Party And Prejudice

9. Chameli's Bungalow

In his best imitation of a female voice, but in broken Tamil, Reyansh asked the pitcher seller (the only man we could find on the road) "Do we go straight to reach Chameli's bungalow?"

Chameli's bungalow was not on Google Maps and our only hope was this guy.

But the man glared at us suspiciously and walked away without bothering to reply, the colourful water pitchers swinging behind him.

I couldn't blame him. Reyansh was still in woman's clothes and two supposed young girls asking for the way to the place of the most shady character in the area was clearly nothing to associate oneself with.

Reyansh sighed as he rolled up the window of the car that we had borrowed (as in, stole the keys from a sleeping driver) from the resort and continued to drive straight ahead. I took a moment to appreciate all over again, what an attaractive girl he made.

"Will you stop gawking and help me find the place?", Reyansh asked.

I closed my eyes and tried to recall Sulochana's vague directions to Chameli's place. But I could barely concentrate. Anger was taking over me.

Why is Riya so irresponsible, I thought furiously. What was the point of having a phone if you coud not use it when you needed it the most? When I meet Riya, I will scold her like there's no tomorrow, I decided.

But I was also praying that she was safe. Unbecoming of my usual practical self, I thought that if I concentrated on Riya and sent her all my mental energy, she would be protected.

"I think Sulochana said we have to take three right turns from the resort. Haven't we done that already?", I asked.

"I was also wondering", Reyansh muttered.

After what seemed like driving straight ahead forever, we finally spotted bright lights on a street to the right. We turned and found ourselves in a monumentally lit up street.There was no need to search for Chameli's bungalow anymore. It stood out prominently, the only magnificent structure in the otherwise ordinary lane.

The lights from the mansion lit up the entire street like a christmas tree. The other street vendors had not bothered to provide any further lighting to their own shops. Even from the distance I spotted a lone female figure hawking around in front of the mansion and I instantly knew it was Riya.

She looked so vulnerable standing there alone as vile looking men and women bustled around! I didn't want to stay here for one moment more than necessary.

But I was also relieved. At least Riya was here. Safe and alive. And no Ravana had carried her away. I could hear Reyansh sighing in relief too.

We speeded up but before we could reach her, another car pulled up right in front of her and a guy stepped out. His silhouette seemed oddly familiar.

Reyansh and I glanced at each other, perplexed. As the guy turned around we saw his face.

"Laksh!" I cried out. Reyansh and I leapt out of the car.

"Wherever did you come from?", I asked.

"The same place that you came from", Laksh said with a smile, "By the way, is that how you thank someone who came to rescue your best friend?"

"But...how did you come here?" I asked, refusing to warm upto him.

"What do you mean?", Laksh asked "I..."

"I called him Mish", Riya said.

Reyansh and I stared at each other. "You called him?", Reyansh asked incredulently, forgetting to modulate his voice.