Zameer stood still, his heart pounding in his chest as the moment of truth arrived.

Shehryaar stood by, his eyes on the computer. Qadeem was by his side and Zameer was told to stand opposite to his superiors.

Zameer was confident that tonight was the night of his victory. He will finally gain back the position that he had lost and most of all, he would gain back Shehryaar's trust.

He felt good. More then good, he felt great.

"What are you anticipating?" Qadeem spoke, his face straight yet his eyes were mocking Zameer.

Zameer folded his arms on his chest as a half smirk stretched on his lips.

"We'll know soon enough." He replied. Qadeem snorted and looked at Shehryaar.

"Boss?"

Shehryaar didn't bother saying anything, his eyes zoning out. Zameer looked at his Saeen and knew that Shehryaar was just too distracted to care. All he was waiting for was the results and Zameer knew that he just wanted to be done with it.

"This had better been worth all the trouble." Shehryaar grumbled under his breath.

It will be. Zameer thought positively.

The three men went rigid when the computer beeped. Qadeem was the first to move, snapping his fingers in silent orders to the men in charge of the machines.

Zameer's breath got caught in his throat.

The air became thick with anticipation.

All eyes were on the large screen and when the message was typed, Zameer's eyes widened as he froze in shock when he saw the message.

'PAKISTAN MILITARY WILL NO LONGER NEGOTIATE.'

No one moved. No one spoke.

Zameer's eyes stayed glued to the screen, his mind trying to process the situation.

He couldn't bring himself to accept it.

Defeat was slapped right on his face but he wasn't accepting it.

Defeat was unknown to him. But for the first time, he was left totally and utterly defeated.

He lost.

He lost what he wanted so badly.

And now he knew, he couldn't get it back.

It was the sound of Shehryaar's hands clapping loudly that brought Zameer out of his trance.

"Well, this was a waste." Shehryaar commented as he stood straight and looked at Zameer with his cold grey eyes.

"And here you've failed me yet again, Zameer."

Zameer couldn't help the shivers that ran down his spine. If it was anyone else, Shehryaar wouldn't even hesitate to kill them off for their failure, but this was Zameer.

"I can," he paused to clear his throat as he willed himself into composure. "I can get this under control."

"Can you?" Shehryaar mocked, his voice cold as ice.

Zameer stared at Shehryaar. And he realised his position. And when he saw the disappointment and the cold bitterness in his Saeen's eyes, he had no choice but to accept what had come to pass.

Suddenly, anger exploded in his chest. All of his attention went to the person responsible.

Sadia.

It was her. She was responsible for this. If she had just done what was required of her and hadn't interfered then things would've worked in his favor and he would've gotten what he wanted.

'Keep dreaming, Mr. Sheikh. But that's never going to happen.....Pakistan army.....does not negotiate with terrorists.'

Her words made sense now. Where he was so confident that nothing would happen, he was left surprised.

As his anger fuelled him, he didn't realise that he walked out of the control room and straight to the underground where she was being held.

No more mister nice guy. He thought, getting closer.

Snatching the keys from the wall, he unlocked the door and pulled it open.

Sadia was sitting by the wall. She jerked in her place when she heard the door being forcefully open.

But before she could react, Zameer was already in front of her and pulling her harshly by the arm.

"Wha-"

"Not a word from you!" Zameer growled. Before Sadia could figure out what was happening, she felt Zameer's hand grasp her neck tightly. Her hands came up and wound around his strong wrist as she began to choke, her air supply being cut off.

"Why the hell did you act out of line?"

Sadia struggled to breath, her hands trying to pry off his from her throat but the instant she heard him say that, she stopped moving and looked at Zameer. Even in the dark, his eyes gleamed maliciously. And the anger that he felt, she could feel it roll off of him.

She had never seen him lose his composure before. He was always calm around her. He was always prepared.

It surprised her. But what he had just said didn't come as a surprise.

Zameer was choking her. He knew that he needed to stop but he couldn't. Not when he had lost and that caused him to tighten his fingers around her neck.

