Written
by.
Shazain
Zainab
Ep#
2
"Mama, Baba, get me out of here; I can't
breathe... Mama, Baba, it's so dark here... Please respond... Mama,
Baba..."
She suddenly woke up and sat up. "Thank
God, it was just a dream," Jaza said, placing her hand over her heart.
"Another terrifying dream. Oh God, please
keep my family safe from all calamities," Jaza prayed as she headed
towards the bathroom.
In just a short while, she was ready for
Tahajjud prayers, but her heart was still pounding hard. There was an
inexplicable fear, as if something bad was about to happen. Tears silently
flowed from her eyes.
With tear-filled eyes, she entered Ruku of the
second Rakat. The tears started flowing more freely.
After rising from Ruku, it felt as if the fear
in her heart was overwhelming her body. She was exhausted as she prostrated for
the second Sajda.
But here, her strength failed her; her heart
trembled with fear, an unknown fear. And there, she was sobbing in front of her
Lord, trying to release the fear within her in Sajda. Her body was shaking, and
she was crying uncontrollably. She didn't know why. When she lifted herself
from Sajda, her body was weak, and her beautiful face was soaked with tears.
After finishing the prayer, she raised her hands for Dua...
Her lips were trembling, and her eyes began to
water again.
"O Allah, indeed You have power over all
things. You are the Most Merciful. There is no helper greater than You. There
is no better protector than You. My Lord, I am a sinful servant of Yours. My
Lord, I am insignificant. You are the Greatest, O Allah. You are the Forgiving.
O Allah, I don't know why my heart is afraid. What do these dreams mean? My
Lord, my Master, please save me from a severe trial. O Allah, protect my
parents and my sister."
After praying, she stood up. She put away the
prayer mat, stepped out of her room, and went into the kitchen.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she felt as
if she had seen someone pass by the back door. But when she quickly went to
check, no one was there.
"Oh Jaza, you'll drive yourself crazy. It
could have just been a cat." Scolding herself, she started making tea
because she had an exam in the morning, and she needed to revise everything one
more time.
After making the tea, she returned to her room
and called Noor on the phone.
The call kept ringing... "Don't tell me
she's fallen asleep..." Jaza said angrily.
She called again...
"Hello," Noor's sleepy voice came
through the phone. Jaza felt like pulling her out of the phone and throwing her
into a bathtub.
"How are you, my dear?" Jaza snapped
sarcastically.
"Who's speaking?" Noor barely managed
to ask in her sleep.
"Noooooor!" Jaza shouted Noor's name
angrily, waking up Sawera, who angrily glared at Jaza.
Meanwhile, Noor had completely fallen back
asleep on the other side of the phone.
"What is your problem, Jaza? You scared
me!" Sawera angrily threw a pillow at Jaza and went back to bed.
"And the one you're trying to wake up,
don't forget, Madam, she's your friend. Just as you love your sleep, she loves
hers too. And don't even think about calling Amna Aapi because she loves her
sleep just as much as you both do." Sawera took out her frustration on
Jaza, complaining about her ruined sleep.
"Don't act like my mother, got it?"
Jaza glared at Sawera in anger.
"Forgive me, I don't want such a
disobedient child," Sawera proved she was indeed Jaza's sister.
"I'll deal with you later. First, I need
to wake up this sleeping beauty," Jaza said angrily, throwing the pillow
back at Sawera.
Sawera stuck her tongue out in response.
***********
"What did you eat before going to bed? I
called you so many times!" Jaza scolded Noor as they reached the
examination hall.
"Yaar, I fell asleep while
studying..." Noor replied, trying to look innocent as she explained
herself.
"Tell me, how much did you study that you
were so knocked out? Do you have any idea how many times I called you? I got so
fed up that I had to wake up your mom to get you up!" Jaza said, still
annoyed.
"Please, save the scolding for after the
exam. We only have half an hour left. Let's quickly review all the
points," Noor pleaded, folding her hands in front of Jaza. She knew that
if she didn't stop Jaza now, she might not be able to later.
"I'm not going to talk to you after the
exam. And do one thing: go straight to sleep again tonight. Let your guardian
angels take your exam; don't worry about it," Jaza said, still venting her
frustration.
"Here, take this book and start reading,
please," Noor said, flashing a smile.
Jaza snatched the book from Noor in anger and
glared at her.
"Do you want me to hit you with this
book?" Jaza threatened as she opened the book, still fuming.
************
"How was your paper?" Jaza asked as
soon as Noor came out of the exam hall. Jaza had been waiting outside for her.
"It went okay, but it was so long! My
hands are aching from all the writing," Noor complained.
"It wasn't that long, yaar. Each section
clearly mentioned how many questions to answer. It didn't take that much time
either; I finished quickly and have been waiting outside for you. What were you
writing about for so long? Tell me," Jaza asked calmly, but Noor's
expression was priceless.
"What do you mean there were choices in
every section???" Noor asked in complete shock.
