The Last Minute Job

Chapter 1: The Pawnshop Secret

The flat smells of onion and rain. Aanya is at the table drawing a rocket with three fins, and Rohan is pretending to do maths while a cricket ball sits in his lap. From the kitchen comes the sound of Kamala opening and closing the same drawer.

⟨Character 1⟩: Rohan, move your elbow. The rocket needs a straight line or it won’t fly.

⟨Character 2⟩: It’s a drawing. Nothing flies. And my elbow is doing important cricket calculations.

⟨Character 3⟩: Where are they? I had them a minute ago. Aanya, are my glasses on the fridge?

⟨Character 1⟩: No, Paati. They’re on your head. They’re always on your head.

Kamala walks into the room with her glasses in her hand and a crumpled paper in the other. She sits heavily on the sofa and stares at the wall.

⟨Character 3⟩: I went to the pawnshop yesterday. I pawned the watch. The one from your grandfather. I didn’t tell you because I was ashamed. The electricity bill was too much, and my pension is late. So I took it in and got the cash, and now it’s gone, and the ticket is lost.

⟨Character 1⟩: Your watch? The one that ticks so loud I can hear it from the next room?

⟨Character 2⟩: Wait. This is like a heist movie. We can get it back. We just need a plan. I’ll be the lookout. Aanya can crawl behind the counter. Paati, you distract the owner.

⟨Character 1⟩: What if we get caught? What if he calls the police? I don’t want to go to jail. My drawing isn’t finished.

⟨Character 3⟩: No one is going to jail. Mr. Sharma takes a nap every day at three. If we go then, he’ll be sleepy and slow. I’ll pretend I’m confused. I can do that without trying.

Later, in Kamala’s room, they sit on the bed around an old photo of the watch. Kamala pulls a ticket from her blouse pocket and holds it out.

⟨Character 3⟩: This is the claim ticket. We need it to get the watch back, but we’re not going to use it for that. We’re going to use it as a cover. I’ll drop it near Mr. Sharma and then pretend I’m looking for it. While he’s distracted, you two go behind the counter.

⟨Character 2⟩: Brilliant. Operation Watch Rescue is a go. We go tomorrow at three. I’ll bring ⟨Character 4⟩ for backup. He can howl if anything goes wrong.

⟨Character 1⟩: ⟨Character 4⟩ howls at everything. He’ll give us away. But I’ll do it. For Paati. But I’m not going behind the counter alone.

⟨Character 2⟩: I’ll be right there. I’ll protect you. I’m the big brother, remember?

⟨Character 4⟩: Woof!

⟨Character 3⟩: Now, where did I put that ticket? I just had it. Oh, here it is. I’ll keep it safe in my blouse. Now go to bed. Tomorrow we steal back what’s ours.

Chapter 2: The Heist Unravels

The pawnshop smells of dust and old brass. Mr. Sharma sits behind a glass counter, a fan ticking above him. Kamala pushes the door open with Aanya and Rohan behind her, and ⟨Character 4⟩'s leash wrapped twice around Rohan's wrist.

⟨Character 2⟩: Stay close to me. ⟨Character 4⟩, no noise. I mean it. One howl and we’re finished.

⟨Character 3⟩: Mr. Sharma, I’ve come about a watch. I think I left it here. Two months ago, maybe three. I can’t remember the date.

Mr. Sharma: ⟨Character 3⟩. I know that silk sari. You pawned a gold watch here. I remember the engraving. Why are you back so soon?

⟨Character 3⟩: Now. Go. Find the velvet tray under the shelf. Third row, behind the clocks.

Aanya slips behind the counter with Rohan. ⟨Character 4⟩ plants his paws and sniffs the floorboards.

⟨Character 2⟩: ⟨Character 4⟩, come on. Not now. Don’t do this to me.

The door chimes. ⟨Character 4⟩ throws his head back and howls.

⟨Character 4⟩: Awooooo!

