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EPISODE -17
On the way back to the haveli
Jaswant walked back to the haveli deeply lost in thoughts. Kalgi had been outside the haveli after he left the previous day, from where she had picked up the dropped ring. From where she described she had probably stood there was every possibility that she had seen him as he had slipped into the ante room of the documents room from the narrow railing outside. But thankfully she hadn't. Or was she testing his reaction. No couldn't be that. This girl was the most forthright transparent girl he had met todate and spoke without any reservations or duplicity. He had begun to enjoy her company inspite of himself.
What a night it was yesterday! He might have completed his plans had not the astute Mirza returned and alerted everyone and forced him to make a hurried exit. He had clung himself precariously under a balconette and just hidden by the buttress adjoining the corridor of the documents room, so that he wouldn't be seen by anyone who looked out.
The very thought that he might have been caught in the room or while hiding by Ibrahim Mirza sent chills down his spine for he couldn't jeopardize his family reputation at any cost. And he couldn't find othee means either to carry out what he wanted to. The Mansabdar's team was efficient and loyal. He had to think of another way altogether or choose his other plan.
He had overheard vaguely from his hiding, the Mansabdar's plan of substituting some fakes. So typical! And he had thought for a while that the man was forthright. But again he did seem genuine this morning at the canal site. And Kalgi's friend, what was her role in the haveli? He would find out from Kalgi tomorrow. The girl blindly trusted him and he only needed to prod.
He felt slightly uncomfortable at misusing a girl's trust. And it was her birthday the next day. Her company truly cheered him. Tomorrow he would give her a surprise. And genuinely so. At least as a small compensation gesture.
And he had to do something about the ring as well.
Lost in a series of thoughts Jaswant suddenly paused and looked back. He had an uncanny feeling of being observed. There was no one. H e felt the same yesterday at the riverside too. That is why he left soon though he wanted to stay for some more time. But seeing nobody he moved on.
In the haveli
"Anything suspicious?" Ibrahim asked Afzal. "Nothing so far Sahib. i have been keeping an eye on Kalgiakka since yesterday as per your instructions. Yesterday she met the builder from the haveli by the riverside."
" You mean Jaswant?" Ibrahim was surprised."What for?"
"Yes Sahib. i was able to overhear them from behind the bushes. Just a few minutes. They spoke about tattoos and somethings like that. And then he went away. Today too they met there but began to walk towards the farmhouse. So i couldn't hear them. He had been in the farmhouse for for a short time and then came back to the haveli."
"Jaswant had told Khan Sahib this morning that he was familiarising with the place and had made a few friends. May be this is what he meant. Continue to follow up on Kalgiakka till we know about the zergul flower doper."
"Mirza Sahib..." , Afzal paused before he turned to leave. "Mansabdar Sahib is not angry with me anymore, is he?"
Ibrahim smiled, "Not at all. And you will not give him any reason henceforth. Would you?"
"Not at all Sahib". Afzal smiled.
in an old warehouse
Azeez had never felt so helpless all his life. Kuki was angry with him and had been so since morning. They had jumped on to Naaz and fled as fast as they could. A couple of guards on horses had tailed them but Azeez had managed to escape them all. He decided to stop at an old abandoned warehouse, till things settled as he couldn't risk being seen again and Kuki's hair would give them away as she would be recognized from miles.
"Why are you stopping here, Shah Sahib?" Kuki had questioned still cuddling on to him as the new day blossomed. "We could ride straight away to Parnagarh. Can't we?"
"Their men might spot us Kuki." Azeez jumped on to the ground.
" My Shah Sahib can handle a hundred of them, can't he?" Kuki blushed as she dismounted Naaz holding her Sahib's hands.
"May be yes. But i can't afford to be seen. Khan Sahib's instructions. Kuki, actually we were here on Khan Sahib's work"
Azeez went on to give her a minimal outline of their mission. " So i can't put Lana Sahiba's uncle in trouble among his people. We'll leave as soon as possible. "
"You mean that you didn't punch that old woman who tortured me for that bujinesswali's uncleji who called you jamaisa at the drop of the hat? Khan Sahib's work? What? Singing songs at Kali Mandir? Shah Sahib, even now i suppose you come to save me for HER sake so that i don't spill the beans on you and get her uncleji into trouble, and NOT for my sake."
So saying, Kuki pushed her way through Azeez and Naaz and not spoken a word since then.
In the office room
The silence of the room was hanging heavily with everyone assembled having their eyes fixed on the towering man at the head of the table.
" So there IS a Manswar spy in our haveli planted by them whom they are confident we won't suspect."
" Yes Khan Sahib. That is exactly what we inferred from what we overheard." Lana silently heaved a sigh of relief as she realised that she had completed her work without any further errors.
"And Azeez has gone to save HIS GIRL Kuki who happened to accidentally make her way into the haveli on seeing you two."
"Yes Khan Sahib"
"Is she the one Afzal mentioned Ibrahim? The one who makes inquiries on the goings on here?"
Ibrahim shrugged and turned to Sayyid. "May be, i'm not sure. I haven't met." Sayyid mumbled.
"Is there any special friend of yours as well Sayyid. We don't want to be concerned about further suspicious enquiries otherwise."
"You know her Sahib. The sharp shooter friend of mine. There is no other. Right now she's got some exam and there is no one else who would enquire after me." Sayyid said.
"We'll think over what can be done. Meanwhile, Lana Sahiba, there is another task i would entrust you with if you wouldn't mind. There is a box that i would like to be in your safekeeping. i know you can be trusted."
Lana swallowed hard. She had somehow managed this mission with a lot of fumbles. What if she errs this time . And this resoonsibility seemed huge.
But it was impossible for her to refuse Khan Sahib anything he asked her of.
" It would be my pleasure to help you ...and Parnagarh in any way i can Khan Sahib"
In the courtyard
Gauri came in with the scroll that a messenger had just delivered.
"Dhani, have they all come down for dinner?"
"Not yet. And Baisa didn't have her evening drink either. Saira had taken the lovely drink with lemon and mint that Kakasa prepared and Baisa was too busy and forgot to drink that as well."
"Saira, that stable girl." chipped in Bindiya. " She is very cheerful and sings many poems. Together we wrote some verses on the beauty of Parnagarh. We write alternate verses like Antakshari. i like the girl very much. Hope she stays here for some more time before she is shifted to the stables"
Dhani cut short the rattling Bindiya and asked Haiti,"What is that scroll?"
"A message for Khan Sahib..."
Footsteps and voices could be heard and within minutes the table was set. Gauri handed over the scroll to Ibrahim whose face brightened up on reading the contents.
"Bhabhijaan, we are having special guests tomorrow. Akbar, guess who?"
Akbar shrugged. "Bhabhijaan , the only girl who can make Akbar dance to her tunes with her high strung dramatics. She arrives at Parnagarh tomorrow with her friend from Kalimpong."
Akbar Khan's expressios softened and an inadvertent smile lit up on his face. "She is my cousin Heera and a very talented and special girl."
Lana suddenly lost all her appetite.
Outside the peanut farm
It was almost dark and the stars and moon looked like they were playinghide and seek on the sky by hiding behind the clouds and peeping out. Lana, was sullen and nature's charms had no effect on her like they normally did. "Another girl...special to Khan Sahib! , this thought kept nagging her and was dismissed only at the sight of the familiar face that awaited her arrival.
Lana stepped out of the carriage and rushed to greet her best friend in a loving embrace.
"I missed you so much Lana, and have so much to tell you. " said an excited Kalgiakka .
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