'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 the chap's question, that the matter was trivial, 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. It was nearly spring. The Bahaar mela must be going on, in some town nearby - with plenty of food and confectionery stalls possibly lining many-a-street.
'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, Azeez. 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...'
The young chap's glances incidentally trailed down to his master's muddy boots. And then he looked back up - shoulders stiffened, chin up - aware that such a gesture had gotten their fellow-man Ibrahim an additional two days' leave from work sometime back.
'No... I'll be here Khan Sahib... for as long as you need me... Khuda Hafiz'
'Good! Khuda Hafiz' Akbar nodded, watching Azeez resume a steady stride in the direction of the haveli 'See you in two days' time...'
'Two days?' his pace faltered, his hopeful face beginning to light up like fireworks. 'Two days?' he turned around.
'Well... I was hoping to take my Begum out of Parnagarh... I'd promised her I'd do so... I expect you'll stay back and tend to the affairs at the stables here when I'm gone...' he paused a long pause, as if in deep thought 'The Bahaar mela should be up now, shouldn't it? Haven't you mentioned once... earlier... that it is popular for its spice-stalls and condiment-sellers? I take it, Harka Sahiba would quite enjoy that...'
'Yes... she would...' he nodded, his spirits sinking like a boat with two holes. 'And I would enjoy it tremendously too!'
'Shah Sahib...' Akbar kept up the facade of creased brows, though the slyness had crept through by then 'Get going, then. Get to work. There's plenty to do.' his head tilted towards the valleys below 'And yes... thank you on behalf of my Begum and I... for if it were not for your wise suggestions, visiting the bahaar mela would have never struck me otherwise'
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Mannat Har Khushi Paane Ki
