House Under Construction

 Chapter 5: The peculiar boy

Everything was paused; the judges, the people around me, even the drop of water was paused. Wh wh what is happening? I asked him; I was so stunned that my voice started shaking , I even pinched myself but it was really happening for real. He respond with an anonymous smile on his face : "I just stopped the time for you complete your painting and win this competition" after this response I kept looking at him with a blank face as it was strange,strange ,and strange, until he said: What are you waiting for? just start drawing! Yea yeah... I replied. I put myself together and continued my painting; I have to win this competition, for me; for my dream this was the only thing that was running in my mind at that time. After whole twenty minutes, when I looked up after completing my artwork; everything went back to normal as if time had never stopped.I looked up at the clock, the same time: five minutes were remaining; the judges were talking , the other competitors around me were doing their work. I looked around to find that peculiar boy but he was nowhere to be seen. Where is he? I at least should have asked his name, I lamented to myself. But, at the same time  I took a sigh of relief that at least I am done with my artwork with in the time and the one thing I knew at this time that "The Magical Thing'' book is surely magical and the owner of this book (the boy with golden hair and brown eyes) is not a normal human being , I was busy with these thoughts until the bell started ringing; the time is over , the time is over ''All the participants are requested to stand in their respective place as the time is up, We will be collecting your artwork ony by one so all the partcipants are requested to stand in front of their artworks'', they announced. I was pretty nervous but also confident that I am definitely gon'na win this competition. While I was patiently waiting for the announcement of the winner I remembered that book '' The magical things'', I immediately opened the book that might be possible there would be something written related to the result of this competition but unfortunately there was nothing, just empty pages and nothing much. After a half an hour, they announced: ''All the participants are requested to be seated on their seats as we shall announce the top three winners after five minutes, this is the final announcement, we restate again: All the participants be attentive as we shall announce the top three winners after five minutes". I was actually a bit nervous at that time  I opened that book again hoping to see something that would be written related to the result but when I opened that book I was stunned! What is that? an empty house and it's under construction! There must be some meaning behind it but, what is that meaning? I asked myself...I looked up at the clock and only few seconds were left. Oh, they are going to announce the result anytime soon...

''All the participants be attentive, We were confused between the two artworks as both of the masterpieces were really impressive and were befuddled that which artwork should be placed first but we have overcame this confusion and has made our decisions. So, we will be announcing the third position holder first. All th participants look carefully to the  cards which we have provided you all before the start of the competition.So, the third position goes to No:22. No:22, you are requested to come on the stage and receive your award of cash prize of  $5,000 dollars". and yeah it was not my number but I had a little hope that i would surley win not because of the house under construction that book had shown me but because of my skills, I believed that I would win.''The second position goes to No:9, please come on the stage and receive your award of cash prize $10,000 dollars. Now, the last winner ; the first prize winner is ...." My heart was pounding heavily and I was mumbling to myself that hope it's me, it's me !

''The first position goes to the No:10" I looked at my card, my number was 19 I was broken, it was like I was watching my dream ( the dream of being an architectue) slipping away from my eyes. Then they announced again: '' We beg your pardon, It was no:19 not 10 It was our mistake, we sincerely apologize to no:10, No:19  is the first prize winner. No:19, you are requested to come on the stage and receive your cash prize of $50,000 dollars".I was filled with joy, my eyes were teary and I happily ran towards the stage. While, receiving my cash prize , I saw that peculiar boy standing in the crowd and clapping for me with that mysterious smile on his face. After receiving the cash prize, I ran up to that boy but like before, he just vanished before my eyes. I opened that book  and the ''House under construction was gone'' but I understood the meaning behind it that : My dream of being an architecture was about to come true that's why it had shown the house and it was under construction because I am in the process now as the process of being an architect would be under construction for the whole five years!!

And I made up my mind to work hard to be a successful architecture and to find the owner of this book, ''The peculiar boy"...