𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐑, 𝐅𝐄𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃

CHAPTER ➌ • The Three Musketeers

" Tumhe lagta hai, waha jakar tumhe ye sab nahi karna padega. Ye mat bhulo ki batwara aaj ho raha hai, ye pehle ek hi mulk tha. Ek hi soch, ek jese log aur ek jesa Bazaar. Aur tumhari jagah Bazaar mein hi hai, iss taraf ya uss taraf. Tumhe laga tum mere logon ko mere khilaf karogi. Khan Murtasim ko anjam tak laogi. Afsos. " This Venomous declaration of Khan Murtasim was the last straw and it broke the bridge of faith that Shabnam had built for years.
(You think you won't have to do all this there. Don't forget this was one single nation before the partition. One kind of thinking, one kind of people, one kind of Bazaar. And your place is in Bazaar. You thought you will manipulate my people against me. You thought you could bring Khan Murtasim to the end. .. sad)

She knew, this would be the end of her, that she might be killed for saying this. But she squeezed out her last thoughts about the Khan she had served.

"Bohot guroor haina aapko aapke Khan hone par. Hum log chote, aap log bade. Hum mamuli naukar, aap jagirdar." taking further steps towards Khan Murtasim she continued...
(You are so proud of being a Khan right. We are less than you. We are servants you are masters)

"Dekhiyega Khan, ek din aisa aayega jab iss choti soch , iss Khan Riyasat, iski jhuti shaan aur iski satta ke khilaf sabse badi bagawat aap khud karenge. Aapke saamne koi sir uthaye toh aapke liye gaddari hai. Wo din dur nahi Khan, jab iss Khan Khandan aur iske riwayat ke sabse bade baaghi aap khud banenge. Ye meri baddua hai." She cried out loud holding Khan Murtasim's Shawl, pulling it through the length while sitting on the cold marble floor on her knees.
(One day will come, when you will start the greatest revolt against this narrow mindedness, this Khan dynasty, it's fake grandeur. If someone speaks against you, you declare them traitor. That day isn't far when you will be the greatest rebel against this Khan lineage and traditions. It is my curse to you.)

Her words were the last nail in the coffin. It ignited the rage in him. He couldn't contain the beast inside him.

Within seconds he ran his buck knife on her bare neck, cutting it through the throat. Fresh hot blood splashed on his shawl and black kurta.

"Sardar Khan Murtasim Khan, sab kuch bardasht kar sakta hai lekin gaddari nahi." He finally spoke looking at the dead body of Shabnam lying on the marble floor which was now red with her blood.
(Sardar Khan Murtasim Khan will tolerate everything but not betrayal)

••••••••••••••••••••

It was morning 2 A.M. of 14th August 1947. It was 'The Day of Independence'. The Bazaar was empty by then. The Jashn was over. People had descended to their homes. There were piles of daru bottles thrown everywhere. The eatery shops were shut. The neighborhood dogs had entered the premises smelling the half eaten food thrown at the roadsides. The atmosphere was gloomy. The silence of Bazaar made the hustle of the main city more clear. Lahore had not slept. It seemed that there was possibility of another thunderstorm.

Mai was marching from one corner of the Kotha hall to other. The onion tomb halls had separate gates to every hall. The peculiarity of these Kotha Halls was that they had one open courtyard connecting all the gates.

Mai kept on turning towards the old Kotha house gate, waiting for their Sardar Khan.

With a clank, the door of Old Kotha House opened. There stood their Sardar Khan with his usual stoic emotionless face. Only this time he was breathing heavily. His fists were clenched. The blood on the clenched fist of his right hand didn't go unnoticed by Mai.

"Parthav Shashtri ko andar bheje Mai." Khan Murtasim ordered before turning towards the Old Kotha House again. Mai nodded and ran towards the main gate of Bazaar where Parthav had parked their jeep. (Send Parthav Shashtri inside)