"Yes, yaar, you only had to answer six
short questions, explain two verses, summarize one passage, write one essay,
create sentences using five words, and write the context of one lesson. I told
you everything about the paper," Jaza explained, while Noor looked like
she was about to cry.
"They tricked me..." Noor barely managed
to say, still in disbelief.
"So you wrote the entire paper?" Jaza
asked, astonished.
"Yes... Yes, I did," Noor replied
immediately.
"Really?" Jaza asked, raising an
eyebrow, and then burst into laughter that echoed through the hall.
"Did you overprepare, Noor, or did you
think the paper was too easy, so you wrote everything?" Jaza teased as she
laughed, while Noor glared at her with a look that could kill.
"If you laugh any more, I swear I'll hit
you with something," Noor threatened, her face red with frustration, still
angry at herself for writing the entire paper without reading the instructions
carefully.
"Hahaha... I'm not laughing, yaar,"
Jaza said, trying to stifle her laughter with her hand.
"Jazaaaa..." Noor punched Jaza in the
back, but despite herself, Jaza's laughter filled the hall once again.
********** Urdunovelnests
"Forgive me, Zak, please spare my life...
I promise I won’t do anything like this again, Zak..."
The man was on his knees, begging for his life.
Zak looked at the man’s face and his condition
after days of torture. He no longer looked like the wealthy businessman he once
was.
"Look, Mr. Raouf, I warned you three times
to stop this. And you know, when I say it's the last warning, it truly is,
because after that, my 'Don' mode kicks in, and you know what happens
then..." Zak said, pressing down hard on Raouf's shoulder, each word
sending a shiver down the man's spine.
"Zak, for God's sake, have mercy on
me..." Raouf pleaded, joining his hands together.
"Oh really..." Zak smirked mockingly.
"Alright, let me show you some mercy
then." Zak grabbed Raouf by the collar, dragging him along as he walked.
He opened a door, shoved Raouf inside, and
followed him into the room.
Inside, there was a table surrounded by four
chairs, and on the wall opposite hung a large LCD screen. Another table was
filled with various acids, weapons, and tools.
Raouf looked around the room, fearfully
glancing at Zak as he approached.
"So, Mr. Raouf, you asked for mercy,
didn’t you? Is that right?" Zak asked sarcastically, addressing the man
sitting before him.
"Zak, let me go, it’ll be better for you,
or Beast will kill you," Raouf tried to threaten Zak, summoning whatever
courage he had left.
Zak burst out laughing. "Beast will kill
me? Oh man, what can I even say to you... You know, I’ve never been this gentle
with anyone before, and you know why? Because I have a special surprise for
you. Want to see it?" There was something in Zak’s voice that terrified
Raouf despite himself.
Zak turned on the LCD, and as Raouf saw what
was on the screen, his hand instinctively went to his heart.
"So, how do you like the Don's surprise?
Now you know what it feels like to have everything taken away in moments, to
have your life destroyed..." Zak said, gripping Raouf’s hair tightly, his
voice cold as ice.
"Zak, please have mercy on me. Look,
you’ve already destroyed me, just let me go..." Raouf begged, hands folded
in desperation.
"Mercy? On you? Did you show mercy to
those innocent girls you and your associates violated? Did you have mercy on
the young men you turned into addicts? Did you think about the children you
orphaned without a second thought? And now you want me to have mercy on a
monster like you? Do you think you deserve mercy?" Zak tightened his grip
on Raouf’s hair before releasing him with a jerk.
Raouf felt a sharp pain in his neck as if his
vertebrae had been cracked.
When Zak pulled out a thin, sharp blade, Raouf
realized his death was near.
"Zak, if you kill me, Beast won’t spare
you. There’s still time, stop this," Raouf made one last desperate attempt
to save his life.
"Don't worry, Mr. Raouf, I’ll make sure to
send your pieces to Beast himself." Zak’s calm tone was enough to make
Raouf’s blood run cold.
Zak began to drag the sharp blade across
Raouf’s body, the blade slithering like a snake over his skin. Raouf’s screams
echoed throughout the basement.
Raouf’s body was drenched in blood, and Zak’s
hands were stained with it too. In his half-dead state, Raouf noticed an
injection in Zak’s hand and came to his senses.
"N-no... No, Zak..." Raouf barely
managed to utter.
"Hahaha... Oh, if only you knew how much
your helplessness is bringing me peace..." Zak laughed at Raouf’s despair.
Zak placed the injection filled with snake
venom against Raouf’s jugular.
"Aren’t you curious what’s in this? Let me
tell you. It’s the venom of an Inland Taipan, the deadliest snake in the world.
I’m sure this venom will calm the beast within you..." Zak said, calmly
watching Raouf's face turn pale with fear.
Zak injected the venom into Raouf’s jugular,
and within moments, Raouf's soul left his body.
This was the end of a wealthy businessman known
to the world, but his dark deeds had brought about his dreadful fate. It's
often said that when the cruelty of a tyrant reaches its peak, their end is
terrifying, just like Raouf's.
