I blow my horn as the cars in front of us isn't moving after the traffic signal turns green. Behind me, there are another series of vehicles awaiting in line. We crawl along in the traffic. Red light, green light, red light, green light - like some damn kid's game. Sweat covers my body as a second skin and my sherwani sticks on it like third.

"What the (beep)," I curse in my breath as it's been half an hour we're stuck into the jam. Although we've reached Kolkata, the jam holds us and if that's not enough, there is the sticky weather of Kolkata. It's January but Kolkata is as hot as it has always been.

My eyes moves to the back looking glass and see Agni is waiting for our cars to move. She's stretching her hands, resting its muscles as she's been riding for three hours. My lips purse into a thin line as guilty nests in my chest. I should have shoved her into the car forcibly. She must be exhausted by now.

The cars move and we cross the signal but barely moving with the flow as Kolkata's traffic jam can take your entire day. I huff a frustrated sigh.

My phone vibrates.

I bring it out and see it's from Trayi.

"Take it," I say handing it over to Dev.

"Hey," Dev answers.

He hums for a few moment then gazes down at his watch while biting his upper lip.

"I know..." he pauses and begins, "There's a big traffic jam."

"I see," he says to the phone, "Okay. I'll see what I can do." He hangs up the phone and looks at me.

"What?"

"We have to reach home in-" He looks down at his watch, "-twenty minutes. Because, the bar bela* is approaching and if we don't get her before the lagna* is over. It'll become a bad omen."

I look at the long crowd around us then the traffic signal countdown. There's no way, we can make it in twenty minutes. It'll take one hour at least.

A knock comes on Bratati's window glass. I see Agni stands, towering over the car.

As soon as I bring it down, she peeks inside, "We need to bring her to your house, immediately before Bar bela. Mom called."

"I know. We've got a call too. But it's impossible in this traffic," I inform.

She looks around and suddenly her face brightens up and a grin spread on her lips and I know the feeling. There has to be another one of her silly ideas is cooking inside of that head.

"I have an idea."

"And let me guess, it's very silly," I interject and her grin broadens.

"My bike can go through there." She points out a narrow way to escape the jungle of cars and indeed, her bike can go through it.

"Angshu can take her through it."

As much as I like the idea, I scratch the back of my neck and Dev's lips purse together while Angshu looks between us, his face blooming in colours.

"Err... I'm afraid, I don't know how to ride," Angshu answers.

"What?" Both of the sisters ask together.

"He doesn't even know driving. He has a phobia of riding any vehicles," Dev informs while Angshu bites back his lips in embarrassment.

"It's okay. You don't have. I know how to drive." Bratati pats on his shoulders and then she pauses.

Both of the sisters look at each other with a bulb goes off on their heads. I know what they are thinking and it's going to be a hogwash.

****

Agni leans on the passenger seat, stretching her hands while crosses her legs on the seat.

"That was a bad idea!" I say and looks over my shoulder to Dev, who sits in the back seat and currently under a shock.

"There wasn't much of a choice. Besides, Bratati is much better rider than me."

That was an insane plan. Bratati riding in her full wedding attire while carrying Angshu behind her to his own house makes the situation a complete out of the picture.

I put my head in my hands, "I can't believe it. I let this happen."

She giggles and my eyes looks up to her while my face still hangs between my hands.

"It's not a bad thing. They will reach in time. Don't worry." She pats on my face and both of us froze and the song start 'Ek mai or ek tu, dono mile is tarah... Aur jo tanman me ho raha hai, yeh to hona hi tha...' on the radio as a bad electricity runs through us and she moves away her hands, avoiding my stare.

I straighten up as well and she brings out her phone and calls someone. I try to peek but could not see.

"Hey, Daud. I'm almost there. Just the traffic jam..."

Daud? Who's that? Daud Ibrahim?

She hangs up and says, "Stop at Parkstreet."

"Where will you go?"

"Just meeting a friend."

****

The traffic is subsided and I start the engine and both Dev's and my phone rings at the same time. We both freeze in our place and my throat becomes dry.

Shit!

"Hey mom..." I could not continue as she goes on and on about how bad the idea is. However, at the end, she says, "They reach at the exact time and the rituals are complete."

"That's a good news, I guess."

"That's not a good news! How could you let a girl ride in heavy clothes?" Her scream can be heard three inches away from my phone and I haven't even put the speaker on.

"You said that it was important otherwise she'll become a bad omen! How can I make that happen?" I shout and she stops screaming.

"I'm coming alright!" I say and hangs up.

Dev looks at me with a frown, "I'm so gonna be in trouble."

I nod.

I park the car beside the footpath at Parkstreet where flyovers run above our heads and beneath it, yellow ambassadors hurrying to their destination along with a crazy crowd of people. Police sergeants petrols with their bullets in their 'Scotland yard' dresses and behind us, a fuchkawala is calling out to its customers. In the horde of heads, blaring horns and rushing people and vehicles, his voice reaches us. Agni leaves the car.

