Newton stepped into his home. The familiar warmth of his living room greeted him, but he was momentarily distracted by the sight of his parents bustling around, suitcases neatly packed and lined up by the door.
"Where are you going?" Newton asked a touch of surprise in his voice.
His mother, wearing a soft gray shawl over her sari, smiled as she folded the last piece of clothing into a bag. "We're going to London," she said gently. "Your maternal grandmother has been sick for some time. We've decided to visit her."
Newton's father, a tall man with a composed demeanor, chimed in. "It's been long overdue. You know your grandmother has been asking about us for weeks now."
Newton nodded, his worry easing a bit. "How long will you be gone?"
"About a week," his mother replied. "Don't worry, I've cooked enough meals for you. Seven days' worth of lunch and dinner are in the fridge. Just heat them, and you'll be fine."
Newton grinned, touched by his mother's thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Ma."
As his parents moved toward the door, Newton suddenly called out, "Wait!" His mother stopped and turned, her soft eyes meeting his. He approached her and hugged her tightly. "Take care of yourself," he murmured, his voice filled with emotion.
His father patted Newton on the shoulder with a reassuring smile. "We will. Don't worry too much."
Newton released his mother, watching as they left, his heart filled with a mix of warmth and longing. Once the door closed, the silence of the house enveloped him. He glanced at the clock—it was early evening, and his stomach growled. Deciding to cook something simple, he headed to the kitchen.
As the aroma of noodles filled the air, Newton's thoughts drifted to Nishat. The memory of her radiant beauty, her gentle voice, and the way her eyes had seemed to hold secrets he couldn't unravel lingered in his mind. What would it be like if she were here? he wondered. Cooking together, laughing, sharing stories... The thought brought a soft smile to his lips.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he plated the noodles and carried them to the dining table. But just as he set the dish down, the doorbell rang. Startled, he walked to the door, expecting it to be Nafisa or Hasib. When he opened it, he found Nafisa standing there, her smile warm and inviting.
"Hey, Newton," she greeted. "How was your day?"
"Eventful," Newton replied, stepping aside to let her in. "Come in, we've got a lot to talk about."
As Nafisa entered, she glanced around the living room, settling comfortably on the sofa. "So," she began, "what's this important thing about Alexander you wanted to tell me?"
"Hold on," Newton said, holding up a finger. "I'll explain everything once Hasib gets here."
Almost on cue, the doorbell rang again. Newton opened it to find Hasib standing there, looking slightly confused. "Hasib," Newton greeted, stepping aside again. "Come on in."
As Hasib walked in, his eyes widened in surprise when he saw Nafisa sitting on the sofa. "Nafisa? You're here?"
Nafisa, equally surprised but visibly pleased, stood up. "I didn't know you were coming either. Newton didn't mention it."
Newton chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, I might have forgotten to mention that I invited both of you."
Nafisa smiled at Hasib, gesturing for him to sit down beside her. "Well, it's good to see you."
"You too," Hasib replied, his voice soft, a hint of shyness in his tone.
Newton, sensing the slight tension, clapped his hands together. "Alright, coffee first. What do you guys want?"
"Black coffee for me," Nafisa said, glancing at Newton.
"Regular coffee for me," Hasib added, his tone light.
"Got it," Newton said, disappearing into the kitchen.
As soon as Newton left, Hasib turned to Nafisa, his cheeks slightly flushed. "So... how have you been?"
Nafisa smiled warmly, leaning back on the sofa. "I'm good, Hasib. And you?"
"I'm better now," Hasib replied, his eyes flickering downward for a brief moment. Nafisa was wearing a fitted round-neck T-shirt and black trousers, the outfit hugging her figure in a way that made her look effortlessly stunning. His gaze lingered for a second too long, and he noticed the slight curve of her Breast, the outline of her nipples visible through the fabric. Heat crept up his neck, and he quickly looked away, embarrassed.
Nafisa, ever perceptive, noticed his reaction and smirked knowingly. Tilting her head slightly, she teased, "Something caught your attention?"
Hasib's ears burned red as he stammered, "No, I mean—uh—it's just—"
She interrupted him with a playful laugh. "Relax, Hasib. You don't have to be shy around me."
Gathering a bit of courage, Hasib smiled shyly. "Well, it's hard not to notice how beautiful you look."
Nafisa's eyes sparkled with mischief. She leaned slightly closer, her voice dropping to a playful whisper. "Do you want this?"
Hasib's heart raced at her question. He swallowed hard, his voice barely audible. "If my queen Nafisa gives me permission."
Her smile softened; her teasing was replaced with something more genuine. "Who's stopping you, Hasib? It's already yours."