But as soon as he saw her look at him, the realisation flashing in her good eye, he felt his anger simmer down for a second and that second allowed some clarity which led him to see that she was choking, her eye rolling back into her head. He quickly let her go. Sadia fell to the ground, coughing and rubbing her neck. However, she couldn't help but smile.

Zameer looked down at her. His anger was growing with each passing second so before he could do anything reckless, he turned his back and headed for the door but Sadia's chuckle stopped him dead in his tracks.

Sadia continued to chuckle until it turned to a low laugh. Zameer could clearly sense the emotions in it. I was provoking and condescending. She was laughing in victory, thus openly mocking him.

"I was right." Sadia murmured under her breath as she sat straight.

He felt his anger rise. He turned to face Sadia.

"Don't get too confident. It isn't over yet." He hissed through clenched teeth.

Sadia smiled. "It is." She whispered.

There was silence between them.

Zameer was getting irritated. Sadia wasn't afraid at all. And the way that she was looking at him now, so calm and relaxed, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. She was feeling smug. He didn't understand. Didn't she realise what this situation meant for her?

But then again, she had made herself very clear the other day. She wasn't afraid. She had already embraced her fate.

"I hope you're ready for what's coming for you." Zameer said, his tone cold.

Sadia inhaled deeply. "Yes, I am."

Her replies continued to surprise him.

Zameer wanted to spite her. Where was the scared little girl that he had abducted? Who was this woman who was this brave? Who was this woman who was not afraid to die? He couldn't believe that it was the same Dr. Sadia that he knew. No, she had changed. Or rather, the circumstances had changed her and prepared her.

He could see it now.

Her resolute was strong.

And it annoyed him. She was responsible for ruining all his plans. And before he could do anything to her, he quickly left.

***********

Zameer knew what needed to be done now.

It was over.

Sadia was of no use to him now that the army had given its verdict.

He had half a mind to treat Sadia like any other prisoner and torture her into submission and try to get the negotiations started again but something in him stopped him from thinking further. He didn't want to hurt her. No, he couldn't bring himself to hurt her. Not even when he was angry, he controlled himself from causing her any further harm then he already did.

He didn't know why he felt that way. Perhaps it was because he knew that she was innocent. And what she did, it might've caused him a huge loss but even he had to admit that what she had done was admirable.

Or maybe it was the deep respect that he had for her.

But it was of no use.

She was about to die. And he would be the one to kill her.

And out of respect, he would grant her a swift death. The thought of causing her pain anymore then he already had wasn't sitting well with him.

Sighing, he passed his hand through his hair.

'Finish it.'

That's all Shehryaar has said to him.

So that's exactly what he was about to do. Getting up, he took out his gun and loaded it. The killer inside of him surfaced and numbed his emotions. Now at least, he would be able to finish the job without letting his feelings in the way.

Sadia felt so exhausted. Her back was aching and her body was hot. Her fever was getting worse and her wounds hurt so much. But the only comfort she had was in the fact that her father didn't surrender. She was happy and she felt so proud of herself. For the first time, she was brave and thought of others then herself. But of course, she also felt afraid. Now she knew that the purpose for which she was being held was over, she was on no use to them.

It was time for her to embrace death.

And strangely, she wasn't afraid of dying. She had mentally and emotionally prepared herself for it. But she felt sad. Her father would be left all alone. She was the only family that he had let. All she could do for him now was pray for him to be patient and proud for the death she was about to embrace, it wasn't an ordinary death.

She would die a martyrs death. And that was enough to make her stay positive and not give into despair.

Rubbing her face, she felt the gauze and decided to get rid of it. There wasn't any use for it now.

Suddenly, bright lights appeared out of no where and Sadia screamed as the intensity of it blinded her. She had been in the dark for so long that the brightness of the lights only hurt her eyes especially her right eye. That's when she wished that she hadn't taken the gauze off for now she had to hold her eye to protect it from the light.

Rubbing her eyes, she tried to adjust to the lights. Looking up, she realised that the cell was illuminated. She didn't understand and her confusion just grew.

Her heart was pounding and her right eye began to throb. She was in so much pain.

