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Ajay spread out an old, crumpled map of “Jewel Plaza” over the table, a confident grin on his face. “Gentlemen,” he announced, “this is it. This is where we make history!”
Around him
sat his three best friends, each one looking more unsure than the last. They
weren’t exactly the “criminal mastermind” type. Ajay was a freelance graphic
designer who spent most of his time on his computer. Suresh ran his dad’s
grocery store, Bunty was a mechanic with a soft spot for bad jokes, and Vinod…
well, Vinod was between jobs. None of them had ever done anything illegal, but
tonight, they were determined to pull off the perfect heist.
“Ajay, are
you sure about this?” Suresh asked, glancing nervously at the map. “We’ve never
done anything like this before. We don’t even know where the alarm is!”
“Listen,
Suresh,” Ajay said, adjusting a fake mustache he’d glued to his face. “Heists
aren’t about experience. They’re about confidence. Haven’t you seen Ocean’s
Eleven or The Italian Job? It’s all in the planning. And I—” he
pointed to himself dramatically, “have done all the planning.”
Suresh
squinted at the map. “What planning? All I see is a drawing of the store with
big X’s.”
“Exactly!”
Ajay said, sounding far too pleased with himself. “The X’s show where we enter,
where we get the jewels, and where we leave. Foolproof!”
Bunty,
meanwhile, held up four ridiculous-looking chicken masks. Each mask had a big
beak, flapping feathers, and looked like something straight out of a kid’s
costume party. “I got us disguises!” he announced proudly.
“Chicken
masks?” Vinod asked, raising an eyebrow. “Why not just wear ski masks? You
know, like actual robbers?”
“Anyone can
wear a ski mask,” Ajay explained, puffing out his chest. “No one will expect us
to show up in these! It’s called thinking outside the box, gentlemen.”
Bunty
grinned, obviously pleased with himself. “And look what else I got!” He held up
a bottle of cheap cologne. “I made this special ‘sleeping spray.’ You spray it
in someone’s face, and poof—they’re out cold.”
Vinod took
one sniff and made a face. “That’s just cologne, Bunty. Nobody’s gonna pass
out. They’ll just smell bad.”
“Details,
details!” Bunty replied, brushing it off. “It’s all about the attitude. I’ll
say something like, ‘Sweet dreams,’ and spray ‘em. You’ll see, it’ll be epic.”
Suresh
looked around, his face pale. “Okay, what about the getaway? Did anyone
actually get a car?”
Bunty
cleared his throat and proudly announced, “I got us a scooter.”
“A scooter?”
Ajay repeated, looking horrified. “For a heist? We’ll look like a delivery
team!”
“Hey, it was
all I could get on short notice!” Bunty said defensively. “It’s got charm, and
it’s reliable. Plus, it’s an old model—nobody will expect it.”
Vinod,
adjusting his crooked mustache, sighed. “And the vault? How do we even open
it?”
Ajay winked,
patting his pocket. “I have a trick for that. I watched a video online. We just
have to… guess. But smartly!”
Suresh
buried his face in his hands. “We’re doomed.”
When the big
night finally came, the four friends were as ready as they’d ever be—at
least, that’s what they told themselves.
The sight
was nothing short of ridiculous. Four grown men, each wearing a cheap chicken
mask, sat crammed on a clunky, old scooter. The scooter made strange noises and
sputtered smoke as it clunked along, attracting way more attention than any of
them wanted. They hadn’t even reached the jewelry store when the scooter
stalled. Twice.
“Perfect
getaway vehicle, huh?” Ajay muttered as he tried to start the scooter for the
third time.
“Don’t blame
the scooter!” Bunty replied, giving it a little kick. “It’s just old. A
classic.”
Finally,
they reached Jewel Plaza. The streets were quiet, and the store was
dark. It looked like the perfect setup. They all hopped off, trying to move as
“stealthily” as they could, which mostly involved tripping over each other and
whispering too loudly.
“Everyone,
stick to the plan,” Ajay said, trying to sound serious.
