Jo saazish kar kay marwaye gaye hain

Bohat izzat se dafnaye gaye hain

Those who've been conspired to be killed

Have been buried with deep respect

Hamein tamer kay dhokay mein rakh kay

Hamaray khuwab chunwaye gaye hain

Keeping us in the dark of building our hopes

Our dreams are made into the close doors

Hamein haq goyi ki khatir bula kay

Hamare hont silwaye gaye hain

Calling us to tell the truth

Our lips have been sealed shut

Khiza kay khof se ab kay baras to

Sabah ko kafan pehnaye gaye hain

For the fear of autumn,

The morning wind has been shrouded

The open window of the room made way for the fresh air to get inside. The people gathered around the table were engrossed in the heated discussion needed it anyway.

"So you here's what we know up till now. Bukhari was the one who suspected something was fishy in the way my posting orders came and then what happened. He gave Waleed the task of finding it out and this lead Waleed to Harram who was the only person seemed knowing more than anyone else. And after knowing about Yahya Duraid's being the mastermind behind it she was working with both Waleed and Colonel Bukhari. Sheraz is dead and Bukhari is under arrest for something he hasn't even done. So now tell me about the story of Sheraz?"

Waleed drummed his fingers against the sofa arm and leaned forward.

"Hamail was the one suspected that Sheraz knew more than he should. So we started following him around and that fucker frequently visited the red light area. We talked to a woman there Sheraz was friends with and she was more than willing to help us out. So we kind of trapped him and he blurted out how you were kept in Duraid house then to another place. Too bad he couldn't get to the point of your current location. And then few days later we heard how he was murdered in his house."

Zaviyar's scowled deepened. He looked between Hamail and Waleed and both didn't have to guess the reason behind this judging look. He was obviously not praising their not so fool proof plan.

"And how did Hamail know? As far as I know Bukhari didn't want anyone other than you three involved."

He pointed between Harram and Waleed. Hamail scratched the back of his neck. Zaviyar wouldn't be happy to know the answer to this how.

"I went to Duraid Company's head office."

Harram blurted releasing Waleed and Hamail from his death glare.

"You did what?"

"I wanted to know something about you, anything. And going to your grandfather's cabin looked like a good option. So I went there but instead of Yahya Duraid's cabin I ended up in Ismail Chachu's and was locked. That's where I came across your photos. Those they must've taken when you were sedated. I got cramps the next moment and had to rush to the hospital. It was a sticky situation and Hamail was my only safe bet so I called him and since he found the pictures, I thought it best to tell him as well."

Zaviyar didn't know what to do with this new information. Scold this woman for her carelessness or mourn over the fact that they had to go through such drastic measures under such circumstances. He shook his head trying to ease out his building worry. How much people around him had suffered in his absence. Just setting Harram with a gaze that spoke of both his anger and helplessness he turned back to Waleed.

"They didn't do anything to that woman you have taken the help of?"

"She had already escaped with my help. She's right now at Hamail and Meeral's place. Taking her to my house was risky and Hamail's place is something they'd never think of her being there as they haven't suspected Hamail yet so that was a good option."

"And what about Bukhari?"

"Bukhari was after Khalid Aslam. He's also in Yahya Duraid's oldie wing. And the way Bukhari has been arrested tells he had reached somewhere Aslam didn't want him to."

Zaviyar fell silent. His mind was considering all the options he had been left with.

"As far as I've seen this situation and the way Yahya Duraid works, He and Khalid Aslam aren't alone in this. Yahya Duraid isn't that clever. His leaving me alive and then keeping me at his most secured hideout have given me this idea. Almost all of the record of their doings is either wiped off or difficult to find. Took me three months and I could only gather things about Yahya Duraid. He might be the body of this wing but the mind, the mind is someone else's."

"You mean another person is involved?"

"Yes and the one who's the most dangerous. There's something that is not adding up. But we'll find out."

He got up holding the file close.

