A thump. His head rose. Atharva had sat down on the grass, staring up at Aamir Haider’s house. Samar went closer, keeping his steps light. Atharva was looking at Iram’s house as if somebody had stolen his car.
“Who stole your toy, little girl.”
Atharva’s eyes cut to him. “Get a life.”
Samar sat down beside him.
“How is everything in Leh?” Atharva asked, still looking up at Iram’s house.
“Everything is smoothed out. Nobody will bring Iram’s name into the mix. I spoke to the railway police and local authorities personally.”
“Is everything else settled there?”
Sufiyaan’s men.
“Yes.”
“Good.”
“Here’s where you thank me for maintaining a discreet little army.” Samar pointed, seeing how lost he looked tonight. He had been depleting over the last few days. His symptoms were under control, though.
“Do not say it out loud. I did not hear you. Zorji will wring our necks for even discussing it.”
Samar laughed, the sound grating at his drying throat. He needed another puff.
“Now we can finally put Leh behind us. One tension less.”
“Speaking of tension…” Samar interjected.
“Don’t start. I did nothing to him.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I didn’t touch him, if that’s what you mean.”
“What did you do? What did he say?”
Atharva frowned — “What’s with the gossip, little girl?”
“Do I have to start another damage control mission?” Samar glared at him. Atharva had gone to offer condolences to Sufiyaan Sheikh’s house today. Alone.
“He may have rammed his groin into a table’s edge. A very sharp, wooden edge.”
“The f…” Samar exclaimed. Atharva would one day give him heart problems with damage control. “Cameras?”
“Eight.”
“And?”
“My foot slipped, I knocked into him, he knocked into the table.”
Samar palmed his forehead. “You shouldn’t have done that…”
“I should have done more than that!”
He went silent. They lifted their heads and gazed up in unison. Sky, moon, stars, those things. Where Samar knew Atharva saw all of that, he saw nothing.
“So, what’s the plan now?” He asked, fumbling in his jacket pocket. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Atharva pinching the bridge of his nose.
