Conflagration

Chapter 32: Pagdandiya Diaries

Imlie leaned back against the car seat while Arpita pressed the button to pull the windows up. They were close to Pagdandiya, the smog filled Delhi air giving way to clean, fresh air and green fields stretching for miles in both directions. Being jostled by the potholes in the road had not bothered her as she had stuck her head out to take deep breaths but the ACP had bluntly told her to put her body parts back in if she wanted to arrive at their destination in one piece. 

She had scowled at the back of his head in the driver's seat and silently mouthed "Akkadbagga" while Arpita Di sitting right next to her smothered her giggle. 

Arvind bhaiyya smiled and mock punched Aryan on his shoulder "Saale sahab let her enjoy." Aryan didn't respond to Jiju's teasing, choosing to focus on avoiding the next pothole the size of a crater. Despite his best efforts, the tires of the car slid into the hole and everyone was jostled quite a bit as the car groaned on its way out of the hole. He felt a tingle of pain at the base of his spine, the long hours of driving and the poor condition of the road making their impact known and contributing to his bad mood.

"Ms Mishra, you will owe me some new shock absorbers after this trip to your village" he stated with some irritation. 

"Aru stop being such a baby. How is Imlie responsible for the condition of the road?" Arpi Di spoke up.

"Now you have also started taking her side Di" he muttered glancing at the side view mirror. The GPS said there was still 22 minutes to go before they reached the hotel he had booked, but if he stopped now to stretch his back, they would not reach before evening and he didn't fancy driving on this road when dusk fell.

Sagar Nivas

Imlie flicked open the curtains of the room she was sharing with Arpi Di, gazing at pinpoints of light coming from tiny houses in the distance . Pagdandiya was 7 kms away and this was the only hotel for miles around. It was more of a 2 storey homestay actually, run by a sweet middle aged couple who also tilled the adjacent fields and ran a small farm behind the homestay. The ACP and Arvind jiju were put up in the only other room available which was directly opposite to her room. 

Sighing she turned to the bed and began unpacking her bag, smoothing the creases on the saree Amma had insisted she wear to the temple and putting it in the cupboard. Arpi Di was taking a shower and she used the time to sort out her nightclothes and the necessities for tomorrow. 

Arpi was drying her hair with the towel when she heard "Gadhi" and what sounded like a smack. Hurrying into the room she saw Imlie hunched on the bed, her hands on her head. "What happened Imlie, are you alright?"

"I forgot my toothbrush Di" Imlie looked up. 

"Is that all? I am sure Parvathiji must have a spare somewhere. Lets go check with her."

Both of them made their way to the ground floor looking for Parvathy. When they couldn't find her, they wandered into the kitchen following the smell of food cooking. Parvathy looked up from stirring the vegetables in the kadai and gave them a friendly smile before asking them if they were looking for something.

"Ji Imlie here needs a toothbrush. Was wondering if you have any spares" Arpi asked.

Parvathy's smile brightened. "We don't use toothbrush memsahaab. But I can give you something much better."

She turned the gas down and disappeared to the back of kitchen into what looked like a storeroom. Minutes later she was back with what looked like sticks which she handed to Imlie who stared at the sticks in wonder, transported to a time when Dadda had taught her how to brush with the miswak stick.