"Hamail, you take Maa and Zara auntie back to Islamabad. Play it normal. Waleed, Harram and I will meet you at your house in few hours. We'll decide the next move there."

Hamail nodded and also got up. Waleed and him exchanged looks and left both Zaviyar and Harram alone. Harram knew Zaviyar was distressed over the fact that she put her life in danger many times but could she do anything else? She was fighting on so many fronts and he also understood this so there were no scoldings from his side. Just a deep melancholy which was coming out him in waves. Harram took a step towards him when he extended his arm in her way.

"Let's go. Gotta go home."

Harram held that hand like her life depended on it. He was no longer hidden in the echoes. He was here flesh and bone. He hadn't used words to tell her how protective he was feeling right now. His comforting around around her told her this. Dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead like sealing a promise, he led them both out of the room.

______________

Since the time she'd come here, Palwisha hadn't left her mother's side. Twenty five years of pain and longing weren't easy to throw behind. They both needed to be with each other as much as they could. She also had to come to terms with the fact that her sister had her own full fledged family. And Obaid Dastagir happened to be her brother in law whose daughter was wife of her savior and confidant. There was so much to digest here. There was close relation her family shared with Yahya Duraid's clan and this became all the more meaningful that Zaviyar was the one against Yahya Duraid.

But what she wasn't expecting was finding Khadija outside of her room. She had been shocked to see her but invited her in. Durdana Khanum was eyeing Khadija as well. The familiarity was finally coming to her when she fully recognized that it was indeed Khadija. It made sense now. After all the revelations last night they should've expected Khadija to be here. Durdana Khanum was seeing her after years. She had totally written off Zara and Harram when she had come to know Harram had been married into Yahya Duraid's family. She had no desire of keeping any relation with any member of that family but destiny plays it role in the unexpected ways. Who would've known that Yahya Duraid's betrayed grandson would bring Palwisha home?

"Sit down, Khadija."

Khanum called out to her in a gentle whisper but Khadija wasn't here for them to behave nicely with her. She was here so they'd know how she had had played her own role in their destruction all those years back.

She opened her mouth to say something when Palwisha beat her to it.

"It's been so long, Khadija. How are you? And congratulation, your son is back home. Safe and sound."

There was no edge to her words, no jib but still Khadija felt she was being dragged into the ground. Khanum and Palwisha were meeting her as they'd all that time back. Khadija was just answering their questions about her well being with a lost state of mind when making an excuse Plawisha pulled her outside of the room.

"Palwisha I..."

"I know."

"Wha..."

"I know that you knew about Yahya Duraid planning Sultan's murder."

Khadija was tongue tied.

"I had come in the morning to meet you but heard what you and Zaviyar were talking about."

"Aren't you...going to..."

"Lash on you? What it would do for me? It wouldn't bring the twenty five years of my life back now would they?"

"But still....tell me all those things you are supposed to yell at me..."

"I'm not going to do any such thing, Khadija. I believe that every person is responsible for what they do. The Karma hat you've faced in all these months is Allah's calling not mine. So who am I to decide the punishment for a person who has already been suffering on so many fronts. I just want to live my remaining peacefully with my mother and my sister. I don't want to blame anyone for what have happened. I hope you'll respect my decision and don't bring this up again."

Her words weren't cruel but they weren't kind either. Khadija was expecting nothing else. Palwisha had forgiven her but she won't her forget what had happened. It was fair. The trials Khadija was going through for moths were almost her punishment for her silence years down the lane. Khadija mumbled a meek goodbye and made her way out of there.

_________________

The always calm air of Duraid house wasn't that calm that particular morning. Mrs. Aneesa was hysterically pacing the lounge while both her daughters were by her side trying to calm her. She was already worried about Harram and now Khadija was also missing. She hadn't been seen since the early morning and no one knew where she must've gone.

"Ammi Jaan! Please calm down. Bhabhi will not have gone far."

Naima held her mother from her shoulders but Mrs. Aneesa just shrugged her hands off.

"No one knows where she's gone to, Naima. I think I'm going to be mad with these constant back to back worries."

