I twisted my interlocked fingers together.
"And the kids?" Zaroon asked. "Recruitment?"
"That's just one of the goals... there's a lot going on here. You're on the right side" Jojo answered.
"One of the goals... to rally the youth. They are the trump card of course, with the elections around the corner" Rakhi added.

The elections were around the corner, which would mean a small percentage of people would be undecided. They planned to hold a rally the day Ferozeuddin was going to address a public gathering. They were relying on a big show of power. They must have something big planned.

"We were thinking of meeting the amazing person behind this whole idea," Salaar said stepping forward.
"I'm afraid that's not possible... between us, we wouldn't be having such a long conversation if I didn't know you had a good heart," Rakhi said with a slight smirk.
"That's very kind of you but..."
"I haven't met him yet... I only receive instructions" she said cutting me off. Him?

"How long have you been planning this?" Zaroon asked.
"A year... maybe more. We had to wait for the conditions to be right" conditions that could be exploited. If only I had taken Ammi Jaan seriously.
"The funds...?" Jojo asked tentatively. Salaar moved forward to give them the cheque. We had planned to trace the money so we could see where it went. She gave a low whistle.
"I'll make sure the boss knows who you are," Rakhi said, her eyes bright. I smiled and nodded.
"Well, we'll keep our eyes peeled for whatever event happens tomorrow..." I said moving back. Salaar and Zaroon mirrored my movements.
"Just stay inside... it might get nasty" fear bubbled in my stomach.

I had to talk to Feroze and I had to do it fast.

We exited the building separately. They headed in the opposite direction, to a group of people... when had they arrived? We waited for the car to be brought around.
"What are we going to do?" Salaar said as soon the doors slammed shut.
"We are going to do something... you have done enough" I answered.
"Such concern for my safety... sure you don't feel something for me?"
"Don't. This is serious." Silence descended in the car. I regretted my reprimand but I had to think.

How do I get out of this? Should I talk to Feroze so he could nullify this before it happened? But they wanted to talk to him after the event... In any case, it seemed prudent to talk to him before he got here, just so he was aware. I closed my eyes, I would need the rest.

Uncle EJ gave me a grave look from behind his spectacles. I looked at Rania and she nodded, her eyes filled with worry. Ammi Jaan sat in the corner, notifying every police or intelligence contact we had to gather information and stay alert.
"You could ask Ammi Jaan to talk to him..." Rania muttered. Uncle EJ nodded.
"I can't hide behind these walls and you guys, forever. He's out in the world campaigning and I can't even go outside without an escort" I said bitterly.
"That's not..."
"Not my fault? I know. And yet every single person is ready to blame me. Why? Because we forgot that we're not who we were eighty years ago" More silence. "If Abba(dad) had stopped we might have been in a better position to argue..."
"He didn't think that things would get this bad"
"Putting incompetent people in the most important jobs in the country and he didn't think it would get this bad? We know what he did was wrong..."
"Don't blame Abba, Elena." Rania hissed.
"Why not? I made a mistake and I had to bear it. He made a mistake and I can't say a word?"
"He's our father!" I glared at her.

"She's right you know... he made a mistake and to make it worse, he never considered it to be wrong" Ammi Jaan's voice floated across the room. We stared at her. "After you left Elena, your father was distraught. Izzy wouldn't stop asking questions and Rania... oh Rania had no idea how to move on. He let go. He wanted to see you but could not summon up the courage. He wanted to talk to you but settled for hearing your voice when you talked to me. EJ brought us news of your accomplishments and he was so proud..." Rania sniffled and Uncle EJ placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Ammi Jaan moved forward and looked at me fondly.
"Our firstborn... our stubborn child. Our heir. It was always difficult with you, wasn't it? You always had to fight through..." She knew. I could see it in her eyes. She had known. "Every rise has it's fall Elena... our time has come. You have to make sure that we land on our feet"