This is the story of the girl next door. The girl who goes about harassed by nasty, stinky smells that invade her life. She is fed up with all these bad odors.

She is having a smelly day which is about to get better (Shhhhhh).

4 AM

The stuffy heat of midnight gives way to cooler breezes. She stops tossing and turning in her bed, and the restless night settles down into predawn, when even the night watchmen are fast asleep.

As she dreams of the fragrant parijaat blossoms of her childhood, an entirely different smell intrudes. Whiff, whiff. Ohhhh nasty! Is she still dreaming? Rudely awakened, she totters to the window and slams it shut.

Urbanization has snatched away the morning flowers and the surrounding slums have taken over.

Even before the golden orb of the sun makes its way up the Katraj hills, the ‘morning shift’ in the playground is in full swing. No, there are millions who haven’t built toilets yet.

The shut window rattles in the wind, and some nasty smells sneak in.

Two or three frantic bursts of room freshener clear the air for a while.

6 AM

The alarm buzzes harshly. It is 6 AM – time to get up. She hits the Snooze button promising herself just 5 more minutes.

There is a sizzling sound and a sulphurous odor fills the house. Her hubby cannot miss his fried eggs.

And they always burn.

Nothing worse than burnt eggs, she thinks, and presses down on the air freshener again.

A few minutes later, there is the sound of mustard seeds popping and a tadka for poha.

Why can’t people eat cereal and cold milk, she moans.

8 AM

She rushes into the shower and heads out. A quick whir of the hair dryer, some lip gloss and a splash of her favorite Chanel, she is ready to face the day. Garlic cloves are plunged into hot oil just as she sits down to tie her shoes.

Oh No!! I am gonna be Garlic Girl again, she groans. ‘Why can’t you wait until I leave home’, she hisses at the cook.

Garlic envelops the No. 5, and she jabs at the button on the air freshener – again!

9 AM

Wet umbrellas and wet socks in the office mingle with sweat from twenty bodies. With a grimace, she gets on with her work, cursing the non functioning AC and spraying some freshener from her office supply.

1 PM

The scent of pickles suddenly permeates the air. Vigneshwari’s sambar fights with Satvinder’s tandoori chicken and Rosie’s cold omelet joins in.

Will these smells never stop tormenting me, she wonders.

Life stinks, she posts on Facebook, literally.

6 PM

Wearily, she drives through rush hour traffic and hurries into the lift. The floor is littered with wet garbage and the whole place stinks. Someone’s garbage bag burst again, she thinks. And enters her house to see a trail of garbage leading to her door. That neighbor’s cat, she fumes!

She sweeps and mops and sprays freshener to mask the smell of garbage.

7 PM

She freshens up and settles down for a cup of tea but a strong aroma of fish suddenly intrudes.

The neighbor has bought fish again. And his mother is frying it in mustard oil.

Double Trouble!

A mad rush to close all doors and windows, two or three madder sprays of room freshener and she starts cooking for guests.

8 PM

Dal Tadka and Biryani are on the menu, and she is making onion pakoras for starters.

The oil burns and smokes, the onions fry, and so does the garlic. These smells have tortured me all day, she thinks. And now they are going to do the same to my guests.

She lights some incense, some scented candles and arranges some fresh roses in a vase. The bad odors are masked. Happy, she heads to the shower, dresses up and comes out ready to greet her guests.

9 PM

The candle has burned down, so has the incense. The flowers smell of garlic!! Or so it seems.

She is close to tears. The bell rings and she dreads facing her guests. Hubby rushes in with a package, and urges her to open it.

All I want is for these smells to go away! Be Gone, Smells, she wishes. If only there was a spell for that! She stares at a bottle with pink blossoms on it.

One more air freshener, she screams at Hubby. I don’t need this. It is U-S-E-L-E-S-S!

Just a second, honey. This is Ambi Pur Air Effects. It takes away odors, doesn’t just mask them. Spray it once and that is enough.

Why don’t you try it out, he urges.

She gingerly wraps her fingers around the spray lever, and presses just lightly. A fine mist comes out, scented with roses and spring blossoms. She sprays a bit in the kitchen and the living room, and crosses her fingers.

9:30 PM

Her guests come in, and the usual chaos of several high pitched voices talking at once ensues. Everyone keeps praising her new garden, assuming there is a patch of flowers outside.

Finally, she dares to grin, and beams ear to ear.

Ambi Pur Air Effects has saved the day.

 The girl next door has found freedom from bad odors, and persistent nasty smells. All is Well!

I am blogging for #SmellyToSmiley activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ambi Pur.