part 14

"Consider it reported."

"But..." Babu tried to protest.

"Now sit quietly," Dara said in a harsh tone. "From now on, any reporting will be done with us."

"What do you mean?"

"It means the plan has changed, and you no longer need to report at the Batla House location."

"But this new plan..." Babu tried to say something again but then changed the topic. "I mean, there must be some reason for this sudden change in the plan?"

"Khaleefa," Murad said, "your face always looks like it's mourning Muharram, but today it seems your tongue is affected too."

"Wha... what do you mean?"

"You tell us," Dara said. "Why are you so startled and nervous just because the plan changed?"

"Who's startled?" Babu replied in a composed tone. "Who's nervous?"

"We asked the question," Dara said.

"It's nothing like that," Babu struggled to keep his voice steady and gathered his courage.

"Then what is it?" Dara said in the same tone. "Did your mother die today?"

"She died a long time ago," Babu replied softly.

"Then who died today?"

"No one." Babu, who had now regained much of his composure, said in a steady voice. "I just wanted to know why the plan changed so suddenly."

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because transporting the goods," Babu placed his hand on the briefcase and said, "and delivering them safely is my responsibility."

"So?"

"So, if there was any change in the scheduled plan, I should have been informed."

"This change happened suddenly," Dara responded in a different tone. "It was done for the better."

"Even so, I should have been informed."

Murad, who was the more sensible one in this grim duo, nodded in agreement but remained silent. Dara noticed Murad's reaction and immediately adjusted his tone.

"Suppose I had refused to get into the car?" Babu, sensing an opening, pressed further.

"Then your corpse would be lying back there," Dara said in a violent tone.

"Exactly!" Babu said agitatedly. "There's a pre-decided plan for transporting the goods, which I must follow to fulfill my responsibility. If that set program has changed, for whatever reason, I should at least be informed so I can adjust accordingly."

"Adjust how?"

"Adjust—modify," Babu said. "So that while carrying the goods, I don't mistakenly put myself in unnecessary danger. That's precisely why I should be informed of any changes in advance."

Neither of the two responded.

"Shouldn't I be?" Babu raised his voice and asked.

Dara barely nodded in agreement.

"Then, isn't it justified for me to ask you this question?"

"What question?"

"How did you suddenly end up following me?"

"We told you," Dara said. "Shahji sent us."

"Why?"

"We'll reach his court soon," Murad interrupted. "You can ask him yourself."

"You don't know?"

"Even if we did, we weren't supposed to tell you."

"But..."

"We only know that Shahji gave the order."

"Order?"

"That the program has suddenly changed and that instead of going anywhere else, we are to head straight to the Gurgaon location."

Babu let out a deep breath of relief. That meant the sudden change in the plan wasn't because he was under suspicion but for some other reason.

"Were you waiting for me at the station?" Babu asked, trying to probe further.

"Of course."

Babu was startled.

"Then why didn't you talk to me there?" he asked.

"Shah's orders," Murad replied again.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, if someone was tailing you there, and we made contact with you, wouldn't we have also come under their radar?" Dara said. "That's why it was better to keep our distance, observe you, and only contact you once we were sure you weren't being watched."

"Watched by whom?"

"By anyone," Murad said again. "For example, the police."

"Is this circle under police surveillance?"

"Thankfully, no," Murad said. "We confirmed that no one was watching you—not the police, not anyone else."

Babu exhaled deeply in relief.

That meant things weren't as bad as they could have been—he wasn't under Khurram's suspicion yet. He was, at least for now, safe—coincidentally or otherwise.

Babu readjusted himself in his seat and wondered why he hadn't spotted them at the station earlier. Although he was somewhat relieved now, he still felt the sting of his plan falling apart. Instead of asking further questions, he chose silence and gazed out the window, where the thick, dark evening sky of winter threatened heavy rain.

The car sped through the congested streets of the city.