Teaser for Chapter 58
A flurry of shocked whispers rustled the rows in the stands close by. But one word emerged more commonly than most amidst them all
This is unfair...'
How unfair!'
Not fair...'
Unfair' was the first word that popped up in the Shehzaade's mind too. However, he decided to say nothing just then. Maybe it was that veneer of cruelty that was a part of him, like skin. Maybe it was simple curiosity. But, he wanted to see what cards the other player would bring up, to stay in the game.
Huzoor, this is grossly unjust! Khalil accepted the challenge in court... nothing's changed since... Huzoor!' Akbar dragged his bloodshot eyes all the way up - and it stayed there, still as stone, boring into the hostile eyes of his former-master. It was the first time since the fateful evening that he'd done so. And it briefly brought everything around the two men to a halt. A painfully screeching halt - their stares getting so charged-up that it seemed to pull-them-in and repel-them-apart at the same time.
Till Akbar broke away.
By the end of that confrontation he'd got his answers anyway. Justice was not going to be served. Today. Again!
'Ustaad'
Khalil closed in on the gap between them as if he had a secret to share. I am quite convinced that your beloved Begum, Harka Sahiba, broke a few laws and deceived our Huzoor during her visit in prison' he blew over his knuckles, one after another 'now while I do not have any evidence of this fact, all I need to do is share my suspicions with the Huzoor... like how Farooq Sahib shared a few suspicions with the Huzoor about you... and look what happened to YOU in the dungeons... do you want the same fate for your wife?'
The brute curled his lips, exposing an unsightly toothy grin. 'I hear our Huzoor has been lenient towards her so far... I'm certain you don't want to change that!'
Khalil! Afraid of fighting me like a MAN, are you?''Call it what you must!' He put an unfazed palm up to his mentor's face. 'But you cheat, I'll cheat - that is only fair!'
(Subject to modifications)
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