The next morning, the Detective Club arrived earlier than usual.The school was still wrapped in the quiet of dawn; the corridors smelled faintly of chalk and floor cleaner.
Maya and Likitha headed straight to the staffroom, while Raju slipped into the computer lab to monitor the cameras. Anush, true to form, brought along his flask of tea and leaned casually against the wall outside, watching everyone who passed.
The plan was simple:
Pretend to leave the staffroom unlocked.
Wait for Ayaan to return.
Catch him opening the hidden compartment.
Setting the Scene
Maya deliberately left the antique box on the table again — empty, this time — as a lure. She also placed a few files on the cabinet to make it seem untouched. Then she and Likitha retreated to a small supply closet across the corridor, the door slightly ajar so they could see without being seen.
By 8:20 a.m., the school was alive with footsteps and chatter, but Ayaan was nowhere to be seen.
"He'll come," Maya whispered. "The moment he thinks no one's watching."
The Move
At 9:03 a.m., Ayaan appeared. He walked casually at first, glancing down the corridor, then stepped into the staffroom. The door clicked shut behind him.
Raju's voice came through Maya's earpiece. "Camera three's got a clear shot. He's moving the files."
Maya's heartbeat quickened.
On the screen in the computer lab, Raju watched as Ayaan crouched in front of the cabinet, ran his fingers along the back panel, and gave it a sharp push. A thin wooden sheet swung open like a door, revealing a narrow compartment.
Inside was something wrapped in black velvet.
Ayaan pulled it out, unwrapped it — and there, gleaming in the dim light, was Mr. Rajendra's missing gold watch.
The Intercept
Before Ayaan could close the panel, Maya and Likitha burst into the room.
"Going somewhere with that?" Maya's voice was calm but sharp.
Ayaan froze, his eyes darting between them. "I… I was just—"
Anush appeared in the doorway behind him. "Finishing the job?" he said dryly. "Because that's what you told someone, isn't it?"
Raju entered moments later, carrying a tablet with the live camera feed still running. "We've got everything on tape."
Ayaan's shoulders slumped. "Fine. Yes, I took it. But you don't understand why."
The Truth
They gathered in the empty art room, Ayaan seated opposite them. He avoided their eyes.
"It wasn't for money," he began. "I wasn't going to sell it. I was going to give it back… but only after Mr. Rajendra apologised."
"Apologised for what?" Likitha asked.
Ayaan took a deep breath. "Last month, he accused my older brother of cheating on his final exam. My brother swore he didn't, but Mr. Rajendra wouldn't listen. He humiliated him in front of the whole class. My brother dropped out because of it."
Maya frowned. "So you took his watch… as revenge?"
"Yes," Ayaan admitted. "I thought if I kept it hidden, he'd realise how it feels to lose something important and precious. Then I'd return it, but not until he admitted he was wrong."
A Complication
Anush tapped the table thoughtfully. "Interesting. Morally messy, legally risky, and very ineffective. Because here we are."
Maya leaned forward. "Whether or not your brother was treated unfairly, stealing isn't the way to fix it. You've just made things worse for both of you."
Ayaan looked down at the watch. "I didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted him to feel what we felt."
The Resolution
That afternoon, Maya arranged a meeting between Ayaan and Mr. Rajendra in the presence of the principal.
Ayaan handed over the watch, explaining exactly why he had taken it. To everyone's surprise, Mr. Rajendra's stern expression softened.
"I remember your brother," he said quietly. "Perhaps I was too quick to judge. I was under pressure to finish grading… but that's no excuse. I'm sorry."
Ayaan blinked, as if he hadn't expected an apology at all.
The principal gave Ayaan a stern warning but decided not to suspend him, on the condition that he join the community service program for a month.
The Detective Club's Final Moment
That evening, the Detective Club gathered in their usual spot — the library corner table.
"Case closed," Raju said, closing his laptop with a satisfied click. "Also, Mrs. Nair says she's never touching anything valuable in the staffroom again."
Likitha grinned. "Good. That means we can go at least two weeks before the next mystery."
Anush poured himself another cup of tea. "You know, for a school club, you lot are dangerously competent. Ever considered going professional?"
Maya laughed. "We're still students. But who knows? Maybe someday."
She glanced at the empty notebook in front of her. Another case solved, another story written down.
As the sun dipped outside, casting golden light through the windows, the Detective Club packed up their things — ready for whatever mystery tomorrow might bring.
The End