Page 255 of The Circle of Exile
Atharva still kept quiet. The last few years had not only taught him to drink down threats but also steeled him to insults.
“If Momina Aslam forgets, I will remind her. If Kashmir forgets, I will remind it. You were the man who went across the border and did shady business, and then you were so amoral that you interfered with an investigation…”
“Meer, we all know what happened!” Sarah fought. “Don’t say this… he is your friend…”
“Who is not helping us win again, brainwashing my son against me, and who knows? Plotting against his own party! Let’s go. Daniyal can stay here or rent an apartment. Whatever he wishes.”
Atharva stood unmoved as Qureshi turned and left the house, Sarah on his heels. He saw Iram in his peripheral vision, as still as him. The hall remained still too, silent.
“You said you would not stand by me if I fought again,” Daniyal whispered, on the verge of tears. “Give me until tomorrow. I will find myself a place…”
“Not a word,” Atharva clipped to him. His teeth bit into his lip.
“You don’t want to study ahead?”
He shook his head, his hair falling into his eyes as his head lowered.
“Then what do you want to do?”
“Work.”
“Chop vegetables for Shiva from tomorrow.”
“Not that kind of work,” his head came up, eyes wet.
“Specify then.”
His face crumpled — “Anything but not with him…”
Atharva pulled his head into his shoulder and he burst out crying.
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“God, it’s like raising a toddler and a teenager all at once,” Atharva let out a long drawn sigh as his head hit his pillow.
“Amaal told me this long ago, that we are raising both.”
“I have experience with platoon boys but…”
“Today was unexpected…” Iram lay down beside him, peeping down at the pallet bed set up for Yathaarth on her side.
“He is asleep?”
“Hmm…” She turned to him — “I am sorry.”
“What for?” He kept staring at the ceiling.
“For inviting them. If I hadn’t invited them, this might not have happened…”
“Might not,” he chuckled bitterly. “You know it would have absolutely happened, if not in person then over the phone.”
“But…”
“Qureshi needed a reason, Iram.”
“What do you mean?”
“If he wins, to keep me out — he needed a reason. Now he has one.”