"Take him away, cut his body into pieces,
and send them to his destination. Clean up the place," Zak ordered one of
his men before leaving the room.
******************
"Dad, have you been able to contact Mr.
Raouf?" Shehzad asked Akram Sahib.
"I've been trying for a while, but there's
no response. God knows where he is. If Beast finds out about all this, who
knows what he'll do," Akram Sahib replied, clearly worried.
"Raouf said that even the Don wouldn’t be
able to locate that hideout, but everything there has been burned to
ashes," Usman Sahib said thoughtfully.
"I warned you not to trust Raouf so much,
and now look at the result—a loss of millions, missing girls, and no sign of
Raouf. We have to answer to Beast, and he’ll tear us apart," Imran Laghari
said angrily as he entered the office.
"Look, Imran, the loss isn't just yours;
it's everyone's, and we're all in this mess together," Usman Sahib tried
to calm him down.
"What are you thinking, Shehzad?"
Akram Sahib asked, noticing his son’s silence.
Shehzad Akram, with his wheatish complexion and
dark eyes, was a handsome man—tall, well-built from regular gym workouts,
intelligent, and an excellent fighter. He was the kind of man any girl could
fall in love with. But the one flaw was that he was involved in his father's
shady business.
"Nothing, Dad. I’m just thinking if those
girls aren’t in the warehouse or the nearby areas, where could they be? None of
them would have had the strength to run very far. If they fell into the hands
of the army or the Don’s men, it could cause us huge problems. We need to find
those girls at all costs, and wherever they are, they need to be
eliminated," Shehzad stated firmly.
"The problem is, where do we even start
looking?" asked Nawaz, Usman Sahib’s son.
"Do you think we’re feeding those dogs for
free? Get your men out there, and have them search every street like hounds. We
need to find those girls, no matter what. Understand?" Shehzad glared at
Nawaz and Nuraiz, then turned to leave just as Akram Sahib's phone rang.
Shehzad looked at his father questioningly, but
seeing the change in Akram Sahib’s expression, he took the phone from him and
answered the call.
"Hello..." Shehzad answered.
"Hello, Shehzad Akram. It seems your
father got scared and handed the phone to you this time," Zak's
authoritative voice boomed through the speaker.
"You..." Shehzad began to say.
"Whoa, whoa, calm down, Shehzad. Listen to
me carefully. First, there’s a gift waiting for you all under a tree just
outside your office. You’ll want to give it to Beast. Second, there's a bomb in
the office where you’re all gathered. Now, either save your lives or try to
defuse it. Hahahahaha," Zak's laughter echoed through the phone.
"Hello, hello..." Shehzad called out,
but the line had already been disconnected.
"Run! Get out of here now! There’s a bomb
in this office!" Shehzad shouted, causing panic.
"Shehzad, you—" Akram Sahib began,
but Usman Sahib interrupted, "All our money is here!"
"Uncle, think logically! If we don’t
survive, what good is the money? First, we need to save our lives,"
Shehzad yelled.
They all ran outside... "Get all the
workers out, now! There's a bomb!" Within moments, the office was
evacuated.
"I think he fooled us," Nawaz started
to say, but before he could finish, a massive explosion cut him off.
"You think he’s our childhood friend,
someone who would joke around with us?" Shehzad growled, glaring at Nawaz
with bloodshot eyes.
Akram Sahib, Usman Sahib, and Imran Sahib were
all in shock, their faces pale as if the blood had drained from their bodies.
Shehzad scanned the area and noticed a bag
under a tree. "Come with me, all of you," Shehzad ordered.
"Whose bag is that?" Nuraiz asked.
"It’s mine. I brought it from home and
left it here," Shehzad snapped, ready to pounce.
"Okay, okay, relax, yaar. I was just
asking," Nuraiz quickly changed his tone, seeing Shehzad’s expression.
Shehzad was about to open the bag when Akram
Sahib stopped him. "Shehzad, don’t open it. What if there’s a bomb
inside?"
"Dad, if there was a bomb in it, it
would’ve exploded by now. This is probably the 'gift' Zak sent for Beast,"
Shehzad said as he unzipped the bag.
As soon as the zipper was opened, a foul stench
filled the air. Everyone covered their noses, but when they saw Raouf's severed
body parts and head inside, their eyes widened in horror.
"Beast will kill us all," Akram and
Usman Sahib said in unison.
*************
"Durab Bhai, Dad is calling you
downstairs," Amna said, delivering her father's message before quickly
disappearing.
"This girl is always in a hurry,"
Durab remarked, watching her speed as he headed towards the stairs.
But as soon as he stepped into the drawing
room, he noticed something unusual about the way his parents and uncle and aunt
were sitting. "You called me, Dad?" Durab addressed his father as he
walked in.
"Come, son, sit here. We have something
important to discuss, that's why we called you," Kamran Sahib said,
gesturing for Durab to sit beside him.
"Yes, Dad, what is it?" he asked.
"Actually, it's not me who will give the
orders today; it's your elder uncle, as he's the head of this family,"
Kamran Sahib said, patting Durab's shoulder.
