A Wardens Normal Day:-

By Kshithij R Nambiar

Description- A new warden joins a bank in Trivandrum in the year 2025. He expects it to

be a simple job, but later learns that being a warden is the most unsafe job ever, as he

has to defend the Dragon Pendant, a Necklace brought from Europe and was relocated

to Kerala for safekeeping. It had been stolen four times already. Will it be stolen the fifth

time?

0.The Bank Robbery:-

It was the month of January and the weather was sweltering hot in the day. So

many people didn’t get out of their homes and just stayed back. When the night

arrived, the weather cooled down a little but it was dark. That was fortunate

enough for the watchman of a bank in the east side of Trivandrum. The time was

12:29 am and people were fast asleep. Even the watchman felt like dozing off. I

mean, it wasn’t like a robber would come and just waltz all the money from the

bank. But, despite his sense of vigilance, he failed to notice a suspicious person lurking

near the wall. However, he immediately went to investigate when the individual stirred

the nearby leaves. It was just a distraction, for the shady man stole the hanging keys

from planned to rob the bank and find the Mythical Dragon Pendant, which may or may

not be in this bank.

He stood against the bank door, produced a helmet producing light and wore it. He also

and selected one golden key to open it. He entered the bank and quickly locked the door

to prevent the watchman from detecting anything unusual. The man turned on his torch

and walked on the plain marble floor until he reached the safe. Safes are notoriously

difficult to open, requiring a combination that can take days to memorize or learn.

However, the mysterious man had already obtained a letter containing a sequence and

opened the safe with no worries. He quickly began to fill the bags he had brought with

him with the money.

Although the money was a significant haul for the perpetrator, he was not satisfied and

was instead in search of a rare artefact, the Dragon Necklace, with priceless jewels that

he intended to sell to foreign countries. Through the dark web, he had discovered that

the Dragon Necklace was somewhere in Trivandrum and was to be sold by January 19th.

Although the current date was January 12th, he was unwilling to take any chances. The

man began searching for the special necklace.)

He walked a considerable distance until he came upon an open door, and upon entering,

he found a glass box filled with smoke. The man proceeded to break the glass with a

hammer and discovered a statue of a dragon within. However, there was no necklace in

sight. The man was displeased with this discovery, especially since the dragon was made

of gold-painted tin, whereas the necklace was adorned with various precious stones,

including a ruby, an emerald, a diamond, an amethyst, and even an amber. Despite his

frustrations, the man was determined to find the necklace. Then he heard some

footsteps.

2. Introduction :-

‘You’re going to be fine.’ His sister murmured.

Alex Hamilton, a new police officer was going to join the police force in Kochi, Kerala. It

was the year of 2024, when it was a crime infested city and far too dangerous to even

move around. Now his sister, Luna, readied his uniform for the beginning of his

placement in the force.

‘You know it’s getting late...’ Alex said.

‘I know the time too, impatient brat. But I don’t think you could do this any faster than

me. So just think about what you are going to tell the captain after you arrive.’ She

replied.

Alex was not happy memorizing something that he repeated a hundred times yesterday,

but he obeyed his sister.

Finally, his sister stopped. They both were the same age, but his sister was a little

shorter than him. His sister said,’ Take care of yourself, brother.’

Alex said goodbye and shook Lunas hand. Then he made his way to the bank and was

greeted by the manager immediately, whose name was Martin.

‘So glad to have a new warden in these years. Are you sure you want this job,

specifically?’

‘Uh, I guess so? I needed a job urgently and it said that you needed a free warden. Is this

a dangerous job, Sir?’

Martin frowned. ‘ Another one. See.. what’s your name? ‘

‘Alex Hamilton.’

‘Well, Alex... This particular bank is a lottery ticket by robbers as this houses the Dragon

Pendant, a valuable artefact. Anyone who dared to work as a warden gets knocked out

unconscious by a cunning thief and later fired. The worst part is, he gives back the

money and makes us all feel ashamed. If you are really sure, then I have nothing to say.

Your shift starts at 7 : 00. By that time you can sit here and prepare yourself or talk with

the resigned wardens.’ He gestured to a desk.

Saying this, he leaves. Alex wasn’t sure what to do with this information. Sweat trickled

down his cheeks. He notices a page full of wardens with their phone numbers. He dials a

few numbers, but get the same response.

‘Don’t give your head on a platter and be a source of amusement for that devil. Leave!’

He started to feel antsy but didn’t protest. Maybe the robbers may take a break for

today?

3. The Bank Robbery II:-

12:27 pm...

Alex was relieved. Maybe the gods heard his prayer. No one was in sight. So maybe he

should also take a break.

