Paradise, Lost - III

If you haven't read Part II, click here.

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Meanwhile, Mohan had tripped over a platform and landed straight at Gulaabo’s door. Ismail threw him bodily to the edge of the boat. With a growl he said, “Stay away. Nothing for you here.” Mohan’s face remained impassive. But for all the aggression, Ismail betrayed a slight fear.

The next day, Miriam saw Ismail talking intently to Gulaabo when she got back from an exceptionally wonderful hour alone on the shikara with Mohan. The sight of Ismail whispering to Gulaabo bore bad tidings. Gulaabo motioned to Miriam. Breaking her silence for the first time in years, she said to Miriam “No soldiers…No soldiers. Stay away from him or leave.” Miriam looked straight into those grey eyes with crushing dread. “Gulaabo… Mohan loves me... He wouldn’t hurt me.”

“No soldiers... You will get us killed.” She shook her head, dog-like.

Miriam told Mohan all about Gulaabo’s warning next morning. Cold steel shone through his eyes as she yelled, “Sitting with her dead roses all day. She wouldn’t survive a day without me but she thinks she rules me.”

“I have to go”, Mohan had suddenly stood up.

“What..? Why..? Don’t go now… Gulaabo is forgotten. I’ll pack my bags and come with you. Let’s go away somewhere… Who are they?”

They had floated along the River Jhelum into a secluded corner and Mohan was waving over a boat of men in fatigues. Over her own talking, she had not heard his walkie-talkie go off. The men were armed. “Ismail is the kingpin,” one of them said.

Mohan suddenly looked like a man, possessed. He had pulled out a shotgun. “How many men does Gulaabo hire for the shikaras?”

Miriam was alarmed at his change of demeanour. Ismail’s warnings ringing in her head, she trembled.

“What? Why? Ismail... Q-Qadir... Bashir... Why? What’s wrong?”

“Listen to me. Stay away from Gulaabo… And don’t come back to the shikara anytime soon. Find shelter in one of these houses. I know you are not involved but danger is looming over the lake.”

He jumped in with his fellow men into the other boat and was gone in minutes. 

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Read Part IV here.