pyaade se pit gaya Wazir
chaloon aakhiri chaal ki baazi chhod virakti rachaaoon main?
Raah kaunsi jaaun main?
Sapna janma aur mar gaya,
madhu ritu mein hi baag jhar gaya,
tinke toote hue batoroon ya navsrishti sajaaoon main?
Raah kaunsi jaaun main?
Do din mile udhaar mein,
ghaaton ke vyapaar mein,
kshan-kshan ka hisaab loon ya nidhi shesh lutaaoon main?
Raah kaunsi jaaun main?[76]
- Atal Bihari Vajpayee
NH44 gave way to the roads of the city. Atharva drove his car filled with his family into the National Capital Region of Delhi and straight to Sansad Marg Area. Samar waited outside the Election Commission of India Office, cleaned up as if it were his wedding.
Atharva parked the car and left it idling for the people inside.
“You got your baraat too?” He quipped, stepping out and shutting the door. Samar glanced around him — his team of seven, plus a few members from HDP. He smirked. “We are not making a spectacle but they need to know that it’s not just a small-time party.”
“Heyylo!” Yathaarth’s head popped out of the back window, waving at Samar. Atharva stepped aside as Samar strode to the car and tickled his forehead, like it had been their tradition lately. “Look who is going to see Delhi today.”
“Me!” He jumped without thought but Samar’s hand padded his hit to the window frame. “And Mama, and Noona and Baba!”
“Hi, Samar,” Iram turned her head from her passenger seat.
“Hi, Iram. All set?” He smiled. They had come to a polite stage, which was more than Atharva had ever expected. Amaal had played a role in bridging the gap.
“I’ve kept sugar off but as you can see…” she gestured to their son. And Noora, who was bouncing with him.
Samar chuckled — “Celebrate for us today. I am flying straight to Srinagar after, so party hard in Delhi. Some sugar is good for health. Doctor’s word,” he took Yathaarth’s face in his palm and shook. He loved it. “Again!”
Samar did it again.
“Ok,” Atharva cut in. “It’s 9.56. Samar, you can come home to play this weekend.”
“Noora, come out,” Samar ordered.
“Why? I am on picnic.”
“Join the party, stand with them.”
He scoffed at Iram — “Huh, they need crowd. Biryani and 5000 rupees.”
“How about I give that all to you from your last salary?”
“Works…”
“This month’s salary. That will be your last.”
