Sacred Heart

4.

The next morning when Mannat gets ready, a maid comes for her, delivering a basket and her dadajaan's message.

'He is waiting for her.'

The maid leaves after. Mannat looks at the contents, and finds an invitation inside it. From the Mittal's. She remembers the get together they planned. It's more of a high-end closed party with few invites that atleast includes more than two hundred of people. So much for a closed gathering. Mannat grimaces. For the past four years she has avoided every such gatherings and even after coming here for six months she continued doing so. It was fine and peaceful. Guess her peaceful days are over. Blowing out a mouthful of air, she stacks the files and documents inside her bag along with her laptop and phone. Not to forget the pendrive Ahad gave her yesterday.

Locking her room, she straight goes to her dadajaan's study. Umesh is already waiting for her by the door. He opens it and Mannat silently steps inside. He isn't alone. Asher and Ahad are also present there. While Ahad sits there completely relaxed, Asher is having hard time to conceal the frustration and irritation marring his face.

"Good morning. You called for me?"

Nawaz Sharif Mir stiffly nods, "take a seat Mannat." She takes one and gives her attention to the man behind the desk.

"Have you gone through all the documents yet?" Mannat nods, muttering a yes.

She actually did. Last night after dinner when she actually started learning what's inside those files, she clearly understood what her family is trying to do. They want power in new states. Schemes might be a good step in development, but they won't get you seats or votes but will surely scatter their presence.

"What do you think about it?" asks Nawaz Sharif Mir.

Even if she is, Mannat didn't show her surprise.

"I don't think this strategy will work in Rajasthan dadajaan. If we want majority there, we cannot break it. I don't think a break in trust will be enough for our party supporters to feed off. It might had worked in other states, but there it won't," Mannat speaks with confidence that voices out against her dadajaan's decision.

Nawaz Sharif Mir narrows his eyes as he looks at Ahad and her, "is this what both of you are doing last night? Discussing to go against my plans," Nawaz Sharif Mir has no negative expression for her answer. In fact he chuckles, finding amusement in the conversation. He shakes his head and leans back on his chair.

A smiling Nawaz Sharif Mir. Definitely a great change in scenario for Mannat.

Ahad rolls his eyes at his grandfather's response. "Told you dadajaan. With change in time, strategies also needs to be updated." He comments.

Nawaz Sharif Mir laughs at his words. Pure amusement dancing in his eyes as he leans forward and interwins his fingers.

"Enlightenment how to world is immune to old strategies my dear grandson. I want to know."

"Youth," Ahad says, "they don't frickle on some old trust dadajaan. It takes more to tackle them, rather than just playing trust game." Ahad pauses to look at him before continuing, "the last three years has shown us that the youth will take the answer of their questions and they need result. One of the main reasons why the young MLA were able to throw the old one's."

"But the same cannot be said about in Rajasthan." He shrugs his shoulders, "as much as I don't want to agree, but it has been developing and implementing. This old trick of trust game might destabilize a bit, but that won't make any impact." Ahad explains his point taking his stance.

"You can take over without breaking the trust, you say?" The concept is extremely funny to Nawaz Sharif Mir, "I didn't expect this from you Ahad." He sounds displeased.