"Durab, we all want to arrange your and
Noor's Nikah before you get busy with your work and leave again. What do you
say?" Ahsan Sahib asked, looking directly at Durab after finishing his
proposal.
Barely managing to keep a straight face, Durab
replied, "Why are you asking for my permission, Uncle? If you want it,
then by all means, go ahead."
"MashaAllah, congratulations! Then this
Friday, after Jumu'ah prayers, Noor and Durab's Nikah will take place at
Badshahi Mosque," Ahsan Sahib announced, revealing the date and time of
the Nikah before getting up to embrace his brother and his son-in-law, who was
more like a son to him.
Meanwhile, Roha Begum and Amal Begum, with
teary eyes, hugged each other and exchanged congratulations, overjoyed that
their long-held wish had finally come true. They both hugged Durab and stuffed
his mouth with gulab jamun.
Amna, who had been listening from outside, ran
towards Noor's room, excited to share the news. After all, her good friend and
cousin was now officially her sister-in-law.
After taking everyone's leave, Durab headed to
his room, barely able to contain his joy. As soon as he entered, he immediately
fell into prostration, thanking his Creator for bringing his love to the point
of Nikah. After getting up from his prayer, he messaged Zuraiz and Ayan in the
group chat: "Wherever you both are, meet me at Monal in exactly two
hours." Then, he collapsed onto the bed, overwhelmed with happiness, not
knowing how to express it. He buried his face in the pillow, tossing and
turning, possibly the first groom ever who couldn’t handle the joy of his own
Nikah.
Meanwhile, Amna was struggling to wake Noor up
in her room. Noor, who had just finished her exams, was catching up on her
sleep, and waking up the sleeping beauty was no easy task. Frustrated, Amna
finally poured a glass of water from the nearby jug onto Noor's face.
Startled, Noor woke up and, as she gained a bit
of awareness, shot Amna a glare that could kill.
"Oh no, Bhabi, please don’t look at me
like that," Amna said, stepping forward to hug Noor with a playful smile,
but Noor quickly pushed her away. "I’m not your Bhabi! Every time you see
me, your brother leaves," Noor complained in a teary voice.
"Well, I did overhear something
interesting... What was it? Oh yes, some news about a Nikah. But you just keep
sleeping; I’m leaving," Amna teased, pretending to ignore Noor.
Upon hearing this, Noor, who had been half
asleep, was now fully awake.
"What? Who’s getting married? Tell me, is
there a wedding in the house? Hurry up!" Noor jumped up and chased Amna,
dragging her back into the room.
"Oh, it's Durab Bhai’s Nikah that’s been
decided," Amna said, trying to hide her mischievous smile and speaking
seriously.
Noor froze at the news that Durab’s Nikah had
been arranged.
"Durab’s Nikah? With whom?" she
asked, gathering the courage to speak.
"Well, you see, where he’s set up his business,
he found a girl he likes. So this morning, he announced to everyone that he
wants to marry her," Amna explained casually, as if she were explaining
how to cook rice.
"No, this can't be true. Durab wouldn’t do
that. You’re lying! I’m going to ask him right now," Noor said, trying her
best to hold back her tears.
"Why would I lie? Go ahead, ask him
yourself. Durab Bhai spoke about the Nikah, and all the elders agreed,"
Amna said, adding fuel to the fire.
"Wait, I’m going to ask Mom and Big Aunt.
I don't believe you," Noor said, wiping her tears as she headed out of the
room. Amna followed closely behind.
"Big Aunt, Mama, listen to me! Is what
Amna is saying true? Did Durab really talk to you all about marrying someone
else, and you all agreed?" Noor asked her mother and aunt.
Roha Begum and Amal Begum exchanged knowing
glances, realizing that Amna must have pulled some prank. They decided to play
along a bit more, sensing that someone was going to be in trouble today.
"Yes, Noor, it's true. We were forced to
agree," Amal Begum said, trying to calm her daughter while stifling her
laughter. Meanwhile, she was itching to give Amna a piece of her mind, and Roha
Begum felt the same. They knew their mischievous daughter couldn’t survive
without causing some trouble.
"How could you all do this? How could you
agree to this knowing everything? Mom, how could you? You all have been unfair
to me! He’s my right, my patience! I’ve waited for him all these years, and you
didn’t even consider me when making this decision. Why did you all do this?
Tell me!" Noor cried, demanding answers from her mothers. There was no
doubt that Roha Begum had always treated Noor like her own daughter, and after
Durab, Noor was dearest to her. Hearing Noor’s words and seeing her state made
her want to drag Amna to her room and give her a good scolding.
"My dear, we were helpless," Amal
Begum began, but Noor interrupted, "No, Mama, Durab will have to answer me
now. I won’t forgive him." With that, Noor stormed back to her room.
Before Amna could escape, both Amal Begum and
Roha Begum caught her by the ears.
"Where do you think you’re going, young
lady? We need to have a word with you," Roha Begum said, twisting Amna's
ear.
