“What is Atharva working towards?”
Silence.
“Say no if you can’t answer.”
Still silence.
“Adil.”
“I think,” Adil sighed. “I know why you are asking this question today. And no, I don’t know the answer this time. What I can say, observing everything from here, is that he may be working in politics but he is not working towards any goal in politics.”
“Then?”
“He is working towards coming back home.”
“Has he said anything about it to you?”
“No.”
Samar believed Adil today. Because Adil had the option to say he couldn’t answer. They had come far enough in their friendship to be that honest now again.
“Samar.” Adil’s voice went low. “I don’t know what Atharva has done this time, but it’s far from personal, for either of us. He seems to be fighting a whole other battle.”
Samar glanced up, and now Yathaarth was in Atharva’s arms, being thrown up and caught back. Iram was trying to stop them, so Atharva turned his son upside down and hung him over his arm, making the boy howl in joy. A smile touched Samar’s mouth. If he asked Atharva, maybe Atharva would tell him what he was after. But if he did not want to tell him in the first place, then it was not his place to ask.
“I agree,” Samar told Adil. “I’ll talk to you later.”
He pressed End Call, turned, and walked back to his car. Samar got behind the wheel and unlocked his mobile again. There were many calls to return. But he scrolled to the one that mattered, and connected his mobile to his car’s system.
“Hullo, luv.” Amaal’s playful voice filled all the vacuum of his car. Samar felt his smile widen.
“Hello,” he said. “You called?”
“Stop being so nonchalant. Give me all the updates. Wait, are you free now? What time is it there?”
“It’s 9.24 pm,” he glanced at the car clock. “I am going back to the office but I always have time for you. First, how’s Dad?”
“Dad’s good. Occupational therapy sessions started today. Another month, and we will know for sure if he will be able to perform surgery again.”
“He will, he will.” Samar sat back, not starting the car. He had been running for a very long time. This was a moment to become still and absorb. He would reward himself.
“How are you holding up?” He asked.
“You asked me this two days ago when we spoke.”
“I am asking again if anything changed.”
“Nothing has changed,” Amaal’s grin was loud in her voice. “I am still taking time off and working remotely for half a day. Qureshi does not like it but hey, he doesn’t know I am quitting anyway after this term is over.”
Samar chuckled.
“And what about me?” He asked.
“What about you?”
“How long are these bachelor days lasting?”
She paused.
