Jaipur to Delhi had always been a tedious journey. Four and a half hours to be exact. Worse, she had to cross the infamous Gurgaon in between. She didn't like the place much. It was mostly MNCs crowding out the green fields; with a few tall buildings, interspersed with old bungalows that were perhaps owned by some rich landlords.
Madhu had to cross Sector 42, which was mostly empty, with vast tracts of fields on either side of the highway. There were a few bungalows on the way but they looked like they weren't really inhabited. The rain didn't help the scenery as it was difficult to see, and the wheels of the car had a mind of their own.
"It had to be bloody today only," she cursed in her thoughts.
Madhu noticed her headlights were flickering. She tried to switch it off and switch it on but it didn't happen. She did it again, with her heartbeat thumping against her chest, but the lights didn't cooperate.
Oh no.
She thought for a moment to slow the car down but that worsened her mood. If she slowed the car, it would take her double the time to reach her house and she really wanted to just ensconce herself in her warm room.
I can't be on this road forever.
She began to drive at the regular speed, just wishing there was no one on the road. She felt she was about to knock into something, when lightning blazed across the sky, followed by thunder. Madhu's hand convulsed over the steering wheel and she maneuvered it drastically to the left, letting the car zoom from the highway on to the lower service road, grazing against the grass as it went past the kerb. She saw the branches and the twigs hitting the windshield and the windows, forcing her to stop the car. The car skid along the ground until it rammed against a tree trunk. Smoke belched from the front as Madhu's hand swept up in front of her face in automatic defense.
There was an agonizing moment of horror and shock that slowly traipsed down her spine, when she pulled her hands down and realized the car was down. She was perfectly alright, but the same could not be said about the car.
She pushed open the door, letting her feet hit the mud as she closed it behind her. She staggered a little to come to the main path that was littered with mud and stones, to see if it led somewhere. She pulled out her phone, but there was no connectivity. With a sideward glance at the broken car and the path, she made her way to the end of it, hoping to find something.
I have to pay for the car now. The insurance guys will screw me!
She followed the path, only to find that it led to a big concrete bungalow hiding in the midst of the jungle. An old Ambassador was parked in front of it. She wrapped her arms around her body, shivering as the rain drops hit her skin, cooling her core temperature down. She wanted to just escape from this place; she wanted to be somewhere warm.
Madhu scanned the bungalow, which typified 1940s' Anglican architecture that she had read about in her history classes at St. Stephen's College. There were high arches, with boxy exteriors, and iron-grille windows on creamy plastered walls. The bungalow had impressive dimensions. She walked up to the porch.
For some it's a salvation, but for me this damn rain is the opposite.
Madhu knocked on the door with an attached dumbbell-like structure, since there was no electric bell. It made a loud, echoing noise inside, enough even for those outside to hear it.
For a moment she felt the house was empty as no one came, but when she was about to turn and move away, the doors opened with a screeching sound. She saw a tall, lanky figure with an open collared shirt and black high-waisted pants. He had a pencil-thin mustache and gelled hair, with a lock of hair dangling over his forehead.
"Dear me," said the man, stepping in front of her and grabbing her by the arms as if he had no shame. But then she realized why he had grasped her. It was because her feet had given up and she was almost on the verge of collapsing. His firm hands held her, his skin touching her wet skin, as his gray eyes passionately gazed at her. For some reason it was a beautiful sight, she registered mentally, even as her eyes slowly gave into the darkness.
+{6D