"Ouch, Mama, please let go! I didn’t do
anything. I just played a little prank, I swear," Amna said, trying to
sound as innocent as possible.
Just then, Ahsan Sahib and Kamran Sahib entered
the TV lounge. Seeing Amna in the hands of her mother and aunt, they paused.
"Hey, Amal Begum, Roha Bhabi, let go of
the poor girl’s ear. What are you two doing?" Ahsan Sahib said,
sympathizing with Amna’s pitiful expression.
"Brother, she’s no innocent child—she’s a
menace! Her brother’s Nikah isn’t even finalized, and she’s already set a
fire!" Roha Begum said, letting go of Amna’s ear and giving her a slap on
the arm.
"What did our little girl do?" Ahsan
Sahib asked, looking at Roha and Amal Begum, while Kamran Sahib remained
silent. He knew his daughter was always at the forefront of any mischief in the
house. And when it came time for scolding, she would run straight to her Big
Uncle. So, Kamran Sahib sat back, ready to watch the unfolding drama.
"I’ll tell you, Big Uncle. I just played a
tiny prank, telling Noor that Durab’s Nikah has been arranged with someone
else. But these two are ready to kill me for it. No one loves me except
you," Amna said, throwing her arms around Ahsan Sahib’s neck and
pretending to cry. Ahsan Sahib, fully aware of the situation, knew he had to
save this troublemaker from her mother’s wrath yet again.
"Brother, don’t listen to a word she says.
This girl has no sense. She told Noor that Durab’s Nikah has been arranged with
someone else, and now Noor is crying, and Durab is going to be in big
trouble," Roha Begum explained, glaring at Amna.
Kamran Sahib almost dropped his glass of water,
while Ahsan Sahib glanced at him. Kamran Sahib, on the other hand, acted as if
he knew nothing, silently telling his brother, "She's your favorite; now
handle her."
"I was only joking, Roha Begum. Your son’s
Nikah isn’t really with someone else," Amna admitted, unable to control
her urge to speak.
At that moment, Roha Begum picked up her
slipper, and Amna made a run for her room.
"This insolent girl has been driving me
crazy! No one will take her with that sharp tongue of hers. You better mend
your ways!" Roha Begum shouted, staring at Amna's closed door.
"Mama, why should I marry a man who can’t
handle me? Whoever takes me will have to take me as I am," Amna retorted
from behind the door. She had taken it upon herself to keep her mother’s blood
pressure high.
"Stop, you shameless girl! You have no
sense of decency," Roha Begum said, throwing the slipper,
******************** Dasht-e-ulfat ep 1
What disaster had struck that you spoke like
this? Ayan came in and immediately spoke to Durab, asking if he was digesting
it.
Suspense.
Hold on, Zuraiz is coming too. He was about to
complete his sentence when Zuraiz appeared.
Is everything alright? You spoke too soon.
Zuraiz asked as he arrived.
The three of them were sitting on the top floor
of Monal at that time. The weather in Lahore was quite pleasant today. The
clouds seemed like they might bring rain.
Alright, listen to me. You all get ready. After
all, you are the groom; everything must be perfect.
Durab began to speak.
Will you speak openly, or will you eat a punch?
Zuraiz glared at Durab after hearing his words.
Listen, my wedding is after Friday prayers with
Noor. He completed his statement.
What do you mean, you’re getting married now?
Ayan said with sadness.
So, should I remain single like you two all my
life? Durab retorted in frustration.
You’re not even married yet; you’re just
engaged. You won’t be getting a proper send-off. Ayan couldn’t stay silent
either.
Zuraiz, please make him be quiet; don’t ruin my
mood. Durab pulled Zuraiz into the conversation.
Brother, who are you bringing into this? At
your wedding, she will also be there—the one who drives Zuraiz crazy. Ayan
touched Zuraiz's sore spot.
Durab, how about we just throw him down from
here? What do you think? Zuraiz said with a thoughtful look, staring ahead.
Your point is valid; he’s been quite irritating
lately. A single blow will bring peace. Durab shared his opinion.
Meanwhile, Ayan could only watch his two
friends, who were proving to be more enemies than friends.
************
"Sawera, where are you?" Jaza called
out. Sawera, who was absorbed in reading books in her room, looked up.
"You’re here, and I’ve been searching the
entire house for you. So, tell me, how is the preparation for your entrance
test going?" Jaza asked her about her preparation for the test.
"I’ve made quite a bit of progress; I’m
just a little nervous," Sawera replied. She was just two years younger
than Jaza, and now that Jaza had completed her college, Sawera was preparing
for her entrance test to join college.
The two sisters were both beautiful. Sawera,
with her black hair and dark brown eyes, looked like a delicate doll with an
innocent face, rosy complexion, a proud and sharp nose, and sparkling lips.
