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Episode -7
CRASH...
The glass fell down from Lana's hands making a loud noise. She was horrified thinki of the consequences. Would that interrupt Khan Sahib's search! What if he was just about to lay his hands on his target and she had distracted him!
"It is all right bitiya! The servants will have it cleared. Let's leave for the feast" Lana's uncle consoled her as he entered the inner corridor.
"No...i...these paintings..." , Lana fumbled not knowing if she could leave half way through when she saw Khan Sahib and his men slip down the stairways. Khan Sahib looked grave, looked up once, and gave Lana a stare and something like a nod before entering the hall and mingling with the crowd.
"Did he find the paper! Does my folly not matter? Was Khan Sahib angry? Upset that her lack of concentration had disrupted his plans? Why did he look so serious? Or was it serious displeasure? Why is it so hard to read his eyes!" The best assortments of excellently cooked food and their exquisite aromas failed to help her feel hungry anymore.
Outside Kuki's home
"I was just...err...she's my friend. I just wanted to surprise her."
"Really! Shall we knock the door and surprise her? "said the stranger amused.
"Look here Sir, it doesn't matter to you what i do as long as i don't peep into your house. But that day YOU were following ME. By the way, how dis you land up right behind me? Were you following me today too?" Kalgiakka snapped saucily.
Why would i? I just happened to pass by and mistook you for a thief trying to break open into someone's house and came closer to check.
"W..h..a...t? Me and a thief?"
"Relax lady. What would you think if someone was hovering around a window in the dark?
" Okay fine. But who are you? You asked me the way to the haveli yesterday. Why haven't you gone there yet?"
At the Parnagarh Haveli
Ibrahim Mirza was almost finished with the letters for the day. When the sight of a perfumed little scroll brought a radiant smile to his face.
It glowed even more as he read the contents.
"Rosejaan! Only your words can have such delicate beauty and grace. They are spinkled with fairy dust and can soothe and cheer even the most disturbed mind! Allah has been kind in making you my jaan!"
Rolling it back, he pocketed it with him for another dozen reads before he slept.
As he stepped out of the corridor, Chachajaan called out to him.
"Jaswant has not returned yet."
"Not yet? He said that he was new to the place! What is holding him still?"
Outside Kuki's house
'Jaswant Das. I am a builder and have been called by the Mansabdar to discuss about the possibility of canal constructions here. I checked into the haveli this morning and shall not be busy till the Mansabdar returns. So i was just taking a stroll when i saw a window-peeper who happened to be my puncher of yesterday. You see madam, it is difficult to address you so. Well, Could i know you better?" The stranger replied in his refined manners that cooled Kalgiakka's rising anger to a great degree.
"He will stay at the Haveli and work along with Azeez Shah. Perhaps it would suit me to help Lana if i befriend him." thought Kalgiakka and introduced herself cautiously. Little did she realise what was in his mind.
"I am Kalgiakka and own a flower farm nearby."
"So you must be knowing the place well. Perhaps you could show me around if it doesn't inconvenience you."
"May be i could use her in my real purpose, the real reason why i came to Parnagarh as she seems to know the place well. She is fearless, walking around by herself in the dark and looks like a gullible gossiper" thought Jaswant to himself. Little did he realise that he had bitten more than he could chew.
At Lana's uncle's residence that night
The mansion was asleep. Lana tiptoed to the roof where Azeez said that Khan Sahib would wait for them all. He had dropped into her room unexpectedly to pass on the message that made the uneasiness of the evening resurface. She knew that Khan Sahib would be cross with her and couldn't bear the thought of it.
As she reached the topmost stair, she paused for a while before she entered the mentioned arena.
"Tomorrow we should lay our hands on the paper Sayyid..." came Khan Sahib's low voice.
She saw the entire group assembled turn towards her and the expression on Khan Sahib's face was as inscrutable as ever causing her stomach to fall into further knots.
Debate Mansion
Anupamaa
521