Page 248 of The Circle of Exile
“Correction — What wouldIdo without you? You stretch five ways to make things work for me, myani zuv.”
“It’s not a competition.”
“I know.”
“And this is the least I can do when you are stretching five hundred ways to take us back home.”
“It’s not a competition.”
She laughed — “Oh, I know.”
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“…left from here, Atharva.”
“Baba, shola-shola song!”
“Sorry, what was that?” Atharva spoke into the single wired earphone jammed inside his ear as the exit for Amritsar came closer.
“I am in Nowhatta right now and Mirza is gathering the groups you listed.”
“Good,” Atharva checked the side view and turned the indicator on.
“Shola-shola song!” Yathaarth demanded.
“Baba is on a call, Arth,” Iram quietened him.
“They are your first line of workers, Vikram. They are not KDP volunteers. So there is no clash of interest. You know what to do.”
“Bhaiya, last time you were with me every step of the way.”
“This time I am with you in spirit,” Atharva laughed, then slowly changed the lanes on the highway as the exit came closer.
“My cash will vanish in Kashmir itself. I don’t think I’ll have money for even tea by the time I reach Leh.”
“Sonam will take care of you.”
“But he is KDP.”
Atharva nodded, turning the wheel and driving under the banner reading — Amritsar 18 KM.
“He will take care of you. If you need money, or anything else, contact him.”
“Not… your other contact?”
“No. Never him.”
“Ok. Janta workers are going to gather by tonight.”
“You have the map, you have the constituencies. Take preliminary meetings today, get a sense of the place and the people. We will talk more tomorrow. Yes?”
“Yes, Bhaiya… and, Bhaiya?”
“I am here.”
“People still talk about you.”
Atharva cut his eyes to Iram.
