-he had reached some distance mid way when he heard a slight faint sound behind him , he turned to see saif who was there to support him, because he whispered so loud that irritated him , they could be heard and captain could get killed before they could reach out to him, saif thought two were better than one and his rifle swung on his shoulder and he was apparently in high spirits , the camp lights were there destination and they hoped the ditch near by it was accommodating captain they had come to rescue and wondered if it was possible to make their escape with captain
-it was a small isle , at night the tall trees foliage and surroundings were completely silent ,not a single beats cried, nor a bird fluttered , but it was expected all the birds were in their nests crouching and , the sky was clear and stars shone bright, fro the sea blew dry winds, on the right side some hundred meters away were visible camp lights , a little away from it was located the ditch where from last evening was captain kept in and in what condition not sure
-they reached the end of the last phase of the night talking , he had not expected it but it seemed one falls sleep when dead tired on a cross as well, kastya and faras were already in their deep sleep, he turned off the walky talky because on the other side captain was also either in deep slumber gone or unconscious state because there was no sound , the idea in his mind was pushing him to act quickly before dawn to rescue the captain or after sunlight it would be even more risky
-faras and he had already before they were instructed moved the rock, covering the empty area below, it was now positioned so it could roll down the slope b a mere push by just one person effortlessly, they all stood there in the dark breathless for a while as kastya shone the torch again, and her walky talky was also turned on, kastya informed that the captain was in trouble and the capturers held him captive and had set up camps around him , the men surrounding him were too many
-in the sunshine of life hard is going on
-shades of patience embraced the steps taken
-spend some time praying
-for sleepless are nights without sincerity
-every time soul and spirit is affacted
-it is when fragrance of your letters reached
-powerless and free from status position
-won we have hearts merely with sincerity
-then what is the matter
-ibrahim replied to shahzeb he had himself lowered the dose , it was so painful but after his brother kamal died of poisoning and the prophecy he decided for the sake of his wife zainub and his own life to prepare himself , what kind of conversation it was, he licked his dry parched lips and sipped some water, it was better to finish his life to end the helplessness he was in
-suddenly aniq"s voice was heard calling them from the outer door, sajadil teased shahzeb his prince charming did not let him be he moaned , they got up from the dark sea shore to reach aniq , they were being summoned by kastya because some news about raizal was floating , the first thing that came to their mind was he must be dead
shahzeb asked sajadil if he knew more details about kamal the brother of ibrahim, , he was startled and then shook his head in denial, so he told him he too was killed after his father rayan firdaus, but it was being said he was himself responsible for his own death,, beghum nural was seriously injured because she stood right in front of her husband to defend him and is now improving and better aniq told them
-who are they who are looking for you shah zeb asked sajadil who tried to change the topic by asking after his friend"s health, ignoring his question, explaining his view point that he was not like those who called their associates soulmates and stabbed them the first time they got a chance, instead he kept his soulmates in his heart with pure sincerity and when the time is right he can prove it
-the television talk show was on air and live , ibrahim was one of the guests in conversation with others about his brother who died in a closed locked gowdown starved to death, but the anchor person justified the prophecy made by the madam , the sons were raised on poision daily doses so they will never die of poison, but when locked in kamal ahmed could not get his daily dose and died of poison , ibrahim began to cry emotionally and watching him his wife zainab who did not understand a word of english in which the talk show was telecast began quivering like a dry fallen leaf, she was explained later what was being discussed
-the topic on the talk show was opened with the prophecies made by her excellency the madam who had predicted kamal ahmed son of muhtram rayan firdaus and his brother would be poisoned to death,
-the debate began kamal ahmed died a couple of days ago not of poison but dying of starvation
-but he was somehow locked into the godown and it could not be opened and his voice and shouts for help went unheard and he died
-but it was known both sons of mutram rayan were raised on regular poison doses so they will never die of poison
