Page 10 of Wicked Trap

Tanvi was pissed at his words. She was half-tempted to call the policeman and ask to cancel the arrogant man’s release papers. A night spent in jail might do him good. He would think twice about stealing a taxi and calling someone an entitled princess.

But she clenched her jaw and ignored him. Her friend Rashmi had come with the lawyer.

“Who is that gorgeous man?” she whispered in excitement.

“No one,” Tanvi replied. “Let’s go.” Before her friend could think of flirting with the arrogant man, she dragged her friend out of the police station.

“Hey!” Rashmi protested. “I wanted to ask his name and give him my phone number!”

“He’s an arrogant ass,” Tanvi said before pushing her friend into a waiting car. “And we are getting late.”

Her friend frowned. “Fine. Maybe he’ll come again during your next planned protest. You better ask his name and phone number then.”

The last thing Tanvi would do is ask for the arrogant man’s phone number. She was also glad that the arrogant man would be the last person to show up at the next protest.

Good riddance.

***

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drop you in front of your apartment?”

Tanvi nodded. “At the street corner is fine. I need to pick up dinner on my way.”

Rashmi pulled the car to the side of the busy street. “Good night. I’ll speak to you later. And I hope you are coming to Kavita’s birthday party. Everyone is!”

Tanvi laughed. “Yes. I will come.” She had a voluntary event to plant trees along the new highway road that morning. But hoping she would be done around lunch time, she promised her friend. “Good night. Thanks again for the ride.”

Waving at her friend, Tanvi got out of the car. It was already dark outside. And the wind had picked up slightly, making it seem like it was about to rain. But the street that led to her apartment complex was still bustling with people. The area was considered safe and mostly consisted of single men and women with occasional old people with caretakers.

“Good evening, Mr. Shankar,” she greeted the street vendor outside.

“The usual, Miss Tanvi?” the vendor asked.

Tanvi smiled. “Yes. The usual.”

Hot oil sizzled, and the smell of vegetables and sauces being fried with rice filled the air. The vendor packed the fried rice into a container and handed it to her.

“Thank you, Mr. Shankar.”

Carrying the takeout from the small mobile restaurant at the end of the street, she walked towards her apartment complex.

It was a four-story building with around fifty flats. Each floor had around twelve flats, and all of them were single-bedroom units.

“H-hello, Tanvi.”

Tanvi turned to look at the person who greeted her. He was one of her neighbors who had recently moved into the apartment complex. The guy was cute and the same age as her. He was also painfully and endearingly shy.

“Hello, Sameer,” she greeted him.

He smiled shyly. “I heard about the protest. I couldn’t join you because I work for Prism Corporation.”

Tanvi was surprised. “Oh. I didn’t know that. No problem. I understand.”

“I think it’s great what you are doing, Tanvi.”

Tanvi smiled at him. “Thank you. It was a joint effort. And hopefully, it pays off soon.”

Normally, she wouldn’t mind spending a few more moments chatting, but she was too tired.

---