Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Media frenzy

Frank and Richard reached almost to the house when

Frank turned to him , 'Richard don't tell anything to

anyone ..especially to my dad..'

Richard laughed , ' if your father asks I wouldn't have any

chance of hiding anything ..He will extract everything from

me..'

‘But what would you tell him?’ Frank was curious

Richard gave him a broad smile ,’ I slept in the cave and

Frank woke me up ..Nothing else happened I suppose ‘

They both were laughing as they entered the house .

Francis was there in the hall and he looked at them both but

did not ask them anything ..

Richard was once again felt uncomfortable in the ambience

of the house and he asked if he needed him for anything ..

But before Frank could answer, there was some

commotion in the front and he could see Francis and few of

his executives who were with him also got up to see what

was happening..

Frank and Richard were standing on the staircase and

could see the front door clearly. There were many media

people with camera and microphone and Francis was

welcoming them as if he was waiting for them..

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One of them asked , ‘ Sir , what is the big news you

promised ? we have a slot reserved for your news in the

evening prime .. we are all excited sir..’

Francis was beaming at them all and asked if they had any

refreshments

Another one laughed , ‘when did we go hungry when you

called us’ They all very dutifully laughed .

‘Of course you are my guests.. but this time the news is not

about me but my son Frank has something to tell you. Just

give him few minutes to dress up as he came in just now

from outdoor ‘

Frank was furious .. he knew his father so well and he was

expecting something like this since the previous night when

he mentioned aliens …

If he had not learnt from his father how to escape these

kinds of tight situations ,he would not be his father’s son.

Richard was looking at him puzzled at his anger. Frank felt

he deserved an explanation ‘I will let you know later.. but

now I have to face the media wolves and try to escape with

my skin;’

He changed his dress quickly and came down with Richard

to meet the frenzied media..

As soon as he came there his father said, ‘ the stage is

yours’ and left.. Frank looked at the camera with the

serene face and dropped the bombshell, ‘ I am engaged to

be married soon’

He could feel his father stopping behind him but he went

on…

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‘

I have almost completed my post graduation in aerospace

engineering and have been doing a lot of research on space

travel .

One of them interrupted to ask. ‘sir , you said you got

engaged .. could you tell us who is that lucky lady..?

He smiled , ‘ of course yes.. it is not official yet . She is

Dr.Redimita...actually she had been my school mate and

now doing her final year double post graduation in UK. She

is the daughter of Dr. Joseph Mathew Roger the dean of the

Redimita Multispecialty hospital in the capital’

There was a buzz of interest as the family was well known

to the media and that was the reason that Frank brought it

up ...

‘Friends, next week do drop in , I will introduce her

personally to you …Thank you’

He turned to go and met his father’s gaze . he was very

pleased with himself as his father had a hint of pride in his

eyes...

Frank asked his father if he had arranged for someone to

look after them..and winked at him .

Francis laughed heartily as he thought round one went to

his son...and he had to plan the second round.

‘Richard, meet me later .. in my room’ and before Richard

could answer him he moved .

Frank was talking to someone in the phone and he guessed

it must be the doctor so went down in search of something

to eat.

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Meanwhile Frank was having a difficult time explaining to

Redim why he had come out in the open when she had not

told her parents regarding it…

Finally Frank said he would call her parents and apologise

to them and definitely she would excuse him if she knew

the reason why he had to announce …

They arranged to meet in Tim’s land as he had not

introduced her to his parents too.

Then he called Dr. Josef Matthew and explained about his

relation with his daughter and he had to announce their

engagement to the media without getting his permission

and apologised profusely ... Doctor asked him few

questions about his parents and he sounded very satisfied

at the end of the conversation ...

Now his mind was on the curious things he had noticed in

the cave. Mary, the house keeper called him for lunch only

then he remembered Richard and asked Mary if Richard

had something and for that she laughed and said , ‘he has

been at it for the past hour’

They both laughed!

The day went slowly as the workers were there to rectify all

the damages done by the cyclone. He didn’t see his father

or Richard till night .He thought of doing some research

about the 1000 year old deity that took some strange

offerings in the cave.******

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