"The fu*k!" Kunan felt severe pain in his entire back down to his buttocks as he zipped down his pants against the toilet sink.

After emptying his bladder, "fu*king shit!" Zipping up his pants, the same excruciating pain made him cuss.

Waddling towards the washbasin area where mirrors were installed he threw himself on the counter. His low hung head now whirling. It was too heavy to be lifted.
Punching the counter with his right fist, he shook his head violently.

The "fu*king food poison!" He mumbled then glimpsed his abdominal area.
And the other second, retching like pregnant women he threw up all content his stomach was keeping inside.

After freshening his mouth with mouthwash, he trickled some water on his face for some relaxation.

Snatching a couple of paper towels from the roll above the sink, as he straightened up, "Argh!" The slaying pain shot in his butt again.

"What happened to my fu*king ass?" He growled to himself.

He then slowly removed his shirt and tried to locate any wound behind but nothing came into view. Then removing his pants and boxers he got all naked as when his mother bore him.

"Now!" He slightly turned his body against the mirror only to inspect the freaking pain point.

"Come on damn!" He cursed while struggling to catch his butt reflection with his hand on there. "Argh!" This is the bitch point." He tapped his finger on the upper area of his butt. It was swollen and solidified

"Tumor!" he thought to himself, "but how did it appear all of a sudden?"

He now with mild hands checking the point thoroughly, but startled at once when the point just throbbed.

Suddenly a spark of cognition flashed in his mind. "A chip....... A microchip!" He whispered to himself.

Just after a short while, he was revving up the engine of his car.

Thankfully the road at that time was nearly empty because he wasn't even thinking about any other thing except, "whodunit?!"

He continued his fast speed, passing all the cars on the highway.

"I'm bugged....fu*king fool Mr. Kunan is bugged." He shouted while whacking the steering wheel with his hands.

Then reaching the pocket of his blazer, he fished out his phone and tapped on a number.

After a few rings, the phone was picked up, "you still in your pharmacy?" He asked directly without wasting time in greetings.

"Yeah, bro?" Ahmer's stunned voice appeared from the other side of the phone.

"Just hang in there until I catch you!" He ordered then ended the call after hearing Ahmer's nasty reply, "ok, come I know my friend wants something sizzling!"

"Tampoon!" He cursed and raced the speed.

After half an hour:

"It was nicely done by someone like 007!" Ahmer spoke after rinsing his wound with alcohol. The microchip was out after a small cut he made into Kunan's skin.

"Have you heard about the serpent in the bosom? The idiom was formulated to describe people like you...Argh!" Kunan lectured him after hearing his praise for chip inserter.

Ahmer laughed and began massage slowly the broad spectrum ailing paste on his wound.

Kunan winced while Ahmer applied a bandage.

The question is who and why anyone would do that with you?" Ahmer was now cleaning the chip to get some evidence.

Kunan pulling up his pants, "I wouldn't spare him to the grave; a forensic evaluation will make me catch the convicts"

"Do you remember? I mean maybe it got inserted when you asleep." Ahmer asked.

"No chance! I sleep alone with a locked door." Kunan firmly replied.

"Boi! I am not asking about the pure sleep that you take at home."
Ahmer asked mischievously.

"Still no chance, no woman around these days," he spoke lightening the cigarette then suddenly pulling out the cigarette between lips, he spoke "wait! I remember an unknown bitch offered me in the club, as I denied, she got lost like nowhere to be seen."

How can you doubt her? Man, come on, à grul (girl) inserted a chip in your butt and you were like, carry on it's amazing to get bugged!" Ahmer used his acting skills making Kunan uncontrollably laugh. "You freak'in Joker!"

"Want a drink?" Ahmer opened the refrigerator.

"Today, I've consumed alot." Kunan dismissed.

"Energy?!" He asked showing him a can of energy drink.

"Not required!' Kunan rejected and sprawled his legs on the table in front.

