Flashbacks are in bold*

Kuj shehar de laog vi zalim san

Kuj sanu maran da shoq vi si

The people of this city were cruel

And I was also fond of getting myself killed

The starting summer days were stretching into eons. The days were slow, the pace which borders on melancholy with a stillness that is pierces through you being.

The road block on Jinnah Avenue was taking its time moving forward and clearing the way. Roads are human life is identical in many ways. When running smoothly no one pays any heed but the moment the roads get blocked or the life comes to a standstill, nothing makes sense anymore.

On this road, sitting inside her car with her life being on the same still point Harram waited for the road to get cleared like she was trying her life to move forward in a flow. She glanced at the address on her phone which she had gotten from an old school fellow after trying a lot. Tania Rasool was not in her friend circle; just someone Harram knew was in her year and was in charge of handling school magazine. But right now meeting with this forgotten known stranger was necessary because only she could lead Harram to somewhere the answers to Harram's questions were. Getting her hands on that article was important because Harram had a feeling this leaf from the past was somehow connected to the present.

The moving of the car in front of her made Harram take a sigh of relief. She immediately resumed her journey towards Rasool house which was quite at some distance from Zara's residence. Zara had started suspecting something was wrong in her daughter's life and even after her insistence, Harram hadn't told her anything. It was not safe and secondly, it was still early to involve anyone.

Stopping the car in front of the house Harram double checked the address. She came close to the main gate and the name plate announced she was at the right place.

With baited breaths, Harram rang the doorbell. After few seconds the door was opened and to her relief Tania Rasool was standing in front of her.

The years gone had changed her to an extent but the curly hair tied up in a bun and the curiosity on her face were still the same and Harram had immediately recognized her but still she wanted to be sure.

"Tania Rasool?"

"Yes, how can I help you?"

Tania opened the door wide seeing Harram was standing in the hot weather outside.

"I'm Harram Obaid. You most probably don't remember but we were class fellows in high school."

Tania was confused at first but slowly the picture was forming on the curtain of her mind.

"Oh! Yes! Yes!"

The expression of familiarity had immediately formed on Tania's face but along with that Harram could see the sorry as well. Harram had understood the tale of her broken life wasn't something a secret.

"I.. saw about your husband on the TV. I'm so sorry about it."

Harram just smiled dejectedly. What should she call this? Unjust of her fate?

"It was written this way only. What else I can say."

"Still it was such a heartrending thing to even witness and you went through this. Hats off to you, really."

"I'm just trying to come to terms with this fact. Actually I'm trying for so many things right now and I'm here for that only."

Tania looked on confusedly.

"I need an article. Almost 6 years old article. And I thought you could help me about it."

"Woo, Harram! I'm a journalist but not that influential one you know? I can't get any article for you."

"Not even when it's your father's?"

Looking away from Tania's shocked expressions; Harram pushed her phone in front of her where the screen shot of that article from Google search was open. Tania held the phone with her focus all on the screen.

"This is the Google search thumbnail for the article. When I opened it, it was blank. I searched the author and it turned out to be your father so here I'm."

Tania placed the phone back in Harram's hand. She was deep in thoughts.

"I remember this one. My father was pretty livid about him having no option than to remove it. I think he was forced by his portal or something. I don't exactly remember."

Typical Yahya Duraid and his long hands which could pull off anything.

"Can you help me getting this article?"

"Why do you need it?"

"I can't tell you but it's not anything about your father. It's my own fight against things I don't have any clear idea as of now."

Tania was calculating her options and with each passing seconds she was looking more and more in form. Harram was reminded of the high school Tania who'd be digging for any new gossip and news to feature in her magazine.

"I think I know what to do. But I'd like to be told if I'm getting my hands into some deep shit?"

Harram got up.

"Well, deep shit it is. I can't sugar coat things nor can I keep you in dark. Help me only if you think you can?"

"Are you kidding me? I live for such situations!"

"You mean you are on board?"

"Of course! Let's get to my office. I work in my father's news agency and I think I know what we should do now."