There was no doubt about her beauty; she was
stunningly beautiful, and her innocence added charm to her looks. When Jaza and
Sawera were together, they truly looked like the daughters of Shahid Sahib and
Annam Begum. Sawera was as innocent as her mother, with hair and eye color
inherited from her father. On the other hand, Jaza, who had inherited her hair
and eye color from her mother, was dignified, poised, and resilient in the face
of challenges. She was a strong girl, and her eyes, walking style, and
temperament all reflected her father’s traits. But who knew how this
inheritance of bravery from her father would come into play in her life’s
journey?
"Don’t worry, everything will be fine,
insha'Allah. Just make sure you’re fully prepared. Don’t you know that Allah
doesn’t let our efforts go to waste? He is aware of our dedication and hard
work. Just give your 100%, leave the rest to Allah, and then He will take care
of it. Allah is the best decision-maker," Jaza tried to comfort Sawera,
and she succeeded.
"Insha'Allah, everything will be fine. I know
my Allah is very merciful and generous," Sawera replied and stood up.
"So, where are you going now?" Jaza
couldn’t help but ask.
"I was actually going to get something I
had put in the fridge," Sawera explained as she put on her shoes while
Jaza stood by the room’s door.
"Hmmm... Was it chocolate?" Jaza
thought it necessary to ask.
"What do you mean?" Sawera tried to
understand Jaza’s question, but the thought that came to her mind made her look
at Jaza for confirmation.
"No, Jaza, you wouldn’t do that,"
Sawera said, giving Jaza a hopeful look.
"Sooo sorry, my dear sister, but I’ve
already done it a while ago," Jaza said with innocent acting, glanced at
her little sister, and ran out the door.
"Jaza, I swear to God, either you stay in
this house today or I will. I won’t let you go. You’re always raiding my stuff.
Where are you running off to? Come here!" Sawera yelled at her, chasing
after her.
"Decide with Papa about who should stay in
the house; he’s always saying you’re an adopted child," Jaza countered as
she continued to run.
Meanwhile, Sawera had picked up a cushion in
her hand. The scene was such that in the TV lounge of Shahid Sahib's house, his
two princesses, who had grown up with love and care, were now young women. They
were the sparkle of the house, their fights, laughter, and tears filling every
corner. It was as if they were once again playfully bickering with each other.
Their mother would sometimes side with one and sometimes with the other, while
Shahid Sahib, standing upstairs, smiled at seeing the three most cherished
women of his life interacting with each other. They were his life. One was the
one who completed half of his faith, his confidante, his wife, and the mother
of his daughters. One was his eldest daughter, a gift from God, very much like
him. And the other was his youngest daughter, truly a new dawn in his life, a
light, and a bright morning. She was his beloved, delicate, and soft-natured
daughter, raised with great tenderness.
****************
They were all gathered in the grand building,
also known as the White Mansion, which buried the dark deeds of famous and
wealthy people every night.
On the table in front of them was a black bag
containing pieces of Raouf. The rest were stunned into silence because they had
not anticipated that even upon the Don's command, he would react in such a way.
And no one knew what Beast was planning to do next. It felt like they were at
the edge of a pit, with the Dubai Don on one side and Beast from Italy on the
other.
What would Akram say to Beast if he asked
something? Imran Sahib asked Akram Sahib, as Akram was about to speak, heavy
footsteps were heard approaching. The three figures walked in together, exuding
an intimidating presence. They wore black masks, black caps, and only their
eyes were visible. Dressed in black long coats, they appeared to blend into the
darkness.
They took their seats in their designated
spots, while everyone else remained standing.
Beast's green eyes were filled with terror,
madness, and blood, freezing everyone in their place. Around them, many girls
in revealing outfits were engaged in dance, some female waitresses wore white
shirts over mini skirts, with their collars half open. No girl had ever had the
courage to approach Beast, Wolf, or Leo.
But this time, one girl kept glancing at
Beast's green eyes repeatedly, her face painted with every shade of
shamelessness, looking at him with a provocative gaze.
"What is this?" Beast asked, pointing
to the bag in front of him.
"This... this is what the Don sent,"
Akram Sahib managed to say with difficulty.
"Hmmm, let’s see," Beast said,
looking intently at Akram Sahib and commanding, "Akram Sahib, open the
bag."
"M-M-Me?" Akram stuttered.
"No, is my name Akram or yours?"
Beast roared.
Akram Sahib quickly moved forward and unzipped
the bag in front of Beast. Beast got up and, seeing Raouf's head and body parts
in the bag, glared at everyone in anger and pulled out Raouf's head. Holding it
by the hair, he looked at them with wrathful eyes. "You couldn’t even
protect your own comrade from this Don, and you dare call yourselves underworld
mafia? Bravo to you all. Now, tell me what happened with the warehouses. Was
everything supplied or not?" he asked angrily.
"T-Twenty... twenty," Usman Sahib was
interrupted mid-sentence.
"Twenty? What do you mean twenty? I’m
asking for an answer, not a stutter. You people stutter at everything. You come
here and present your comrade's head and body parts instead of the Don’s
corpse. Were you planning to kill the Don? You’re going to kill him like you
would a rat?" he raged.