"Bro you sounding off, chal tera mood theek kertay hain." Ahmer winked at him. "You know, butterflies everywhere!"

"Leave it, man, you know my level," Kunan spoke indifferently.

"Your wish!" Ahmer shuddered the shoulders.

While continually dragging the smoke, Kunan's s mind tuned to the recent fiasco. 'Who would become my principal foe?'

Love rivalry? No chance.
Every girl who came into his life had the impression that she was his true and secret love though he was the one who switched girlfriends like cars.

"Hell! My competitor, coming from behind, how can I forget my competition rival, Vicki!"
Kunan stood up at once but winced instantly.

"Easy man, don't move your butt too much!" Ahmer after making him sit again asked, "are you sure, it's Vicki behind?"

"To full extent but I need proof!" Kunan spoke switching off his phone.

"Hmm, so now he is using mean tactics." Ahmer was well aware of everything about Kunan.

"A bitch always be a bitch!" Kunan spoke venomously.

Ahmer was quiet now Kunan looking in his direction blurted out, "yeh saday hoye kaddu Jesi shakal Kio banai hai.
Kal chalay gay Teri jalpariya dekhnay!"

"But your wound?!" Ahmer inwardly excited but asked like a good wife.

"I fu*king swear I wouldn't be twerking there!" As Kunan spoke prickly, Ahmer laughed his head off.

•~••~•~••~•

"Man is bad-natured," Sheema spoke after licking her catechu coated finger, "since he has inborn lust, appetite, and desire for a woman."
She rubbed the same finger against her head now.
"So why they come here?" She looked at her clan who was listening attentively, "As I said they have inborn lust, that means we can calm them, their agitation of soul." Sheema like a Guru enlightening the perspectives of whorism.

"Auntie! Is'nt dance enough to make them calm?" Reem asked.

Sheema smirked at her question then spoke, "well, what would you expect from a child after offering him chocolate in a beautiful wrap?" She asked.

"To taste it; all he would be wanting that!" Bini answered.

"True, same for men, the dance is only a tool to tempt them. They shed like wax when you flame them with your sizzling beauty." Sheema winked lasciviously and the girls laughed but Raniya felt her bile rising. Reem noticed her discomfort then asked, "Raniya you still having trouble with the law we follow? To empty bank accounts of rich roosters using our charms?"

"You got it right Reem, I despise all this!" As Raniya spoke simply, Sheema's head spun towards her. Her expression like she detested Raniya's riotous confession.

"Raniya I can't understand your double play. You are now an experienced dancer here. You can make a man crazy with one of your wink. You are enjoying royal status here but at the same time you're defying the system?" Fairy asked harshly.

"Because I am not doing anything here on my will. If it's in my control; by now I have been escaped from here but imagine a bird in a cage on top without wings. It might not take flight but gets hurt by whacking herself against cage bars. You all know that whatever you are doing here is Hara......harmful to society. We are not women but objects. We all no longer women but pieces of flesh; like you see in a butcher shop. People come, scan us then order to pack. Just like you did with that innocent Aabi..." She looked. sheema, "we have no entity, no recognition of our own, we are known as venal women, we dance with sale tag around our body and when a client pays our price, after scanning our body thoroughly; the tag is replaced into Soldout!" Raniya felt her voice no longer with her.

Several seconds passed....no one dared to put a ratifying stamp on her statement.

The lingering silence...

Sheema like waking up from sleep and the silence was broken only by Raniya's scream. Grasping the teacup, she spilled all the content on the face of Raniya, "Kanjri!" Cussing she got up and clenching her hair in her fist, started thrashing her.

The scene stiffened the hair on the back of their necks.

"Randi, tujhay jitni dheel di utna ser charh Gayi hai. Haramzadi!" Sheema swore while continuously lashing poor Raniya who was now quiet like a punching bag.

"Auntie Sheema please leave her, what she said is not important to us!" Reem tried to mediate.