“What was
the plan again?” Suresh asked, scratching his head.
“Come on, we
went over this!” Ajay hissed. “Step one, break in. Step two, get to the vault.
Step three, grab the jewels. And step four, we’re rich!”
Vinod
shushed him. “You don’t have to say it out loud!”
They
shuffled to the front door of the store, where Ajay pulled out a small paper
clip, ready to “pick the lock.” After a few seconds of fumbling and no success,
he gave up.
“Let’s use
my secret technique,” Bunty said confidently, picking up a nearby flower pot.
Without
waiting for approval, he smashed the pot against the door. Glass shattered
everywhere.
“Great job,
Bunty,” Vinod groaned, brushing shards off his pants. “Very stealthy.”
“Hey, it
worked,” Bunty said, shrugging. “Now let’s get inside.”
They
stumbled through the door, tripping over the broken glass and trying to keep
their chicken masks in place. Once inside, they quickly made their way to the
vault room, each of them with a nervous energy that made them clumsier than
ever.
When they
reached the vault, they all paused, staring at the massive metal door with a
combination lock in the center. The excitement dimmed as they realized they had
no idea what they were doing.
“So...
what’s the code?” Suresh whispered, looking around at the others.
Ajay
scratched his head, pretending to think deeply. “Uh… well, let’s try some… uh,
‘smart guesses,’ as they say.”
The “smart
guesses” turned into random button-pressing as each of them took turns poking
numbers. Nothing worked. Desperation began to sink in.
“Let us in,
vault!” Ajay suddenly burst out, grabbing the door and pleading. “This is our
chance! Don’t fail us!”
Vinod rolled
his eyes. “The vault’s not gonna feel sorry for us, Ajay.”
Suddenly,
there was a small beep, and the vault door swung open. The friends stared,
wide-eyed and stunned.
“I… I think
we did it?” Ajay whispered.
“See?” Bunty
said, his chest puffed out proudly. “My technique works on anything!”
Inside the
vault was everything they had dreamed of: gleaming jewelry, rows of gold bars,
and a display of diamond-studded watches. The four friends stood in awe, the
shiny treasures reflecting in their eyes.
“This… this
is it!” Suresh said, grinning from ear to ear. “We’re gonna be rich!”
They were so
caught up in celebrating that they didn’t notice the small red light blinking
on the corner of the ceiling. Nor did they see the camera zoom in on them as
they danced and hugged each other.
After a few
minutes, a voice crackled through the speaker system, low and sarcastic.
“Congratulations, gentlemen, on an impressive heist.”
The four
friends froze, looking around wildly. A large screen on the wall flickered to
life, revealing the store’s owner, Mr. Khurana, smirking at them from a cozy
office.
“Bravo,” Mr.
Khurana continued, clapping slowly. “You must be the finest criminals I’ve ever
seen. I mean, chicken masks? Perfume spray? Genius.”
Ajay
swallowed hard, stepping forward. “Uh… this is just practice. You know, just
for fun.”
“Sure it
is,” Mr. Khurana replied, his grin widening. “But here’s the thing: you aren’t
the first, and you won’t be the last. This store has been specially rigged to
trap thieves. You’re standing in what I like to call my ‘bait shop.’”
The friends
exchanged nervous glances as Mr. Khurana’s voice dropped to a more serious
tone. “Now, I’m giving you a choice: you can turn yourselves in… or play a
little game to see if you can make it out without tripping any alarms.”
Ajay gulped,
feeling brave for once. “Alright, we’ll play your game.”
Mr.
Khurana’s smile turned sinister. “Good. Because you’re in for a treat.”
The screen
clicked off, leaving the four friends alone in silence, trapped in the vault,
each of them suddenly very aware that they had no idea what they’d just signed
up for.
Ajay,
Suresh, Bunty, and Vinod stood frozen in the vault, their laughter replaced by
dread as Mr. Khurana’s last words echoed in their minds. They were in
trouble—big trouble. Ajay’s attempt at bravery faded as he realized the real
stakes of their so-called heist.
