A Sew Through Time [Bandbudh And Budbak]

7: Fraud vs Frayed

The performance of violinists ended. A wave of claps followed, neither too loud, nor any softer. Outside the band party had begun, whose beats catered to the percussion of Vijaywada's footsteps.

Sitting across him was Dr. Laxmi- older than the time she had visited Apna school's seminar, years younger before the disaster. Whispers exchanged with facundity, she heard a giggle, lifting her head.

The gun forced her down. So near it was she heard the barrel ticking and clogging into place. Ajay exerted her shoulder. Smokeless candles trapped in iron cages flickered on their faces.

Vijaywada pressed over his linen kurta, making his golden wristchains clink. Picking up a red cherry from the variegated bowl, he stared into the flesh before shifting his eyes over her. Sircar, the man in white kurta, was smoking a cigar.

The middle aged MLA prepared his betel leaves, asking, "Had there been any problem coming here? Doctor?"

Ajay subtly shook his head.

He laughed out and put the leaves into his case, "If you had build something like her machine, maybe then you would be considered," He looked at Laxmi, "She will agree with me"

Ajay shut his eyes. A cream coloured parchment swept to their side. It was tied with a red ribbon and bore a blood red stamp, whose ink leaked through the bearer's name. The lawyers peered into it with glasses as thick as pickle-jar bottoms. Underneath was a white with flowery borders and brown ink.

As if something were flowery about this, Laxmi thought. She noticed seemingly avoideding to look at the last contract.

"Miss. Srivastava!" Vijaywada complimented her, "How beautiful you look tonight"

"Awkward" she sighed, "What else?"

"Formalities" he kept the cherry down, "Where's that saree from? I think my mother has that design; trending among ladies huh?"

"Why?"

"I might recommend one to my wife"

She pointed at him, "Would you ever, with that whole gourd sized body, come back to us if you slipped yourself out of her entry?"

"No Laxmi-" Ajay spoke, when Sircar slammed the table and shouted,

"Is this how you talk bitch?!"

"There ya go"

Smoke blew out of Sircar's pipe like a steam engine, till a few calmed him down and set him back on his chair like a baby with a bib.

"Ignore him doctor" the MLA chewed, "Aaj uska bheja fry hogaya hai"

"I can see that"

"You're a reputed person, doctor. It's an honour that you are transfering the patent to our care" Vijaywada rubbed his knee, "We will make sure to keep it responsibly"

"I don't remember saying that"

"Laxmi stop it"

"What no wait, wait" Laxmi shoved him back, "I created the time machine for the greater good. Now you dare drag away the dignity of my creation by claiming false responsibility?"

"Stop wasting our time!" One restless official pointed at her watch, "The buffet might finish soon!"

"Are you sure these guys could turn it on their own?!" She shouted at them.

"No need to worry about that Miss. Srivastava" Vijaywada said, "The Plati has offered us scientists to help us in maintaining it. They know what we are searching for"

"Yet they don't know that you'll destroy time itself!" She turned back, "What do you know about time? The last thing humanity have come to cherish? Do your gun loaded, scandalous, smelly buffoons know anything about it?"