"Yes Aunt, please let her go, she's not bad at heart." Bini held Sheema's hands.

Sheema was panting, the drool was leaking from her mouth sides.

"Harrafa! Teri nath jaldi utarwao gi. Tu dekh!" She threatened Raniya scornfully who was wiping her tears. Sheema then turned towards other girls. "What she said? It's harmful to society?"

"Umm... " all heads gave a nod in unison.

"Hmmm, listen to me then; I have a story about it," Sheema sat again, "Auntie I bring you water!" Nella asked to alleviate the situation. "No need just sit and listen." Sheema dismissed the water offer then spoke, "my grandmother used to quote us. Several decades back, the government launched a campaign against obscenity. They eradicated localities of prostitutes from the city in the charge of sabotaging the noble norms of the society. Their hopes high that it would help. But did this act garnished society?" She vehemently asked while wiping the corner of her mouth.

Everyone stared at her clueless.

"Want to know what happened?" Boring her eyes in Raniya's reddened pair, she spoke after a minimal pause, "more women were abducted. Buying and selling of women surged up. The graph of rape cases escalated high. The situation turned out to be a disaster. Then deeming about the root cause, it dawned upon the government that making these varmints starved, is the sole reason to rise the criminal activities against women.
Then on an emergency basis, they repopulated the localities of prostitutes." She stopped to see the reaction.

"So basically we are filters!" Fairy spoke while watching other girls.

"Certainly yes, my kid!" Sheema liked her interpretation, then faking the tears in her tricky shrunken eyes, she asked, "and what do you think of me? A money famished whore? Deny me if I'm wrong; ain't you being well-fed here or any of your need I'm not meeting well?" Taking a long sigh she shifted in her place. "Ok, I know I reap through your body art and beauty, but I spend double on you. Well if you see mother dove; doesn't it feed her hatchlings, taking a portion for herself?" She was watching them with query held eyes.

"Of course, Auntie. I am 100 percent agree with you. You are the one who sheltered me when my bastard husband sold me out." Mehek came forward, spoke placing a hand on Sheema's feet, "I would have died If it wasn't for you!" Mehek whimpered and Sheema placing a hand on her head, patting there, "Relax my Child!" She uttered in the voice of a Fairy Godmother.

Raniya was amazed at Mehek's level of gratitude she showed to Sheema. She was astounded by nature's law. How come people be pleased to jump in a well full of scorpions after escaping the crocodile's pond?
'Well everyone has their way of thinking.' She suggested herself while caressing her skull and shoulders. It was paining there, after what Sheema did to her.

"Any of you, next time utilized their damn tongue against our bread and butter earnings," she gave a rotating glare then climaxed her acerbic lecture with a potential threat, "will dig up my true self!

Then, suddenly, the door flung open, and hustling in came Tina. "Apa!" Her face painted with puzzling misery. "Apa woh..." She was gasping, "woh!"

"Ari bol bhi kia hua hai?" Sheema inwardly became impatient.

"Apa, woh d-d DSP Safdar ko kisi ny m-m maar dala!" Tina uttered finally.

Like timebomb blasts...

"What?" Sheema yelled upon disbelief with horrifying gestures, "Oh!" Girls only could emit

•~••~•~••~•

"Thanks, Gentlemen!" As Dawar Shah uttered, all the officials stood up from their seats and vacated the meeting hall within a minute, leaving father and son alone.

Mr. Dawar took in a deep sigh while he reached for his smoking pipe.

Serkhayl was checking some quotations that were strewn on the table in front of him. His face empty, while his whole being steady as a rock.

Dawar Shah stared at his son while puffing, unable to fathom anything from his conduct.

The morning tension, although never been discussed between them but Dawar was concerned.

It fretted him that his boy was treated like an outsider in his own house and being a father his helplessness was like adding salt to the wound.
'What an odd irony fate had in a store.' He sighed as he thought.