Harram wasn't expecting her to be up for this task so easily but this was Tania Rasool who wouldn't let these kind of things go. The article wasn't far from Harram's hands. She could feel it.

_________________

Getting inside the office wasn't difficult all thanks to Tania. But that wasn't the real problem anyway. The data of all the employees of the agency was in the archives room and only few people had access to it. Tania knew one of them and was trying to persuade him to do this work for her. Harram was watching their predicament with a bored expression on her face.

"Oh come on, Aneeq! It's not like I have asked for the moon!"

"I'd be better if you had. I could try at least but here? No."

"You are impossible!"

"I'm just true to my profession."

"And to our commitment?"

So they both were a thing? Harram couldn't pick point it earlier because they weren't giving off that vibe.

"Don't try to manipulate my honesty to everything I do!"

"It's just an article that too by my father. I wish he didn't have his laptop ruined when had left this agency. At least I could get it from there and didn't have to come asking for your help."

"Look, Tania I..."

"Mr. Aneeq?"

Harram had had enough. She could sit there watching their couple's tussle. She needed that article no matter what.

"I'm sorry to interfere between you and your girlfriend but it's not her who needs this article, it's me. I can't disclose why I need it but one thing is clear, this article can solve many of my confusions. I've recently had my life turned upside down and I'm just trying to put it back in order. I know I'm no one to you to mold your work ethics but please, this information can save a life. Nothing is bigger than that don't you think?"

There was a pause of few moments where Harram just waited for him to tell her a yes or no. But he stood up rummaging into his pockets.

"Looking for the archives room key. Should be here."

He mumbled slowly with resignation evident from his stance. Tania patted his arm as if telling him she was proud of him. Harram heaved a sigh of relief.

The agency had the policy of every worker having his work related things saved on his office portal, a kind of account where those be saved. Mr. Moazzam's whole data in his own laptop had been wasted due to negligence after his retirement from this company so Tania had only this way of getting towards her father's old files, the office portal the cabin of which was in the archives room and Aneeq being proficient in computers was among one of those people who could operate it.

Aneeq had very carefully led them inside the room and was now in front of the office PC opening Moazzam Rasool's ID.

"Your father sure has shit load of articles, Tania."

"Top rated journo of this country for a reason."

Tania sounded so proud. Harram was searching in the files section for the article. They were arranged according to the date. Harram remembered the article date clearly.

January 10th, 2013.

As she made Aneeq open the file of 2010-2013 her heart was thudding loudly in her chest.

"That's it!"

Tania announced but she didn't have to. Harram also had located the article at the bottom of the screen.

"Copy it!"

Aneeq instructed and Tania immediately took out her USB drive. Having the article secure in it, they'd immediately left the archives room lest they should be spotted.

"Now, go you both! And Tania, I'll see you at the lunch."

He nodded in their direction. Harram wanted to thank him more times than she could but he just politely wished her best of luck.

Their next destination was Tania's house once again. She had attached the USB with her laptop and pushed it towards Harram.

"Go on."

Harram nodded and started reading what would, may be change things a lot.

"A forgotten dispute which could almost cost Yahya Duraid everything

Yahya Duraid isn't a name unknown in these political and economic times. A top notched businessman with an acumen that has resulted in him always being in the limelight. His company is doing more than fine both in Pakistan and overseas and now his flourishing political career is also something to admire. Moral compass aside but the man has made a niche for himself in this set up.

Why did I talk about moral compass? Because success like this isn't easy to come with clean means. It's not an allegation, it's a fact. The face of which we all saw almost two decades back. Not many people would remember but many do and that's a reason enough for me to bring this forth.

In the early 1990s Yahya Duraid's business saw an enormous increase in its market value and the shares kind of skyrocketed. But then came an allegation from a police officer and that was the scandal Yahya Duraid wasn't hoping for.

SP Sultan Bakht.

If one's following Duraid family's history they'd know the friendship Sultan Bakht and Zaigham Ali shared. The details are not revealed because unlike Ismail Ali, Zaigham Ali was quite allergic of spotlight which his family almost always managed to gather. The reason there isn't much about him on the internet as well apart from his untimely demise in the mid 90's as a result of a car accident. But spotted on quite a few social gathering, SP Bakht and Zaigham Ali always boasted off a bonding endearing to say the least.

