“As I said,” Samar intoned. “Lal Chowk has been the symbol of dissent in Kashmir. It still does not hoist the Indian flag. A man like Atharva can turn tides in such an area. Not just for that area but for the rest of the valley and the country where it will be telecast live.”
“I thought you are also an India-loyalist, Samar sahab.”
“Make no mistake about that,” Samar asserted.
“Even after your SFF stripped you of everything?”
“Hmm.”
“Thank you for this…”
“I need Atharva out of the way,” Samar cut him off. “Sooner rather than later. It is becoming difficult to work under his suspicion. If he doesn’t oust it to the working committee, they will figure it out soon with the way he has been behaving around me.”
“Patience, Samar sahab, patience.”
“Voting is three days away.”
“So?”
Samar’s eyes opened wide. Butt was not going to discredit Atharva. That would give Atharva a chance to rebut. He was going to… stop him… or… end him.
“What are you planning?”
“You’ll know it sooner rather than later.”
————————————————————
“Scale up Atharva’s security.” Samar proposed at their founders’ meeting the morning of their last roadshow in Srinagar.
“His security is anyway tight,” Qureshi pointed.
“Yes, but we are talking a road show through Lal Chowk.” Samar looked at Atharva.
“They won’t get too far by targeting me,” Atharva clipped. “Kill me and three days later my party sweeps every vote. It’s still a KDP CM,” he pointed his chin at the two of them. Samar swallowed.
“But Samar is also right,” Qureshi tapped his pen. “No harm in being vigilant. We are at the tail end of the campaign. Let’s not tempt fate.”
Atharva shrugged.
Qureshi stood to his feet. “Today’s roadshow might be taxing for Adil, but will he be able to come for the final rally tomorrow?”
“He is getting discharged tomorrow. Let him rest,” Atharva droned.
“This accident came out of nowhere. Is he good to campaign for Jammu?”
“Yes.” “Hmm.”
Qureshi glanced from Atharva to him, his eyes telling them that he knew something big was amiss. But Qureshi was not a man to obsess over the small things. He played the big game, the long game. He sacrificed small battles for the larger war. Samar couldn’t learn to do that.
“Formal security plus the militia,” Samar spelt out, staring at Atharva, effectively ending the topic.
“No.”
“Yes,” he fought.
“Why militia?” Qureshi frowned.
“Let’s be safe.”
