I don't have the chapters written, so it's taking a bit more time for the updates. But I will try maintaining the schedule from next week. It's just that when I have extra chapters written I'm so excited that, that I double update even triple update thus leaving me with no chapters at hand.😥

Anyway here's the update for this week. Enjoy!

"What about him?" I ask not liking the direction this is going. I am still not ready to remember the unpleasant part. It feels like a bucket of cold water thrown on my face, chilling my skin, dampening the previous exuberant mood. But again, there's no escaping the reality.

"I got the information about his location. That's the only chance of grabbing him."

"How are we going to identify him?" I ask, hoping he has a picture or so that can help us identify him.

He sighs before saying, "Nobody knows how he looks. Rumour has it that he had undergone numerous plastic surgeries making him unidentifiable. I have seen him while he was young."

"You knew him?" I ask, almost falling out of the chair as I draw closer to the table towards him.

"No." He says leaning back into his chair and massaging his temple, " I saw his picture, an old one when he worked in the FBI and secretly traded information to ISI."

"So, how are we going to catch him, if we don't know how he looks?" I ask, my head spinning at the little probability of failure.

"I won't. He will show himself to Baheer Sheikh, rich son of Muhammad Kabiruddin Sheikh. He needs the money and I will happen to meet him by chance in Xandol."

"And then, he will ask you for help and bring himself out, that's when we arrest him right? But will it be that easy? And why would he trust you with that?" I finish the story for him while nibbling on my toast.

"It won't be easy. But we need to try. That's the only way I can catch him and end this mission."

End this mission and be on our own ways?

Mother, she needs me. I need to be back as soon as possible.

"So, when are we going?"

"Tomorrow. Nehali, We will set out tomorrow. Xandol has been a fine place of arts, particularly pottery ever since the Harappan Civilisation. We will go there as tourists. I doubt why he chose Xandol, since there are few military camps there. Maybe it's because it's easier to hide there. But he must be onto something, he can't be there simply to hide. We will find it out eventually."

"Wait, what should I tell them, the Indian authorities? Should I tell them, since they are looking for Gaffar too?" I ask.

"I can't trust them, Nehali. They could be from ISI acting as Indians to get information out of you about me. If they are indeed Indians, that's good news, meaning I have kept up my facade well enough, but if they are from ISI, that's bad news. It means that they are currently on our trail." He presumes.

Suddenly, his medical report comes to my mind. I hesitate wondering if saying this can make him distrust me, but I guess I should come clean now, " Basheer while I had been keeping an eye on you, I got a medical report that had abnormal values. Are you sure you are all right? We can catch Gaffar later, b. . utt. . ." I stammer, unable to say the last part, I don't want to lose you.

Shock envelops his face as soon as he hears me mention his medical report and I wonder if I just made a mistake. I should have kept shut." How did you get that? You were seriously spying on me. Did you tell them about it?' He asks, now tensed as he drops the food on the plate.

"No. I was worried for you. I didn't think it would help catching Gaffar. Why, is it important?"

"Yes darling. It was not a report, rather a coded message implying Gaffar's location."

"Oh? Then that number of people killed by heroin, that was code too?" I ask, now curious as if uncovering a detective story.

"That was a way of reply. 2612 and 2512 are the code words for saying they have information. I can ask them any question that wants numbers and they will all reply the same. They are my informants. Anyway, you really heard a lot." He muses, taking another bite of his egg toast.

"I was worried about that report for no reason." I grumble as I relax into the chair as I lick the butter off the toast, the tip of my tongue efficiently carrying the butter before the sweet, creamy taste fills my mouth. I look up only to find him hovering over the table close to my face before his lips crash on mine, taking mine in a slow dance. Heat envelops me like a blanket, immediately melting me into him.

When he pulls away my lips tingle from the kiss and it takes a moment before something registers that breaks through the haze.

"Did you just kiss me with that egg in mouth after I told you I don't eat eggs on Monday?" I ask squinting my eyes, while my nostrils flare.

"Don't flare your nostrils. You shouldn't have licked that butter." My cheeks burn at that while a smile tries to break free, but I restrain it somehow.

Is he flirting? I have no first hand experience in that department and I really don't want to blush like a maiden every time he says something like that. That's totally embarrassing for a grown up lady.

"I can lick all the butter I want!" I argue.

"I can kiss you all I want!" he replies with a smirk ghosting his lips. My heart softens at that but I'm not about to give up so easily.

"You did that intentionally. You kissed me with that fried egg in your mouth!" I argue.

"No, I swallowed it, before I kissed you." He shrugs as if that justifies it.

"I hate you!" I mumble standing up, throwing a tantrum in spite of being a grown up lady. Ahem!

