INDALI

CHAPTER - 9

INDALI'S P.O.V

**Few days back**

"So you go to school?" I asked Shyam as I peeled the peas. "Yes I do but I didn't did my homework today so made an excuse of stomach pain" saying this he giggled I looked up at him and said ,"you should concentrate on your studies otherwise I will be complaining about all these fake excuses to Ramesh kaka and he will be on his way to your home".

Shyam , he resides near kaka's home. He lost his parents at a very young age but his grandfather ensures that he get all the love that he can shower him with.

His face fell. He slammed the pea which he was peeling down in the plate and said ," I can't understand certain things and teacher  well they scold me if I ask them twice". And there I offered to help him with all his work. Finally there will be something that I can do rather eating and sleeping.

After a moment of pause I asked,
"So what do you dream to become one day?" I asked casually , before he could reply we heard a knock on the door.

"You sit didi I will see who's on the door , moreover I am fed up with peeling peas" he spoke as he stood up to reach the door.

I shooked my head and continued with what I was doing.

"Didi.. didi.." shyam came running to the kitchen and continued ,"Angrez sahab's are here" I sat straight. British government? At my door? I stood up , we both went for the door again. I saw a man in his mid-twenties standing by my door and smiling looking inside my house. "Shyam you go home" I said looking at the man who was oblivious to the fact that he was being watched. "But di.." he protested but I asked him to do as asked.

Shyam went running out . The man standing at the door , he was not some officer , wearing a white dhoti and a white kurta , he held some papers in one hand and other was consumed by a black little bag. When Shyam ran past him he came back to his senses and looked back at Shyam and that's when i approached the door.

"How can I help you?" I asked him maintaing a decent distance between us. He looked at me and gave me a smile while replying ,"Nomoskar! Ami Amiya. I work for the British government as a translator. Bade sahab is here to have some important conversation with Indali Basu". I nodded my head.

To talk to me? What might be the reason?

"And I assume you are Indali." And then I replied looking at him ,"Oh yes sahab. I am Indali. Please come in." I stepped aside to give him room to enter. "Ji dhonnobad. Let me fetch sahab." And he went running out. When I peered out I saw a car standing infront of the gate. He bent down to the window of the car and whispered something to the person sitting inside the car and then the car door opened and there came out a man in his late 50's.

I stood there motionless. When they both were at my door I joined my hands and bowed a little and asked them to come inside. As they were settling down in the drawing room I went and fetched them 2 glasses of water. When I came back I saw Amiya , the translator was saying something to the guards who appeared out of no where. When did they came in?  What's going on?

I set the tray infront of them and stood there. The sahab started speaking ,"Ask her if she has any idea why we are here." He said looking at me. I frowned and then Amiya spoke in Bengali ,"Sahab is asking if you have any idea why we are here." I looked at Amiya and then back at the officer and replied ,"How will I know?" And Amiya again translated what I said back to him in English.

They were unaware to the fact that I can speak and understand English. And I let it be. "I don't like to make things complex so.. we heard that the zamindar of this village is no more so we are here to take this village under the umbrella of the Great British Government." Sahab said as he leaned back in the chair.