Page 178 of The Circle of Exile
“We will.”
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They locked all the last doors of the house and stepped out into their driveway. Two cars and countless staff members stood. The Innova was groaning with the weight of their luggage, Noora at its helm, idling the engine.
Atharva nodded at the private security lined up on one side, Shiva’s minions on the other. Zain clicked his heels together. “Sir.”
Atharva handed Yathaarth over to Iram and reached inside his pocket for the envelope of salary cheques. They were leaving mid-contract, but he had covered a three-month severance package, plus some more. He handed it to Zain.
“Two of your staff are enough to guard now. Safiya Begum will have spare keys for the house. She can come and go at any time.”
“Yes, sir.”
"Thank you for everything.”
Zain nodded, his face turning to Iram and softening at Yathaarth. “Ma’am.”
“Thank you, Zain.”
“Sir.” Altaf strode to him. “The mains are now off.”
Atharva nodded.
“Madam,” Altaf tipped his chin to Iram.
“We will see you again, Altaf,” she smiled. Atharva had never felt more pessimistic. But she was making up for it, holding Yathaarth up for Altaf’s open palm. Their son smacked Altaf’s palm and laughed.
Atharva steeled himself further and strode down the steps, walking to the open door of his Land Rover. It had been years since he had driven it without a whole convoy around him. It had been years since he had driven it on an open road, not behind half a dozen of a fleet. He opened the rear door and settled Yathaarth’s car seat tightly. Shiva was settling himself in from the other side.
“Here,” Iram called from behind him and Atharva took their son, pushing him into the car seat and buckling him in. He was grinning his gummy grin, drooling from between wide, happy lips, eyes sparkling. Atharva wiped his mouth and smiled back. Then gently clicked the door shut.
“Do we have everything?” Iram panicked again, patting her purse.
“We have everything,” he affirmed. “Come.” Atharva opened his hand. Without a single second’s delay, she lay her hand in his and let him guide her the rest of the steps down.
As she rounded the car to get into the passenger seat, he got behind the wheel. Atharva did not glance at his house again. He did not try to count if he had forgotten anything. He did not let this be goodbye.
He push-started the engine, clicked his seatbelt, turned the wheel and drove down the estate road.
The sky opened and under a bright, shining sun, rain began to drizzle on his windshield. It didn’t need the wiper yet. The bend of the estate rose ahead. And even when this wasn’t goodbye for him, his eyes went to the sideview. Once.
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The slope spiralling down the hill of his house took him away from the closed gates, the rain turning heavier. Atharva toggled the wipers on, keeping the car slow, waiting for Noora to get his bearings behind him. When he was sure the Innova was stuck to his rear, Atharva glanced ahead and accelerated. Then screeched to a halt as a blur came in front of his car.
Iram screamed, throwing her arm back to hold Yathaarth.
Atharva pulled the handbrake. “Is he ok?”
“Yes, laughing…”
He peered ahead at the blur that was now straightening to his full height, backpack and a suitcase loaded on his person, head bent under the rain.
“Daniyal,” Atharva growled.
He ran around and to his window. Atharva pushed the button.
“What the hell do you think you are doing?”
