Ishmal was standing in front of the mirror to get ready to leave for school. She wore a pastel-colored simple long shirt with white trousers. Delicately combing her hair, she tied a handful of them in a clip and let the rest fall on her back. Grabbing the cute small round white earrings, she pushed them into her ears one by one. Applying a pink gloss on her lips, she completed her look. She smiled looking at her reflection before setting her dupatta over her head.

She entered her mother's room after that. Farah was half lying on the bed. As compared to before, she had started speaking well now and her left side showed some movement.

"Ammi, I am leaving for school. You take care," she said, patting her forehead.

Today Ayyan was sick hence he was on leave. Ishmal had to go to school by herself.

"Did you have breakfast?" Farah asked.

"I'll grab something to eat in school. I am really getting late. Bye." Ishmal kissed her cheek before walking out.

She went out of the house and strode towards the main road. Spotting a rickshaw, she tried to stop it by a gesture from her hand. After a small negotiation, she sat in the rickshaw. After twenty minutes, she was outside of her school's building. Paying the driver, she came out, holding her handbag diligently near her armpit.

The sun was at its full might today. Ishmal attempted to hide the impinging rays by placing a file over her eyebrows. She started walking on the footpath leading to the school.  She was still halfway when a car stopped on her other side. Ishmal paused and narrowed her eyes at it. Minutes later, a man appeared from inside and marched towards her. He was tall and dark. Ishmal gulped at this.

"Get in the car," he ordered.

Ishmal's face turned white at his intimidating voice and words. She tried to sneak away but he blocked her way.

"Don't try to run. It won't be good for you," he announced, sharply.

"Wh...who are you? What do you need from me? I...I will make a call for help if you won't leave me," she told him, trying hard to surpass her fear.

The man smiled. "Think twice before doing it. You know, ASP Haider? He is on our mercy."

Ishmal's eyes widened. Haider was in trouble? How came this man knew she knew Haider? Their marriage ceremony had occurred very privately and none other than family members knew that.

"Wondering why I know you are his lover or maybe you guys are in some kind of relation of benefit?" He smirked.

"Shut up!" Ishmal snarled.

For the passersby, it was looking as though two people who knew each other were having a casual conversation but who knew the reality?

"He is in danger. He is surrounded by my team. And he has no way out. And only you can save him. If you will ask him to do what I say, we will spare his life. Or else, we will kill him," he told her, placing a hand over his hip.

"What are you saying?" Ishmal whispered.

Haider was in anger. They would kill him. What was happening?

The man didn't reply but pulled out his phone from his pocket. He shoved the screen in front of Ishmal whose jaw dropped. It was a video showing what that man was saying. It was Haider's car surrounded by two other cars. And even she could see him from afar. Firing was happening from both sides. But even she could understand who was in danger right now even if he would try his best not to do appear deterred.

"If you love his life, come with me. There's already very little time remaining," the man spoke in a rough voice.

Ishmal stared at him dumbfounded.  That was the man she loved. Someone who gave her rescue when she was vulnerable. He helped her when he didn't have to do that. The only man her heart still chanted for. The next moment, she stepped ahead toward the stranger's car. He smiled deeply and then yanked the backdoor. Ishmal's vision was turning black and hazy due to tears but she didn't stop. Her heart urged her to proceed without caring for the outcome.

                 _____________________

Haider was shocked at finding one of the men holding Ishmal's both arms. A while ago, she was forced out of the car in the front by the same person. With his one hand, he was aiming his gun at her forehead. Tears were falling from her eyes. What was she doing here? Who brought her here? Was she captured as a bait to force him to do what they wanted?

Shit.

How come they knew Ishmal was related to him? That meant her life was at stake. They would use her to pump their desired decision from him and if he didn't agree, they would shoot her. Someone very close had given them this personal information regarding him. Who it was, he would see it later on. But right now, all his focus was on Ishmal. The sight of that man's dirty hands on her fragile body and his lecherous gaze over her innocence annoyed the hell out of him. He suddenly wanted to kill him and chop him into pieces for touching her.

Another guy moved toward his car and patted on his window with his knuckles. Haider had no choice but to lower it. Now Ishmal was involved. If he was alone, he would have easily controlled the situation. But not now. He knew he had to do something here.

"Come out unarmed. Or else she will die," he growled.

Haider clenched his jaw before unlocking the door and ultimately coming out. But before that he put his gun on the dashboard and the man made sure to check this.

The MNA himself emerged from the car at the rear. 

"We have your girl. Someone very important to you as she made you vulnerable within seconds. Release my son right now from prison. Or my man will shoot her in the heart," he grumbled with a sheepish grin.

Haider glared at him but didn't say anything. Instead, his eyes went towards Ishmal who was looking at him already with blubbering eyes. She was looking terrified with tear-stricken cheeks, chapped lips, and a blank face. 

"In your dreams. A woman won't make me vulnerable," Haider announced with a chuckle.

Ishmal sobbed at this. Didn't she mean anything to him? He would see her dead and then go against his rules? Did she make a mistake by coming here?

The man grabbing Ishmal put his finger in the trigger at his Boss's order but Haider's sharp eyes caught it and he moved quicker than the speed of light towards them. Clasping Ishmal's wrist, he freed her from his grip. He pushed her behind his big frame before taking out his own gun and shooting the bullet down that man's leg. He fell to the ground with a bone-chilling shriek.

The man behind him directed his pistol at Ishmal but Haider pulled her in front of him, almost hiding her in his arms. But the bullet came out and it pierced through Haider's arm.

"Mr. Haider..." Ishmal whimpered.

Haider shot this man also on his leg and the effect was the same as the former. When it was the turn of the MNA who was unfortunately without any pistol because he believed in his men and bulletproof jacket to protect him, Haider smiled darkly. The siren of a police van sounded from far away.

Haider turned towards Ishmal. "Sit in my car quickly. Lock it. You are safe now."

Her eyes flitted over his injured arm from where blood was coming like fountains. However, he didn't seem to bother it. Ishmal did what he asked.

Every color from the face of the MNA seeped out as he knew he was trapped there. He tried to run back to his car but the inspector from the police mobile got him and pushed him into the vehicle along with his two men.

"Sir, are you okay?" After everything was done, his inspector asked Haider.

He nodded. "You go and give them a very warm welcome. A headline should be running on news channels of what happened today."

"Sir, your wound?" He again implored.

"I am fine. You should take a leave. Quickly!" He declared.

Ishmal who was seeing everything with silent stares lost all her constraints when the police mobile left. Haider ambled towards the car and opened the door for her. Ishmal came out and regarded him without saying a word. It was so close. She thanked Allah in her heart that nothing serious happened to Haider.

"Ishmal, are you okay?" He questioned gently.

He knew she must be anxious and horrified. Whatever happened was too much for her indeed. She almost had a bullet aimed at her and saw so much blood. She saw a side of him that he always tried to hide from her even when he tried to scare her off from the monster inside of him.

Tears were wetting her rosy cheeks and her eyes were pink. What happened next stunned him as Ishmal hugged him tightly.

                 ___________________

AssalamoAlaikum/ Hi guys!

How are you?

So here's a new chapter.

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Till next one, Allah Hafiz/ Bye.  💞