But this SP Bakht was the same guy who filed the case of below the standard goods being made in the Duraid's company and the accused was his close friend's father; Yahya Duraid. The company was in his direct control and Yahya Duraid looked frazzled because the allegations seemed legit. The court proceedings started soon and that's where Duraid family saw its first social downfall. There were proofs against them and the case was going in SP Bakht's favour.

Things got a lot more controversial when SP Bakht was killed off a few weeks later and then the court also gave the verdict in Duraids favour stating the reason was lack of evidences against them. It was a major public dispute Yahya Duraid saw but what no one saw after that? SP Bakht's family. No one knows where they are. It seems like they got wiped out from the face of this planet. His wife is till date away and no one know if she's even alive.

Many people believe Yahya Duraid was framed and at last got justice. I beg to differ. A dive in the past and you can see you sketchy this makes Yahya Duraid's personality. There are many questions still unanswered and many thing still vague. But since Yahya Duraid is in power and wrongs of these people are easy to fade with the dust of wind, here we are today with him as senator chairman and a politician people look up to. But how many SP Bakhts had to fade away for that? No know knows.

Harram looked up from the screen and to say she was confused was an understatement. This article had confused her more and she was thinking it would give her some light into what was Yahya Duraid's past. She needed answers and lots of them and she knew only one person who could tell her what the hell did actually happen.

_____________________

The white sheet which was now splotched with blood stains was touching the floor and the lifeless body sprawled on it was being checked by few men to see any sign of life. There was none.

"Seems dead."

"Good riddance."

The short conversation ended immediately and they gathered their things leaving through the open window.

Death laughed and embraced the person some more.

_______________________

If Zaviyar was expecting things to get normal in the morning than he was proven entirely wrong. Instead of sulking in their room, Harram was packing her stuff and that was the moment Zaviyar felt his temper rising.

"Where are you going?"

"Use your brain, Major. I'm going to Amma's."

"And why would you do that?"

She glared at him folding her shirt.

"I don't know. You tell me!"

"Harram..."

"Do not try to even talk to me! I still can't believe you've been making a fool of me for so long. I didn't even know you army men can be good actors as well. And now I don't even know what the lie was? What you've been telling me all my life or what I heard yesterday? Thank you for making me confusion, Major Zaviyar Ali!"

She turned back to her suitcase when Zaviyar stood between her and the bed.

"Look at me!"

"Oh just go away!"

But luck wasn't at her side today. He kept on glaring her and at last she had to look at him.

"Do you know before anything what we army men feel for the people we care for?"

"Utter batshit lie?"

She was testing his patience.

"Protection is what comes naturally to us, Harram. We protect even the people we don't even know and here we are talking about someone I'd spent almost all my life caring for."

"Quite a care you did for me."

"You aren't trying to get my point! Have you ever wondered why I spend so many days away from home? What I do there? What kind of missions I deal with?"

Harram was finally quiet now.

"This life isn't easy, Harram. I won't get into details but this isn't the life I want for anyone close to me. It suits me but doesn't mean everyone else around me has to be a part of it."

"You go out there fighting monsters?"

"Social monsters? Yes. I won't even pull someone in here deliberately. You have had an incomplete life and no! Don't glare at me. I know it because I had the same. I didn't have any say in it because it was Allah's decision that my father wasn't there for me in most part of my life. But yours was because people made it this way. I had seen you, craving for a normal life just like me. You think I don't know why you'd spend most of your time at Duraid house? Because you were searching for the normalcy you saw in Hamail and Sohaira's life. I had seen the longing in your eyes, Harram. Making you a part of my life was a dream but the day I got my first mission that dream died its own death. I could never do this to you. Army was my passion for as long as I can remember but it didn't have to be your destiny! I couldn't! I just couldn't!"

"Then why did you marry me? What changed?"

