“What is that supposed to mean?”
“You tear out your skin for those you love but burn the existence of those youthinkhave wronged you. There is no in-between for you. This is not the SFF, the world does not work like that. Iram Haider is not equal to Aamir Haider. Getting hold of whatever Adil was after does not bring you eternal peace, not even vengeance. Instead of channeling your energy after a dead man, turn towards yourself and see what’s going wrong.”
Atharva stepped over his leg and stalked away, leaving him sitting there, gaping at his back. Samar sat there for how long he himself didn’t know. Pain wasn’t realised, nor were Atharva’s words. Except —Turn towards yourself and see what’s going wrong.
The lone lamppost flickered. Samar stared up at it. The bright light made his vision go dark. And then suddenly, it went out. The space drowned into darkness. His vision went even blacker, spots of bright blue still floating in memory of the light. Samar braced himself on the ground and crawled to the nearest support. A wall. He sat up against it, wiggled himself to breathe better and began to feel the throbs and aches. He hunted, pulling out the lighter and his pack of cigarettes.
His fingers were bloody. His lips were aching. He held a cigarette between his fingers and pressed it between his lips. He clicked the lighter. Momentarily, there was light. His cigarette was lit. And then everything went dark again.
The butt glowed soft orange in the dark, blurry to his eyes. He patted around for his specs, then gave up. He didn’t even know if they had survived the fight.
Samar smoked, smelling tobacco and blood burn into air.
Shutters of a window rattled. He stopped.
The shutters squeaked, and groaned open. Above him.
He held the smoke in his mouth.
He felt her. On her windowsill.
He kept holding the smoke in his mouth, pushing the cigarette into the ground.
She stood there a second, her breath audible.
He kept holding his.
Smoke and Amaal could never breathe the same air.
It was punishing.
He sat there.
And then, he heard the shutters pull shut.
Samar rolled his eyes to confirm it.
And then, he released the smoke.
His mobile vibrated.
FARIS (Airtel)
Adil has woken up
————————————————————
“Sir, you do not have clearance.” The guard barred his way.
“Move,” Samar ground out.
The man folded his arms in front of him. The ICU was silent. Samar whizzed his eyes to the glass window, blinds half open. Adil’s was the first bed in line. His eyes were closed. Samar couldn’t see his machines from here.
“I am his doctor.”
The guard shook his head, then suddenly stood to attention. Samar glanced over his shoulder and Atharva was marching down the alley. Cleaned up. Clean-shaven. His scar torn open and purple. He didn’t give him a second glance as he whizzed past them and opened the ICU door.
“Step aside.” Samar bit out to the guard. “I am not going in.”