She dropped herself on the chair. Naima looked at her elder sister. Ansa had nothing to say to any of them. Since the time Zaviyar's death something or the other was hitting this family time and again. How it was possible that so many problems would come together at the same time? There was plain uncertainty regarding Harram's whereabouts and now Khadija was also nowhere to be found.

"Whose evil eye has seen this house? Just few months back on your wedding everyone was so happy. Who could say so much was about to hit us in just few days."

Ansa ran her fingers in Soha's hair. Soha was the one who had called them this morning to reach Duraid house as soon as they could. They were already coming. Harram's attack wasn't something to ignore with all the speculations surrounding it.

"Call Hamail, Sohaira! He might know something."

Gull asked Sohaira for the umpteenth time but Soha just shook her head. He wasn't going to pick up. His phone wasn't reachable.

But there worried came to a standstill, most of them when a solemn Hamail entered the lounge with a weak but safe and sound Khadija by her side. Mrs. Aneesa was the first one to be at their side.

"Khadija! Where were you? Who do such kind of a thing? I was so worried!"

"She was at the cemetery, Dado."

Hamail lied but not fully. He had found her at the cemetery anyway before taking her to the Haveli.

"Khadija! Please don't do this. We will find Harram. She'd be fine somewhere. Thank goodness she wasn't inside the car when the attack happened. Don't lose your hope. Gull, can you please take her to her room?"

Gull who wasn't a fan of staying in the family matters couldn't stop herself worrying for Khadija and Harram today. The reason why she had taken an off from her prior duties and stayed home praying along with them all that Khadija and Harram both reach home safe.

Khadija hadn't said a word to anyone and holding Gull's hand started taking slow steps towards her room. Mrs. Aneesa was not alright after seeing Khadija's lost state. Ansa and Naima both were around her telling her it was going to be fine.

"Where were you?"

Hamail almost got startled sensing the anger in Soha's voice.

"I was out looking for Tai Maa."

"Don't you get tired, Hamail? You know you are lying. I know you are lying so stop this! Where is Harram?"

"How would I know?"

"You both think you can keep me out of the loop? Have I not been seeing you two cooking God knows what for days? Something is definitely up and you are hiding it from me. At least tell me if she's okay? I know you know, Hamail. Please give me any answer! She's my best friend as well. She's already faced so much and now this? I'm worried for her."

At the end her voice had broke and a sob had left her mouth. Hamail had almost forgotten how close Sohaira and Harram were and now Sohaira didn't know anything that was happening in Harram's life. Unlike him Soha was high on emotions. She'd always think after getting something done and that was the reason both him and Harram hadn't told her anything regarding the whole fiasco. Also it would pose a threat to her and both didn't want that to happen.

"She's fine. More than fine."

A sigh of relief had left Soha's lips. She wiped her tears.

"Where is she then?"

"I can't disclose that now, Soha. Hell, I can't tell you anything right now but be clear of one thing, whatever we've believed all our lives is going to change soon. Prepare yourself for that. The unexpected but inevitable is about to hit us all and I want you to stay strong when it does."

"You are scaring me, Hamail!"

He just shook his head and without giving her any more details almost ran away from there. She watched his leaving form and then around her surroundings. Why she could feel the impact of his words even now?

__________________

"May Allah safe you from every evil and you succeed in whatever you are going to do."

Durdana Khanum gave her blessings to Zaviyar who was ready to go to Islamabad with Harram and Waleed. They were seeing the family off and everyone was assuring them that they were always there whenever the need arose. Harram was hugging Obaid who was repeatedly asking her to take care of herself and stay away from the trouble but even he knew what mess both Harram and Zaviyar were in, trouble would find them just fine.

