The black car glided to a stop in front of an unassuming house nestled in a tranquil suburban neighborhood. Ava, her brow furrowed in confusion, questioned Ibrahim, "Why are we here? I thought we were supposed to witness a shipment delivery."
Ibrahim smiled, "Oh, we will, baby girl. Just trust me."
They stepped out of the car, and Ibrahim led her toward the house. Though nothing could be revealed by its exterior.
Ibrahim unlocked the door and they entered the house.The interior was a display of refined taste, adorned with exquisite artwork and elegant furniture. "This house is stunning," she remarked.
"Glad you appreciate it. Now, come along." Ibrahim told. He reached a painting hanging on the wall – an intricate piece that seemed out of place in the modest surroundings. With a deft movement, Ibrahim slid it aside, unveiling a retina scanner hidden behind it. Ava's eyes widened. "A retina scanner in a house? Seriously?" she exclaimed.
Ibrahim chuckled, "This is just the tip of the iceberg." He scanned his eyes, and with a subtle creaking, the bookshelf adjacent to them opened, revealing a hidden staircase.
Ava's eyes widened in surprise, "Am I in any movie set?"
Behind the bookshelf was a hidden stairwell that led down into darkness. Ibrahim went towards the stairs and extended his hand to Ava, "Shall we?"
Ava hesitated but took his hand, "Where are we going?"
Ibrahim replied, "Downstairs." The descent began, the air growing cooler with each step. The staircase seemed endless and Ava's heartbeat quickened. The darkness enveloped them.
"It's so dark." Ava murmured. Her grip on Ibrahim's hand tightened as if she was seeking reassurance. Ibrahim squeezed her hand, the touch firm yet gentle. "No need to be scared, Ava. I'm right here with you."
Finally, they reached a dimly lit room. Ibrahim took out his phone and switched on the flashlight. The room was more like a empty garrage or a big hall. He led Ava to the corner. There was a lift.
"A lift? Why are we going down more?" Ava asked. She darted her eyes darted around the room.
"Ava, meet another layer of our security – the voice scanner," Ibrahim announced, guiding her towards the peculiar device on the wall.
Ava stared at the scanner in fascination. "What does it do?"
Ibrahim spoke a series of coded phrases into the scanner. With a soft hum, the lift's doors sliding open. He looked at Ava and told, "Only the right words open the doors and ofcourse only my voice can open it."
Ava murmured, "you're like a secret agent of those movies."
Ibrahim laughed, "Not exactly, baby girl. More like a guardian of secrets."
They stepped into the lift, the doors closing behind them. Ibrahim selected a floor, and they descended into the depths of the underground.
Ava's mind buzzed with another questions. "Where does it lead?"
"To a place where you'll find answers," Ibrahim replied mysteriously.
The lift reached its destination, opening to reveal a dimly lit underground warehouse. They stepped out of the lift.
The underground warehouse was vast, the air filled with the scent of metal and oil.
Leading her into the expansive space, Ibrahim said,"Welcome to our little hideaway,"
Ava looked at him then again looked around her. She found herself in a scene straight out of a spy movie. Her eyes widened. Large trucks were being loaded with crates by a group of workers. Each person was carrying their task with precision. It looked like they were so trained in their jobs.
Ava couldn't help but asked, "How did you set all this up?"
Ibrahim smirked, "Years of connections, resources, and a bit of creativity."
As they walked, Ava's eyes darted from one large crate to another. She could feel what was stored within them. Large guns lay neatly organized, their barrels gleaming. Ava was still stunned. It was really looking like she was walking on a movie set. She couldn't believe that she was seeing all these with her own eyes.
Ibrahim stopped infront of a table where many large guns were arranged. "Meet the Arsenal," Ibrahim announced, gesturing towards the array of firearms, "Each with its own purpose."
"This is the AK-47, a classic," Ibrahim explained. "Effective, reliable, and known worldwide." He moved on, guiding her attention to the sleek design of an Uzi. "Compact and powerful, perfect for close-quarter combat."
Ava saw the outline of large guns. Her breath caught as she took in the presence of these formidable weapons.
"The MP5," Ibrahim continued, "a submachine gun – versatile and used in various tactical scenarios. And here we have the Remington 870, a reliable shotgun."
"And this," Ibrahim paused dramatically, revealing a large sniper rifle, "is the CheyTac M200 Intervention. Known for its accuracy, it's a long-range precision rifle."
"Why show me all this?" Ava finally spoke.
Ibrahim glanced at her, "Because, my dear, you need to know what I deal with. You're my wife now; you're a part of this world. And you also should have the knowledge."
Ava crossed her arms, "Do you... like guns?" she cautiously inquired.
Ibrahim looked at the arsenal before them, "Yes, I do."
"But why?" Ava asked again.
Ibrahim took a moment before responding, "They represent power, control. I like to have both. And to me each gun has a story and a purpose. They're tools, and in my line of work, they're necessary."
Ava remained silent. It was kind of exciting to see but at the same time these were illegal. She looked at Ibrahim, should she asked if he could stop these business for leading a normal life? And this was the first time, a wish grew in Ava's heart to spend life with Ibrahim without knowing, to lead a life like a normal couple without any fear.
Ibrahim led her deeper into the warehouse, where more activity unfolded. The crates bore markings, each signifying the content within. Some boxes were labeled with some codes while others carried logos that indicated their origin. The workers nodded to them in acknowledgement. They were silently walking.
In the meantime, Hashim approached them. He greeted both to Ibrahim and Ava. Hashim was Ibrahim's manager.
"Roses are ready for transport, but the tulips need extra care," Hashim conveyed.
Ibrahim nodded subtly, "Make sure the lilies are inspected thoroughly, and the daisies are securely packed."
Hashim talked to Ibrahim for a moment. But Ava couldn't understand a single word. As Hashim left to attend to his duties, Ava turned to Ibrahim, "What were you both talking about? I didn't understand a word."
With a smile, Ibrahim led her away from the hubbub, choosing a quieter corner. "We were discussing today's shipment. Each flower represents a different aspect – the types of goods, their condition, and the precautions to be taken."
Ava tried to make sense of it. "Roses, tulips, lilies, daisies – what does it all mean?"
Ibrahim whispered near her ear, "In our world, we use code words to maintain secrecy. Roses symbolize the most valuable items, while tulips indicate fragile or delicate cargo. Lilies signify the need for meticulous inspection, and daisies represent standard merchandise."
Ava felt the warmth of Ibrahim's breath on her ear. She nodded slowly. "So, you're basically discussing the shipment, but in a language only you and Hashim understand?"
Ibrahim affirmed, "Exactly. The less others know, the safer we are."
The hours slipped away and the activity in the warehouse began to dwindle. The trucks, loaded with their concealed cargo, rumbled out one by one. When last truck finally disappeared, Ava asked, "Where are they all going?"
"Each truck is headed to a different destination across Malaysia. Some trucks are heading to the outskirts of Johor Bahru. Others are destined for Penang. And each route carefully chosen to avoid unwanted attention."
Ava sighed and murmured, "You are really a genius."
Ibrahim told, "Now let's go. It's midnight now."