The driver navigated the Range Rover Autobiography with aggressive precision.
Anyone who has been to Dhaka knows that in its infamous, bumper-to-bumper traffic, a three-kilometer journey can easily take an hour. But Samina's Land Rover practically parted the sea.
The cycle-rickshaws, CNG auto-rickshaws, and battered sedans on the street pulled over from a mile away. They were absolutely terrified of scratching a luxury tank that they couldn't afford to fix even if they worked for ten lifetimes.
Back in Mumbai's Bandra or South Bombay, spotting a high-end SUV wasn't exactly a rare event. But this was Bangladesh, where the wealth gap was staggering.
Rahul rolled down the tinted window and pointed his DJI camera at the blatant display of class difference, capturing the sea of chaotic traffic respectfully parting for their car. It was perfect b-roll footage to add some socio-economic depth to his first vlog.
Meanwhile, Samina had completely taken over Rahul's phone. She was flying through the setup screens, creating a professional Instagram Creator profile and linking a new YouTube channel for him.
"All done, Rahul. Your accounts are ready to go," she announced proudly.
Just as she handed the phone back, the massive Range Rover pulled up to the Banani Police Station. The driver didn't bother finding a proper spot; he parked the SUV incredibly arrogantly, right in front of the main entrance, blocking the steps.
Rahul slipped his phone into his pocket. "Thanks, I'll update the bios later."
"Take your time. I also saved my personal number in your contacts," Samina said with a wink.
She naturally linked her arm through Rahul's as they stepped out of the AC cabin and walked straight into the muggy police station.
Inside, the scene hadn't changed much. Most of the constables were slouching at their desks, aimlessly scrolling through their phones, while a few local citizens sat patiently on the wooden benches, waiting for the "lords" of the station to finally do some work.
The heavily bearded inspector who had rudely dismissed Rahul that morning looked up. Seeing Rahul walk back in with his camera in hand, a deep scowl immediately formed on his face.
"You Indian guy, why are you back again?" he barked loudly. "Didn't I tell you we are not filing any FIR for your little wallet?"
Rahul didn't even bother wasting his breath on the man. He just casually turned his head to look at Samina.
Samina's eyes narrowed. She immediately snapped at the bearded inspector in rapid, authoritative Bengali:
"What is your rank? How dare you speak to my guest in that tone?!"
"Call your Station House Officer right now!"
Because Rahul's upgraded looks were so striking, the inspector had been completely focused on him. It wasn't until Samina shouted that the inspector finally realized Rahul had walked in with a local Bangladeshi girl on his arm.
The inspector gave Rahul a strange, cynical look.
Hooked up with a local girl already? Does this Indian tourist think that bringing a local woman here is going to force my hand? I definitely won't register your case now! the inspector sneered internally.
Seeing the policeman blatantly ignore her demand, Samina's elite temper flared up. She slammed her hand on the front desk.
"Are you deaf? Did you hear me talking to you?!"
"Call your SHO out here right now. We want to report a crime!"
"Report what?" The bearded inspector's attitude was still terrible, his voice dripping with condescension. "Who do you think you are? Is our SHO someone you can just summon whenever you want?"
"A modern girl roaming around with a foreign man, coming here to cause trouble?"
Samina let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Who am I? You're going to find out in exactly one minute."
She pulled her sleek iPhone from her designer handbag, pointed a manicured finger at the bearded inspector, and turned to Rahul.
"Rahul, is this the officer who refused to file your case?" she asked in crisp English.
Rahul, who had subtly turned his camera on to record the drama, nodded immediately. "Yep. That's the guy."
Having received her confirmation, Samina dialed a number and put the phone to her ear, maintaining unbroken eye contact with the inspector.
Standing beside her, Rahul felt a very strange, highly satisfying sensation wash over him.
So this is what it feels like to have an incredibly powerful person fight your battles for you! This... this felt way too good. No wonder guys who actually managed to find wealthy, influential partners ended up losing all their ambition. It was a dangerously comfortable feeling!
But seriously, just how powerful is Samina's family? Rahul wondered.
Before he could process it, Samina ended her brief phone call.