He was well aware of the fact that Serkhayl being a stepson, suffered alot. Though in the presence of Dawar, Kaifiya never failed to enact Serkhayl's mother after that garden shed incident. Dawar had learned very much about Kaifiya's true colors, but his hands were tied.

We human beings have been comprised of emotions since the time of Father Adam. We love! We hate! We survive! We thrive! We fear the loss of our beloved and somehow our happiness is dependent on others.

Dawar also loved his younger son and because of Kaifiya, he couldn't be far from Kunan, who had the honor to enter the world from her womb.

Serkhayl was a calm and strong-willed kid! He had an incredible understanding of situations at that age in which boys usually get scoldings for their rambunctious behavior.

He knew orchids are not for him, but still being a kid his heart longed for his mother's affection whenever he witnessed Kaifiya's kisses and caresses so fondly given to his brother Kunan.

Only those who are bereft of the sacred boon, a mother's love, can relate themselves to the poor boy.

Let alone love and care; the atmosphere she created around him was potentially suffocating him. He barely had a chance to enjoy his life with his brother, as she never failed to take whatever opportunity she could to ruin it.

Hiking, horse riding, archery, shooting, and Martial Arts, became his hobbies in parallel with his studies. Dawar was with him to accomplish all his duties as a father.
'The boy seeks to escape the pressures of house,' Dawar was much aware of that truth.

Scouting had proven another milestone in his life. The boy achieved Scouting's highest honor that signified him as a young man of ability and dedication to the worthy objectives of life.

His academic records were brilliant as he earned a Master's in Business Administration with high distinction in Finance from Stanford.

Kaifiya's nails were more sharpened with time as she was now one of the board members of a feasible NGO.
To see him grown up as a very sensible adult male, she scorched to the core.
She wondered how come the boy she never allows warm place in her life adjusted successfully with heightened poise and self - confidence.

Even both the boys were not in ideal brotherhood due to Kunan's upbringing done by Kaifiya as in her despise she forgot about the sheer bond between her and late Ghazala.

If Kunan ever had some fight with Serkhayl that is all propelled by Kaifiya. Serkhayl being elder and having vast canvas always forgave Kunan.

But in the end, everyone has their boiling point. Serkhayl's forbearance eventually ended, the time he found the commemorative picture of his mother and father in the storeroom as a piece of garbage.

His little harsh interrogation from the servants invited a tornado into the house.

Dawar Shah was on his business development tour.

As soon as Kaifiya approached and registered the scene, she spoke softly, but her words were singeing.
"I am the Lady of the house! since when you get the authority to interrogate them like this?" Then rolling her eyes she mumbled audibly, 'The deceased has been inherited us her cynical remaining!"

And that was proven the last nail in the coffin.

"Enough!" His voice plentiful loud that Kaifiya paled for a moment so the knees of the servants rattled with fear. His fists clenched as the blood rushed to his top. After glaring at Kaifiya for several seconds, with muscles twitching along his jaw, he turned with a jerk and left the room with heavy thuds.

Few days passed in silence. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that Kaifiya would attack him with false accusations.
"He bad-mouthed and tried to slap me in front of servants!" Kaifiya added more spices and with fake tears tried to hoodwink Dawar, who just came back from the tour.

Dawar loosening his tie knot stated calmly, "let me listen to the other side story first!"

Kaifiya felt like someone spat on her face. Dawar slid down his jacket on his arms and waited for Kaifiya to remove it from the backside but when she didn't shift, he did it himself and handed it to her. Grasping Jacket reluctantly yet she asked coldly, "so you think I'm lying?"

Dawar was unbuttoning his collar spoke simply, "the boy is well behaved, Kaifiya! There must be a misunderstanding!"

"To hell with your well-behaved son! I have a team of witnesses!" She grumbled.

"I said, I would see to it!" Dawar spoke harshly and entered the washroom.

Hurling the husband's Jacket across the room angrily, "jesa beta wesa baap!" She fumed.