"I-" He stops as if realising what he is about to say. I don't give him another second, fearing his silence could further break my heart, I push off the chair taking my plate before making my way to the kitchen. He may not love me, but he's here with me and however short lived that might be, I am determined not to waste it by dwelling on something that's bound to happen.

Although I am quite far away from the table, my ears remain perked up hoping to hear those words. But the faint reply that 'And I love you' , never comes.

__________________________________________________________

A knock on my door brings me out of my thoughts. I look up to the door to find Basheer coming in. I sit up pulling a pillow to my lap to see him striding inside before closing the door behind. My eyes shift to the gold embroidered red envelope in his hand.

Before I can ask what it is he informs me, " Get ready. We need to be somewhere today evening. I just got the invite to a Aqiqah ceremony from Doctor Nizamuddin."

"Dr Nizamuddin? What is Aqiqah?" I ask, neither of it making sense.

"Aqiqah is done on the 7th day after a baby's birth. We are basically invited to the feast. The ceremony is taking place right now, only family members are allowed."

He has a kid and he was flirting with me the other day. The audacity of that man!

"He has a kid?" At that Basheer looks at me sceptically. Is he real right now? Does he think I like Dr. Nizamuddin after I gave away myself in the blink of an eye? Maybe he is jealous, given his previous behavior.

Good for him to be jealous. The vixen in me smiles.

"It's his sister's. He wanted to give it to you yesterday, but you left after the break. " Ohh.

"Yes. I was busy, you know." I wiggle my eyebrows suggestively hinting at how the day ended. "I am curious as to what it is. But can we not skip it?" After all we are to set out tomorrow.

A hint of a smile flashes over his face at my suggestion and his eyes soften as he comes to stand directly in front of me, "No, I wanted to initially but it's a good way. If I still go to his shop that's nearby Nizamuddin's house, that will seem suspicious. I still need to know where in Xandol he will be. I will slip out from the party to collect the information from my informant. He has a shop nearby."

I look up at him, to find his eyes staring back at me. Although the discussion demands graveness, there is something soft and pliable here, something intangible hanging between us. It feels that every moment we spend together, a part of me tries to memorise him, his facial features, the way his lips move, scrunch up on one side while he speaks, the two successive dimples on one side that peek out every time he smiles, how his eyes a brilliant shade of grey never strays away from mine. I never knew a colour as dull as grey could be this beautiful.

" Okay. What should I wear then? I saw you got me some suits. Should I wear those?"

" I have got something for you already. It's in my room. Take everything you need from here and come to my room."

We will dress up together? Why does the prospect suddenly spike my heart rate? That's something couples do.

" Why not bring the dress here?" I ask, although I am a minute away from jumping to his room.

" My room has more supplies." We both know all the things I need to dress up, are here. As if a silent communication ensues between our hearts, I realise maybe he treasures these moments too. Maybe he realises how short lived our relationship is. If at all I can call it a relationship given he we have had sex but no declarations of love or anything of that sort.

I extend my arms forwards and upwards urging him to pick me up. He obeys wrapping his hands around my waist while I hop onto his body, curling my legs around his hips to secure. He uses my thighs to hold me up while I nuzzle into his neck, breathing him in. His heady, masculine scent spins my head in the pools of lust and desire. I want him now, he has been teasing me since morning with kisses now it's my turn to do so.

I nibble on his neck, alternately using my tongue to lick the area with wet lashes before nibbling on it until it forms a bright red mark. His fingers tighten on my thighs bringing forth a triumphant smile.

" Don't." He grinds out, " I will throw you on this floor and take you right now!"

I pull back to look at him before saying," Take me then."

" Not now. We will get late." He says before I realise my ass is sinking onto the soft mattress. His arms leave me almost immediately before he wheels back to the cupboard bringing out a gorgeous dark green coloured anarkali suit and holding it out to me, " Here, do you like this?"

" If I say yes, will you give me what I want?" I try to bargain. Goodness, an entire evening will be spent sexually frustrated.

" Wear it."

I swallow down my frustration before getting up from bed and snatching the dress from him and striding to the bathroom. I face the mirror only to find myself flushed and pupils dilated. I sink against the cool granite counter taking a moment to calm my breathing. We were only talking, but here I am panting like a feline in heat.

A wicked idea forms in my head. Why should I pant alone?

I take the dress from the hook before moving out of the bathroom. He looks up from his position on bed as soon as I enter the room.

" Did you not like it?" He asks, his eyebrows drawing into a frown.

" I didn't try it yet. I will now." I say only to find his eyes widen as the realisation sets in.

Let's make him pant like a canine in heat. I smirk internally.

Author's Note:

Don't forget to vote and comment.

Stay happy and safe, y'all.

-Aparajita.🌸