jungbaz

.... and in the next  moment he took control of himself,  he shook his head a couple of times,  tuned his neck sideways  before sitting down on a bamboo stool nearby 

I shall burn you down into a heap of ashes,  I will destroy you  leave me there   from where you brought me , just now  quickly 

Range baba was  blabbering  unstoppably,  flanked on both sides by nazakat and  rada  whp looked at him in surprise  as if the  man was gone completely crazy  even the narrator  for a second  became nervous  what had come over him , perhaps tge baba was using his  bkack magic  and thrown a spell on him  but  quickly he recovered his senses  regained his self confidence  and  chanting the name of holy Allah  felt himself  stronger inside 

He once again looked at ranga  he was still   chattering nonsensicaly and  murmuring  non coherently,  he went into a trance  his dawned eyes were shut 

Within minutes a strange smell filled the room,  it was sickly  stench , , all the strength and self confidence he had obtained  started to erode, both nazakat and  rada    found themselves choking,  he too was breathless  unable to breathe 

He shouted  someone  must quickly  shut the wicked baba inside a room 

Nazakat was throwing up but the other one rada proved a due gard tough man  and he dragged ranga like a trapped beast into a room and locked him inside 

from previous

...after  Fred mills the investigating officer called  the widow of Carl for another round of questioning,  golden blonde Emmy was well groomed and  attractive sight,  again she was asked the same questions she was  asked  on the first day of Carl s death, she   gave him the same  word to word  tutored replies  evoking his doubts  focus on her

Do you drink or smoke 

Sometimes  she answered casually 

What is it drinking or smoking Sometimes 

Both  her tone was strong 

, she seemed quite  self confident , her eyes red perhaps from  sleepless  night  or she gad been crying   for her dead husband  whatever  the reason  it was uncertain 

What brands you prefer to smoke and drink asked he placing his elbow on the table 

Vodka and red wine  she  revealed  her choices of liquor and  cigarettes 

 After her  kurse came in with the post mortem reports and both sat down to read it once more 

page 110

....what's your name  young man,  asked he to  the son of Carl 

Fred mills 

How old are you  he observed  hus body language 

Twenty two  he answered  abruptly 

Where were you when you were informed of Carl  s death 

 The detective  watched hus eyes  closely 

I was on my college trip away 

When did you return 

Next day 

What time  he asked again 

Ten I the morning 

Fred answered in short  phrases 

What time did you start from there to return home 

Volley of questions were  going on and on

At two midnight 

You mean it took eight hours to come here otherwise it is just five hours  journey,  explain where were you for tge three extra hours,  investigation was carried forward  as his eyes  carefully  surveyed Fred s body language 

from previous

...it was decided  that the nikah and rukhsati will be simple  affair,  when naushba heard about it  she  frowned upon the idea, she wasn't a helpless  widow or a divorcee  who had to depend on others financially 

There wasn't anyone on that side to perform these functions and rituals 

There was weightage in what sahib was saying  so sge didn't say more 

, fir the bride the in-laws  give  her ritualistic traditional gifts  , that  amount was also given  them to purchase  things of their choice 

See for yourself if Zahir  s witch  sisters were present would they ever let ne  buy things of my own choice Said naushaba stiff necked  getting one of the most heavy maroon  lehnga packed 

Be ashamed of yourself  ma you too have daughters and sisters  rebuked  shakuba appa , laughed naushaba  obstinately,  she handpicked  and  chose each and every thing  only of her choice and liking, prude emitted from her pores

She was absolutely stunning and in the bridal looked spectacular 

Amma,  what is it, do you have something to say 

page 21

...Zahir gave his consent  and mami started her mission impossible of finding  a suitable match for him,  she couldn't go door to door  looking for a perfect bride  so she contacted  a nearby matchmaker  , because  Zahir and  his mami were nice people  and likeable  in the neighborhood  The matchmaker woman showed them   more than they had expected  girls  just for  their being so nice people 

Round  pretty face  with  big eyes  drew mami crazy   , sge couldn't check  the nature and behavior  and everything started happening as she had wanted,  today was the day they had to formally visit the would be bride s house to ask for her hand 

Hamad ironed   a white chiken  suit,  git mami her new pair of chappals 

If you like you can come along with us said mami covering her head with a flowery patterned  white crocheted  dupatta  , she paused to look  at  hamad s face,  she   gently  refused  , what will she do there, it was her natural need  tendency  and she shied off, she  easily  became nervous  and confused  and avoided meeting  people 

