#Chapter5
/"What could have Ahad done to her? ... What did he say to her?/" Mahnoor said to herself while lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
She reached out for the stuffed bear which she got from Kanwal on her tenth birthday, /"Do you have any idea, Mr Bear?/" Mahnoor asked the bear, holding its both hands and stares into his artificial eyes.
/"Yes,...I am worried about her too./" She said to the bear and hugged it tightly.
It's already past three a.m., but sleep is far away from her eyes. She couldn't sleep, nor function normally after returning from the Basant festival. Her mind is cluttered, she hasn't changed and is still donning the same dupatta she wore earlier.
Kanwal's painful expression lingers in her mind.
Mahnoor knows it's foolish to be talking to a stuffed bear, but she needs someone to confide in, so she told everything to the bear. How she found Kanwal standing alone staring into space and before she could ask her anything, Hammad called for them to come back. Of course, they cannot talk about it in Alina's or Hammad's presence.
/"You know Mr Bear, all this tension is making me hungry./" She said, separating the bear from herself, /"I'm going to rob the fridge. Would you like something too?/" She asks as she placed it on the side and heads for the kitchen.
As she opens the refrigerator, her eyes landed on a bowl filled with Rus Malai and an ear to ear grin is spread on her face. Grabbing a small bowl, she puts a small portion of it and grabs the big bowl after putting the small one into the fridge.
Before going to her room, Mahnoor thought about the horrors she will be facing tomorrow morning when her mother gets to know that she ate most of the Ras Malai alone.
/"But I left some amount, na!/" She would say, justifying herself that she didn't eat the WHOLE bowl alone.
Smiling like an idiot, she went to her room and sat on a chair near the window and study table. Taking each bite, she thanked Allah for giving her such blessing in hunger. Deep in the silence of the night, her attention is caught by a black vehicle going across the road near her house in full speed.
'He would be dead if he doesn't slow down.'
The thought popped up in her mind. It may be a late night and there wouldn't be any cars on the street, but driving this fast on the small streets of the town can be dangerous.
Soon, Mahnoor hears a car screeching sound echoed in the silence of the night.
'He should've listened to me.'
She shrugged and turns her attention back to the bowl in her hand. A few minutes later, when Mahnoor glanced out the window again, she found the same black vehicle parked near her house. She frowned staring at Prado and waited for someone to come out from it or move on, but it never happened and soon, she starts to get an eerie feeling that she is being watched by someone inside the car. Her body shudders at the thought and she abruptly closed the window.
After obtaining full details of the recent updates by the gang's field workers aka sweepers, Moosa came back to home. He was exhausted after running back and forth between the base and the main house. It was his own mistake, to begin with. He was so captivated by the thought of a certain person that he ordered his men to go to the main house, instead of going to the base. And what's more surprising to him was that he didn't realize his mistake until he got a call from Sarmad. Before receiving the call, he dismissed his driver and guards for the day, so now he has to do everything by himself. When Moosa was about to enter his room, he got a call from Ahad's assistant.
Frowning, Moosa answered the call, /"Hello?/"
/"Assalam o Alaikum, Moosa Bhai./" The caller said.
/"Wallaikum Assalam. What is it?/"
/"Moosa Bhai, Ahad Bhai wants to meet you right now./"
/"Right now?/" Moosa sounded surprised, /"Did Ahad or you see the time before contacting me?/" His frown deepened, as he asked in a low voice.
/"B-bhai, Ahad Bhai said he wants to meet you before flying back to Dubai in the morning./"
/"Dubai? He is going back?/" Moosa's brows arched.
/"I guess so./" The respond was uncertain, meaning Ahad didn't tell him and he couldn't ask further.
/"I will contact him directly. Allah Hafiz./" Without receiving a response, Moosa hung up and quickly dialed Ahad's number.
/"Hello Assalam o Alaikum./" After the second ring, he heard Ahad's hoarse voice.
/"Wallaikum Assalam, Ahad. You are planning to go back?/"
/"Yes, tomorrow morning./"
/"Hm! Have breakfast with me before leaving./" Moosa ordered.
/"Okay!/" Ahad said and hung up.
With a slight nod, Moosa slipped his phone back into his pocket.
Things didn't go well with Kanwal...