-suddenly the room was flooded with electric light, a loud slogan was heard from saif who was announcing the light had come, aniq woke up frightened , asking who had come, , its come its gone was a national slogan and heritage of pakistanis where load shedding was common like air , mashad came in believing now they could watch television, they all should be grateful to the generators which started to give them light,, a portable television was carried into the room , lots of disturbances noises and distorted images were produced on the screen,, finally the first news they could hear after so many days was painful because one anchor persona was in conversation with three guests and the topic was prophecy of her excellency the madam made ages ago come true recently
-the next day he felt better and light hearted,, last night he had had spoken with katsya on most important matters, he was relieved she had understood his point, she was a relatively dashing and extra ordinary brainy commander, though she looked a tom boy she had all the leadership qualities,, what he admired most in hr was her ability to adapt to circumstances and control her emotions,, she reacted and took quick action based on reality,, he appreciated her for taking his advise and stick to facts,
-he needed to charge his cell phone , he would get one and before he was invited to eat he took a bath , refreshing bath somewhat removed his fatigue and pains,
-the elderly woman asked him to address her as her aunt beghum , though his father had explained him their relation he had ignored it,
-waiting for his food he wondered what could it be if this is the imperious stay , he closed his eyes and prayed thanking for the food he will be blessed with, he opened his eyes and was satisfied to see kebabs, salad, chapatis accompanied minced meat and green coriander smoothie and potato gravy as side dish
-balal declared he had informed he was coming, and the surprised barkat quraishi exclaimed he as to reach on the thirtieth and it was twentieth that day, any way he was welcome to enter , from inside a woman"s voice rose demanding who was it, balal asked if there was any helper to pick up his luggage and how the old man scowled , finally balal picked up or should we say dragged his luggage and managed to arrange it inside the room where a woman who resembled her husband sat on a cot busily, later he came to know they were also cousins , their mothers were sisters, , they were very fair complexioned and their sharp features , thin lips and hazel eyes were most attractive ,
-he thanked his stars for being a native of pakistan and not had to be a resident of any western country where taxi drivers do not move to help their passengers with lifti g their luggage instead turn round their faces expecting it would be over by the time they look back again,
-he stood searching for the door bell which he did not find , unable to locate it he banged the door bolt , after three times the door opened and a salt and pepper head appeared followed with the whole body asking in less sarcasm and more haughtiness who was he come there , he introduced himself as balal karim quraishi,
-he got out of the taxi and stopped a passer by to confirm that the black gate he stood before the house belonged to barkat quraishi , the passer by looking at him as one looks at the sacrificial goat somewhat with interest and curiosity mixed with pity if he was a relative of the house owner, the guest was a relative , by the time he pulled out his wallet and paid the driver the driver had in a business like manner taken out all his luggage and arranged it around the main gate of the house,
-she addressed directly to salma, man was creation of sin and his nature was to sin , but humanity is to show kindness to those who ask forgiveness, who confess and try to repent and reform themselves , social and family laws allow this and one should accept the ways of old traditions,
-the girls were their blood, daughters of hab and ahad and she was spreading her veil begging salma to give them to the family they belonged where they would live for their rest of the life as a family
-he remembered an old incident now very long did it happen, some seven eight years ago, when all namely naghat, her husband and salma mami had gone to multan and were to return that night a politician was assassinated and all the roads got blocked and routes sealed , they were all jammed and then it got late night when salma mami rang up home and asked him to go to her house because his daughters mist be alone and frightened waiting for them, he promised her he will go and check them
-hajrah heard the sound of the rikshaw stopping out side, thankful that her bhabhi had reached ,, salma was paying the driver his bill, they were equally embarrassed to see each other, because the presence of the other was posing problems for the other, salma was aware of her bhabhi"s bad mood, who began to lecture she was no loner yooung woman but mother of three grown up girls and intread of roaming around should she not stay home and take care of things , salma decided to tag along with her bhabhi to find out more about her mood swing
