𝐌𝐘 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐑, 𝐅𝐄𝐔𝐃𝐀𝐋 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃

CHAPTER ➊➏ • Sardar Slut Khan • Part : 1

The refugee camp of Palan Khet was in the middle of a forest on the damp terrain. The deodar trees covered the passage connecting the main road with the muddy pathway leading to the camp. The wood blanketed the existence of any kind of habitation. It was built with the intention to hide. Hide from the regular civilians.

As all the sawaris of the lorry disappeared into the deodar branches, Nandani along with Sister Martha and Nurse Thomas moved the swollen dead body of the British Soldier with the help of lorry driver Gurtej Singh. Wrapped in jute bags they pulled the body , occasionally rolling it.

"It has become heavy..." Nandani huffed.

"It's due to lack of oxygen Khaani.. this body will get heavier with time." Nurse Thomas replied, pulling the Jute wrapped body with all her strength.

"How are we going to move it... And where..?" A perplexed Nandani asked.

"Ek baar andhera ho jayega.. we will move it to the nearby woods.. and dump it.. nobody will know, including Sardar till then we will have to hide this body." Sister Martha explained the plan.
(Once it becomes dark)

Gurtej Singh had asked and arranged the last room at the diagonal end of the refugee camp. The room was old and unused, but it had a back door, which was planned to be used during dusk, to damp the body. They had a full proof plan. The were only waiting for the execution.

The refugee camp was a planned design, with a tenement style built around a central courtyard. The camp was grouped units around a corridor divided into single rooms with a common rest room. It was a two floored building with an asbestos roof on the first floor.

Nandani along with Sister Martha and Nurse Thomas, somehow msnaged to put the swollen body inside the wooden cupboard. All the three women were relieved that, Sardar Khan hadn't arrived, and they had time. Time for their damage control.

While everyone were overly ornated, there was someone who was cemented at one place. Newton was carefree and indulged in his new found fascination- GulabKali , a female domestic dog from Bazaar, who had captured Newton's attention since the time she had laid her paws on the land of Palan Khet. It seemed as if, Gulabkali urf Gulabi as they fondly called her, had got off the Lorry and straight away entered Newton's heart. The brown furry beauty with hazel eyes had made Newton weak on his four limbs. Her symphonic bark, fluttered Newton's heart. He knew, he wanted Gulabkali. It was love at first sight.

•••••••••••••••••••

September 4, 1947
Enroute To Palankhet

7:00 A.M.

The gusty wind blew through open jeep tousling his hair strands as they moved towards Palan Khet, it was an early sunny morning in Lahore. Along with the weather, Sardar Khan's heart was warm.There was a heartwarming smile on his face. Parthav kept looking at him, as he drove them to Palan Khet. He knew, his Sardar Khan was hopless. This suitor of love, had lost the war of hearts long back. It was time to claim the prize.

"Nandani ji ne abhi han nahi bola hai.." Parthav interrupted Khan Murtasim's day dream.
(Nandani ji hasn't agreed yet)

"Maan jaayegi.. nakhrewali hai.. ziddi bhi.. par Main bhi Khan Murtasim hun.." Murtasim retorted.
(She will agree, definitely a stubborn, but i too am Khan Murtasim)

"Pehle bhi aap Khan Murtasim hi thhe. Nandani ji par aapka kuch nahi chalta." Parthav countered.
(Earlier too you were Khan Murtasim. Nanadani ji doesn't care)

"I give you salary not Nandani.. and what is this Nandani ji... Dost hai tumhari..? Bhabi bulao. Nandani bhabi." Sardar Khan Murtasim declared with a wide smile on his face.
(Call her sister in law)