“Then this should become your first father-son trip. Let’s make one out of it.”
Atharva hesitated.
“Come, Kaul sahab. Don’t you want to see what was left on this side?”
“I will have to consult my secretary and security…”
“Done.”
Atharva saw his desperation for this free tour and decided to strike. His gut was ticking and working overtime, and like the soldier he once was, he caught its tail and followed it blindly.
“And I want to see your royal palace.”
“Royal palace?”
“My Dadi was from here. I have heard grand stories about that palace from her.”
Dilshad Khan’s eyes widened in joy — “That’s it? I was going to show you our fort but the palace and our Mir’s durbar can also be arranged. In fact,” he grabbed his mobile. “Let me check if Mir sahab is available. He will be delighted to meet another young leader.”
Atharva caught Fahad’s eye, Altaf and Zafarji standing beside him. Altaf did not look happy, as if he had already sensed the change in itinerary. Tough luck. Atharva had been clear from the get-go to these three men about their reason to be here. Now they were getting an open invitation into the palace where Iram might be staying.
————————————————————
“Bhai, this looks like a free ticket into the palace but something is fishy,” Fahad repeated what was blaring in his own mind. Atharva closed the door to his suite and stared at the wide wall of glass panes that showed a clear view of the Karakoram Ranges beyond. A steep fall of the valley loomed below. The view was like a giant’s mouth, its jaws closing in on him, the peaks of mountains like canines ready to chew him alive. Without her, this place felt like a trap. And for a second, Atharva wondered if he had willingly walked into it. But he flicked that thought away before his skin broke into cold sweat and Fahad noticed.
“I know,” he nodded, going around to the settee and doffing his jacket. Fahad followed suit, looking a lot more jittery than he was showing. He was the perfect man to bring on this mission — ballsy enough to come but also smart enough to balance the hunt. Mirza couldn't be brought on an official trip that had already raised too many questions.
“This Dilshad Khan also wants you to visit their mosque in Nagar. We scratched that out of the itinerary his team offered but he put it back on, saying it is a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity.”
“Check the security there,” Atharva joked, crossing the hall to the connecting door and opening it to Yathaarth fast asleep in his cot. Begumjaan was napping sitting up on the bed’s headboard, her head falling forward. He quietly strode in, set a pillow behind her head and gently pushed her head back. She did not wake up, her mouth opening in a tiny snore. He took soundless steps back. She still did not wake up. Atharva pushed the guilt down. She was spending too many sleepless nights and too much precious energy on him and his son.
“Altaf is…”
“Shhh,” Atharva stepped out of the room, clicked the door shut and turned.
“Go on.”
“I was saying that Altaf is already doing that. If it were up to him, we would be packed and on the plane back home before the hour is up.”
“Where is our man?”
“I just ordered tea.”
The suite bell rang and Fahad shot to the door. Atharva crossed his arms across his chest, turning in time to see the butler roll a trolley of tea and snacks into the suite, the security bubbled outside. The entire hotel was booked for his staff and family and yet, Altaf had made sure that this floor was sealed tight. The rooms had been swept for bugs, and five had been found, switched off and kept aside in case they might have use of them later. All recording devices, none live.
Fahad closed the door behind him and the butler — OTP: Omar Tariq Pasha, bowed with a salam — “Janab, I have arranged two people’s tour to the palace at lunch because…”
“That won’t be needed now,” Fahad informed. “We are already going there in an hour. Officially.”
OTP deposited the trolley in the centre of the room and stood tall — “That’s even better. Soni is there since last week with her chaperones and friends. She will be leaving for her home after lunch.”
“Soni?” Atharva asked.
“Soni Mehrunisa, your wife’s friend.”
“Right. Mehrunisa.”
“Mirza told me to keep an eye on their movements but because of what happened in Srinagar and all the internet issues, I couldn’t send updates. Here,” he reached inside his waistcoat pocket and pulled out a small phone. “They have been out on some occasions, talking about finances and banks with the women. They keep their faces covered most of the time but I got this.’
