Chapter 32 #3
Samar sighed, sitting up in his chair. He pulled off his specs and blew lightly to clear a speck. Replacing them on his nose, he nodded. “Scare Iram away. That’s her weak spot. She easily runs away. That is the only way to keep her off party proceedings.”
————————————————————
“Atharva Kaul chh?riw!” Atharva Kaul chh?riw![98]”
Samar pierced the crowd of KDP members protesting outside the police station, climbing the stairs two at a time as they recognised him and made way for him.
“Adil.” He met him outside the door. “What’s going on?”
“The interrogation will start soon.”
“Did you do as I asked?”
“Yes.”
“Water?”
“The lawyers have taken it all in…”
One of the junior lawyers from their team walked out, a bag of food and water in hand. “It’s against the rules. We will have to ask him to eat what they provide.”
“No.” Samar cut in. “We will not. Find another way. I am a doctor, let me write a medical note…”
“Won’t work.”
“He has to take his… BP medication. He needs to eat home-cooked food to take his BP medicines. Tell them that.”
“Write a prescription, they will order it. Food will not be allowed.”
Samar ground his teeth, his eyes meeting Adil’s. He shook his head.
“Religious reason?” Adil held up his finger. “What if we send fruits and water only? No cooked food. There is no chance of any shady business then, right?”
“Let me ask my senior…”
“Is Zorji inside?” Samar pushed. “Ask Zorji to talk.”
The lawyer turned and strode back in.
“What kind of lawyers do we keep on retainer?!” Samar hissed to Adil.
“He is a junior, relax. You tell me, did you speak to Jammu’s stakeholders?”
“Leave that, what happened to Monday’s bail?”
“I am working on it.”
“What? The bail?”
“And other things.”
“Like?”
“Did you speak to Jammu’s stakeholders?” Adil reiterated, pushing that question aside. Samar was curious what he was working on but had little energy to pursue. Adil looked done for too, so close to his discharge and already out and about.
“Yes.” Samar rubbed at his forehead. It was throbbing. “I will fly out to Jammu tomorrow evening after I finish…”
“Yes!” The young lawyer came bounding out. “Get fruits. And a packaged water with seal intact. They will allow it. Quick, before they change their mind!”
“You wait here, I’ll go get it.” Samar flung to Adil and ran.
————————————————————
“Is the outhouse emptied out completely?” Samar asked the security.
“A few are yet to pack up. Most have left.”
He nodded.
Atharva had decreed that the outhouse be emptied, and rented out flats at a location closer to the headquarters for all. He had also closed the mansion for business before his wedding.
“Is Iram Madam in the house?”
“No. She went out this morning. Hasn’t come back yet.”
“A few of our men will be around to guard the outside of the estate,” he held the security man’s eyes. He understood.
“Got it.”
“Don’t let anybody in without frisking.”
“Yes, sir.”
Samar nodded, clicking the window of his car closed and driving down the estate road.
The place he had called home was not home anymore.
But when had he been sentimental about such things?
He was here to ensure Iram was safe from Sufiyaan’s advances before he flew out to Jammu.
Atharva was still being interrogated. Adil had been AWOL all day from everywhere.
They both were up to something. Samar didn’t know what.
And he didn’t care at this point. He had to hold Jammu and keep lives safe.
He parked the car outside the door, grabbed the peace offering he had brought along and got out.
Iram’s schedule had been texted to him. She was about to roll in any moment now.
He leaned back on his car door, closing his eyes.
The sun was too bright, and his head began to throb again.
He switched his specs for his aviators, hoping to catch a nap if he could standing up.
He had lived on four hours of sleep. Now, even six felt like he had not slept for a decade.
Age was catching up. He realised then that he was 37 years old.
And the feeling inside him was still that of a 27-year-old.
He took things too seriously, felt them too deeply, couldn’t let go, however hard he tried.
But how could he? He had borne too much too soon all at once.
Wheels crunched, and he opened his eyes.
A party Innova rolled down the gravelled path and stopped in front of him.
The door opened, and Iram stepped out — graceful, confident, like she was made for this role.
If he didn’t know better, he would have seriously believed that she was still working with Sufiyaan Sheikh and had done this to usurp Atharva’s power.
Samar pulled off his aviators and held out the peace offering to her — a padded file.
“What is this?”
“Awaami Party’s plans for Jammu.”
To her credit, she did not waver as she accepted the file and didn’t even peek into it in front of him. “Why are you handing it to me?”
“You are the Party President right now, no?”
“How did you get it?”
“I see Atharva and Zafarji have trained you well.”
“I have very little time to listen to your taunts, Samar.”
“Then listen to my advice,” he sighed. “Beware of any threats from Awaami. I have put in a request to multiply your security, but until then, watch your back. They don’t want Atharva on the Jammu tour. They will try to target you or him.”
“Is that why you proposed yourself so generously?”
“Listen, Iram, you think you understand everything. But this world, this entire election, goes much deeper than this circus. Trust me, take cues from my hints, and make the decisions. We both want to save Atharva. And his life.”
“Is that a threat?”
He barked a bitter laugh — “What did he tell you about me?” Samar shook his head.
“I am that surgeon who trekked miles to find him when the entire Platoon had given up hope. I am the first man who stood behind him when he said he wants to do nothing but work for Kashmir, even at the cost of a cushy job in Delhi. I have known him way longer than you do, I care for his well-being way more than you do. So don’t come out here and ask me again if I am threatening him. ”
“Then do not give me these scares from Awaami. Do something to neutralise them.”
“I am. But I do not want Atharva Kaul to become a political killing casualty in jail. Let’s take attention away from him and onto me.”
“Let’s put this to vote tomorrow,” Iram countered. Then smirked.
What a loser of a woman. Samar wished Atharva could see her right now. The opportunist.
She turned on her heel and walked into her house. The house that had belonged to all of them just twenty-four hours ago.
————————————————————
“This is your Captain speaking. We are ready for taxiing. Our flight time from Srinagar to Jammu will be 40 minutes and we…”
Samar’s phone rang.
“Sir, please switch off all electronic devices,” the air hostess smiled. Samar nodded, taking the call — “Tell me.”
“Hello?” It was Adil. “Atharva has been released.”
A deep, cool breath left his mouth.
“How?”
“They couldn’t identify him.”
“Right.” Samar understood. He did not ask Adil what it had cost. The bank statement for the month from across their party accounts would give him a fair idea.
“Is he out yet?”
“Signing the release paperwork.”
“Health?”
“Top shape.”
“Sir, please.”
“Yes, one second…” Samar held up his finger. “And what about the tapes?”
“I have not found any time to work on them in all this.”
“Right. Ok.”