"After uncoiling my deepest emotions with that call to Sahil you ask me what changed. I regret that night when I had said those words to you, told you I do not love you. That was the lie which cost me my everything. And I regretted them every single day after that. Getting back to you and telling you what a fool I was but it was too late. You were starting a life I have no part in it. So I just kept my distance. Yes, I know I was just a fool you don't have to give me the look. But after hearing what you had told Sahil I was shaken. You managed to do this to me, Harram without even trying. What happened next was my wish and I worked on it. Nothing else was involved just the fact that I love you and for years I was just being a coward when it comes to you but it was enough and I needed you close. No matter the consequences."

"You are still in forces, so much can still happen. Then why don't you leave me? As it comes so easily to you."

"A few months back? Yes. Now? Impossible. I can't leave you. Not now. Not ever. I've considered everything for a long time. Everything but my feelings for you. I let my fear drive me but now I'm just about loving you the way you should be loved and leaving rest on my Allah. I've strengthened my faith. The faith in our love which I didn't have before."

Words? No these were balm put on her heart. She was still livid, still mad that he had wasted so many years in his own calculations. So much time was lost. How she wished he hadn't been this mindful about her well being, not this much driven by his own assumptions. But still she wasn't done showing him how he was not easily forgiven. The idea to go to Zara's was dropped. She took out her clothes from the suitcase but her glare was still intact.

He just thanked the Almighty. She was here. He could live with that. Rest he'd take care of. After all they both were in love and in this love things are easy.

It was in the noon when he had come back after meeting Waleed. The friend and colleague who was always Zaviyar's to go person to have a heart to heart. Both had been friends since there PMA days. He was always a helpful fellow but these days he was enjoying Zaviyar's plight a lot. Needless to say Waleed was an ass.

Harram was watering the plants in the lawn and Zaviyar couldn't decide she did more work on herself or the pots. She was drenched from head to toe with her hair sticking to the side of her face.

"Aren't you a vision?"

Harram didn't reply to his comment. Her focus was just on the plants in front of her.

"Taking out my anger on these poor beings by drowning them? Not done, Harram."

She clenched her jaw and whipped around with the water pipe in her hands. The next thing he knew was him having the same fate as the plants he was sympathizing with just few seconds back.

"Your anger took out on you alone. Fair enough."

Throwing the pipe to the side she almost ran inside the house but he was quick to catch up. She was in the middle of their room wiping her face with the towel when she felt his presence behind her.

"I thought I made my point clear."

"I've noticed."

His whisper was her undoing so were his fingers moving her wet locks away from her nape. How can be a touch so soothing and unnerving at the same time? She closed her eyes feeling his fingers moving over the mole on the side of her neck. It was the first time he had noticed it. Both didn't know it would get many instances of getting the deserved attention.

Harram turned towards him to tell him off but her tongue was tied. The heated gaze directed at her was making her feel things she didn't want to. Zaviyar cupped her face. The combination of dread and anticipation with her big eyes staring right at him with so much love in them. How he had stopped himself from drowning in those all these years? He had no idea. His self-control was enormous. He could say with conviction.

The decision was made on an impulse. The ever thorough thinker just took the plunge and covered the distance between them. His lips had barely touched her when she slapped his hand away from her face ensuring a decent distance between them.

The first emotion that had engulfed Zaviyar was dread. Utter shear dread.

"I'm so sorry!"

She must be not ready with what he had started and pushed him away. He was cursing himself for acting without thinking for the first time in his life.

"Harram, I'm so..."

But his regret was drowned into her hungry kiss. The way she had clutched the lapels of his shirt and stood on her tip toes. Her approach was not cautious like his; she had come in full force. Just like they were in personalities.

He held her from her waist and let her head gently lean against the wall, all the while keeping the kiss intact. The longing, the pent up emotions and the love beneath the surface for years had finally come out drenching them both in its drizzle. Leaving nothing but them and just them, together, clung to each other, with each other.

The years of missed chances and what ifs were smiling fading in to the background. Those stolen glances were not having the time of their life. The Extended hands were not suspended in the air now. Every piece was getting into its rightful place.

They were each other's destiny since the beginning. But the paths often get twisted. The destination often gets bleary.

