Inflating Error

Dhriti waited beside her car, while the tyre inflator filled in air in one of the rear tyres of her car. The machine stopped on its own when the preset amount of air was filled. Dhriti removed the inflator from the air valve and as she got up, she felt someone’s presence behind.



It was Tarak the society gardener. He had recently joined, replacing the previous gardener who had retired due to old age. He stood saying nothing but looking at the inflator Dhriti was holding.



“It fills air in the tyres,” said Dhriti anticipating the question in his head



Tarak smiled and asked, “technology nowadays has become so much better than before”



“Yes, it is very convenient,” said Dhriti



Tarak’s expression changed a little and he asked “will it be able to fill air in the tyres of my bicycle?”



“Is your bicycle here?” Dhriti asked



“Yes, should I bring it?” asked Tarak



“Bring it,” said Dhriti



Tarak disappeared for a few seconds and reappeared with a bicycle. The bicycle had a distinct layer of dust which had been hastily dusted at several places, the tyres were completely deflated and by the looks of it, it was quite an expensive bicycle from a popular brand.



“Don’t you use this bicycle often?” asked Dhriti



“I haven’t used it for a long time. I thought I would start using it from today. Since I left very early in the morning for work, I didn’t find anyone to fill in air,” replied Tarak



Dhriti used the inflator to fill air in the tyres of the bicycle and Tarak cycled away as Dhriti took out a grocery bag containing milk from the car.




Dhriti went back home and then went to the office. In the evening, she returned and went out on a walk with her neighbourhood friend Uma.



“You heard?” asked Uma



“What?” asked Dhriti



“There was a theft,” said Uma



“Vehicle?”



“No, at home, in the opposite society”



“Anyone I might know?” asked Dhriti



“Gaurav Bala,” replied Uma



“The.. reporter?”



“Yes, that’s the one”



“What was stolen?”



“Cash and jewellery”



“Was it a lot?”



“Quite a lot”



“When did it happen?”



“Apparently, early in the morning. Mr Bala was not at home and his old mother was asleep,” said Uma



“That’s unfortunate, I thought theft at homes had become a thing of past,” said Dhriti



“They do take place sometimes, mostly by known people,” said Uma, “Do you know Tarak, the gardener?”



“Yeah, I met him recently” said Dhriti and when she realised which direction this was heading she tensed up and asked, “Did he… do it?”



“That is what I have heard,” said Uma, “he was caught on camera leaving the building hurriedly and exiting the society. No one can contact him and he is not at his rented apartment as well.”



Dhriti thought about her interaction with Tarak in the morning and thought, ‘Could he have been running after stealing back then?’



“You know Tarak was also caught on camera entering our society,” said Uma



“He broke into someone’s house here as well?” asked Dhriti in a worried and hurried voice



“No, he just stole Mr Saran’s old but expensive bicycle and rode away on it,” said Uma



Dhriti kept quiet; she was able to connect the dots.



“When did you say you met Tarak recently?” asked Uma



Dhriti stayed quiet at first and then she spoke, “a few days back”

Written by Anuran Chatterji

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