Page 266 of The Circle of Exile
“There was an emergency conference call with KDP high command, HDP executive committee and the high-level stakeholders from Punjab and Uttarakhand.”
“Don’t create this suspense.”
“And they agreed to North India Development Party to be registered.”
“And? You will lead it?” Her mouth dropped open.
“No. I am not in the picture anymore. But there are some feelers from Janta Party. They want to align with NDP, if it is formed…”
“In spite of what Qureshi did in Kashmir?”
“That’s state, this is centre. Alliances are like live-in relationships. Janta is diluted in north. They have the national identity but grassroots are weakened. And their members and our new members that Vikram and I have cultivated have been working closely anyway. There is a camaraderie building.”
“So?”
He stared at her.
“Atharva, if you remain silent one more second…” she picked up a pillow to hurl at him when he said — “They might want me to lead North India. The entire pre-poll alliance of North India.”
“Lead?” Her hand lowered. “Lead, as in?”
“In-charge,” he smiled, the glow of purpose, the glow of a mission burning bright in his eyes again. He had been working all these months but now there was a focused look on his face again.
“I don’t get it.”
“I do not belong to any party anymore. But I know all these parties inside out, including Janta. I will be the central point of connect for them through this election. Janta and NDP are planning to enter a pre-poll alliance. It’s big. But it would mean more frequent travel for me. Short day trips or a few days a week. Are you ok with that?”
“Yes. Yes! Of course, I am ok. Wait, NDP is registered?”
“Day after tomorrow. We are going to Delhi to register NDP with Samar at its helm.”
“Not Qureshi?”
“Qureshi has gripped Jammu-Kashmir, but Samar’s name and face is plastered across the rest of North India.”
“Will Vikram also be going with you?”
“Withus.”
“Us? What will we do there?”
“I have half a day’s work there. Go with Samar to file party papers at 10, then Yogesh Patel wants to meet me at 12. After that, we can take the weekend off and show Yathaarth the city. I want to show him Amar Jawan Jyoti and the National War Memorial. Show him his grandfather’s name etched there. The August heat will be crazy but we will manage…”
She smiled, cupping his jaw and thumbing the curl of that mouth that was down after a long, long time. “We will.”
His smile widened.
“From political strategist to… what is this job profile?” Iram asked.
“Zone In-Charge. Not an official job profile, but, Iram, it’s exciting work. Nine months of readying an entire zone to go into election? And that too the largest election in the country. I haven’t been more wired about a challenge since… maybe since Kashmir 2014.”
She pushed the laptop away from between them and slid closer to him. His arm came around her, pulling her atop his knee and then into his lap until she was straddling him. Her mouth opened even before his head had begun its descent and then she was kissing him just as desperately as he was kissing her. The spark lit anew and even though they had been doing this almost every night, this time, as he stripped them both and buried himself inside her, Iram was sure that the wins of his work life were soon going to translate into the win of their love life.
50. Raah kaunsi jaaoon main?
Raah kaunsi jaaoon main?
Chaurahe par lutata cheer
