Chaturvedi was dying, his mother was being carried away, nothing was stopping.
“I give you until tomorrow evening to resign from KDP. No reasons justified, only that you do not wish to continue in politics anymore. Retire from this field. I will help you set up any business you want as long as it is far away from this city. You will cease to have any contact with your private army. They do not belong or report to you anymore. Until you submit your resignation you will remain under house arrest. If you don’t resign by EOD tomorrow, I will be forced to take this to the founders’ table.”
29. Something was wrong…
Something was wrong. And she had been here long enough to sense when the winds were still. Stillness was a problem at KDP. No firefighting calls from Atharva. No yelling from Samar. Something was terribly wrong. Amaal counted her steps as she entered the Boulevard Road headquarters. Samar hadn’t come to her window last night. He had been coming on and off, there was no pattern. But he hadn’t been at the house this morning or yesterday. Neither had Atharva. Or Iram.
“Amaal, everything is ready.” Fahad came thundering down the stairs, three iPads in hand, looking like he had just woken up.
“Have you not bathed?”
He sniffed his underarm.
“Yuck, Fahad!”
“I applied a deo…”
“What the hell are you doing entertaining the press like this?”
“I was here all night, give me a fucking break.”
“You need a bath more. And language. Go!”
He dealt her a dirty look but handed one of his iPads and strode down the atrium. Amaal snapped open the lid of the iPad, gleaning his notes. Noises on the main door drew her attention and there he was. She shut the iPad and charged at him — “Where the hell have you been all day yesterday?”
Atharva looked just as haggard as Fahad, hopefully bathed, she prayed.
“And what is this?” She lowered her voice, looking at the mess of his facial hair that was neither trimmed stubble nor a full beard. “I messaged you to shave. There are video interviews lined up…”
“Don't start, Amaal!”
“No, you don’t start. You have been going around like this ever since Leh and I haven’t said anything. I thought you would come to your senses and start taking care of yourself soon.”
“I am.”
She rolled her eyes.
Atharva crossed her and she was compelled to follow. They toned down their argument as they walked from between members, party workers, all the people that made this Headquarters the hotbed of activity so close to the election.
“What is this one doing here?” Atharva pointed to a stack of printing material.
“I had bank work,” Noora came scuttling.
“What bank work?”
He crept closer, reaching up to whisper something in Atharva’s ear.
“Who gives you party cash?”
“Shhh!” He hissed. “My personal cash,” he pointed at his crotch. Amaal snorted, needing to throw her head back and scream. Why were all caricatures crossing her path today?! “I can show you, come inside with me.”
Thankfully, Atharva started walking and she didn’t have to wait for more Noora stories.
“Where is Wali?” Atharva bellowed out loud.
“Ahh,” Noora grinned, catching up with them again — “He had to go to the hospital for his grandfather. His sugar is fluctuating bad today.”
“Alright,” Atharva pointed to the mess — “Clear this up, send all the material to Hajan. Why isn’t it there yet?”