-why not, he asked his mother, arguing after all what was wrong in choosing the girl eight years his junior, she was younger and not older and marriageable age , he liked her ,but mother wanted her way , the girl of his choice was lie her mother , who knew how to trap others with their mannerisms , so she had selected another girl for him so smooth marble skin that could get dirty with a mere touch, , sister of three brothers and so perfect and fit for him
-afshan was speaking to her ammi why was she not listening to her point, they were betrothed in their childhood, she with sikander and now how could she forget him and choose someone else, thsi was not possible, but mother hushed her for the first thing her father was home and not gone to work, he should not hear a word of their discussion, second was afshan not ashamed of showing support to sikander whose brother killed her elder brother , afshan believed why punish someone innocent for someone else "s crime
-jenny argued with her father mister justin that women who wanted the attention of joseph were defaming him, he only loved her , as about his arrest was not because of drugs but as all in their youth have small squabbles he was sent to prison,
-but the father was still not convinced he again tried to explain she was so immature and did not understand joseph was not interested in her but her wealth and inheritance
-- he will not give her a penny from his wealth and turn her down from his will and property but she was a strong headed woman who knew what her rights of inheritance as the only child of her father were, she would go to the court and challenge him
-the moment chandu appeared on scene she began to write a letter to sikander , addressing him on a personal emotional note that her parents were not allowing her to marry him, they were against this marriage, he must now take a firm step and decide what they both should do next, then putting the letter in chandu"s pocket she also gave him some money to get her some things from the market after handing the letter to sikander who was she was sure home that day a holiday , her mother was keeping a strict eye on her moves so to cover her actions she wanted chandu to get some thing back
-she got up from there and walked into the middle of her court yard, closer to the wall shared by her neighbours she stood and called out to chandu, whose mother also sitting in the yard of their house was peeling and chopping onions, because he was merely a kid was not stopped by anyone either from his family or from hers to come and go as he wished , he also was sent to get things from the market now and then, what a great help he proved himself, so his mother as usual did not bother to question why she called out chandu
-sometimes some memories
-out of some old images
-on the door of the heart
-knock so softly
-like the first evening star seen
-or early morning blossom
-like softly slowly on the soil
-lights casting themselves
-like suddenly from crying
-turn to laughter
-sometimes some old memory from the past
-on the door of the heart
-knocks so softly
-after all what positive points did you see in this cheap and third rate man that you suddenly decided to get married to him, he was not ready to allow her to fling dirt on his family name , the father spoke in a roar to his daughter, why did she not choose someone decent and respectable man
-
the four of them finished their meal , the baba began to pick up their dishes, one of them asked him to do it later and first get him his cigarettes, another asked him to get them tea in the flask, he went to the kitchen to put the dishes and get them tea and cigarettes, at that moment the third man got his phone call, his boss was asking if he had called the beghum safiya, of course how could he defy his command he was his obedient servant, from where did he ring her up, he wanted to find out the exact location,the call he made to the beghum was from the shop of the boss, what abuses were showered on the man for being a large sized beast with no brains
-rafiq the van driver was having an odd time , it was a strange day for him usually he was a very responsible man who picked up the children in his van but that particular day he kept on sleeping , he over slept and got late for the school, so he quickly without having a bite for breakfast straight away sat down in the driver seat of the van, in all this commotion his glasses fell down and broke in splinters, he was driving on the same familiar route , he could see something foggy right out of the wind screen, he had to puck a new child from gulshan iqbal that day
-the madam looked from the window , they took the child and sat him in the car and drove off, quickly disappearing from sight, all this happened so instantly she lost her mind, then shrugging herself out of trance she asked where was her phone, she took some time to gather herself and then reached out to grab her phone placed on the table, praying to god she tried to remember she had to inform the police and the child"s parents
-the courtroom was overcrowded and full, photographers, television channels and press reporters also surrounded the area, it was a case of a dangerous extremist, and it was the day when the verdict was to be passed, ordinary man also was equally curious and interested as professionals, because as it happens powerful extremists use their contacts and get away with their plans, but now all wanted this one to get a sentence suitable for his crime and the court was expected to after giving him a far trial now give proper punishment