The invitation in her words melted away Hasib's hesitation. He leaned in, cupping her face gently, his lips brushing against hers in a soft, tender kiss. Nafisa responded immediately, her hands sliding up to his shoulders, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened, their passion building as they forgot the world around them.
Hasib's hand moved to her waist, his touch firm yet gentle, as if afraid to break the moment. Nafisa sighed softly, her fingers curling in his hair, and for a few blissful seconds, they were completely lost in each other.
"Hello!" Newton's voice suddenly rang out, accompanied by a laugh.
The two of them broke apart instantly, their faces flushed with embarrassment as they turned to see Newton standing in the doorway, holding two cups of coffee and grinning like a mischievous child. "Am I interrupting something?"
Hasib and Nafisa exchanged sheepish smiles, both of them laughing nervously. "Not at all," Hasib managed to say, his voice a bit strained.
Newton placed the coffee on the table, still chuckling. "You guys are something else. Alright, let's get down to business."
As they sipped their coffee, Newton recounted everything Selim had told him. He explained Alexander's printing accessories factory and how the mafia boss manipulated customs by underreporting the number of labels he shipped. Newton also emphasized the role of Rajib, the CNF agent who helped Alexander with the fraudulent paperwork.
Nafisa frowned, her brow furrowing. "But why would Selim help us? What's in it for him?"
Newton leaned back; his tone serious. "Because Sohana is his sister. Alexander used her, manipulated her, and ruined her life."
Nafisa's eyes widened in shock. "Sohana? She's Selim's sister?"
Hasib's expression darkened as he spoke. "The same Sohana who… who lured Shagor to that party before he disappeared?"
Nafisa turned to him, her voice sharp. "How do you know that?"
Hasib sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I spoke to the security guard of the building where the party happened. I showed him a photo of Shagor, and he confirmed seeing him that night. He also mentioned that Shagor was taken by a group of men—terrorists, he called them. And the woman with Shagor that night… it must have been Sohana."
Nafisa's lips pressed into a thin line, and she looked away, her mind racing with the implications.
Newton continued, "Selim told me everything. Sohana's trapped in Alexander's world, forced to do his bidding. Selim wants revenge, not just for her but for everyone Alexander has hurt. He wants to work with us to take him down."
Hasib nodded, his tone firm. "But we can't rush into this. If Alexander has people on the inside, we need to be careful. One wrong move, and he'll know we're onto him."
They all fell silent for a moment, the weight of the situation settling over them. Outside, the city lights twinkled against the growing darkness, each building a silent witness to countless stories unfolding within its walls.
Newton glanced at the clock. "It's already 10 PM. We should think this through and come up with a proper plan."
Hasib and Nafisa nodded in agreement, the three of them sharing a quiet moment of resolve. Whatever lay ahead, they knew one thing for certain: they couldn't back down now.
The soft hum of conversation filled Newton's living room as Hasib, Nafisa, and Newton sat together on the sofa. The clock ticked past 10:30 PM, and the once lively room now felt heavy with the weight of their thoughts. Each of them was lost in their mind, trying to piece together what their next step should be in this dangerous game they were now a part of.
The silence was broken by Newton, who leaned back and rubbed his hands together. "Alright," he said, his voice cutting through the quiet, "we've been thinking long enough. Let's grab some dinner. I'm starving."
Hasib glanced up and nodded. "That's probably a good idea. I could eat a horse right now."
"Same here," Nafisa added with a smile. "I didn't realize how hungry I was until you mentioned it."
Newton grinned, standing up and stretching. "Perfect. I'll whip up something from the fridge. You two sit tight—or, you know, use the washroom if you need to freshen up." He walked toward the kitchen, leaving Hasib and Nafisa on the sofa.
Both of them stood up at the same time, their movements awkwardly synchronized. "I'll go wash my hands," Nafisa said, heading toward the washroom.
Hasib's eyes followed her, and as she reached the door, he couldn't help but grin mischievously. "Mind if I join you?" he teased, his tone light but filled with playful intent.
Nafisa paused at the door, turning her head just enough to look back at him. She gave him a sly smile and winked. "Dream on, Hasib." She closed the door behind her, leaving him chuckling to himself.
Shaking his head, Hasib turned and headed to Newton's bedroom to use the washroom there.
Five minutes later, both Hasib and Nafisa emerged from their respective washrooms, feeling refreshed. They joined Newton at the dining table, where he had set up plates of heated dishes his mother had left in the fridge. The smell of warm rice, lentils, and chicken curry filled the air, making their mouths water.
As they ate, the conversation turned to light, filled with jokes and laughter, a welcome reprieve from the heavy discussions of earlier. The three of them enjoyed the camaraderie, momentarily forgetting the tension and danger surrounding their situation.