It was after they had pulled apart, when Harram tried getting away from him, he had held her arm to stop her.

"I've made my fair share of mistakes, Harram. But not anymore. I'm not giving up on us this easily now. If you think I'm going to be the same Zaviyar you have seen all your life then you are in for a surprise."

Harram wanted to ignore this but what could she do? She also wanted to be surprised.

Zindagi se yahi gila hai mujhe

Tu bohat der se mila hai mujhe

The only complain I've from life

Is getting you after eons apart

_________________

If Ghiyas had told Zaviyar he was now one of them he wasn't kidding. The guy was acting like Zaviyar's shadow these days. Zaviyar was allowed to come out of the room he was in since the time he was brought here. He was given new clothes. He even was given the ointment on his wound from ropes. The treatment had gone from a prison to a prince. Zaviyar was finding it pathetically funny. How far Yahya Duraid was going in making sure Zaviyar accept this as his fate. It was such a shame he couldn't understand his own grandson and now number one enemy.

Zaviyar was taking advantage of this situation that too a lot. The things he couldn't do before. Knowing his surroundings, trying to locate any loose corner from where he could escape, and getting to know more about the rival tribe from Ghiyas. He had to do all this really discreetly so that Ghiyas wouldn't get an inkling of what he was planning.

Palwisha was a part of his plan even though he himself had no idea as of now from where to start. He was just looking for an opening. She was not trying to talk to him much these days knowing well Ghiyas was not leaving his side but Zaviyar was looking for chances to talk to her. She had mentioned his father and Zaviyar had no idea how she knew him. He was curious to know. Palwisha's back story was yet a mystery to him and he wanted to unravel it soon so that he'd know what the matter here was.

"Ghiyas is pretty fond of you these days, don't you think?"

Palwisha placed the piping hot cup of Kahwah in front of him. He didn't touch it neither did he say anything.

"Where are you lost? Still planning the escape or the special treatment has changed your mind?"

She slid the curtains to the side letting the soft sunlight enter inside. The weather was pleasant as the central areas were drowning in sweaty summer.

"You think I can be moved away from that? The plan is very much on and you and I both are running the hell away from here the moment we have a chance."

The conviction with which he had always stated that she'd come along whenever he get away from here was surprising for Palwisha. She wasn't used to this affection. He used to treat her like an elder, someone you give regard to and look up to with respect.

"You just think about your escape, Zaviyar."

"And leave you here for twenty five more years? I'm not my grandfather's grandson but my Baba's and I won't ever do that."

He didn't have to say. Palwisha knew he was like his father more than he'd ever know.

"You told me you knew him. May I know how?"

Palwisha was tongue tied. She had hoped he'd miss that slip of tongue.

"It's not important."

"It's about my father so yes, it is important."

"Zaviyar..."

"You'll have to tell me. I'm not agreeing on anything else."

Was it time to look back into her past? Was she ready to involve him in one more cruelty of his grandfather?

His determined face and Palwisha knew it was the time.

________________

Khadija had reached Zara's place in a hurry. Harram had called her about fifteen minutes back and the way she sounded, Khadija knew something urgent had come up. She had found Zara standing in the lounge all worried.

"Thank God you are here, Khadija!"

"What has happened?"

"Harram has lost her mind. Please make her see sense. I don't know what she's up to but she's not taking care of herself neither is she being serious about staying home. It's not good for her to stay out for long driving. She's faced a huge mental trauma and now her physical health is also not good. I'm helpless. How do I make her understand?"

Khadija held Zara's hand in an assuring manner.

"I talk to her. Don't take tension. Your blood pressure with elevate."

"Please! I hope she listens to you."

Zara was simply worried for her daughter. She was usually a chilled out parent but here it was about Harram's health and she didn't want to compromise on that.

Khadija walked to Harram's room which was ajar. She was sitting on her bed and upon seeing Khadija her face had morphed into an expression of determination.

"Harram..."

"Who was Sultan Bakht, auntie?"

A question? No! It was Khadija's dread, her worst nightmare.

"I...I don't know what you are talking about!"

