The stolen bead

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One..two..three...Anju counted her precious beads carefully before putting it away in the safe place away from her younger sister Maya's eyes. Anju found it infuriating that Maya always eyed her stuff. Anju took one last look at her hiding place and returned tip-toeing to her bedroom to find Maya fast asleep.

Anju and Maya were a year apart; different as chalk and cheese. Anju was conscientious and serious while Maya was happy-go-lucky and a dreamer. The sisters got along for the most part but also squabbled bitterly when it came to their individual dispositions.

Early next morning, as Anju retrieved her possession, she let out a gasp of horror when she found a bead missing and looked pointedly at Maya who was busy decorating her doll's hair with similar looking beads.

"You stole mine, isn't it? You never had the color "pink" in your collection!" discerned Anju bitterly.

Each of the sisters had got a set of beads in different colors as a gift from a visiting relative. Anju liked to preserve her gifts and use them judiciously. Maya, on the other hand, gave in to her impulses and remained carefree with her belongings.

"Of course, I didn't. I don't know where yours are. Besides, what makes you think Chinni bua wouldn't give me my favorite color!" shot back Maya.

Anju stormed out of the room in the hope of finding the culprit.

Maya just rolled her eyes and impishly thought to herself, "How silly! As though the thief would sit there waiting to be caught red-handed!"

Anju was, but, sure of finding a clue at her hideout and her eyes almost popped out upon arriving there.

She looked on incredulously before letting out a small chuckle.

She was so sure it was Maya.

A lone bead shone out in the brilliant color of Fuchsia as the rays of the mid-morning sun now fell on it. It must have rolled out of her case somehow and got wedged in the hitherto dark recess of the tiny closet.

And, yes, it was Maya, an illusion, indeed!

Linking it to day 4 at the BarAThon