The journey to Kandahar was filled with the noise of cars honking, distant music, and the animated chatter of the locals. On arriving at the outskirts of the city, the group quickly disembarked from the rusty minivan that had been their transport.
"Alright, remember, we're just tourists," Hffyl murmured, his eyes scanning the horizon, always on alert.
Asif, holding onto the worn-out photograph, took a deep breath, "Bhai would be at the local airstrip. He always was obsessed with planes."
Liv, adjusting her scarf, tried to make small talk, trying to ease the tension, "You know, this place reminds me a bit of home."
Hffyl threw her a sharp look, the memories of past invasions and stories he'd grown up on clouding his judgment. "Aapka ghar? Far from it. This is nothing like Britain."
She sighed, sensing his hostility, "I meant the vibe. And I didn't choose where I was born, you know."
Farid, sensing the growing tension, interrupted, "Let's stay focused. Asif, lead the way to the airstrip."
They walked along the dusty streets, past stalls selling dried fruits, fragrant spices, and colorful textiles. A group of children played football, their laughter filling the air.
Suddenly, a nearby stall vendor shouted in Pashto, drawing Farid's attention. They had a brief exchange, and Farid turned to the group, "The airstrip isn't too far. But we might have a problem; there are some foreign soldiers patrolling there."
Hffyl's eyes narrowed. "More?"
Liv tried to defend, "They might just be peacekeeping forces..."
Hffyl cut her off, "It's always the same story. 'Peacekeeping', 'intervention', it's just another word for invasion."
She bit her lip but remained silent, knowing that arguing wouldn't help.
Asif, ever the peacekeeper, tried to steer the conversation. "Chalo, we need to find my brother first. We'll deal with the soldiers if we have to."
As they moved away from the airstrip, the noise of the city faded into the distance. Asif led them to a workshop located down a narrow alleyway, the scent of welding and freshly cut metal wafting in the air. The entrance was adorned with various pieces of intricate metalwork.
"Here it is," Asif said, "Karim always was into creating things."
As they entered the workshop, they were greeted by the sight of an interesting contraption in the middle of the room. It looked like an improvised drone, its frame constructed from metal and local materials, but with sophisticated technology integrated.
Hffyl, ever curious, moved closer, examining the drone. "Yaar, this is impressive. What does it do?"
A voice behind them answered, "It can do more than you think."
The group turned around to see a tall man, with a beard and glasses, approaching them with a smile. It was Karim.
Asif, his face lighting up, walked towards him, embracing him. "Bhai! I was so worried."
Karim laughed, ruffling Asif's hair affectionately, "Always the worrier. I'm fine, as you can see."
Farid stepped forward, "This is quite the invention. Masha'Allah!"
Karim grinned, "Ah, this is just a prototype. I picked up a lot in Russia, and I've been trying to integrate their tech with our local materials. This drone, for instance, can map out areas without being detected, using a combo of thermal and infrared."
Liv, intrigued, asked, "That's advanced. What's it for?"
Karim eyed her curiously, "Who's she?"
Asif quickly replied, "A friend. We... have had a bit of an adventure."
Hffyl, his voice dripping with skepticism, added, "An English friend."
Karim, sensing the underlying tension, decided not to delve deeper. Instead, he said, "Well, everyone's welcome here, as long as you come in peace."
Liv nodded, "Appreciate it. And to answer your question, I'm just curious. The technology is fascinating."
Karim smiled, "It's designed to help our community. We can use it to find water sources, monitor crops, or even just keep an eye on things from the sky. We don't have the resources of big nations, but that doesn't mean we can't innovate."
Hffyl, despite his reservations, had to admit, "That's commendable, truly."
Karim gestured them to sit around a small table covered with a richly-patterned rug. There were glasses of chai already laid out. The steaming beverage emitted a comforting aroma of spices.
Karim looked around, his gaze settling on Asif, "You look troubled. What's going on?"
Farid cleared his throat, hesitating a moment. "Things aren't the same since you've been away. Zarabad... it's been taken."
Karim's brows knitted in confusion. "Taken? By whom?"
"*Gori*," Hffyl muttered with a pointed look at Liv.
She chose to remain silent, her posture slightly defensive.
Asif, picking up on Hffyl's hint, elaborated, "The AASOC. They control Zarabad now. It's not our home anymore."
Karim's face darkened, the weight of the news heavy on his shoulders. "I had no idea. All my contacts back home went silent, but I thought... I hoped... it was just a communications problem."
"*Bhai,*" Asif began, placing a reassuring hand on Karim's arm, "We're planning to take it back."
Hffyl added, "With or without the help of outsiders," casting a quick glance at Liv.
Liv met his gaze, her voice soft, "Look, I understand the mistrust. History's a bitter pill. But right now, we're on the same side."
"I'm still doubting that," Hffyl replied.
Karim pondered for a moment, then turned to Asif, "And what do you need from me?"
Asif gestured to the inventions scattered around the workshop, "Your mind, your creations. If we're to stand a chance, we need every advantage we can get. Especially against an organized outfit like AASOC."
Karim, deep in thought, slowly nodded, "Alright, I'm in. Zarabad is my home too. I'll do what I can."
Karim hurriedly began packing his essentials, especially his smaller inventions. The room was abuzz with a sense of urgency.
Amidst the flurry of activity, Liv glimpsed someone outside, peering through a gap in the window. "Yar," she muttered, "we might have company."
Asif, overhearing, moved closer to the window, squinting to get a better view. "Damn. Looks like AASOC patrols. They've probably spotted our vehicles."
Hffyl sneered, eyeing Liv with suspicion, "Or maybe they were tipped off."
Liv shot back, frustration evident, "Why would I jeopardize our own mission?"
Karim, sensing the rising tension, intervened, "Now's not the time. We need a way out."
Hffyl grumbled in Malay, "Why do we even have her here?" but quickly refocused, "There's a back exit, leads to the alley. We can slip out quietly."
Asif nodded, "Alright, everyone grab what you can. We move out in twos. Keep it discreet."
Farid, while checking his sidearm, added, "And avoid any direct confrontations if we can. We need to regroup first."
Karim held up a small remote-like device, "This might buy us some time. A distraction."
As they crept out, Karim pressed a button on the device. Moments later, the sound of alarms blared from a few vehicles down the street, drawing the attention of the AASOC patrol.
"Shabash!" whispered Asif, impressed with Karim's ingenuity.
They moved stealthily through the alleyways, the night offering some cover. Every footstep, every shadow heightened their senses. The distant murmurs of the patrol, mixed with the blaring alarms, created a symphony of tension.
After what felt like hours, they found themselves at the edge of town, a safe distance from any patrols.
Hffyl, out of breath but relieved, murmured, "We should set up camp for the night, then move at dawn."
Liv, wiping sweat from her brow, nodded, "Sounds good. We could all use some rest."
Karim glanced at her, appreciative of her efforts. "Thanks for the heads up back there."
She just gave a weary smile, understanding that trust, especially in these parts, was hard-earned.