Suresh’s
face was pale. “So… uh… does anyone remember how to, you know, break out
of a vault?”
Vinod
slapped Ajay on the shoulder. “This was your idea, genius! What now?”
“Uh…” Ajay
stammered, eyes darting around the vault. “We just… find a way to escape
without triggering any of Mr. Khurana’s… traps.”
“Traps?”
Suresh squeaked, hugging himself nervously.
A faint hum
filled the air as red laser sensors flickered to life around the vault. The
lasers crisscrossed in every direction, creating a web across the room. The
sight alone was enough to make the four friends break out in a nervous sweat.
“Okay,
nobody panic!” Ajay said, holding up his hands. “We just have to be… careful.”
“Careful?”
Bunty whispered, staring at the lasers. “We’re wearing chicken masks and
carrying cheap perfume. What part of careful have we actually prepared
for?”
Ajay ignored
him, trying to look brave as he examined the vault door. A flashing red button
sat on the wall beside it, marked Emergency Exit. He smirked. “This is
easy! It’s an emergency exit. We just press this button, and we’re out.”
Bunty
scratched his head. “Are you sure? Seems too simple.”
“Of course,
I’m sure,” Ajay replied, confidence back in his voice. “The button wouldn’t be
here if it didn’t work. Watch this.”
He pushed
the button confidently. For a second, nothing happened. Then, the ceiling
suddenly released a rain of colorful confetti, showering them in bright pink
and yellow paper. Alarms began to blare.
“Great job,
genius!” Vinod yelled over the noise. “You threw us a confetti party!”
Ajay’s face
turned red as he frantically brushed confetti out of his hair. “Okay, so maybe
the button was a distraction.”
“What do we
do now?” Suresh whined, barely able to keep his knees from shaking.
Ajay’s eyes
darted around the vault, landing on a ventilation shaft high up on the wall. He
pointed at it, looking far too optimistic. “There! We can escape through the
vent.”
Bunty shook
his head. “Ajay, that’s like twelve feet up. How are we supposed to reach
that?”
Ajay looked
at his friends, a glint of determination in his eyes. “Human pyramid.”
“What?”
Suresh exclaimed, backing up. “No way, I’m not getting on anyone’s shoulders!”
“Do you want
to get caught by the police?” Ajay shot back.
With no
better option, the four friends quickly arranged themselves into a clumsy,
swaying tower. Vinod stood on the bottom, muttering complaints, with Suresh
clambering awkwardly onto his shoulders. Ajay climbed onto Suresh, and finally,
Bunty climbed on top, his arms reaching for the vent.
They
wobbled, each friend holding on to the other as Bunty reached up, fingers
stretching for the grate.
“Hurry up,
Bunty!” Vinod grunted, his legs shaking. “This is not exactly a stable
pyramid!”
“Almost… got
it…” Bunty’s fingers brushed the edge of the grate, and he managed to pull it
loose. He cheered, losing his balance in the process. The entire human tower
collapsed, sending all four of them crashing to the ground in a heap of limbs
and chicken masks.
Ajay
groaned, rubbing his back. “Alright… so maybe human pyramid was a bad idea.”
Bunty sat
up, rubbing his head. “What now, genius?”
“Let’s crawl
under the lasers!” Suresh suggested, his voice shaky. “Like in those spy
movies.”
Ajay glanced
at the lasers, nodding slowly. “Good idea, Suresh. Alright, let’s go.”
The four
friends dropped to the floor, shuffling along on their bellies as they tried to
avoid the crisscrossing lasers. They moved at a snail’s pace, muttering
complaints and groaning as they strained to avoid each sensor.
At one
point, Bunty’s fake mustache caught on a laser, singeing the end and filling
the air with the smell of burnt plastic. He slapped his face, muttering angrily
as he tried to rip the melted mustache off.
“Quiet!”
Ajay hissed. “You want Mr. Khurana to know we’re still here?”
The friends
continued their awkward crawl, inching their way through the maze of lasers.
They were almost at the door when Vinod’s foot accidentally kicked a small
lever on the floor. A low rumbling sound filled the vault, and the floor began
to vibrate.
