break open the door, but failed to do it. But, finally in a desperate attempt; he shot down and opened the door. Eventually, the tables fell down and the legs of a few tables broke. The man pushed and threw all the tables until his way was clear. He gave a loud roar and stormed inside. I was ready with a chunk of chalk powder in my hands. I smeared the chalk powder on his face, while other children; Nakul, Vishnu, Ashmit beat him so hard, that; he fainted. Nysa immediately picked up the gun. We shifted the fainted body of the terrorist and made a new plan. We sharpened our pencils, and laid the remaining chalk powder on the ground; along with pencil shavings. We attached some rubber bands to the broken legs of the tables and attached the sharpened pencils with it. The, entire Team of Gutsy Six, along with the ready catapult launchers, hiding behind the shelves; and waited for the next terrorist to enter, holding back our breath. After a while, a tall man with a long beard and a gun came in. He laughed at the children who were sitting in the corner and were scared of him. The moment he came further in, he got a lasting surprise. He slipped on the pencil shavings and the chalk powder. The moment was enjoyed by the children, looking at him. But it didn’t last long, he angrily got up and aimed his gun at the children and threatened to kill one of them. This is when, I alerted my friends to shoot at the count of 3…..2…….1 “Attack !!!!” I screamed. A quiver of pencils came advancing towards him from the catapult lauchers of Aashvi, Vishnu, Ashmit, Nysa, Nakul and me. The pencils pierced him, but it did not do much effect. Taking advantage of this distraction, the children behind him pounced upon him and he was knocked out. Now; it was for us to wait for the next terrorist. I requsted Vishnu to fill up a bucket full of water from the tap and asked him to be carefull as one more terrorist was on prowl. Vishnu; carefully went out and advanced towards the tap. I hoped; that Vishnu, would come before the terrorist, but my worst fear came true. A dark, healthy man with a knife in his hand had come. We advanced behind, as he came forward angrily with a frustated look on his face and an evil grin. Suddenly; from nowhere a pale full of water; drenched him; completely. It was Vishnu. When the terrorist turned around, I gave him a slight push and he fell on the ground. It seemed like an earthquake, when a fat man like him fell on the ground, completely knocked out. We rejoiced as the last terrorist was down. I advanced towards the announcement room to announce that the matter was totally under control. When, I was just walking about, I felt some footsteps advancing towards the examination hall. I peeped from the corner of the corridor, and saw two completely armed men entering the hall. One of the men was none other than the new security guard, we had seen in the morning at the School Gate. “I should have known this!!” I whispered to myself. The only option now left was to fight them, but the question was ‘HOW?’ Suddenly I heard a sound of some bashes and trashes coming from the hall. I ran towards it without making any noise and peeped from the corner of the door; only to see my friends lying on the ground, injured. I saw our team sitting on their knees, feeling helpless. I was ready to surrender when I saw a pistol lying behind them. I rolled on the ground, picked up the gun and shot both of them, one got hurt on the knee and other on the torso. I was in a complete state of shock, as I had fired a gun, for the first time in my life. Soon, there were helicopters on the window and out jumped a few commandos. The head commando congratulated our team. Later, we were awarded the National Bravery Award by our Honorable President, on the eve of the Republic Day and were also honored by our honorable and respected School Principal. No, wonder, we all were on Cloud Nine!!!