In an instant, Raouf's head was slammed against
the glass wall, shattering it into pieces on the floor, leaving everyone
paralyzed with fear.
"The warehouses are on fire. All the girls
have been removed, and the weapons and drugs are all destroyed. The main office
has also been blown up by the Don," Shahzad finally spoke.
"Where were you all when the nights were
being colored? If you had the time, you should have focused on your work,"
Beast said, holding Shahzad’s mouth tightly. For a moment, Shahzad felt like
his jaw might break.
"I want to shoot you all," Beast said
as he released Shahzad’s mouth.
"Now, how will you gather all the
information about the Don? Tell me, and get this filth out of here," he
ordered as he took his seat.
Lina Laghari, daughter of Imran Laghari, stood
up. Wearing red pencil heels and a red short dress with a deep neckline and
thin straps on her shoulders, the back of her dress was backless. Her lips were
coated in deep red lipstick, eyes lined and mascaraed, and her black bob cut
hair was tossed to one side. She was undeniably a beautiful girl. But as they
say, outward beauty means nothing without a beautiful heart, mind, and
character.
She walked up to Beast, stood behind his chair,
draped an arm over his shoulders, and placed a hand on the back of his hand,
leaning in closer. She spoke with ultimate boldness, "Relax, Beast. We’ll
find the Don soon. Don’t be so angry. Let’s enjoy the night together."
On one side, Beast was struggling to control
himself from doing something rash, barely tolerating her proximity. On the
other side, Leo was astonished, alternating his gaze between Beast's reddening
eyes and Lina’s audacity. Meanwhile, Wolf inwardly criticized Lina for putting
herself at risk.
Before Lina could lean in further and place her
lips on his neck, Beast took her hand, pulled it in front of him, and held her
neck in his grip. She gasped in pain.
"You’ve made a mistake today. If you make
such a mistake again, I will kill you. Do you understand? Don’t come near me if
you want to stay alive," he said, enunciating each word.
"Let go of my daughter, Beast. She won’t
make such a mistake again," Imran Laghari pleaded, seeing his daughter’s
neck in Beast’s hands.
"Make sure to educate your daughter
properly, Laghari, or she’ll end up dead for nothing," Beast said,
releasing Lina’s neck.
"And remember, Lina Laghari will only have
what her heart desires. If you desire something, you get it. I’m Beast, not
some object you can easily obtain. My standards are not so low and filthy. Do
you understand? From now on, don’t come near me, or it will take me no time to
kill you," he warned Lina, pushing her away.
"You all have one week to gather
information about the Don. And find out where those girls are. Otherwise, this
time you won’t face the Don but me. Prepare for your end if you don’t
understand," he warned each of them, raising his finger before heading out
with his two companions.
"What does he think he is? Just give me
one chance, and I’ll send him to hell and become the king of the
underworld," Shahzad said furiously after Beast, Wolf, and Leo had left.
**************
All the girls, sitting timidly, were watching
the three men and one woman seated in front of them. The three young men were
wearing black leather jackets. One had a white shirt underneath, another had a
maroon shirt, and the third wore a black shirt. All three had masks on their
faces. But today, there was something common in their eyes—blue eyes, brown
eyes, and black eyes—all were red from insomnia and from anger at seeing the
condition of these girls.
Aziza Begum, sitting in the middle, began to
speak. "Girls, don't be afraid. You are all safe here; even the shadow of
these beasts cannot reach you here."
She was trembling continuously. She didn't have
the courage to ask who they were, why they had brought them here, how they had
arrived, or what these people would do. Because she had endured everything in
the past that she had never even imagined. Some were so mentally disturbed that
they would scream at the sight of any person.
Seeing the trembling, frightened beings in
front of her, Aziza decided to calm them and make them understand everything,
and then implement it. When Aziza gestured to the girls standing behind her,
they came forward with bottles of water. When they offered the bottles to the
girls, they were afraid even to take them. Aziza sighed deeply and stood up.
She went to the girls herself and handed out the water bottles one by one. When
they had all finished drinking, Aziza began to speak.
"Listen, girls, you are all completely
safe here. There is no danger or worry here. Here, you will be trained from
scratch. You will become capable of avenging the injustices done to you. You
will be strong enough that no one will be able to harm you. And for all this,
we need your cooperation. As long as you don't stand up for yourselves, as long
as you don't awaken the desire to fight against the injustices done to you, we
won't be able to help you. Girls, listen to me, there are many other girls like
you here who have suffered similar cruelty. Today, they live their lives in
this society with a new identity and a new determination. I will introduce you
to one of them."
"Come in, my dear," she called, and a
beautiful sixteen-year-old girl entered. She had a high ponytail, and her eyes
were ocean green. She was extremely beautiful and innocent. Upon entering, she
first hugged M-Z and, as usual, whispered in his ear, "Oh, handsome, I
missed you so much." Then she greeted Sikandar with a high-five and, as
per her habit, turned her face away from Farooq, who also turned his face away
and smiled, then went to Aziza, where she first kissed her forehead and then
her hands.