-she continued she had forgotten to tell him earlier that even if her husband died in an accident or was killed or murdered she loses the right to her share of her property, she would be the main suspect and be the only one interrogated in the investigation, her voice was sober and serious, all that mental stress she was going through was lifted since faizal was there discussing their matters,
-faizal expressed his view point that jawad was cunning to plan such a scheme to control her and she was helpless, it was not jawad but his mother she explained who planned this for they were not sure about brides from lower strata so they made a nice plan,
-faizal sarcastically added all businesses depended on profit and loss plans and jawad was a good businessman
-he told her she had even become better in her personality that wealth can buy , though she always had been nice , nelly listened to faiz as he continued but she now looked a stranger not the same loving and familiar friendly person,
-she agreed she no longer was his so how could she remain the same with him, in naila's tine descended a sorrowful note,
-he suggested she would not agree but se still could leave jawad ahmed and become faizal's
-but did he not know what conditions and consequences would follow and how impossible they will make her life,
-she would not get a pence from his wealth and property and her family will have to return all that he had spent on them so far
-naghat smiled and spoke to her mother, did she not tell her to get all she wanted in one time, she began to gather the scattered around clutter tidying it up, some designs of personal choice and taste, in selected colours but what did it matter to her anyway, she had no time for her mother,it was a holiday yesterday and she spent it sleeping whole day, what all she could be expected to do single handedly, before the complaint office could be opened she surrendered
-nelly was present in her bedroom then, she had opened her locker and transferring all the contents including the jewellery, cash and valuables in a large sized briefcase ,her nervousness and disturbed mood was apparent, when her mobile rang she jumped up frightened, reaching out to pick up her mobile placed on the dressing table, on the screen was displayed just a number with out any contact name, but it was not a stranger number she was familiar with it,she quickly received the call
-it was love, love with sharmin before his eyes, he was a witness to their love, this world is an odd place , anything can happen to anyone at any given time, , sherry was such an adorable woman and look what consequences followed and he was so changed, he was unable to describe in words how and what he felt for her, but it was no less than passion , in her company he got used to being with her , her presence was intoxicating ad he became addicted to other vices as well, she had gone abroad to get a degree and returned with so many sins
-the two men sat talking, one more good looking younger looking and handsome was speaking to the other before him, he had last seen him ten years ago when he left for canada and now he had changed so much not even fifty looked in his mid sixties and old, he felt they were meeting after some twenty twenty five years later, in their class men stayed rather young in their old age also because they maintained themselves so well, but it seemed he had been decaying in sorrow
-she agreed to stop at the next ice cream parlour from where the child could get his favourite ice cream , she tried to convince him but the child found a way and smiled and wanted to eat in the parlour because it was more fun, but her reply was quick the child"s father was coming home and they were supposed to join him at home so there was no time to waste stopping at the parlours
-the black shining polished mecedes was driven by the woman in the driving seat who looked even more glamorous than the car, it was apparent she was blessed by nature with extraordinary looks but then she also had maintained herself with great care, her beautifully polished nails were evenly filed , her complexion was golden glowing , her hair streaked artistically, her appearance was a specimen of taste suggestive of her habitual beauty treatment from the best of the expensive parlour who provided her their services,
-the face that always lit up brightly like blossoms was now pale and sick, a drip stand stood by her bed,the empty drip still sticking there suggested one dose was given,khala explained the doctors had already taken their round,, a nurse arrived to take her position from there on, so now he could speak to zunera though he was instructed not to disturb her, he neared her bed and sat down softly on the side of the cot , she opened her eyes to see who was it, her eyes reflected deathly mood, he began to think what exactly their relationship was and why was he there thinking of her
