Page 188 of The Circle of Exile
Iram stared dumbfounded as she threw her hair delicately over her shoulder and walked off, her heels tittering on the glistening road. She gaped at Saba over her shoulder, wondering how people had the gall to own righteous indignation after doing something so repugnant.
“How is she here?”
“PR associate of HDP.”
“Amaal didn’t even demote her?!”
“Let’s go.”
“Atharva,” she caught his forearm, thwarting his attempt to turn her towards the cafe.
“Yes?”
His phone buzzed. He didn’t break eye contact with her but reached inside his pocket and pulled it out. He got a peek at the caller.
“One minute, it’s Samar… Yes?”
Iram hung back, eyes on him, trying to read him.
“This weekend?”
Her eyebrows rose. His eyes went into the distance.
“Of course, I can. But are you sure…? Hmm… And Zorji?”
Now she was curious. It had been a while since she heard all these names in one single minute.
“Ok, I will go. Send me the itinerary.”
She didn’t even wait for him to end the call — “What happened?”
Iram hated that there was hope in her voice. She hated more that he looked torn as he said — “It’s a membership drive. Here, in Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spiti. Samar is caught up in KDP in Jammu. He wants me to go.”
“That’s…” her mouth dropped open. That wasn’t the best news but it was good news. “Are they sure it’s safe for you to go?”
“Lahaul and Spiti are remote. Very sparse population. They are the Leh of Himachal. And even if the matter is still hot in Kashmir, it has cooled down visibly in the rest of the country.”
“So… you will go and recruit new members for KDP?” She couldn’t curb the excitement in her voice.
“HDP, yes,” there was a small spark in his eyes. Tentative, hesitant, but there. Iram forgot the bitter taste from five minutes ago and felt her mouth stretch into a grin. Her grin turned sly as she leaned closer. His ear dropped to her mouth out of reflex.
“Do you need a speechwriter, Janab?”
36. If…
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
…Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling
