“When will Nagar get the good fortune of hosting you again? You should not miss this chance…”
“I’ll try my best,” Atharva affirmed, wondering this boy-king was pushing him. The Mir, who had warmed up in the interim of their conversation, suddenly turned cool. A hard, calculating look passed across his eyes.
“Would you have declined if it was a temple?” He asked. Atharva frowned.
“I am so sorry about this,” Dilshad Khan returned, pushing his mobile into his jacket pocket. His mouth was smiling behind his moustache but his eyes were trained on the Mir, as if having some silent conversation of his own.
“Are you ready to go to our next stop, Kaul sahab?”
“I was just telling Mir sahab that I might be coming down with a headache…”
“Oh, do you want me to call a doctor for you?”
“No, I’ll be fine after a tea and a nap.”
“Let me treat you to our best tea then.” Dilshad Khan was not relenting.
“I told CM sahab that he should not miss the chance to see our Nagar Jami,” the Mir butt in, as if lodging his voice.
“Now our Mir has said it, you have to come. Don’t worry, the tea I will treat you to will wipe off that headache in an instant.”
Atharva’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He reached inside and pulled it out.
FAHAD
Not here
5. Roke zamaana chahe, roke khudayi…
“Roke zamaana chahe, roke khudayi tumko aana padega…” Dilshad Khan hummed along to the car deck. He was very lax with his own security for a country that was known to blow up random public places out of sheer negligence. He had just casually come and sat in Atharva’s car, personally taking him to their ‘world famous’ tea stall for his headache. Then onwards, he had their car drive down the Baltit Fort, Altit Fort, followed by their village lake. It was all very picturesque but Atharva felt every muscle in his body fidget at the tick of time.
Fahad had snuck out from the royal palace. She had not yet left for Sikardarabad. She had taken a palace car to some school. With her niece. This was their chance. Atharva did not know how convincing Fahad would be but he would try his best. A phone call would have to do. He would have to talk to her over the phone…
FAHAD
She left from school with her niece
Going back to the palace
ATHARVA
Still have two places to finish here
Get her
He had no other option left now. It had come to nabbing her. Atharva pulled the contact for OTP. He had a backup of men ready to do just this. Plan C and their final desperate call.
ATHARVA
C activated
OTP
OK
He didn’t want to put her through the horror but this was it. If he wasted this day, tomorrow was packed. He was to leave the day after.
“Kya gaane bante the uss zamaane mein…[26]” Dilshad Khan’s voice broke his chain of thoughts. “Mmm… hmmm… jo vada kiya woh… umm mmm hmmm mmm…”
