THE BEACH MYSTERY

"Don't go too much towards that side," Appa warned Santhosh. But the forbidden is always tempting. And so, he inched towards it.

- Sarvamitra

Santhosh peeped to the other side over the barricades. People were gathered in a small group.

"Are those army officers? Guards?" Santhosh wondered and looked at the people dressed in green uniform.

Santhosh craned his neck. Beyond the guards was a screen made of wooden sticks.

Something big was going to happen. Santhosh knew it. He had seen and read so many detective mysteries that he wanted to be part of one; and here was his chance.

Santhosh went back and grabbed Ashwin's hand. Ashwin his friend and partner detective. He explained what he was up to.

Little Meenu tagged along.

"Go away, Meenu. Build your sand castles," Santhosh shooed his sister.

"No, I want to be Watson," Meenu knew her brother in and out. If he wanted to be Sherlock, then she had to be Watson. No negotiations. She held her head high. Santhosh grinned at her and asked her to follow.

"Shh..." He stopped the two when they reached a particular point. It was the same place from where they could see the other side easily.

Ashwin looked over. "It is just like you said, Santhosh. The army is here." Ashwin was shocked to witness it for real.

"But why? There can't be a war happening. Can it?"

"What do you think the army could be guarding?" Santhosh put on his thinking hat. "What do you think is beyond the sticks?"

"Anna, let me see," Meenu scrambled for some space. The boys moved aside, grudgingly.

"I see it." Meenu jumped up in joy. "They looks like baskets."

"Baskets, no way. Why would the army stand guarding baskets? We need to get your eyesight checked, Meenu," Ashwin flicked away Meenu's suggestion.

Santhosh looked through. "Meenu is right. Those are some upturned baskets. What could be inside them?"