Elasticizing the issue, Kaifiya turned the home into the battleground. Kunan knew that she is intensifying the scene, he was damn sure about Serkhayl's mannerism but still, he was taking the side of his mother.

For Serkhayl there was no excuse left to stay under the same roof after the drama.

Dawar grieved at first but he soon realized his son's favorable decision. Kaifiya was becoming more bolshie day by day.

Now it's been long five years that Serkhayl had left the house for peace of mind.

Dawar came back to the present from his deep thoughts and saw him still busy in papers then
extinguishing the stub of his cigar in the ashtray, finally, he broke the ice, "I and my family adored your mother, and I did not know why? Why she left us so early," Dawar Shah preamble for morning fiasco, took a brief pause, "but what can we do against predestined? The decision she made and put in front of me as her last wish was malignant but you know it's a common ritual here that we are bound to obey a dying person's wish either willingly or unwillingly!"

Serkhayl had risen from his seat while Dawar was speaking and now stood against the window, gazing far off into the distance.

"Dad, stop assuming unnecessary guilt!" After several moments he spoke; his voice dry as husk yet his face was emotionless.

Dawar Shah sensed what he was thinking, and moved beside him, "she is feeble, care damn what she said to you!" Dawar chose words wisely.

"Well, she had already said exceeding more than her domain," he argued, his jaw clenched. "You are right son!" Dawar replied smoothly, "but Dad I feel bad when You feel bad for me," he turned towards his father, and watching his twinkling eyes he melted and hugged his father at once, "don't be stressful Dad, believe in your son. There is comfier than any other place." He patted his back for a few seconds then pulled away. Squeezing softly Dawar's shoulders he said, "Alright Dad, I gotta go," "let's have dinner together!" Dawar invited politely, "next time Dad, I have some business on the way back." Excusing nicely he kissed on the back of his father's hand.
"Visit often my son!" Dawar patted his shoulder, "sure Dad, bye! He left with a fascinating smile, "Take care, my son!" Dawar took a deep sigh while saw him leaving.
His elder child, the one he had always thought himself closest to. Although Kunan has his place but the real bond he always felt between Serkhayl and himself.

After leaving Dad's office, Serkhayl took a glance at his watch and hopped into his Jeep.
He performed all of his tasks accordingly. In the timber market, he met with Ludwig and placed an order to craft a door. Ludwig became overwhelmed to see him after a couple of weeks and complained about his zero visits to the home and not to miss Jenny has been asked several times about him. Serkhayl felt a bitter taste in his mouth on the mention of Ludwig's h*rny wife but composed himself with perfect excuses.
"The man either naive or pimp!' He thought while taking leave.

A Mart on petrol pump in the way, he bought some grocery items and stepped up on his Jeep's accelerator.

His destination now the Western part of the forest, where the river was flowing in parallel with the forest.
He dismounted the Jeep with a pointed rod in his hand and waded knee-deep in the river. A few minutes later, he pegged the rod down in water quickly and when it came out, a fish was pierced in flopping wildly. He gripped it around the gills and pulled out of rod and flung it towards the bank. Repeated the act a few more times, he came out of the river and collected all his water hunt, and put it in a bucket inside the Jeep. After hanging up binoculars around his neck, he picked up the gun holster pulled its belt around his hip, so the gun was reaching his thigh.

There was still one last thing requiring his attention.

Now he was climbing steep hills. The marsh was making his boots muddy but he seemed damn careless.

Three hundred-year-old forests were spread on thousands of acres. It has its habitat with a nursery of various species.

The knowledge being a hardcore member of Scout Troop he availed helped him to acquire a special post in Forest Department.

The Forestry has implied him to report if any hidden kind of criminal activity, takes place in the jungle.

He lifted the binoculars to his eyes and began his surveillance.

'No one around!' He mumbled then uttering a humorless laugh he spoke to himself, "only a fool might be tempted to come here!'

'So you are a fool!' His inner voice mocked.

