“I shouldn’t have called you!”
He hung up. His phone started ringing immediately.
Amaal Calling…
Samar took a deep breath and picked it up.
“Where are you going?” She asked, this time calmer.
“Sirmaur.”
“Any numbers I can contact there aside from you and Atharva?”
“I’ll message you.”
“Ok. Be safe.” She hung up.
Be safe?
Samar let out a bitter laugh. He thrust his hand on the headrest next to him, turned over his shoulder, and pulled out of the driveway.
————————————————————
Samar drove through dark hail and towards the sun and rain. The roads from Shimla were decent but the cars coming in from Sirmaur were maniacal. He was anyway running on negative patience today. A mad little hatchback veered to the right and straight towards him. Samar turned on the fog light beam right at the driver. It was an asshole move but he immediately veered back in his lane.
He wanted to burn the world today after ages.
“Has NDRF been deployed yet?” Atharva’s voice broke his chain of thoughts.
“It is being mobilised from Delhi.” He focused. "Once they are here, we will be able to go easy. No news yet.”
“Did you call Srinagar and ask Adil for what I told you?”
“Yes. Jammu-Kashmir is the only state close by that has its own Disaster Management Force. Even if things are a little muddled right now, Adil said he will manage.”
Another car tried crossing the undivided road and Samar did the same to him. This was a Thar just like his and he honked back. Samar honked louder until he veered away, crossing him with his middle finger up.
“Check ETA.” He bit out. This road had to end or he would end.
“You’ve made me check it thrice in an hour.” Atharva was so cool and calm, making him even more worked up. “Checking it doesn’t make it come sooner. Did you speak to Amaal?”
“Why would I speak to her?”
“Because you should, before leaving for such a place at such a time.”
“What will she do from there?”Aside from pushing my BP and rage up.
“Maybe say something nice to you to make you drive safer?”
He was laughing inside.Nice? Amaal?
“I am driving safe.”
Atharva went quiet then. The road went silent too, no more cars coming for him. When they did, they dutifully stayed in their lane. Then Samar realised why. He had not put off his beam. He toggled it off, and grabbed the steering wheel with both hands, releasing a deep breath.
“She asked me to go and blow my dragon fire over the rain.”
Atharva snorted — “Don’t put it past her.”