Mr. Sharma: What’s that dog doing in my shop? No dogs allowed! Kamala, if this is some trick, I swear I’ll call the police.

⟨Character 3⟩: Kanne kalaimaane, kanni mayil thaane! Let me sing for you, Mr. Sharma. It’s an old song from my school days. Listen, don’t look at the dog.

Mr. Sharma: I’ve heard enough songs from you, Kamala. I want to know why your grandchildren are crawling behind my counter.

Under the shelf, Aanya finds the watch: a small gold face, a worn strap, still ticking. Rohan crawls beside her.

⟨Character 1⟩: I found it. It’s here. Rohan, it’s still ticking. I can hear it.

⟨Character 2⟩: Good. Now crawl back and run for the door. I’ll grab ⟨Character 4⟩. Aanya, look at me. We’re going.

Thunder cracks outside. The rain pounds the tin roof like fists. Aanya freezes with the watch in her fist, her knuckles white.

⟨Character 1⟩: I can’t. I can’t move. Rohan, it’s so loud.

Mr. Sharma: That’s it. Out. All of you, out now. I’m closing early because of the storm. The ticket you dropped says your name, Kamala. Come back with money, not with tricks.

⟨Character 2⟩: Leave the watch. He’s looking right at us. Aanya, drop it.

Aanya’s fingers open. The watch falls onto the floorboards with a small brass sound. Mr. Sharma scoops it up and points at the door.

⟨Character 4⟩: Awooooo!

⟨Character 1⟩: We weren’t fast enough. The ticket’s in his hand. And my legs wouldn’t work.

Chapter 3: The Watch Returns

Rain runs down the pawnshop street. The family walks with their shoulders hunched, ⟨Character 4⟩'s tail low and dripping. A torch beam swings across the wet pavement and stops on them.

Officer Singh: You three. Stop right there. It's past eight and the streets aren't safe in this storm. Why aren't you home?

⟨Character 1⟩: We were trying to get my grandmother's watch back. It's pawned at Mr. Sharma's. We went in to steal it, and we failed, and now it's gone. I'm telling you the truth.

Officer Singh: Stealing? A seven year old, a boy, and a ⟨role⟩ in a sari. Come on. Let's hear the whole thing. Walk with me, nice and slow.

⟨Character 3⟩: I pawned it to pay the electricity bill. The ticket fell onto his floor. He kept the watch. Officer, I was a teacher for thirty years. I should know better.

Officer Singh is quiet for a moment. Then he turns them around and knocks on Mr. Sharma's shutter. Mr. Sharma opens it a crack, a candle in his hand.

Officer Singh: Mr. Sharma, no police report tonight. These children have savings. Let them buy it back, and I'll stand right here and watch.

Mr. Sharma: It's worth two thousand. Ticking and gold. If they've got it, fine. I'll take it and no more tricks from this family.

⟨Character 1⟩: Four hundred and twenty from my tin. Two hundred from Rohan. ⟨Character 4⟩'s savings from the ⟨Character 4⟩ jar, which is mostly my money. And Paati's pension came through this morning. That's two thousand.

⟨Character 3⟩: I am sorry I tried to trick you, Mr. Sharma. I was ashamed to pawn it and more ashamed to ask for help. That is my mistake, not theirs.

Mr. Sharma takes the money and slides the watch across the glass. Then he closes the shutter, gently this time.

Back home, the thunder has faded to a rumble. Kamala puts the watch on and a slow Tamil song fills the kitchen. ⟨Character 4⟩ curls on Rohan's feet and snores.

⟨Character 3⟩: Kanne kalaimaane, the rain is done, the watch is home. Sleep now, both of you.

⟨Character 1⟩: Goodnight, little watch. You ticked right through the storm.

⟨Character 2⟩: Paati, your glasses are on your head again. You're always losing them.

⟨Character 3⟩: Let them hide. I have everything I need tonight.