The team is on edge as they prepare to release the devastating evidence that could destroy Zayd Rahman's career and bring down the corrupt government. Inside the dimly lit safehouse, everyone is focused on their task. Layla, however, has been quiet, her brows furrowed as if something heavy is weighing on her mind.
Finally, she stands up and speaks, her voice breaking the tense silence.
Layla (hesitantly): "Before we go live, I think we need to consider something."
Aisha looks up from her laptop, where she's organizing the evidence. Her eyes are sharp, but there's a flicker of curiosity.
Aisha: "What is it, Layla? We're ready to go. What could be more important than getting this out there?"
Layla (calm but firm): "The president. Amir Khan. He needs to know what's about to happen."
Omar stops typing and raises his eyebrows, the tension in the room thickening.
Omar (skeptical): "Why? He's part of the system we're exposing. What makes you think he'd want to stop Zayd?"
Layla (carefully): "It's not about stopping Zayd for him. It's about survival. We're talking about the collapse of the government. If we drop this without warning him, we might push the country into chaos."
Aisha clenches her jaw, pacing as she processes Layla's words.
Aisha (frustrated): "He's been silent this whole time, Layla. He's turned a blind eye to Zayd's corruption. Why should we warn him?"
Layla (softly): "Because he's still the president. And because he might have information we don't."
---
Scene 1: Convincing the Team
Fatima, who has been quietly observing, finally speaks up, her voice measured.
Fatima: "If we give the president a heads-up, he could try to suppress this too, Layla. He's got his hands in the same mess as Zayd."
Layla meets her gaze, unwavering.
Layla (insistent): "Maybe. Or maybe he's been too afraid to act. Think about it—Zayd holds all the real power in this government. Amir might be more of a puppet than we think. If we tell him, we might have a chance to weaken Zayd's control from within."
Aisha looks around at her team, sensing their unease. She knows Layla is right, but the risk of delay is real.
Aisha (decisively): "Alright. We'll contact him. But no delays—we do this quickly. If he tries to interfere, we'll go public anyway."
Omar nods, but there's a nervous edge to his voice.
Omar: "How do we even get in touch with him? Zayd's got the palace locked down."
Layla reaches into her jacket, pulling out a small, encrypted phone.
Layla: "I have a contact. We'll arrange a meeting—discreetly."
---
Scene 2: The Call to Amir Khan
Later that night, in a dark alley far from prying eyes, Layla stands alone, her breath visible in the cold night air. The city around her is eerily quiet, but there's tension in the air as though it's bracing for the storm that's about to hit.
She dials the secure line, her heart pounding. After a few tense moments, there's a click, and the voice on the other end answers.
Amir Khan (gruffly): "Who is this?"
Layla (calmly but urgently): "Mr. President, it's Layla from Aisha's team. We need to meet. There's something you need to know, and it can't wait."
There's a pause, and Layla hears Amir's deep sigh on the other end.
Amir Khan (cautious): "What is this about? If it's more accusations about Zayd, I already know—"
Layla (interrupting): "You don't know everything. We have evidence, Mr. President. Proof of Zayd's crimes, and we're planning to go public. But if you don't want this to tear the country apart, we need to talk."
There's a long silence, and Layla fears he might refuse. Then, Amir's voice returns, low and tense.
Amir Khan (grimly): "Fine. But this stays between us. I'll meet you in one hour. And Layla... make sure no one else knows."
---
Scene 3: The Secret Meeting
An hour later, Layla, Aisha, and Omar sit in a dimly lit café on the outskirts of the city. The tension in the room is palpable as they wait for the president. Fatima remains behind at the safehouse, monitoring for any signs of trouble.
The door creaks open, and Amir Khan walks in, wearing a dark coat and a cap pulled low to hide his face. His usually dignified posture is slumped, as though the weight of the world is on his shoulders.
He approaches the table, his face set in a grim expression, and sits down without a word. His eyes scan the room before he speaks in a low voice.
Amir Khan (urgently): "This meeting never happened. You understand that?"
Aisha leans forward, her voice calm but firm.
Aisha: "We don't care about secrecy, Mr. President. We care about the truth. Zayd's crimes are going to be exposed, whether you like it or not. But if you want to prevent a complete collapse, we need to know if you're with us."
Amir's eyes darken, and for a moment, he seems hesitant. Then, he drops the bombshell.
Amir Khan (gravely): "You think Zayd's corruption is the worst of it? It's not just his political scheming. It's my daughter, Gül-e-Zahra."
Aisha frowns, confused.
Aisha: "Your daughter? What does she have to do with this?"
Amir's voice trembles slightly as he speaks.
Amir Khan (quietly): "Zayd has her. He's holding her as leverage. If I speak out against him, if I do anything to challenge him... he'll hurt her. Or worse."
---
Scene 4: The Weight of the Truth
The room goes silent as Amir's words sink in. Layla exchanges a glance with Aisha, her mind racing. This changes everything.
Layla (in shock): "He's holding your daughter hostage?"
Amir nods, his eyes hollow.
Amir Khan (bitterly): "He made it look like she was kidnapped by some rebel group months ago, but I know the truth. He's keeping her under his control, hidden away. He knows she's the only thing keeping me in line."
Aisha leans back, her mind reeling from the revelation.
Aisha (slowly): "So you've been doing nothing all this time... because you're afraid of what he'll do to her."
Amir Khan (with shame): "Yes. I've been powerless to stop him. Every decision I've made, every law I've signed... it's all been to protect her."
Omar shakes his head, his voice filled with disbelief.
Omar (angrily): "And you just let him get away with all of it? People have died because of his corruption."
Amir Khan (defensively): "Do you think I wanted this? Do you think I haven't tried to find a way out? But Zayd has eyes everywhere. I've been under his thumb for years. Gül-e-Zahra is the only family I have left."
---
Scene 5: A Difficult Decision
The team is silent for a moment, absorbing the gravity of Amir's situation. Aisha can see the pain in his eyes, the guilt weighing him down. But they can't let this stop them.
Aisha (determined): "We're going to expose Zayd, Mr. President. But now we need to protect your daughter too. We can't let him use her against you any longer."
Amir's expression hardens as he looks at Aisha, a flicker of hope mixed with fear.
Amir Khan (pleading): "If you go public with this... promise me you'll find a way to save her."
Layla steps in, her voice steady but urgent.
Layla: "We'll do everything we can. But we need your help. If you stand with us, we can take Zayd down together. But you have to trust us."
Amir hesitates, his fear for his daughter palpable. But after a moment, he nods, resigned to the truth.
Amir Khan (softly): "Alright. I'm with you. Just... promise me you won't let her get hurt."
Aisha reaches out, placing a hand on his arm.
Aisha (gently): "We promise."
---
Scene 6: The Storm Looms
As Amir leaves the café, the team is left in a tense silence. The stakes have just been raised, and they all know the storm is about to break. Zayd Rahman has more power than they thought, and now they're not just fighting for the truth—they're fighting for Gül-e-Zahra's life.
Aisha watches Amir's retreating figure,