"I think you do, Auntie and trust me I won't let you go like this. I need answers and I'll get those from you only."

"I can't answer any of your questions, Harram!"

"Would you be saying the same had your son been standing here?"

And this was the point Khadija knew she had no answer, nothing.

"It's important not for my curiosity but for the answers I'm looking for! For your son! For my kid! For myself!"

Khadija dropped herself on Harram's bed. Her heart was sinking already. Revisiting your past is never easy and now it was more difficult than ever.

______________

Sultan closed the file and placed it back on the table in front of Zaigham. Both friends had never thought they'd have to face a situation like this someday. Their friendship spanned over a decade and more, both were always true to who they were and their professions. May be this was the reason they had climbed the stairs of success in a short span of time in their respective fields. But right now was the test of the same honesty they were so proud of.

"You are sure?"

Zaigham's barely there whisper had echoed in the small living room of Sultan's house.

"You know I'm. You are just making sure you are not seeing things."

It was true. Knowing that his father was a part of such a vile game was not easy for Yahya to digest. This was a blow he was sure would take its time wearing off.

"I have all proofs against him, Zaigham. I can file the case any time. I'm showing this to you because we are friends and I don't want you to think I stabbed you in the back. Your father is running an illegal business and is also involved in many other activities, those which need further investigation. I know it's hard to imagine let alone believing but this is it."

Palwisha who was standing in the adjacent kitchen could hear every word they were speaking. She was hoping this turn of events wouldn't prove a bane in her husband and his best friend's bonding. Though she knew Zaigham wouldn't hesitate to bring forth his own kin if they were at fault but still blood relations are blood relations for a reason. People can kill for those.

She was waiting for a response by Zaigham when he got up and without saying anything left through the door. Sultan shook his head dejectedly. Palwisha was by his side in no time.

"He's so shaken, Palwisha."

"What else do you expect from a man like him who'd never think of doing anything closest to what his father is pulling off for years now."

"I'm sad for him but I have to move forward with this. This information would prove important for the government. And I have a feeling Yahya Duraid knows I'm after him. Before he does something this should be in the right hands."

He pointed towards the file. Palwisha clung to his side.

"Please, don't say something like this. You will come out of this situation unscathed like you always do."

"I will try but Yahya Duraid is not easy to deal with. I think you should go to your mother's for few days. Your sister has also come home from hostel, right? This will protect you."

"No! I'll stay here with you! No matter what happens will face it together!"

The ever confident Sultan Bakht had no assurance to give to his wife. He had dived straight into waters the habitation of blood thirsty crocodiles and now he couldn't go back, not that he even wanted to. He was worried only about Zaigham's reaction and now he knew so there was no point in stalling what was to be done.

In Duraid house that night came like a thunderstorm. The ever calm and composed Zaigham Yahya Ali had shouted and asked for answers his father was hiding from so long. His shock knew no bounds when he came to know his brother's involvement in this as well.

"Seriously, Ismail? I always knew you needed Baba Jaan's support to even use your feet but this? Don't you have any conscience? How do you satisfy yourself? How do you sleep at night knowing what you and Baba Jaan are doing with so many innocent lives!"

"It's business, Zaigham Bhai!"

"No! It's selfishness! It's blood thirst! It's not business. It can never be business!"

"Calm down, Now Zaigham!"

Yahya Duraid's voice boomed and collided with the walls of Duraid House.

"Enough of this none sense! I know who has filled your head with this shit and I also know how to deal with him."

"You will do no such thing, Baba Jaan!"

"I will do what I must! You should stay away. This doesn't concern you anyway so be quiet."

"I won't!"

Yahya Duraid glared at his eldest son with contempt and anger in his eyes. This young man and his obsession with doing and saying right had always caused problems for Yahya Duraid and now when that good for nothing friend of his had arranged for his own father's downfall, he was siding by him only! Pathetic!

"You can't do anything, Zaigham so don't even try. I would not tolerate a fool from my own kin to get his hands in the things he doesn't understand."

Finality was shining in his stance. Yahya Duraid had made his point and was now walking towards his room. Zaigham felt both helpless and enraged at his father and brother. When did they turn this shade of cruel? Why he had no idea?