“What did
you do?” Suresh shrieked, clutching his chicken mask.
“I didn’t
mean to!” Vinod yelped, scooting away from the lever.
The vault
floor suddenly began to tilt, slowly rising at one end, making it nearly
impossible to stand. The friends slid backward, scrambling to hold onto
anything they could grab. Jewelry and watches clattered around them as the
floor continued to shift.
“This… is
not… part of the plan!” Ajay yelled, his arms flailing as he struggled to stay
upright.
Finally, the
floor tilted so steeply that the four friends slid all the way back, hitting
the wall with a loud thud. The vault door opened, and they stumbled out
into the store, struggling to regain their balance.
Just as they
thought they were in the clear, Mr. Khurana’s voice echoed over the loudspeaker
again. “I must say, that was quite the performance, gentlemen.”
Ajay froze,
looking around wildly. “We… we made it out!”
“Almost,”
Mr. Khurana replied, sounding amused. “But there’s just one last thing. You
didn’t think I’d let you escape that easily, did you?”
A faint
click sounded, and the store’s main door slid shut with a heavy thud, locking
them inside. A new set of lasers flickered to life, covering the doorway.
Suresh
whimpered, his hands shaking. “I… I don’t think I can do this.”
Ajay took a
deep breath, summoning what little courage he had left. “Look, we’re not
professionals. We may have messed this up, but we can still get out of here.”
Vinod rolled
his eyes. “Says the guy who planned a heist with a chicken mask and a perfume
bottle.”
“Enough,”
Ajay snapped. “Just follow my lead.”
One by one,
they began to inch around the lasers, avoiding the beams as they made their way
toward the front door. Each misstep led to more alarms blaring and confetti
dropping, but somehow, miraculously, they managed to avoid the final set of
sensors.
Finally,
they stumbled outside, gasping for air as they saw freedom within reach. The
getaway scooter was parked nearby, waiting for them.
They piled
onto the scooter, but the old engine sputtered and died before Bunty could even
turn it on.
“Nice
getaway vehicle, Bunty!” Ajay shouted, smacking the handlebars.
“Don’t blame
me!” Bunty yelled, kicking the scooter. “It’s got character!”
Abandoning
the scooter, they took off down the street on foot, sprinting through dark
alleyways as they laughed with pure relief. Just as they thought they’d gotten
away, a slow clap echoed from the shadows.
They froze,
turning to see a figure emerge—a tall man in a police uniform, arms crossed, a
smirk on his face. He was the police captain, a man they’d only ever seen on TV
news reports.
“Well,
well,” he said, grinning at them. “Quite a practice run you boys had tonight.”
Ajay tried
to catch his breath, flashing an awkward smile. “Uh… practice? What practice?
This was just… you know… team bonding.”
The captain
chuckled, shaking his head. “You don’t think we knew about Mr. Khurana’s bait
shop? He’s been setting up traps like that for years. You guys are just the
latest fools to fall for it.”
The friends’
faces turned beet red as they looked at each other, realizing just how
ridiculous their heist attempt had been.
The captain
pulled out a set of handcuffs, gesturing for them to turn around. “Come on,
gentlemen. Let’s go have a chat down at the station.”
As they were
led away, the four friends couldn’t help but laugh at themselves, each of them
replaying the events in their mind. The heist that was supposed to make them
rich had turned into the most embarrassing night of their lives.
As they
walked away, defeated but grinning, Ajay muttered, “We were just warming up,
you know.”
The captain
shook his head, chuckling. “Let’s hope that was enough practice for a
lifetime.”
Back in his
quiet office, Mr. Khurana flipped through an old ledger, each page listing the
names of those who had tried, and failed, to rob Jewel Plaza. He
chuckled as he reviewed the entries, a collection of “criminal masterminds”
who’d all fallen for his bait. Just as he was closing the book, the phone on
his desk rang. Mr. Khurana picked it up with a knowing smile, wondering if the
voice on the other end would be the next to give his so-called heist a try.
