Bozo and Chick is an interesting read featuring children who dare to take challenges.
This story is about fifteen-year-old Rohan (Bozo) and sixteen-year-old Nita (Chick), who love fun and adventure and are patriotic to the core. Along with another friend, Aslam, they live in Dubash Mansions, known as Bedlam House. The owners of the building are Dr. Dubash, a child specialist and his wife Mridula who is a dog trainer and runs an NGO. The childless Dubashs are very affectionate and caring towards the children.
Bedlam House is located three hours by boat from Mumbai. The Dubashs also own a tree house, a guard house and annexe which is reportedly haunted. The curious children swim across to the annexe one day. On reaching the guard house they are shocked to come across two intertwined skeletons. They keep the discovery to themselves but are curious to know more about the place and what other secrets it held.
The same night they observe Dr. Dubash’s boat entering the creek. They spy Dr. Dubash and four masked people in it. Who are they and why is Dr. Dubash accompanying them? Are they terrorists or smugglers?
Before the matter clears up, another adventure sets in. Two young men come to Bedlam House to request Mridula Dubash to train their two German pups. The two men introduce themselves as Vivek and Ajit Thakur of SSIS (Super Special Intelligence Service). They befriend Bozo and Chick and try to draw information about Dr. Dubash and the annexe.
What follows is a gripping tale. Are Vivek and Ajit really who they claim to be? Are the two incidents connected? Well, you must read and find out.
Veena Zutshi has a Masters in English Literature and indulges in Indian Classical music and gardening.
* Originally published in The Book Review,Vol XLII, No.11, November 2018