The door of the cell flew open and sure enough, Zameer entered. Sadia looked at him. It was a nice change to see him in the light instead of the dark but it did next to nothing in making her feel any better.

Zameer scrutinised Sadia. Her condition was deplorable now that he looked at her closely in the light.

Zameer moved his arms and folded them behind his back. Sure enough, what he wanted to show came out. Sadia noticed the gun on his waist belt. She swallowed hard but understood the message.

Looking away, she adjusted her scarf. Carefully, she staggered on to her feet and kept a hold on her eye.

"I hope you know what I'm here to do." Zameer said.

Sadia nodded. "Yes, I know." She answered, not looking at him.

"Good." Zameer said. He was glad that it was going to be over soon. He would no longer have to deal with this situation. For the most part, he knew that he felt guilty in using an innocent girl for his plot but now he was glad that he won't be feeling that way anymore.

Zameer moved to a distance to a farther wall, directly facing Sadia.

Sadia's legs were shaking and her heart was beating so fast. Her heart almost skipped a beat when she saw him take a hold of his gun.

Tears filled her eyes but she refused to give into fear.

It was happening. What she wanted, she was going to get.

So, she was going to be brave. One last time. And face her death head on.

Zameer took his stance, holding his gun at the ready, taking aim directly at her head.

That's right. Make a clean kill. He told himself.

Breathing in deeply, Sadia stood straight, her arms falling by her side. She kept her eyes closed as she gathered her wits. And strangely, she felt a confidence like none other wash over her, causing warmth to flood into her. She was an extremely shy girl and confidence never came easy to her but right now, all she wanted was to face her death head on and her spirit kept her resolution strong.

Oh Allah, grant me peace and a place in heaven. And bless my father. And give him patience. And for what i'm laying down my life for, make my motherland safe with my sacrifice. Pakistan Zindabad. She made a prayer in her heart. And it left a soothing effect on her as she opened her eyes and looked Zameer in the eyes.

Zameer drew in a sharp breath as he froze in his place when he saw her eyes. She was looking him in the eyes for the first time and what's more, her eyes, they were different.

Her good left eye was brown while her right eye, which was covered, was a bright clear blue.

Zameer was left stunned. He had never seen such eyes.

They were the most unique pair of eyes that he had ever seen.

Zameer left his heart squeeze in his chest.

Sadia.

As she looked at him, he noticed her for the first time. Perhaps it was the bright light. But for the first time, he clearly saw her.

She was beautiful. Like an angel.

And those unique brown blue eyes, they were pulling him in, drawing all his focus into them.

He was never affected by a woman. As much as he was affected by Sadia, it was mostly because of her personality traits. But right now, for the first time, he couldn't bring himself to look away from her.

Sadia frowned in confusion when she saw him stare at her with wide eyes. Of course, she knew that he must be horrified to see her eyes. But she felt no shame. She was going to embrace her death as herself, as a whole.

Zameer couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Her face was flushed. And the eyes made her look so different and so unique.

And he was about to kill her.

No, he shouldn't kill someone so unique like her.

A strange urge stirred in his heart. And his heart began to feel again.

I want her. He thought to himself, his arms falling down, his mission all but forgotten.

Without realising, he had walked to Sadia. She remained frozen in her place, her confusion growing at Zameer's strange behaviour.

Zameer came close to her. Too close for her liking. And what's more, Sadia couldn't break eye contact with her.

Zameer moved closer, his height towering over Sadia's small frame. his face was only a few inches away from hers.

His gaze was so intense. It kept her in place. She couldn't move. Her already flushed cheeks brightened with color and her pounding heart went into overdrive.

She almost jumped when she felt Zameer's fingers on her cheek, gently caressing her skin. Her confusion knew no bounds now.

"What.....are y-you.....d-doing?" She finally managed to whisper.

And that became Zameer's undoing for his eyes landed on her lips.

Sadia's frown deepened and before she could say anything, Zameer caught her, wrapping his arms around her body and the next thing she knew, his lips came down on to hers.

**********

Chap 17 has been updated on inkitt

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