It was a youth hostel. The youthful exuberance made them run their own mess on the basis of a dividing system that divided not only the cost and the available food but also the inmates at times.

Bhim, the assistant to the cook bore the brunt of the attack whenever the inmates were bored with the menu though reality of the market conditions and their paying capacity made them live together. Arguments on the running of the mess at times turned to quarrels with Bhim being called to explain the methodology he followed for economical use of cooking oil and other ingredients. His replies most often may not lead anywhere and after patch up they used to resume with their routines. The hostel predominantly had teenagers and research students and also some employed persons all of whom often indulged in late payments and defaults thus creating issues for discussion. When the purse ruled matters the discussions at times went to the extent of suspecting Bhim of inflating bills of expenses.

Having just been out of their homes, many of them feeling independent yet being dependent and accountable for money had poor sense of budgeting which added to their woes. Mutual distrust being yet another factor in money matters they decided to rotate the post of mess manager, also thus rotating the suspect. Apart from trust, matching desired quality of food ingredients with varying paying capacities of individuals threw up issues for more discussions and differences especially on meat pieces and their size. They ultimately decided to settle to avoid meat and to go to its root.-- the egg. Bhim was again entrusted the job of handling the egg portfolio.

With the size of egg undisputed it is the number that again caused ruptures with Bhim becoming the prime suspect. While yet another meeting saw usual quarrels, there were unusual decibel levels too with one of them secretly deciding to don the role of a secret agent. When the total number of missing eggs increased to five the decibel levels were coupled with scuffling hands. Though Bhim was left crying there were also voices of sympathy for him for having been punished in a hurry.

Bhim had more trouble next day when the self appointed secret agent intercepted him when he was entering the kitchen after receiving the basket of eggs. Catching him by the collar the student demanded

"How many eggs"?

" Fifty".

Hardly fifteen years of age Bhim's voice almost broke.