Barely ninety seconds later, a heavily overweight, balding police officer whose uniform buttons looked like they were fighting for their lives came sprinting out from the back offices.
"Sir!"
Seeing the SHO burst into the room, the bearded inspector immediately jumped to his feet and threw a crisp salute.
But the SHO didn't even acknowledge his existence. He sprinted straight past him, coming to a screeching halt right in front of Samina.
"Miss Banerjee! I am so, so sorry! You should have informed me you were visiting my station, I would have personally waited outside to receive you!"
The SHO bowed slightly, his chubby face folding into a highly exaggerated, sycophantic smile. He looked like an over-steamed momo desperate for approval.
Immediately after, the SHO's nervous gaze flicked over to Rahul standing beside her.
"Miss Banerjee, and this gentleman is...?"
Samina completely ignored the question. With one hand on her hip and the other pointing furiously at the bearded inspector, her eyes flashed with anger.
"We came here to report a theft, but your officer refused to register the FIR, and then he tried to insult and drive me away!"
"You figure out what to do with him!"
Hearing this, the sycophantic smile on the SHO's face vanished instantly. When he slowly turned his head to look at the bearded inspector, his expression had morphed into pure, unadulterated rage.
The speed of his mood swing was terrifying.
"Sir... sir, it's not what you think! I didn't know she was the daughter of the Banerjee family, I..."
Seeing the murderous look in his superior's eyes, the inspector's face went pale. He practically tripped over his words trying to explain himself.
But before he could even finish his sentence, the SHO raised his hand and delivered a thunderous slap right across the inspector's face.
THWACK!
The sharp sound echoed violently through the quiet police station. The bearded inspector's cheek instantly swelled, and he stumbled backward, his thick beard trembling from the sheer force of the strike.
It was a heavy, punishing blow.
Rahul, who was standing right there, physically jumped at the sudden violence.
Can the police just openly assault each other like this?! But then, remembering the extreme class divides and power dynamics in South Asia, Rahul understood. Here, power was absolute.
Samina, on the other hand, didn't even flinch. She stood perfectly still, her arms crossed, looking down at the inspector with the haughty, untouchable aura of a true aristocrat.
"Apologize to Miss Banerjee immediately!" the SHO roared at the inspector in a tone that left absolutely no room for negotiation.
After being publicly slapped, the bearded inspector had completely lost all of his previous arrogance. His pride was shattered.
He bowed deeply to Samina, his voice shaking. "I am so sorry, Miss Banerjee. Please forgive me..."
"You don't need to apologize to me. Apologize to him!" Samina demanded, pointing sharply at Rahul.
"I am sorry, sir..." the inspector muttered, looking at the floor.
"Speak in English so he understands you!" Samina barked.
Only after the inspector had delivered a highly sincere, grammatically correct apology in English to Rahul did Samina finally turn around. Her expression softened instantly as she looked at Rahul.
"Rahul, are you still angry?" she asked softly. "Because if you are, I can just make a quick call to my father..."
Hearing the word 'father', the SHO's heart practically leapt out of his throat. He looked at Rahul with an expression of sheer terror, flashing the most desperate, flattering smile he could muster.
The bearded inspector looked even more miserable; if he could go back in time to this morning, he would have registered the FIR in gold ink.
"Let's just leave it at that. The most important thing right now is recovering my wallet and passport," Rahul said, waving his hand dismissively. He didn't want to ruin the guy's entire life over a stupid mistake. What was the point? Getting him fired wouldn't bring his cash back faster.
"Yes, yes, absolutely! I will personally go to the airport and review the CCTV footage for the gentleman right this second!" the bearded inspector practically shouted, desperate to prove his usefulness.
"Miss Banerjee, please don't worry. My men will review the footage immediately!" The SHO forcefully patted his chest. "I personally guarantee you, we will catch those pickpockets!"
"Please, Miss Banerjee, why don't you and your boyfriend come sit in my air-conditioned office? Have a cup of premium coffee while you wait!"
The moment Samina heard the SHO refer to Rahul as her 'boyfriend,' the lingering annoyance on her face vanished entirely. A bright, unmistakable surge of joy lit up her eyes.
Without correcting him, she simply smiled and pulled Rahul's arm a little tighter against her side.