Harram was in a state of mind where she was not still sure it was all real. She was in the backseat while Zaviyar and Waleed were on the front talking about the connection of Palwisha was Duraid family. She was tuning out their voices. Last night when she had sat down in that beat up van to Peshawar she had only her survival on her mind. There was no desire or any wish which had left her mouth. Just making it to the Haveli safe but what had found her here, she hadn't thought even in her wildest dreams. Now here she was, going back to her home city which a person who was her home himself. How big of a contrast in these two journeys was. But that was their fate and they had stood the test of times. It is said love like theirs often has to go through the hardest ordeals. They had and were still.

She hadn't gotten any sleep on the way. Her mind was too jumbled up to afford that luxury but seeing the familiar surroundings of the capital city around her she had sat straight on her seat.

Islamabad had never looked this beautiful to her. Zaviyar's eyes were also fixed outside. He was back home after four long full of pain months. He was seeing these roads, the pavements and the traffic after what felt like eternity. Who would've thought that what he used to call bland would be so soothing to his eyes.

Harram had understood his emotions. She kept her hand on his shoulder. He held it with an assurance that no matter what they weren't leaving home again.

They wouldn't let anyone else do that as well.

________________

When they had knocked at the door of Hamail's apartment, Meeral was the one to open it and what followed was the usual greeting mixed with smiled and tears. Hamail had arranged for clothes for Zaviyar stating he needed to get the feel of that place out of himself. Zaviyar didn't argue. He'd get away from the feel but about the trauma that was going stay with him all life? Meeral was checking Harram's toe when he had come outside after getting his bearings. He hadn't shaved that beard off. It was still a reminder of what he had endured. No one commented on that.

"Where's Muskan?"

Harram asked Meeral.

"She's asleep in the other bedroom. Girl was pretty shaken up when she was brought here but she's a strong one. Coping fine."

Harram nodded feeling relieved that Muskan was fine. Waleed and Hamail were looking expectantly at Zaviyar hoping that he'd tell them what their next course of action should be.

"Waleed, I think we need to talk to Bukhari. He has left clues in the file which can get Khalid Aslam in trouble but we need more. Also By the evening I want every channel to flash the news of how my death was staged."

"Tania can do this for us."

Harram took her part in the conversation.

"Who's Tania?"

Harram hadn't told him yet how she had found out about Yahya Duraid's link with Sultan Bakht. She thought of it as a detail which wasn't necessary but now she knew that wasn't the case.

"She's a journalist. I took her help when I was trying to figure out Nano and Duraid family's link."

"Is that Tania Rasool from high school?"

Hamail was amazed at his own memory but then again a figure like Tania who was friends with everyone wouldn't be easy to brush off.

"Yes, that one."

Harram peeked at Zaviyar who was looking almost impressed and proud. His wife had done her work fine.

"You can contact her. I just need the media to talk about it. It will give us an edge and when the thing will be in public Yahya Duraid won't be able to do anything publicly. Like the attack on you. It's like a safety measure."

His main concern even now was making sure she was fine. Harram made a face but couldn't stop a smile reaching her lips.

"Also tomorrow, I'm holding a press conference. Waleed, remember that guy from Islamabad press center? We can contact him and knowing the scope of this case he wouldn't deny us."

Waleed nodded enthusiastically knowing how that guy was a sucker for such cases to be held on his press club.

"The strategy is clear. We aren't our enemies so we won't be doing anything from behind or secretly. Public will be our force because we are at right and they should see what happens to those who have been playing with their lives for so long. This isn't a fine. It's a jackpot Yahya Duraid failed to get his hands onto. Our case will straight go to court and there we will fight for our cause. I can bet Army and other important department will also be interested in it and this should serve as a plus point."

He was looking in his full glory like he was back then while talking to his team whenever they'd go on a mission.

"Hamail, you stay here and if the need for getting Tania Rasool here arrives, just bring her here. Harram wouldn't be going anywhere till I come back."

"Where are you going?"

Harram forgot the protest she was supposed to do on hearing he was not letting her go from here. Zaviyar took a deep breath and looked at her.

"I'm in the city after so long. It will be rude not to say hello to my dearest Abu."

"Zaviyar..."