"You had called me..." she said, her
voice dripping with honey. Her voice was as beautiful and soul-touching as she
was. All the girls sitting in front looked at her with longing, admiring her
beauty.
"Meet Minsa... These are your elder
sisters," Aziza said. When Minsa looked at the girls, her smile faded.
"Well, aren't these girls beautiful?"
Aziza asked the girls. They all nodded in agreement; she was indeed very
beautiful.
"You all are praying in your hearts that
no beast's shadow should fall on this girl, right? Am I right?" Aziza
asked, looking at them.
This time, one of them stuttered,
"Y-yes... absolutely." The words came out with great difficulty, as
if someone was speaking after a lifetime, like someone finally opening sealed
lips.
There was a storm in Minsa's eyes, a flood,
seeing the condition of these girls. "Please tell me, who did all
this?"
Aziza placed her hand on Minsa's and said,
"Dear, if you allow me, I will tell them about what you endured so they
can also become strong and avenge the injustices done to them."
"You don't need to ask my permission; you
have as much right on me as my mother does. If you want, I can tell them about
the injustices done to me," she said, holding Aziza's hand.
"No, my dear, go to your class."
Aziza patted her head lovingly and asked her to leave. Her voice and words were
filled with maternal love.
Minsa left the room but turned around once to
look at the girls. There was a time when she had also met Aziza like this. Only
she and Aziza knew how she had returned to life.
"You have seen this girl now. She is only
sixteen. I met her seven years ago, just as you all have met her today. At that
time, she was nine years old and had been in captivity of these beasts for two
years. She endured every cruelty and every abuse during those two years. She
was just a six or seven-year-old child when she suffered. Her childhood was
stolen, her innocence taken. When she came to me, it was the second time in my
life that I cried a lot. The first time I cried was when my own brother sold me
in a gambling game, and his friends abused me. My father tried to stop it but
was killed by him, and so was my mother. I lost everything. It was just one
night, just one night. Aziza's honor was gone, Aziza became the prey of beasts,
Aziza's brother turned out to be a devil, a tyrant. In one night, Aziza became
an orphan, lost her dignity. The walls of the house where she had grown up saw
her become an orphan, saw her become dishonored. Her ungrateful brother was
involved in all this. That night, Aziza died, she cried a lot. Everything ended
for her.
"I had fled to kill myself, to dissolve in
the distant river. But fate had other plans. A person saved me, educated me,
took me into the army, and made me capable of taking revenge for the wrongs
done to me. He was a little older than me but gave my life a purpose. He showed
me that even though I am a woman, I am not weak. If I can bring life into this
world, I can also take it from those who touch my honor. My religion has given
me this right too.
"The second time I cried was when a
nine-year-old girl was brought to me. Her condition and the story of the
cruelty she suffered were heart-wrenching. My hands trembled for the first
time. Bringing that child back to life was very difficult. My Allah helped me
immensely. Today, that child is strong enough to face ten men alone. She has
made a name for herself in this society. She is free, autonomous, and
dignified.
"I want to make all of you like her. You
all need to support me in this. You have the right to your own lives. You also
have the right to take revenge. Now, the decision is yours—whether to spend the
rest of your lives in the trauma of the injustices done to you or to make these
oppressors answer for their cruelty and turn their nights into torment. The
decision is yours."
Saying this, Aziza stood up with a calm
expression, as if she had conquered a mountain or removed a burden. She knew
the girls were now ready to fight their own battle.
On the other hand, those who had been sitting
in fear with dry eyes now had tears in their eyes. These were the tears that
had to flow. The pain inside had to be released. The heart had to soften a
little because it still needed to become strong. When something is about to change
in a person, they are first broken—sometimes by other people's hands, sometimes
by actions, sometimes by accidents. Sometimes a person commits a sin that
becomes a burden on their heart, and they break down, then cry in remorse, and
stand against their own self. Sometimes a person suffers at the hands of
someone they have given all their affection to, someone they have loved to the
extreme. When that person leaves them, their heart is near breaking, and the
intensity of the pain is overwhelming. Indeed, every person seeks refuge from
the agony of the heart inflicted by someone else. When a person cries in
prostration due to that agony, they are blessed with patience. Patience is a
battle fought within oneself, even if the person in front is preferred, patience
will eventually be tested. Patience is given by Allah so that the person does
not make themselves worthless and will make them extremely valuable. Patience
comes from Allah to prevent a person from making themselves worthless and will
make them precious. Sometimes a person endures trials without committing any
mistake, cries, and asks for help, but Allah loves their patience at that time.
He helps them in ways they could not imagine, but this help takes time because
Allah enjoys their pleading at that moment. Indeed, Allah's promise is that
after every difficulty, there is ease. To make a person strong, destiny breaks
them. Look at the strong stones; they are made from the breaking of mountains.
Strong and tall buildings do not just appear; strong stones must be broken to
make them. So, if you want to become a strong person, you will have to endure.
Everyone breaks in different accidents and difficulties, but everyone breaks at
some point.
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