Imlie was walking down the road with Chandu, heading towards where her Dadda was. She had been urgently called by Satyakam and playing with her dupatta, she wondered what it might be about. She had the habit of playing with her dupatta whenever she was nervous or anticipating something.
Just as they were taking a turn to the right which led them in the direction of the godown, the blazing sirens of police vans startled and alarmed them.
"Chadu, you leave from here and immediately inform Dadda's men to go into hiding. None should be caught. I'll deviate them and inform Dadda as well." Imlie said.
"But Imlie...."
"No ifs and buts. Go right now!"
Chandu nodded and ran from there while Imlie casually continued walking. She could hear the police vans nearing her and her grip on her dupatta tightened. She took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Ay girl! Can you give us directions to this godown? One theif escaped our clutches and is now hiding in this village." a gruff voice said.
"Oh is it? But I haven't seen any stranger here. It might be that you are mistaken."
"Leave that to us to decide. Now will you give the directions or not?" the other officer asked impatiently.
"There, take a left and then go straight. You'll reach the godown." she said sighing. The men nodded and left from there. Patting her back at successfully tricking them, she rushed towards the godown.
Just as she stepped inside, she saw her Dadda and him! Her eyesbrows furrowed in confusion.
"Dadda? Why have you kidnapped Babusaheb?" she asked.
Satyakam moved towards her and took her to the side.
"Listen child, I suspect him to be a police spy. Here read this ID and tell me what's written." Satyakam whispered showing her the ID card.
It read Aditya Kumar Tripathi, chief executive reporter at Bhaskar times.
"So he's a journalist!"
"It's written Aditya Kumar Tripathi, chief executive reporter at Bhaskar times." Imlie read out slowly.
"So he's telling the truth...."
Suddenly Imlie realised she hadn't yet told Dadda about the police officers.
"Dadda, the police have come looking for you. They dint directly mention you but I know they were looking for you. I deviated them by sending them in the wrong direction but it can't be too long till they reach here. We need to get out of here."
Just as she said that, the siren of the police van echoed around. Satyakam moved towards the door and secured it immediately.
He was weighing his options as to what to do when he heard Aditya's voice.
___________________________________________
The moment she had stepped inside, the strange feeling within him had returned. He kept looking at her but she was busy questioning her Dadda as to why he had kidnapped him. The way she called him Babusaheb, he dint know why but he loved it.
But then Satyakam had pulled her to the side and he couldn't make out anything from their hushed whispers. The sound of the siren alerted him and once he saw Satyakam securing the lock and looking tensed, he decided to help. He knew he could.
"I can help you out. All you need to do is give me back my ID card, camera and my bag. And then hide behind that large heep of hay. I'll drive them away."
Satyakam looked at him and could clearly see he was speaking the truth. Satyakam freed him and did as he said. He and Imlie hid behind the hay pile while Aditya straightened his clothes. A loud bang on the door ushered him into his role. Even as the door broke open, he who had laid down on a pile of hay pretended to sit up startled.
The policemen looked at him as equally confused as he himself.
"What happened sir? Why have you broken in here?" Aditya asked calmly, feigning innocence.
"Umm nothing but what are you doing in a godown? You seem well enough to settle in the lodge. And who are you by the way?"
" Sir, I'm Aditya Kumar Tripathi, chief reporter at Bhaskar times. ( Forwarding his ID card) I'm here for an article on organic and village life. The whole day was spent in roaming about and visiting the mela. I was feeling extremely tired and saw this abandoned godown. So decided to rest for sometime and then head back."
"Oh! But we were informed that.... nevermind. I'm sorry for disturbing Mr. Tripathi. Enjoy your nap." the officer said handing back his ID to him. He took it and nodded his head.
"Thank you sir" Aditya said and the men left. Aditya sighed and closed the door. That's when Satyakam and Imlie came out of their hiding sighing in relief.
"Thanks a lot Babusaheb for helping us out" Imlie said and he shook his head with a smile.
"Yes thank you Aditya Babu. You handled the situation very well" Satyakam said.
"It's not needed Satyakam. And if you now believe that am no spy, can you give me the permission to take your interview?"
"You are going to take my Dadda's interview?" Imlie squealed like an excited kid. Aditya's smile widened as he nodded his head.
"Yes, if your Dadda allows it" he replied smiling.
Satyakam just nodded with a smile. They decided to drop Imlie first and then move to the lodge. Two bikes had been parked at the backside and while Imlie and Satyakam settled on one, Aditya took the other.
They moved out of the place. Just as they reached midway, the tire of the bike Aditya was riding hit a stone and rendered him off balance, causing him to fall of the bike, landing directly into the bushes nearby.
"Hey Sita Maiyya!" Imlie exclaimed as she hurriedly got down the bike Satyakam had stopped and rushed towards Aditya. She tried to pull him from the bushes, all the while trying to suppress her giggles at the way he had fallen into the bushes. Despite her worry, the way he had fallen was just too funny. Aditya grunted in pain even as he came up with her and Satyakam's help. After he was brought to the sitting position, Imlie who could no longer control herself started giggling. Aditya looked at her annoyed while Satyakam frowned.
"Why are you laughing Imlie? Here he's hurt and you are laughing?" Satyakam asked.
"I- I'm sorry Dadda. I know he's fallen but (giggling more) dint you see the way he fell?? So funny!" she said and chuckled more.
"Ya very funny" Aditya said annoyed making her giggle even more. Satyakam too couldn't help but smile.
"Jhalli kahiki!" Aditya muttered at which she made a face, and tried to stand up, only to wince in pain holding his leg.
Her giggles immediately stopped as she looked at his injured leg.
"Remove your hands and let me see where you've hurt yourself Babusaheb" Imlie said concerned.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
Fiksi Penggemar------ Can Be Read As General Fiction ------ One night. One event. Lives of two people altered completely. When Aditya Kumar Tripathi, Chief Executive Reporter at Bhaskar times stepped into Pagdandiya and met Imlie, he did not know how his life woul...