-then he hugged him and left, he also spread his legs out in the iron straw cot and began thinking different topics concerning him,soon he was informed as expected that zunera had survived and was alive, regained her consciousness, he was grateful to almighty and was filled with new energy, he got his cell phone back, it was full of text messages and missed calls, it was not the right time to check them all out, forst priority first he with his friend on his bike reached the hospital to see zunera
-umar smiled mysteriously , she would know what was he speaking in some time from now, he kept on speaking , he was aware who all stood right outside the door listening, please, please he pleaded never must you come to my bedroom again, what all happened today here must not be repeated, nobody should ever come to know of it, what was between us you must forget, it was a mistake, dua was dumb and her rayaz uncle was lad to believe something umar wanted him to
-
rayaz ahmed stood right outside the wall unable to breathe, unable to believe his ears as he heard umar speak and dua asking him innocently what was he saying she dd not understand him at all, rayaz heard his niece"s voice and froze, as his wife held him from falling down,
-he continued-how could they ever cheat their elders, they blindly trusted them, he may be the worst of persons still he could not bring harm to his own loved ones, it was a female who brought the male down to the earth from paradise, also because of her earth turned so sinful and narrow, as dua kept sitting quiet listening to his dialogue delivery he paused to inhale quickly , he had tired himself out and become breathless, he then looking at her spoke to the front wall completing his dialogue -if she was really that innocent simple and straight or was it possible someone could catch them red handed and he was not blamed for being with her, dua was sitting there listening to his words spoken to the wall and not understanding a word of it
-dua frightened and nervous as she saw him shut the door behind him asked why did he bring her there , he laughed he wanted her suggestion, on what matter she demanded, his remark that she was not the last girl in the world for him , the niece of rayaz ahmed on whom he would attack and feast his senses, but did he not tell her if she remembered he loved acting and one producer was casting him in his drama serial, he was called by the same producer that morning and offered a role now he was not sure what must he do next,
-he stood by the road side talking on his phone with his uncle, he combed his fingers in his hair, all plans and arrangements were ready, he was asked by alyas ahmed if all his dialogues were learnt, because he was so particular about classics and perfectionism, smiled he and replied all was learnt by heart,uncle again spoke to umar he must act like real , the audience must believe it was reality and not the stage, umar consoled his uncle not to worry at all, he will try his best, he was assuring, that night the drama will pay them one crore , it was a good amount , umar was promising his uncle and smiling he shut off the phone,
-that she was or not interested in ahad was asked not intentionally but his tongue slipped over his own comparison of himself and ahad , she pondered a long time over what was that she liked in ahad, he was so polite, his habits so correct, his behaviour so perfect, he was a gentleman, she could write a long note on his character but they were just friends and no more , she liked him as a friend not as a lover
-umar asked her to thank him for his compliments , her response numbed his mind, she was not so great as to be given all those useless compliments and then he should be sorry for his mistake , because it was wrong of him , his mind was blocked and he was reminded of ahad, was she interested in ahad , his face had turned red with emotions, she looked searchingly at him ad replied cautiously taking sometime, she and ahad were merely friends and nothing more, their relationship was not demanding nor anything else , he pertinently asked what made her think that long before answering such a simple question, she quickly explained she needed some time to think and scan her mind and truthfully judge her feelings before giving him right accurate answer
-dua had remained silent from her house to the restaurant, maintaining her silence even when she was asked by umar questions casually, a nod here a nod there, , the meal was ordered, he admiringly complimented her red dress and added he wished she had applied some lipstick and eye kajal to enhance her beauty, her brain was fused and stopped functioning at his comments, ahad on the other hand never liked complimenting women publicly, he actively disliked dressed up and made up females
-he had reached some distance mid way when he heard a slight faint sound behind him , he turned to see saif who was there to support him, because he whispered so loud that irritated him , they could be heard and captain could get killed before they could reach out to him, saif thought two were better than one and his rifle swung on his shoulder and he was apparently in high spirits , the camp lights were there destination and they hoped the ditch near by it was accommodating captain they had come to rescue and wondered if it was possible to make their escape with captain