Khadija who was in her room trying to make Zaviyar sleep stood up seeing her husband's disheveled form.

"Zaigham? Are you okay?"

"No! I'm not! I'm far from being okay, Khadija."

His anger had turned into sadness seeing his wife and companion of life in front of him. He narrated the whole thing to her with his own urge to do something.

"You'll go against your family? Send your own father and brother to jail?"

"Have they left me with any other option?"

"This can be dealt some other way!"

"It can't, Khadija!"

"You'll tear down your own family!"

"And what about the families my father and brother have torn down?"

Khadija had no answer to this but that didn't mean she was in agreement with Zaigham's idea of going against his own father. She was in a dilemma. On one side was the household which had accepted her as its own with open arms and on the other side was her husband and his morals. Whom to side with? Khadija was conflicted. She couldn't leave any of them in these times of crisis.

Not caring for Yahya Duraid, Zaigham had met Sultan the next day telling him to go on with whatever he had decided. He'd have total support from Zaigham. Sultan wasn't expecting anything less. The case was soon filed in the court causing an upheaval in the political scene. Zaigham was on a boycott from his father and brother. He had refused to give them any support knowing how vile the allegations on them were.

Khadija was in her own misery. The tension their family was facing wasn't something to take lightly. They all were on the verge of breaking to never get back again but Zaigham and Yahya both were adamant at their own place.

"I need no mistakes. Make sure everything goes according to the plan!"

Yahya Duraid was in an important discussion with Ismail and his other men. The plan was simple. Removing Sultan Bakht from the scene and not drawing any attention towards them. Wiping off his family from the face of the world. He was so sure and so confident about it.

May be it was fate, may be it was misfortune of may be nothing whatsoever. The little Zaviyar wanted to show his Abu his drawing and knowing too well he was in an important meeting in his study, Khadija had run after Zaviyar to stop him but she ended up knowing what they were planning.

And this complicated things a lot.

She had never faced a conflict like this before. To tell Zaigham or not. To side with truth or to let the evil have his way? To choose her family's peace or her husband's morals.

She had racked her brains over it. She wasn't a bad person. Never in her life had she done anything which would term her as a bad person. But often bad things are done by people who aren't bad.

She also did a bad thing.

Hiding this information from Zaigham.

But he had come to know. It was late. Way too late.

Sultan Bakht was already dead. His lifeless body was in Zaigham's hands. Palwisha was gone. Where no one knew.

A family had lost its everything and Yahya Duraid had the last laugh.

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Harram made Khadija drink water and patted her back to soothe her pain but Khadija wasn't stopping today.

"I did so wrong. Ididn't kill him but I could've saved him and I didn't! I never told Zaighamabout this. I was afraid he'd start hating me the way he hated his family afterthat. He became distant. Even brought mme and Zaviyar away from Duraid House. I had tried to change his decision but he didn't budge. Baba Jaan promised him that this was the last time something like this happened, that there would be no more ill doings from his side. He just tried saving his family from humiliation. And he acted upon his promise. Never again we heard of anything like that. But Zaigham had lost his trust. And it couldn't be like it used to be. I got happy in my world again thinking that everything was finally okay. Zaigham was away from his people but soon he'd go back to them but that never happened. He even got away from me as well. That day when he lost his life in the car accident. I had felt the pain Palwisha must've felt. I had endured the cut on my souls. And I knew this was my payback. Little did I know it was just the starting. There were many tests of time waiting for me. I had to lose my whole family like Palwisha did. And now I have. My son is no more. I have to see your torn life and somewhere I think it's my fault. You all are getting the fruit of what I had sown! I should've told Zaigham! I should've!"

Harram sighed not knowing what to say to her. She was still not aware of how the family she had tried keeping intact, had stabbed her once again. Harram so wanted to tell her the real face of her beloved Baba Jaan but now wasn't the time. Yahya Duraid's cruelty was spanning on years, decades, eras. He had single handedly managed to tear apart a family more than one times. And did he have any regrets? No. None.