Both Dev and I go behind her to see who's this Daud? What I have expected to see a turban wearing, long beard man instead I find a fair man with unshaven beard and glasses. He isn't tall like us but he appears as a charming character.

"Long time no see!" he says.

"Yes! How have you been?" Agni asks with a smile.

"Well, not much! I broke up with my girlfriend and again back to square one," then his eyes fell on both of us and a car passes by in which *Salman Khan's 'Bodyguard! Bodyguard!' is playing.

He hasn't noticed us, and as soon as he do, he asks, "Who are they?"

"They are my friends and family members of my sister's in laws. Royal guests."

He nods and says, "Hello." We return the gesture too.

"Let's have a seat. C'mon," he invites and we enter in a cafe come bar, 'Olypub'.

We enter and it's full. Great! Everywhere is people, sitting on black chairs under the white decorated ceiling.

Daud calls out someone from the pub and they lead us to a corner, where a square black table with four chairs are empty. We take our seats then Daud asks, "Coffee?"

"Black coffee." I say while Dev orders, "Regular cappuccino."

Agni says, "Tea."

Daud orders himself a coke.

"So, where are you going?" He asks Agni.

"To their home. We're late already but decided to meet you."

"You guys are from Kolkata as well?" He asks and Dev nods.

"I'm advocate Debasis Banerjee." Dev introduces and Daud shakes his hands, "Oh! I've heard about you. My dad's friend is also from Kolkata high court."

"Oh! What's his name?"

"Bikash Das."

Dev gives a curt nod and casts him a tight lipped smile, "Yeah, I know him."

Daud tilts his head toward me and I stretch out my hand, "Aditya..."

"-Banerjee, I've already heard of you," Daud says. Every time I'm going to give an introduction, they seem to know already about me.

I nod and he adds, "I've been in love with your 'Lovebites', even my mom."

Dev spills his coffee and the Olypub's radio blares 'Golmaal hai vaai sab golmaal hai.'²

Daud looks between us then realizes and he let go of my hands, "Oh! Not that's kind of Lovebites. I meant the masala flavour chips. I'm straight, I swear."

Agni burst out in laughter and I nod rather awkwardly, "People says that a lot to me."

"Oh! Daud, you've just acknowledged that you love his lovebites." Agni teases.

Daud says in his defense, "I used to try a lot of tricks to get your attention in school."

I snap my head at him, "Oh! You did, didn't you?"

He smiles sheepishly, "Yes, but her sister was scary. I pretended to exchange copies and books even lunch boxes with her, just to talk. Then finally we became friends," he huffs and adds, "I still am going for you." He winks at Agni on which, I cringe my nose and a few muscles in my jaw twitch.

Agni however, has not affected by it. She simply smiles and sips on her Tea.

"I'm Suryakiran Dey, by the way, " Daud introduces himself.

"Then why does she call you Daud?" Dev asks.

"That's a long story..."

"Oh! Tell us, Daud!" Agni insists and Daud gives her a narrow gaze. There is a deep bond between them and Agni seems relaxed around him which gives me an unsettled movement in my belly.

"I used to have a long beard and I had a gang. Once, I beat a senior and he called me Daud Ibrahim. That's how I became Daud for everyone." He says a bit embarrassed and Agni adds, "and?"

He casts her a straight look, "and then Agni's sister came and disbanded every gangs in our school. She was a savage."

"Hey! They are my sister's in-laws, say something good about her," she glares and Daud simply chuckles while my eyes drifts between them.

"She used to terrorise us and after she beat the school's no. one bad boy and his gang, we all started to worship her."

Agni slaps on his arms and he starts laughing.

A pang hit my heart as my gaze fell on her hand that's still on Daud's arm. They seem pretty close to me as he's openly flirting with her and she doesn't even mind it.

"Alright! We have to go." I announce.

"Yes, Daud, give me the tickets." She says and Daud brings out an envelope and hands it to her.

We bid goodbye while Daud says, "Call me." And Agni nods.

I enter the car start the engine as soon as Agni takes the passenger seat. Taking a deep breath, I press the accelerator, the car moves with a lightning speed with my heart in my throat.

___________

- Glossary -

Bar bela- Inauspicious part of a day.

Lagna- in Vedic Astrology Jyotiṣa, the Lagna (Sanskrit ) or Ascendant, is the first moment of contact between the soul and its new life on earth in  Jyotiṣa. In other words, it means time.

Salman Khan- a Bollywood famous actor.

Side Note: Almost everything (like any programs, customs etc.) are depended on Lagna.

- Songs -

1- Ek mai aur ek tu(1975)- sung by Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle & composed by R. D. Burman

2- Golmaal hai vai sab golmaal hai(1979)- sung by Amit Kumar and Kishore Kumar & composed by R. D. Burman

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11th October, 2020