Moosa's intuition told him earlier and Ahad's attitude was screaming this. Going away for a while would be better for a person like him. Moosa knows Ahad, he is the type of guy who once sets his mind on something, he won't settle down until he finishes it. One of the biggest reasons for his success and Moosa admires this quality of him. But real life is different, it is not business.
Moosa remembers the day when he first got to know about a young man from the field who shot a comment during sweepers' meeting, pointing out that their plan has so many flaws and that they could easily solve it without being physically involved in the matter. Like Moosa, Sarmad didn't take his comment lightly and as a part of the gang, he asked for his suggestion.
Ahad came up with a plan on how they could use their information network to get the work done by the law enforcement agencies; through blackmailing their high authorities with the secrets they had. The plan was good. Not only would their involvement in this matter remain in the shadows, but it could also give them a good chance to completely erase the enemy by striking them when they are weak.
Since then, Moosa kept a close eye on Ahad. His involvements in the gang's affairs were always one step ahead of the others. Perhaps it is the way his business mind works. His sharp observations, quick and smart comebacks, and brilliant planning would leave others astonished. It gave Moosa the boldness of throwing extra responsibilities onto his shoulders, which he bears very skilfully and gradually, he proved himself a much eligible candidate as second in command than he could ever imagine.
Ahad continuously held a hunger in his eyes. To Moosa, that hunger is not about the power and wealth, if it were, the look in his eyes would have changed long ago, but it wasn't the case here. Only a certain little change is noticed by Moosa, it was whenever Kanwal's name was mentioned. He witnesses instant changes in Ahad's body language as well as his voice whenever he talked about Kanwal. Ahad loves his fiancé dearly and Moosa wishes happiness for him.
/"So, that's your final decision?/" Moosa asked, taking a small sip of his tea. After breakfast, both men are having a second round of tea.
Ahad nodded, /"That's the best thing I can think of right now./"
/"For how long?/"
/"A few months, until I finish my remaining work there./"
/"And what about Kanwal?/"
/"She needs to complete her studies. Both of us would have plenty of time later to sort out our problems./"
/"Hm..../"
/"I am having a feeling that you aren't happy with my decision. Do you have other plans for me?/"
After a short pause, Moosa replied thoughtfully, /"Actually I have, but it could wait if you complete a few formalities./"
/"What sort of formalities?/" Ahad arched his brows.
/"Ahad, as you are aware that Shahina is the youngest worker in the mansion and the only one who is eager to complete her studies./" Ahad nodded and Moosa continued, /"I never took that kid as our servant, nor did Nats. She is almost the same as Yawar to us, just her hesitation to accept others keeps us away from her. And I have been thinking something lately, I don't want her to be under the shadow of the Black Eagles, or should I say, mine... So, for this reason, I am asking you to take the responsibility of Shahina as her guardian./"
/"What? ....Are you serious?!/"Ahad exclaimed and Moosa nodded.
/"That kid won't even talk to me and I'm not used to the responsibilities of a guardian. Hell, I can't even guard my own action and you are asking me to handle that vulnerable girl?/" Ahad is completely startled by the request and it was quite amusing to Moosa as it is the first time he is watching Ahad in this state.
/"She is just a teenage girl, Ahad.../"
/"Who doesn't associates with anyone aside from you and Nats./"
/"Listen Ahad, I am not asking you to take her into your complete custody. I am asking you to fulfil a certain responsibility. She will still stay here. It is only a precaution so that when she takes admission to college, her guardian would be a respected businessman, not a gang leader like me, whose business is unknown to the world./" Moosa's words relaxed Ahad's tensed body.
/"If it's just a formality, then I will agree to it. But I am telling you that I cannot practically do anything about it./" Moosa nodded in acknowledgement.
/"By the way, will it be okay with Yawar?/" Ahad blurted.
/"It shouldn't have anything to do with Yawar./" Moosa said with his eyes on his phone, /"You'll have to wait for a few hours before signing the papers./"
/"Fine, I will delay my departure./" Ahad said, standing up.
/"Where are you going now?/"
/"A personal business./"
/"At the graveyard?/" Moosa asked without looking at him.
/"Where else? I will come back after an hour or two. Allah Hafiz./" With that, Ahad leaves Moosa's office.