Waleed knew how this guy worked when in his working mood. He was fearless and always well in control. This was his that face right now.

"Also, I'm taking Harram back to our house after I come back. It's been so long it's closed. We need to get back now."

Harram was both excited and terrified seeing this side of his but she was not going to stop him. He knew what he was doing. She'd be his support no matter what.

_____________

Loat kay daikha to phulon ka rang

Jo kabhi surkh tha zard hi zard hai

Upon my come back, I saw the color of flowers

That used to be red, is only wilting yellow now

Apna pehlu tatola to aisa laga

Dil jahan thaw aha dard hi dard hai

When I checked my own side

The place where my heart used to be is now filled with pain and just pain

Mrs. Aneesa wiped her face with the towel after coming out of the bathroom. Her head was banging like being hammered right in the middle. In this old age these many trials weren't what she had expected. Her family was breaking piece by piece and Yahya was still not serious about looking into this matter. She had specifically asked Safina to let her know whenever he'd come home. He was out all night and she for sure knew it wasn't for searching Harram.

"Dadi Jaan?"

She turned at Safina's call who was fidgeting with the corner of her scarf.

"Dada Jaan is here."

"In his study?"

"No, in the lounge."

She nodded and taking long determined steps came to the sitting area where Yahya was already present massaging his temples.

"Got time to come back hom?"

"Please, Aneesa. I'm not in the mood of any argument."

"But I'm!"

She shouted at the top of her voice. The family members had slowly started gathering around hearing the commotion.

"I can't comprehend for the life of me what is wrong with you! Why you aren't doing anything to find Harram? She is a part of this clan and she's been missing after that fatal attack on her car! Did you not see how miserable the condition of the vehicle was? Why are you this ignorant and indifferent? Have you forgotten she's the wife of your most beloved grandson! The grandson who is no longer in this world! Why! Yahya, why?"

"Tell her, Abu. Why?"

This wasn't a sound. It was summons to hell for Yahya Duraid. It was time for the whole Duraid family to get frozen where they were. Mrs. Aneesa's eyes were glued to the figure standing in the door. No person was making any move. Everyone was just registering what was unfolding in front of them.

"Tell her. Why you aren't trying to find Harram?"

He crossed the familiar furniture and stood right to Mrs. Aneesa's side.

"Should I do the honors?"

He turned to Mrs. Aneesa whose glassy eyes were roaming on his every feature.

"How would he tell you, Dado? He himself ordered that attack. So why would he do anything now to stop it."

His bloodshed eyes were giving out the anguish he was feeling from within. The quivering of his lips and the way his fists were at his side.

"An attack on the daughter in law by her own grandfather in law. Seems weird? Not when the same grandfather can fake his own grandson's death!"

There was an audible gasp came from somewhere behind him.

"Sound pretty fucked up no? But it's the truth."

He again went back to Mrs. Aneesa who had finally starting getting her bearings and understanding what was happening around her.

"That coffin which came four months back? That was empty, Dado. No one was inside him. No one had died. No one had embraced martyrdom. You know whose funeral you all attended where he was right then?"

He wiped a tear that had left his eye.

"Down there in the basement. Sedated. Unconscious and unaware of what was happening. Why Abu is a businessman? He should've been a stage director. Gave the best work of his till date."

Yahya Duraid was tongue tied. Of all the possible scenarios he had conjured up in his mind with Zaviyar's escape this hadn't once come up to his mind.

"I'm alive everyone. Look, in front of you all. Dado, Maa, Phupho, Chachi, Soha! I'm here. And Harram is fine too. Don't anyone of you worry."

He ran a hand through his beard and looked back at his grandfather who was looking to be turned into stone.

"Just because I had stood up against you. I'm still standing at the same place, Abu. Against you. I'm still going to do what I intended on doing four months back. You still can't stop me. You can't."

The steel determination in his eyes hardened some more.