After dinner, Newton leaned back in his chair and yawned. "You two should stay over tonight," he suggested. "It's late, and honestly, with everything going on, it's probably safer here."
Hasib wiped his hands with a napkin and shook his head. "I appreciate it, Newton, but I should probably head home."
He glanced at Nafisa, who was smiling at him with a knowing, almost mischievous glint in her eyes. "Do you want to leave?" she asked, her tone teasing but with a hint of challenge.
Hasib hesitated, her question catching him off guard. He understood the unspoken meaning behind her words, the playful yet unmistakable invitation. His gaze dropped for a brief moment, unintentionally lingering on the soft curve of her chest under her T-shirt. A rush of heat spread through him as he quickly looked away, clearing his throat.
Nafisa noticed his reaction and smirked. She leaned closer and whispered, "Who's stopping you, Hasib?"
Before he could respond, the sound of heavy rotor blades thundered through the air. The noise grew louder, shaking the windows and making the floor tremble.
"What's that?" Nafisa asked, alarmed, as she stood up from the chair.
Hasib's eyes darted toward the windows. "Helicopters," he said, his voice tight. "And they're close."
Newton stood as well, his expression filled with unease. "Why would helicopters be flying this low?"
Before anyone could answer, a deafening voice boomed from outside. "Motherfuckers, go to hell!"
The next moment, chaos erupted.
The gunfire was deafening, the rounds tearing through the windows with a force that shattered the glass into thousands of sharp fragments. The masked men in the helicopters held GAU-19 miniguns, their barrels spinning as they unleashed a storm of bullets into Newton's apartment.
Furniture exploded into splinters, the television was ripped apart in a burst of sparks, and the walls themselves seemed to tremble under the relentless onslaught.
"Nafisa, get down!" Hasib yelled, grabbing her arm and pulling her toward the sofa.
A bullet whizzed past Nafisa's ear, so close that she felt the heat of its trajectory. She gasped, her instincts kicking in as she dove over the back of the sofa, landing hard on the floor behind it.
The dining table and chairs were obliterated in seconds. A jagged piece of wood from the broken chair flew through the air, hitting Newton squarely in the side. He stumbled backward, crying out in pain.
Hasib barely had time to register the sight of Newton clutching his side before three more bullets tore into Newton's arm and leg. He crumpled to the floor, blood pooling rapidly beneath him.
The fire from the shattered television spread quickly, licking up the wall and filling the room with thick, acrid smoke. Hasib ducked behind the kitchen counter, his mind racing. The gunfire continued for what felt like an eternity, the sound of bullets and breaking glass overwhelming everything else.
And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the gunfire ceased. The helicopters veered away, their engines roaring as they disappeared into the night sky.
Hasib wasted no time. He ran back into the smoke-filled living room, coughing as he called out, "Nafisa! Newton!"
"I'm here!" Nafisa's voice came from behind the sofa. She stood up shakily, her face pale and streaked with tears. She rushed to Hasib, throwing her arms around him, her body trembling with fear.
"It's okay," Hasib murmured, holding her tightly. "You're okay."
But his relief was short-lived as his eyes fell on Newton's motionless form lying on the floor. "Newton!" he shouted, running to his friend's side.
Newton's face was pale, his breaths shallow as blood seeped from his wounds. "Hang on, buddy," Hasib said, his voice firm despite the panic rising in his chest.
Hasib lifted Newton onto his shoulders, gritting his teeth against the weight. "Nafisa, follow me. We're getting out of here."
Nafisa nodded, wiping her tears as she grabbed her phone and followed Hasib toward the door. The elevator was out of order, so they made their way down the stairs, each step filled with tension as the smoke continued to fill the building.
Four minutes later, they burst out onto the street, the cool night air hitting them like a lifeline. Hasib's clothes were soaked in Newton's blood, his arms straining as he carried his injured friend.
"Help! Somebody, help us!" Hasib called out, but the terrified neighbors kept their distance, unwilling to get involved.
Hasib cursed under his breath, scanning the street until he spotted an empty taxi parked nearby. "Over there!" he said to Nafisa.
They managed to flag down the driver, who hesitated for a moment before helping them load Newton into the back seat.
"To the nearest hospital," Hasib ordered, his voice urgent.
The taxi sped off into the night, the city lights flashing by in a blur. Hasib glanced down at Newton, his friend's breathing ragged and uneven. "Stay with me, Newton," he whispered, his hands trembling.
Beside him, Nafisa held onto his arm, her face pale but determined. "He's going to be okay," she said softly, as much to reassure herself as him.
Hasib nodded, but his jaw clenched as he stared out the window. The blood on his hands felt heavy, a stark reminder of the danger that now surrounded them all.
To be continued...