“What?!” Her head snapped to him. “Why?”
“For the election, why else? What will I do with so much cash?”
“Samar.” She hissed. “Fuck. Fuck. If they asked for our IDs and if they found out… fuck you! You will not only create problems for KDP but the government as well! Press Secretary smuggling cash in the middle of the night!” Amaal reached an opening in the divider and began to turn.
“No!” He stopped her. “We are too close. Don’t make it suspicious.”
“SAMAR!!!” She hit his thigh again and again. “I can’t handle this! Fuck fuck fuck… do something! Call someone from this area!”
“This is Awaami’s constituency.”
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
“Calm down, drive at your regular speed. Stop there.”
“I can’t call anybody from the Secretariat! Fuck, I will never go out on a drive with you!”
Her heart was thumping, her pulse was hammering in her neck, and the man beside her was lounging back in his seat. She noted why when she felt his arm snake back from in between their seats.
The check post came closer and she stopped.
An inspector came to her window, eyeing the sticker on the car. He gestured for her to pull down the window.
Amaal clicked the button.
“KDP?”
Samar leaned into her side and she leaned back into her seat. “Yes.”
“Gaadi check karni hai.[124]”
“Kyu?[125]”
“Election time hai.[126]” He squinted. Then recognised Samar. “Samar sahab?” He smiled. Amaal knew that smile wasn’t welcoming. It was rupee signs.
“Aaiye.[127]” Samar cracked open his side of the door. “Don’t unlock the dickey before I reach the back.” He told her.
She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to control the hammering inside her.Shit, shit, shit,if this exploded, it was a media nightmare in the middle of SMC elections and the summer session.
“Madam, dickey kholiye.[128]”
She blinked her eyes open, fumbling under the steering wheel to buy time while Samar rounded the car and reached the back. Her eyes met his in the rearview and her finger pressed the unlock button. He pulled it open.Don’t you dare have weapons in there,she prayed under her breath. Cash was bad enough. She wouldn’t put anything past him where his car was concerned.
Amaal kept her eyes on the men at the boot of the car, even though she couldn’t see anything. Another inspector came striding to her window, giddy. Had they found something?
“Driving licence.”
“Oh… uhh…”
She reached for her purse, wanting to ram Samar’s head through something. Possibly the crates of cash that they must be confiscating. Amaal began to open her wallet when Samar was at her window.
“Hmm.” He handed over his license.
“Madam drive kar rahi hai.[129]”
“Gaadi meri hai.[130]”
“Lekin…[131]”
