Samar pulled off his aviators and held out the peace offering to her — a padded file.
“What is this?”
“Awaami Party’s plans for Jammu.”
To her credit, she did not waver as she accepted the file and didn’t even peek into it in front of him. “Why are you handing it to me?”
“You are the Party President right now, no?”
“How did you get it?”
“I see Atharva and Zafarji have trained you well.”
“I have very little time to listen to your taunts, Samar.”
“Then listen to my advice,” he sighed. “Beware of any threats from Awaami. I have put in a request to multiply your security, but until then, watch your back. They don’t want Atharva on the Jammu tour. They will try to target you or him.”
“Is that why you proposed yourself so generously?”
“Listen, Iram, you think you understand everything. But this world, this entire election, goes much deeper than this circus. Trust me, take cues from my hints, and make the decisions. We both want to save Atharva. And his life.”
“Is that a threat?”
He barked a bitter laugh — “What did he tell you about me?” Samar shook his head. “I am that surgeon who trekked miles to find him when the entire Platoon had given up hope. I am the first man who stood behind him when he said he wants to do nothing but work for Kashmir, even at the cost of a cushy job in Delhi. I have known him way longer than you do, I care for his well-being way more than you do. So don’t come out here and ask me again if I am threatening him.”
“Then do not give me these scares from Awaami. Do something to neutralise them.”
“I am. But I do not want Atharva Kaul to become a political killing casualty in jail. Let’s take attention away from him and onto me.”
“Let’s put this to vote tomorrow,” Iram countered. Then smirked.
What a loser of a woman. Samar wished Atharva could see her right now. The opportunist.
She turned on her heel and walked into her house. The house that had belonged to all of them just twenty-four hours ago.
————————————————————
“This is your Captain speaking. We are ready for taxiing. Our flight time from Srinagar to Jammu will be 40 minutes and we…”
Samar’s phone rang.
“Sir, please switch off all electronic devices,” the air hostess smiled. Samar nodded, taking the call — “Tell me.”
“Hello?” It was Adil. “Atharva has been released.”
A deep, cool breath left his mouth.
“How?”
“They couldn’t identify him.”
“Right.” Samar understood. He did not ask Adil what it had cost. The bank statement for the month from across their party accounts would give him a fair idea.
“Is he out yet?”
“Signing the release paperwork.”
“Health?”