'And who is not?' A small smile crept up his face. He decided to go inside the thicket to gather some herbs in the vain hope that bodily exercise would calm his mind.
Immediately after almost 50 minutes, he was driving to his cottage, his home, his room, where he would be (might be) alone to struggle with his terrible day.

But who knows an uninvited special guest was already there on the ledge.

His eyes narrowed on the girl who was trembling badly in his strong grip.

"You little alien, I'm not going to eat you!" He was applying pressure on her arm

"Just leave me!" The girl begged in so pitiful voice. Her beautiful eyes pooled up.

He felt something uncanny then, "people from the outside get on my nerves; they don't respect the privacy of a guy who wants to be alone," saying that in his heavy tone, he released hold of her arm.

Abi like caged Sparrow flew away from his grip and crossed the threshold.

God knows how far she ran after the man released her. She was so thankful to Allah that she was safe as he didn't try to harm her.
'The man was looking so wild but he let me go?' She thought to herself.

The forest grows cold and gray as the evening comes. Dusk comes early within the forest, the trees hiding the falling sun yet unwelcoming to the moonlight.

Such depth of murk would have normally terrified any daring man and she was just an innocent girl

Unexpectedly wind started blowing at a slower pace.

Looking around at the dark, silent and now windy forest sent a chill through Abi and she wondered, who may I ask for help, there is no one besides that strange man.

Suddenly her stomach grumbled. 'Which direction should I follow to quit this place?' She thought with zero energy level.
Now, her body needed rest, nourishment, and warmth as it has overdone its part.

She was walking sickly until she heard the crack of branches from behind. She paled for a moment, 'it must be him!' In terror, the poor girl mustering up the last bit of power fled away through the dark forest

'Why he is chasing me?' An adrenaline rush went through her body as she ran faster. She felt a tug on her clothes and screamed but no sound.
Suddenly she tripped and fell forward against her face. "Ahh!" Forcing herself not to cry out, she sat up with great difficulty.

And then......
Fear cut through her......

He was standing there with his mysterious eyes fixed on her.

"No.....!" Her breath hitched as she backed away. "Please....!" Her sobbing escalated into a whimpering cry, "Don't touch me...." As she uttered, he found himself aggravated.

The winds had full sweep now. She stood up and started running with a squeal.

"Stop!" She heard him behind but she was no such fool to stop and submit to his desire.

"Mai nay Kaha larki ruk jao! (I said stop, girl) He was striding behind.

"Nahiiii.....!" She screamed and then her steps began to falter and her breath come in quick, panting gasps.

"Ah!" This time she plunged into a jelly-like substance beneath.
She had no strength to rise again.
His striding steps halted too.
"I told you to stop!" He spoke with anger then quickly bent; his heavy boot took firm hold of the ground. The girl almost unrecognizable in gloomy camouflage. "Give me hand!" He shouted, "no!" Her gagged squeal.

He straightened up. The girl was hell stubborn, but he can't be inhuman so leaving every thought behind he bent again. Stretching his arms out he reached to pull her up gripping her arms. "Please don't hurt me." She moaned pitifully and squirmed, "Still!" He admonished her tightening his grip around her waist. "Don't smirch me, take off your hands!" She was squirming hard. His jaws gone clenched after hearing her pleas to stave him off.

A little leniency can be hazardous, so for a tight grip, his fingers dipped more in her flesh. It was like earth wanted to swallow her but he was strong enough to yank her out and throw her over his shoulder. His Khakis were caked with smelly swamp mud. On the other hand, the girl was head to toe all mired.
She was quiet now, her eyes were closed she was passed out.
"Good for you!" The man was striding back to his cottage.

•~••~•~••~•

Salam Guys!

I am back but not at all happy with you.

I put 200 vote challenge but still after 3 months target is not achieved.

Well dear readers if you are no longer supportive, I won't be able to write. Your votes and comments like a tonic.

I am damn serious 😒

Bye

Your depressed writer,
Gul