He couldn't take his eyes off of Kanwal as she gazed at the huge fountain before them. Her long hairs, which she left untied was dancing with the breeze, covering her face from time to time. The lights of the fountain were reflecting in her lost eyes. She has been like this since yesterday when Ahad told her about Moosa. He gave her some space all day and finished all the important work that needed to be done. For dinner, he took her out with him to a luxurious hotel in the city. But nothing fascinated her here, she remained lost in her thoughts like before.

Ahad has huge shares in this hotel, that's why he was allowed to have the whole dining hall to himself. It caused an immense loss to their business, but to Ahad, once in a while, people should take such risks for people they love. There was still time before dinner is served, therefore he brought Kanwal outside so she could enjoy the view of the dancing fountain.

Slowly reaching towards her, Ahad holds Kanwal's hand. Her head snapped towards him and then to their hands. She didn't pull her hand away nor make a displeased face. Ahad really enjoyed the soft touch of Kanwal's hands, that's why he always holds her hand while she sleeps. He intervened his finger with hers and leaves the place to show her the rest of the venue.

Ahad kept talking to Kanwal about the place and she silently followed him wherever he took her. She couldn't digest anything he said as her mind went numb after thinking so much and what she hated the most is that she couldn't come up with any solution or any idea on what she should do. How to save her best friend from this world, from Moosa Khan. A shiver ran through her body as she recalls Moosa. He didn't talk to her, but his voice and his presence were enough to scare her on their Walima ceremony when Ahad introduced him to her. That was the first time Kanwal saw him, before that she had only heard of how fearsome he was, she never doubted any of those stories and after meeting him and observing Ahad in the past few weeks, she got a very good idea on how Moosa Khan could be. He was a nightmare to the people of her town, the leader of Black Eagles and Kanwal was convinced that his reputation was not wrong. Suddenly she started to feel suffocated even in open space, thinking of what will happen to her Mano.

"Are you alright?"Ahad turned to her and ask. She nodded in response but didn't say anything.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"....Kanwal, you are thinking too much." Ahad stared at her as she tugged strands of hair behind her ear which was running wild because of wind.

"I wouldn't think too much if I were able to do something."

"Something like?"

"Stopping your leader from destroying Mano's life."

"Look, I understand that to you our profession cannot be justified by any means, but work isn't everything a person needs in life and Moosa possesses many qualities. He will take care of Mahnoor, she will be happy with him."

"You think she would be happy after knowing that her father is being threatened because of her?"

"Uncle won't tell him. I am sure of it."

"And you think Mano won't inquire about it?" She frowned.

"Can't we just stop discussing Mahnoor and Moosa for awhile?"

"I don't care about Moosa or anyone else. He can go to hell for all I care, but I am worried about my friend. She doesn't deserve a man like him."

"Listen Kanwal, and listen carefully. Both you and I cannot do anything about it. Even Mahnoor can't do anything about it. If Moosa thinks that her life is in danger or she will be snatched away from him, he will not hesitate to take any extreme step. And if you are really worried about her well-being, then pray that everything went smoothly. Uncle accepts Moosa's proposal and they get married. It will be best for Mahnoor and her family."

"How can you say such things so easily?" Kanwal jerked away Ahad's hand and strode towards the dining hall.

~*~

Kanwal was in no mood of eating anything and was also not in the mood to see Ahad, but she didn't have any other option than to stay with him. Nothing seems appealing to her now. She felt like crying, call Mahnoor and tell her to run away, far far away from Shareefabad. She wiped her tears, walking towards the ladies room. She washes her face several times, not caring about the make-up she had put on. Her irritation was growing with every passing minute, not because Ahad was unable to do anything for Mahnoor, but because he looked too indifferent about it and kept trying to convince her that Moosa was a good match for her.

How can HE be a good match for my friend, my Mano...

In irritation, she threw a handful of water on the mirror she was looking at her reflection in. Kanwal wiped her make-up and tied her hair in a bun. Before leaving, she glanced at the blurry mirror and opened the door. But a person stopped from leaving and when her eyes landed on the face of the person she froze on her spot.

"Aap.... (You)?" With wide eyes, Kanwal stared at the girl standing before her.

~*~

"What happened to your face?" She asked, looking at Kanwal's face. Her eyeliner made her eyes all black and her hair was a mess. All in all, right now Kanwal was looking like a ghost.

"You are alive?" Paying no heed to her question, Kanwal asked the girl.

"Do I look like a ghost to you? Anyways, let me fix your make-up. You cannot go to Ahad Bhai looking like this." She grabbed Kanwal's arm and pulled her back into the ladies room.

"Ahad Bhai???" Kanwal's eyes went wide again as she repeated what the young girl said.

"Shumaila Baji (big sister), what are you doing here?" Kanwal asked the girl as she took out face powder from her purse.

"Working."

"Ji..? (what?)"

"Ary yar, I work here." She told her.

"As?"

"As assistant manager of this hotel." She circled her finger, mentioning the hotel.

"Then what are you doing here?" Kanwal asked, looking at the make-up kit in her hand.

"Helping you out. You look like a ghost. Ahad Bhai will definitely be terrified."

"H-how do you know Ahad? And how come you so comfortable with everything?" Kanwal was shocked at her satisfying behaviour. She was one of the students who was taken by Black Eagles and everyone thought that they are all dead or something bad has happened to them.

"Ahad Bhai is a major shareholder of this hotel. Now, are you going to fix yourself or should I do it?"

"Answer me first. Since when you know him?" Shumaila pointed towards the stuff she took out from her bag and didn't answer her until Kanwal started to fix her make-up.

"Since he joined Black Eagles."

"Huh?" Kanwal froze in her place.

"You carry on, while I carry on telling you the story." Kanwal nodded and starts combing her hair.

"I don't have a family, at least I don't remember them. What I remember is my hard childhood as a street child before one of the Black Eagles men took me to an orphanage. Basically, that orphanage runs on the donation of Nats Api-"

"You know Natasha too?" Kanwal stopped and asked.

She chuckled and said, "I know everyone in Black Eagles, they are my family."

"Means, when you were in college with us, you were already a part of Black Eagles?" Kanwal felt somewhat deceived.

"Not really. Joining Black Eagles was my own decision and I requested to be a part of it. If you remember, I lived in a hostel at that time. It was not because my family lives out of town, but because I never had a family."

"Then, the convocation day...?"

"It was all an act. Since we have to maintain a reputation in society, this act is a necessity. Although most of the students chosen by us are already somehow connected to the Black Eagles. So it's not a cruel thing as people think, but of course, they are unaware of the real story." She winked with a smile.

"And what about the students who aren't connected?"

"They have their own jobs in various places." She shrugged.

"What sort of places?"

"You will know, dear Bhabi. But right now Ahad Bhai is waiting for you. I told him that I will send you soon but you are taking too much time. So why don't you hurry up and ask the rest of the things from your husband."

"Did Ahad send you here?"

"No, I saw you crying, so I thought why not say hello to you. It's been a very long time, hasn't it?" She tilted her head with a small smile.

________________________________

Salam and hello everyone!

Hope you all are doing fine.

Although I am quite late but "RAMAZAN MUBARAK" :)

Sorry for the long wait and for the short chapter. But I will try my best that you don't have to wait longer for the next chapter.

For news about updates follow me on Instagram 'laila_mehtaab' and Facebook on 'Mineseries-Lailamehtaab'

Don't forget to vote and comment!

Take Care :)