Files went to Atharva’s office
Equipment was transported on a moped
It was Adil’s man
Samar glanced at the man by his side, smiling, jovial, slapping his shoulder as he went on ribbing him.
“…if you married a woman, she would hear only ‘Hmm’ and ‘Take this tablet twice a day’ from you,” Adil laughed.
Samar could not return that smile. He was schooling himself to absorb betrayals. And new betrayals kept jumping out.
He pulled his mobile between his fingers and typed.
SAMAR
Find out where
FARIS
Can’t trace
Moped had no number plates
He glanced at Adil, lost in jokes.
SAMAR
Have Adil followed tonight
————————————————————
He hated it. He hated what was happening inside his head. He hated the things he was reduced to doing. Samar stomped on the newly sprouted grass of spring as he stormed around the outhouse and to that back alcove where nothing and nobody came. Even her window was shut and lights off.
He still slapped a palm on it to check. No response.
Everybody was at the glorified engagement party, the music and noise loud.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Samar…”
“Shhh, quiet, Chaturvedi.”
“No… Samar…”
“It’s ok, we will find a way.”
“Go, go please go.”
“Not without you.”
“Go and get them.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”
“Sir, please, sir, I have the coordinates with me, map, firsthand recce…”
“No, Doctor.”