Slowly, Harram got up and took out the photo album from her side drawer. She came to the picture of Nano with Zaigham uncle, Khadija auntie and Zaviyar.

"Auntie."

Khadija looked up with bloodshed eyes.

"This..."

"This is Palwisha's mother. She had come with her on Zaiviyar's birthday. There were pictures of Palwisha and Sultan as well but I couldn't look at those after what had happened so I took them off here."

"This is...Nano."

Khadija's eyes widened.

"You mean..."

"Yes, she is Aalee, Hassan and Saad's nano. "

"Oh Khuda!"

Khadija exclaimed. The whole picture was kind of clear now. Palwisha was the reason Durdana Khanum was so against Yahya Duraid and his family. The link between Zaigham and Sultan was also now in front of her. Harram didn't know how this was linking up with Zaviyar's being a hostage but she was still feeling something was not adding up.

The ringing of her phone was her summons to the real world. Harram excused herself but Khadija was too lost in the picture to notice anything. Hamail was on the other side. Harram immediately picked it up.

"Harram? Where are you?"

"I'm in my room. Why? What happened?"

"Sheraz is dead."

"What?"

"Yeah! His dead body was found in his house few hours back."

"Yahya Duraid?"

"Must be. He might've gotten an inkling of Sheraz spilling his guts in front of Muskaan."

"Where is she?"

"Waleed has gone to get her to a safe place. She can be the next target."

Worry was clouding Harram's whole being. So the time of facing the enemy face to face had come? And if so then how many of them they'd have to stand in front of?

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"Welcome home!"

Khalid Aslam embraced his old pal who had just gotten in this secret lodging of theirs. Honadir Sahni couldn't even smile back.

"Sheraz has been taken care of?"

"Absolutely. Our men are on the look out of the woman he was sleeping around with and blurting more than he had permission for."

"And about Bukhari?"

"That's what I've called you here, Honadir. Yahya will dismiss me saying I'm losing my mind but I know for sure Bukhari knows something. Yahya's grandson was working under Bukhari only. It all makes sense."

"We'll find out. Whoever knows more than they should will be on our hit list soon and I'll myself take care of everything. Yahya is way too lost in his own problems that he can't take care of our mutual issues, so here I'm and be assured. I do not have a family to care for. I will not go easy on anyone that comes in my way."

Venom dripping from his voice had given the assurance to Khalid Aslam that nothing was lost yet.

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Kitni hasrat thi kay anjaam badal jaye ga

Akhri warq kayi baar palat kay daikha

How I wish the end will be different

I've gone through the last page so many times

There is a thing about past, no matter what it doesn't have an edit button. You have to go through all its ups and downs, good and bad and when the bad is more than good, the melancholy is more than joy then you know past is something you want to forget.

Looking at the night sky and the dark hills in the distance, Zaviyar wanted nothing but to remove few instances of his past from his memory. Most of them those which he hadn't even been a part of. The whole saga of Yahya Duraid and Sultan Bakht was not going away from his mind. His grandfather had been an evil for so long. If he had thought the tale of Yahya Duraid's cruelty on his grandson was something to know, then they hadn't known how he had destroyed the lives of Sultan and Palwisha.

Would he ever be able to look at the fond memories of his family the same way? The happiness around, the laughs shared, the bonding, the love. Was everything a sham? He was thinking it was. Because it didn't feel real now. Everything was may be just a work of his mind. How could monsters like Yahya Duraid reside in someone's good memories?

Getting out of here was now more than necessary. Yahya Duraid shouldn't be let free. He was a sick minded control freak, a pharaoh of modern age. He deserved to be behind the bars and never come out.

Zaviyar leaned against the window trying to come up with something. Ghiyas was guarding him whole freaking day. He was chasing him around like a shadow sliming the chances of Zaviyar's escape.

But who can stop a thing from happening when it's written this way?

The distant voice of trucks and loaded vehicles pulled Zaviyar towards them. He squinted at the figures in the distance.

They were passing over the road far away from this hide out. It seemed like some kind of cargo or other supply. Zaviyar's mind had started clicking. This could be his ticket to freedom.

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