A Little Tangled Up

11 | Terms and Conditions

When Bahadur brought dinner that night, Abid scrutinized him carefully.

“Bahadur naam haina tumhara?” Bahadur nearly dropped the plate in shock and stared at Abid with fear in his eyes.

(Your name is Bahadur, right?)

“Tumhare walid Jalal, aur dada Sadaqat haina.” Abid’s voice was firm like stone, and his eyes were so deep and penetrating that Bahadur felt all his courage drain away. How did this man know about his family?

(Your father is Jalal, and your grandfather is Sadaqat, correct?)

“Tumhe yeh sab kaise pata?” Bahadur managed to ask, struggling to control his fear.

(How do you know all this?)

“Mujhe kaise nahi pata hoga yeh sab? Abid Yazdani hoon main, Asjad Yazdani ka beta. Pichle kai peerhi se tumhara khandan humara wafadar raha hai, aur tum mujhe qaid mein rakhoge?” Bahadur felt as if a bomb had exploded in his mind. This revelation shook him to his core.

(How could I not know? I'm Abid Yazdani, son of Asjad Yazdani. Your family has been loyal to mine for generations, and you think you can keep me imprisoned?)

His family had been loyal to the Yazdanis for generations, but now he was complicit in imprisoning their heir? Why had Akbar Chaudhary ordered him to hold his own brother captive here?

“Sarkar, main...” Bahadur’s voice quivered as he spoke. His ancestors had always taught him never to betray the Yazdanis, no matter what. But with no Yazdanis left around, Bahadur had served Akbar, believing it was the right thing to do. But now, seeing the rightful heir before him, he fell to his knees at Abid’s feet.

(Sir, I...)

Abid stepped back. “Utho," he commanded, and Bahadur obeyed.

(Get up,)

“Ab main jo puchunga, mujhe uska jawab chahiye.” Bahadur nodded vigorously, but before Abid could ask anything, Bahadur hurriedly untied the chains binding Abid, freeing him.

(Now, whatever I ask, I want an answer,)

Abid flexed his wrist as if testing his movement.

“Akbar Chaudhary ne mujhe yaha kyu rakha hai?” Abid already had some guesses but wanted to hear it confirmed.

(Why has Akbar Chaudhary kept me here?)

“Mujhe nahi pata. Woh kuch nahi batate.” Bahadur’s eyes were downcast, his hands clasped together respectfully. Only he knew how terrified he was.

(I don’t know. He doesn't tell me anything,)

“Meri beti kaha hai?” Abid’s voice now held a tinge of fear, worried that Bahadur might bring bad news.

(Where is my daughter?)

“Mujhe nahi pata.”

(I don’t know.)

“Nahi pata? Toh mujhe itne din se kiski dhamki de rahe the?” Abid roared in anger. Bahadur trembled but didn’t move from his spot.

(Don't know? Then who were you threatening me with all these days?)

“Woh Sark... Akbar Sahab kehte the yeh kehne ke liye.” For Bahadur, Akbar had always been his master, but now, in the presence of the rightful heir, it felt wrong to address him as such. “Mujhe nahi pata woh kaha hain. Mujhe toh yeh bhi nahi pata tha woh apko yaha qaid kar rahe hain, meri wafadari apke sath hi hai. Main apko ghar tak chorh ata hoon.” Bahadur hesitantly offered.