“What is it? You still having headaches?”
“No, No. No breathlessness, no bad headaches, nothing from smoke inhalation. Relax. I’m just… There is so much on my mind right now. You guys have to start campaigning in your constituencies too, I have to contest from two places. And in all this…”
“Adil is still not back either,” Samar stated. Then observed Atharva for any signs of confiding. None. He showed none. Their friend was kidnapped and Atharva wouldn’t even trust him enough to tell him, to hell with the recordings! Now he was determined to have them, one way or another.
“Did he contact you?” Samar pushed. Atharva and Adil had made up a great little story and sent Adil to his family home when they had left for Ladakh.
“He will be back soon.”
“He messaged me ‘No questions asked.’ So I didn’t pry. But that was two weeks ago. He has never gone away like this. Aren’t you worried?”
“He’ll be ok,” Atharva looked up at the sky again.
“You know something.”
“Don’t worry about it, Samar.”
“Fuck you, Atharva! Talk to me. For once talk to me about what’s going on.”
Atharva looked at him, terse, Captain Kaul — “Don’t worry about it. He will be back before he is needed.”
“He has gone away for your work. Yes?”
He didn’t react. And Samar let out a disgruntled laugh — “You know, in SFF, everyone called me your favourite. But it is Adil who you always quietly favoured.”
“I didn’t save him food on our missions,” Atharva pointed out.
“And yet, only he knew your strategies before everybody else did.”
“You can’t be jealous, little girl.”
“Trust me, I would have preferred to have your strategies over your rations!” Samar snorted. “I know things have not been great lately. But don’t worry. We will get through this. If there’s something that’s troubling you, you can tell me. We will deal with it together.”
“My cross to bear.”
“That’s what you said as my Captain too.”
“Still holds true.”
“And I still have your back.”
Samar reached inside his pocket and pulled out the box. He held out one cigarette, and Atharva’s brows rose. But he accepted it and pinched it between his lips — “You started again?” He managed from the corner of his mouth, leaning in as Samar flicked the lighter.
“Just for today.”
“Liar,” Atharva smirked, taking a puff. “If you just got this for today then you wouldn’t have a lighter.”
“Being with Iram has made you very… woman-like observant.”
Atharva passed the cigarette to him — “Agreed. I was more observant when I was with her.”
His ears stood to attention. “Was?”
“Working with Amaal lately has made you all… gossipy.”
His throat dried more, if that was even possible. “How is Iram?” He changed the topic.
“Good.”
