“Shazia, I have to stop you right there. We have news that Sufiyaan Sheikh is missing.” The moderator pinched his earpiece. “Our reporters are live from outside his residence, and the CBI is already at the doors… Anis, what can you see?”
“Sourav, I am standing here outside Sufiyaan Sheikh’s residence. He was supposed to watch the results live here with his team but twenty minutes ago, the CBI has raided it. At first, they were denied entry, then only five officers were allowed on foot. While Sayyid Butt is said to have been apprehended inside, Sufiyaan Sheikh is missing. His various offices and constituencies are being searched as we speak…”
“What is the ground reaction on this?”
“Sourav, the crowd here is massive and all Awaami supporters. But none have the answer to the question — Was Aamir Haider loyal to India? There seems to be silence around. The dhols have stopped, the celebration is halted. There is confusion everywhere.”
“Thank you, Anis. For our viewers joining us right now, let us play the Aamir Haider treason tapes again…”
Aamir Haider and treason in one sentence. That ought to have cooled the fire inside him. Samar tried to sigh, tried to exhale, tried to give up all the pent up rage of 12 years. Couldn’t. That meant it would cool down when they had formed government and he was behind his desk — as the Health Minister of Jammu & Kashmir.
His phone rang. Adil.
He picked it up this time.
“Hello?”
“Did you send this to the CBI?”
Samar did not hesitate. “Yes.”
Adil paused. He was not happy. Samar had made peace with Atharva and Adil turning away from him when he did this. But he had to do this.
“Working Committee meeting is tomorrow morning,” Adil informed and ended the call.
“Sir, we are here.”
Samar pulled his earphones off and paid, getting out at the airport.
————————————————————
Late that evening, Samar walked into the KDP Boulevard Headquarters and did not recognise it. It was lit up, the firecrackers still bursting outside. The deluge of congratulations and handshakes and hugs made him startle. He realised what a feat this was. He also realised that they had achieved it. That they had done it.
Samar smiled, slapped backs, shook hands. And while walking down the atrium, its white flooring gleaming, he flashed back to a white snow-covered garden of Atharva’s house and football on ice, an empty office behind them, with prospects so bleak that their weekdays were spent idle.
The weight of this victory suddenly sat on his shoulders and he realised that he would soon be working in the thick of a ministry. The Health Ministry. The reports, the plans, the consolidated data that was already sitting in his laptop, ready to be implemented… a thrill sparked through him. After months of destructive work, he was finally entering a constructive phase of his life again.
Samar opened the strategy room and found it blessedly empty. He sat down on a chair and took the moment to settle the excitement that rolled through him. He hadn’t felt that emotion in a long, long time. Or maybe he had… in small bursts… in the anticipation of seeing her.
The door burst open. He turned.
“Where have you been?” Atharva roared.
“Delhi. But you already knew it.” He rose to his feet. Atharva stepped inside the room and closed the door.
“Look, now you would believe, that I am loyal to KDP.”
“When you stole from my safe?”
“I stole for the betterment of KDP. For Sufiyaan Sheikh’s downfall. Didn’t you say you wanted to burn the man when he tried to rape and torture Iram? Here he is, absconding. He is running for his life like a dog… The CBI has raided his house, his offices, even Sayyid Butt is under investigation. Their party records are being opened. Come on, Atharva! Don’t pretend you don’t like this?”
“Why.”
“Why? Why? Because you never trusted me with anything. I kept asking you, even after we returned from Leh. I kept asking you about Adil, about what’s going on. You waved me off! Every. Single. Time.” Samar blasted. “But I never gave up on our party. Sayyid Butt had been trying, but I always, always gave him smaller victories to protect us. He had his trap set for you. I came and told you. But what did you do? Make Iram interim president! Not me, not Qureshi, but her?”
“From where I see it, you waited until the final moment to pick your side.”
Was he serious?
