'What is it?' The young man offered Bahadur another handful of peanuts for having run a good run on the racetracks against the racehorses - well-aware from the slow drag in his mate's question, that the matter was personal, rather than official 'Go on...'
'I was wondering if I might be able to return home early tomorrow... take a few hours off from work... if it wouldn't be too inconvenient for you?'
'Half a day?' Dusting the peanut shells off his hands, Akbar turned around - having made a quick calculation of what week and month of the year had arrived.'Half a day?' he mulled, his brows creasing into an unconvinced frown to mask a multitude of sly ploys behind it 'With Sayyid away, we're short of hands currently, Ibrahim. May I ask what urgent matter has arisen that keeps you away from work?'
'Actually...' he drawled his words out further 'it's not truly urgent...'
'Is it not?'
'Well...'
Ibrahim's glances incidentally trailed down to his master's boots - and how they'd been stained from being buried deep in the muddy paddocks for hours now. Pinched by a sudden sense of guilt, he looked back up, shoulders stiffened, chin up. 'No... I'll be here Akbar... for as long as you need me... Khuda Hafiz'
'Khuda Hafiz' Akbar nodded, watching his mate resume a steady stride in the direction of the haveli 'See you in two days' time...'
'Two days?' the friend's pace faltered. 'Two days?' he turned around.
'Well... I was hoping you'd take my racehorses to the fair... after the auctions, I expect you might want to camp at the grounds... I've heard that fair is famous for its silk weavers...' he paused a long pause, as if in deep thought 'haven't you mentioned once... earlier... that bhabhijaan is fond of silks?'
'She is...'
Akbar shrugged. 'Maybe you must take her along too'
Ibrahim's face lit up like fireworks, realisation swiftly setting in 'Th... thank you, my friend'
'Mirza Sahib' Akbar kept up the facade of creased brows, though the slyness had crept through by then 'I've told you a hundred times in the past... go ahead and just ASK me, when you need something!' his head tilted towards the valleys below 'Get going, then. Don't you have plenty to arrange for? And yes... do wish bhabhijaan Saal-girah Mubaarak... on behalf of my Begum and I'
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