Before he started the watchman duty, Martin had given him a care package. Well, it was

more of a Scare package. It contained a copy of every key used in the bank, a flashlight,

some bubble wrap (Wonder why?), and finally, a gun. Alex had disagreed to take it with

him but Martin had threatened him a lot and even pleaded him, because he could lose

his job and it would be used for extra defence. Reluctantly , for Martin’s sake, Alex took

it.

But while he rested in the steps of the bank, he heard the rustling of leaves in the east

side. He ran over there, but failed to find out that a figure had entered the bank and

locked it from the inside. Alex panicked, but remembered the extra keys. He didn’t have

any light but he remembered where he kept it. He opened it and took out the key and

unlocked the bank door very quietly. He saw nothing much but decided to hide as the

thief may be anywhere.

Alex heard a SMASH in the other side, so he went to the register and hid under the desk.

Pretty soon the robber came to the register. He was carrying three bags of cash. Alex

slipped out and took the safe key and went to hide there.

But the thief was suspicious. He turned his head around and found no one. Now Alex

was in the safe, but had one problem, he dropped the safe key outside the safe and had

locked himself inside.

4. Escalation:-*

Now, Alex really freaked out. He was running out of air. Fortunately, the thief had seen

the key and opened the safe door to see if anyone was there. Alex had cleverly hid in

the back of the door.

Now, he had a stupid idea, but it was the only way. Otherwise, they both would be stuck

here together forever in a cat and mouse chase.

He jumped onto the thief and pushed him away from the safe. The helmet broke but was

still emitting light. The thief was surprised, but decided to play too. He punched Alex but

he wasn’t there. He crawled to the helmet and searched for Alex. And he found him-

Throwing away the bags of cash into the safe. Martin would have been proud.

Alex looked at the thief. He put the last bag into the safe and then locked it. After that,

he switched on a lever which turned on all lights.

The thief threw the helmet away. He readied his hands into a fighting stance. Alex

disagreed. He said to the thief, ‘Stand down.’ Which looked stupid considering that he

had no weapon.

The thief smiled. ‘Tough one, eh? You may be different from the others.

‘So was that a yes?’

‘Oh no. I meant that I was going to make an exception for you. 1 vs 1. A conquest battle.

Winner gets what they want.’

‘Oh? ... Fine. But on...’

The thief didn’t listen. Once he heard the word ‘Fine', he started to charge. He laid a

punch to Alex, who stumbled back and fell, his head hitting the safe.

Alex groaned. He checked his head. ‘Oh blood. That’s not good.’ He thought.

The thief really didn’t waste any time. He started to charge again and he tried to kick

Alex but failed because Alex was missing. He looked all over the place but didn’t find

him. Then he looked back and he hears a gunshot. BOOM! He looks back. Alex was

holding a gun with a bloody hand. The thief also looks at his hand and screams. Alex had

shot him there.

‘Wait, wait. Stop the story. I’m getting a call. '

‘Sure sir.’

After the call, Martin came back and asked Alex, ‘I knew you were lying when you told

the story to the media. How were you able to cover up the evidence? I’m not going to

put you in jail or something, but what really happened?’

Alex chuckled. ‘Well, sir...’

4. The Warden Cover-up:-

The thief was standing, looking for Alex. Then he heard a gunshot and he looks back.

Alex was holding a gun with a bloody hand. The thief also looks at his hand and screams.

Alex had shot him there.

Quick as lightning, he throws a packet of powder at the thief and he instantly goes to

sleep. Then Alex stretched his hands. He was going to need to cover himself up.

He walks to the thief and looks through his backpack. He finds a thin but long stick and

takes it out. He takes the thief’s hand and try’s not to retch. He inserts the thin tube

through the hole and takes out the bloody bullet. Then he has an idea. He goes to the

small room which had a broken exhibit. He placed the criminals blood onto the glass

carefully without touching it.

Lastly, Alex took the bubble wrap and tied his hands to stop the bleeding.

Martin laughed a lot. ‘Wow, so much trouble undertaken by a 23 year old. Impressive!’

‘Thank you, sir.’

Ok then, I’m leaving. Be safe and good luck for today!’

‘Ok sir.’

Alex smiles but it quickly fades after Martin leaves. Yesterday took a lot of trouble and

today morning, he had to explain it in this way.

“The thief had unknowingly slipped inside the bank and I wouldn’t have known until

I found him crashed against a glass exhibit. He was attempting to search for the

Dragon Pendant Necklace and had his skin injured. His hand was bleeding and I had

tied bubble wrap to his hands to stop the bleeding. Then I had alerted the local

citizens. “

Hope it was a good story!

By Kshithij R Nambiar