"I didn't come here for some family reunion. I came here to, well tell them all that I'm still and to make it clear to you that do not for just once think that you've won. The game is on, Yahya Duraid. And this time around I'm going to be the winner. I won't play it your way. I'll be fair. I'll not kidnap you, I'll not make your life miserable but I'll do my work. And that work is bringing your downfall. Be ready, and be prepared. In just few minutes all news channel are going to buzz with this new news they have just gotten. Your days are numbered, Yahya Duraid. You write other's destinies for them. Let's see how you fight yours. It's a war. Prepare yourself."

Leaving an air of doom behind him he had straight went to the door and just like he had come here, he was gone as well.

But the huge cracks in Duraid house walls were going to collapse the empire like sand.

_________________

Harram had felt his silence when he had gotten back to Hamail's place, when he had silently nodded on the information being sent to all the news channels by Tania, when he hadn't protested on Waleed's plan of having two man watch around their Pindi house. She hadn't tried asking him during the drive.

The only emotions she saw on his face were of deep agony mixed with elation when he had stopped in front of his house. The lane was empty at this time of noon in the peak summer. Harram unlocked the door and both entered inside the stale air of the house. Zaviyar had run his eyes at every nook and corner, as if remembering a memory. Harram just stood behind him trying it hard to believe that they were here now. It had always felt impossible and now it was a living breathing reality.

Zaviyar made his way towards their room. The same old everything. This is where he had talked to Obaid Dastagir. The last time he had talked to anyone from his family. This was the place he was captured from. His eyes found a picture frame of the whole Duraid clan to the side. Something took over him. He hated this picture. He was the one who had hung in there and now he wanted this frame to vanish from his room. It was suffocating him.

Without thinking much, he reached out to frame and pushing it to the floor smashed it into pieces. The picture was taken at Sohaira's wedding. All the smiling faces. He was feeling those smiles to dug into his flesh with their teeth. He picked up the still intact picture and came to the kitchen. Harram who was seeing all this standing in the doorway followed him frantically.

By the time she had reached there, he had already lit up the whole picture which was turning into ashes now. His tears filled eyes were not even blinking.

"Zaviyar! Leave it! You'll hurt yourself!"

Harram took it out from his hand and pushing her foot over it tried stopping the fire that was now spreading to the center taking all the corners already along.

Looking up she cupped his face and made him stare right in her eyes.

"Why are you pushing it inside of you! Why aren't you sharing it with me! Tell me! Let it out, Zaviyar! Or it will make you mad. Cry, there is no harm! I'm here. I'll wipe your tears but please don't let this change who you are. Don't bottle up your emotions."

He didn't stop the tears this time.

"I know what is happening. But what do I tell to that ten year old boy who used to think his Abu was the super human who could wipe away all pain? What I tell to that teenage boy who'd proudly introduce his friends to his Abu thinking how cool it was that his grandfather was so famous among his friend circle? What I tell to that eighteen year old guy who opted for army and felt like dying when his grandfather told him he will miss him terribly? Was money, power, status, political sitting this much necessary, Harram? My mother was crying for me, my wife would've shed God knows how many tears! I left her in such a delicate condition. The baby I was so happy to get, I couldn't even know how my wife was doing with nurturing that as well. Seems like my whole life has become a big lie. What is Duraid family? The famous Duraid family? Nothing. Just talks that too in air. I was living a lie, Harram. Just a lie."

She hadn't seen him this torn ever. Back there in Haveli his main focus was her and whatever had happened in his absence. He had comforted her but never showed any signs of needing the same comforting. But for how long could he go on like this. Harram raised on her tip toes and embraced him in a hug. His face was buried in her neck and she could feel the hot liquid his eyes were giving off tickling down her shoulder. She ran her hands through his hair and whispered again and again in his ear.

"It's okay. I'm here. It's okay."

He needed her and she was making sure he knew she was here only.

Mohabbat karnay walon ki tijarat bhi anokhi hai

Munafe chor dete hain, khasaray baant lete hai

The trade of the lovers is weird

Leave the profit aside, they share the loss

_______________

I'm pretty serious about winding this one up lol