As you wish,  shut the door  properly,  Zahir will be late  today 

sarab

Frowns  covering his forehead   he was driving  in a siren  shrieking police  vehicle  towards the  factory of lieutenant Carl mills , accompanied by his newly inducted young driver Simon  who with  quite  easy expertise could drive  on any type of  edges  angular or haphazard  route,  on the back seat there was another young  man kurse brown   a constable  appointed six months ago   , he sat very alert and smartly,  their destination was Carl  mills factory,  though  Carl mills had spent  most of his life in various American  provinces   and usually American cities are glittery and glamorous  but Carl mills was a most honest man and he decided to spend his  retired life in a  small township    with natural scenery  nestled amidst  green valleys  and after some time he  bought some land  in the valley and opened a milk factory,  within five minutes they reached the  milk factory  where  Carl mills  lay dead on the floor  his eyes wide open with horror 

Salam to the person who took the photo of Lal Quila Delhi at a specific angle

andher nagri

....in this case  the lawyer was playing a double role,  his  client was  was badly involved in  worse to worsening  matters  that  the lawyer  had to be hus defense and  prosecution at the same time,  how he managed  to emerge  successful  is narrated in the story itself 

He clearly remembered  it was a pleasantly dry February day , luckily their  case was  on number one,  the judge had taken his seat,  the lawyer presented his case  before him 

The judge  thoroughly read his request  and   addressed begh sahib  it seemed he wasn't  happy with the court proceedings,  or why did he wish to transfer the case to another court  because  every client wants his matters solved , two months ago the lawyer  took up this client   amir Ahmed s case ,  a huge amount of five lakhs  is   blocked by a cheat  who refuses to give up amir Ahmed s money,  amir Ahmed is a client  and  begh sahib  represents his case in this court and the  cheat shah   filed a counter case against  amir Ahmed in a different court 

page 67

...his entire day kept him  quite busy,  it was during  afternoon,  some time later his girlfriend Claudia was to come,  she was also from  pinewood,  she had a  degree in law  and  moved to New York  to work  in a law firm,  sge was successful   in making a name and  money tgen something happened and she left the law firm  and returned to Mississippi pinewood  for good 

She decided to turn to writing fiction novels  on mystery  and  pinewood was a haven for writers,  he was  very much  familiar with Claudia and  her nature,  they had  several times  broken up  but thankfully they always made up

Donald's  voice rose on the air piece,  he was saying  ask me, I will answer 

You said   the girl whose bracelet was stolen  found a note,  from the note it was revealed  cortney  stole the bracelet 

Right she was  Laura and very upset,  her locker was empty,  replied doni,  today  after the second period  Laura's mother Orlean  came to take her home 

You mean Orlean came to the school  and took her daughter home 

No, Orlean was already there in the school from early morning,  her company  has put up an exhibition in the school  and fir that reason she was present and will be coming back again 

nukta bin

....when the bell of his  phone  rang he was sitting with his legs stretched out before him  on the table  , leaning back on the chair  reading the letter arrived from the mayor,  in the letter the mayor requested him the sheriff   to get speed breakers  fixed on the road on the road  to the  poultry of the county  so the  hens would stay safe and cross road  without  being hurt , the sheriff  found it admirable   thinking of the mayor to be so considerate  to speak up for the rights of  beasts and birds and  humans  equally  but  this case was different  if the ciunty roads were added  speed breakers  the high speeding cars  wouldn't  cross the  speed limit and  revenue  would decrease,  the sheriff  didn't want  loss of revenue  

In that  American county  pine wood there wasn't  any police chief  post the sheriff  held both  positions,  his deputy sheriff  Jeanie Parker was  his solo staff , that meant  just the two of them were responsible for handling all the county responsibilities 

page 41

...he looked fully  at the scene before him,  he patted his horse before giving him a kick , a few minutes later he had entered tge city center,  the dusk  descended on the gomati  declaring  it was dark  spreading out,  masjid  announced azan  and from akbar darwaza onwards  on the shops qandeel rows lit up, amidst this noise and chaos shaukat mirza  git down from his horse to walk towards the local inn

March 1817 evening  proved quite important  in several ways for shaukat mirza, his head lowered he kept on walking forward,  surrounded with   noisy hustle,  , surprise filled his eyes  and his manner of  staring at the illuminated  shops  suggested he was a complete stranger 

Reaching  the inn of Rahim khan  he  put an asharfi coin in the hand of the caretaker woman,  the horse was taken care of  and  tied up  , shaukat mirza was given a place to relax,  the woman brought water and he washed his face and hands,  meantime his bed was made,  

Shaukat asked her  her name 

In a most delicate humble manner she spoke her name  norin  , she  for ages was serving wealthy people like him for her living, 

He carefully looked at her,  she looked younger than her real age,  muddy complexion  , bkack shining hair,  her eyes  outlined  with black  kajal

Can you tell me  if I  could  see nawab hashmat Jung 

Startled  nooran looked at shaukat  once from head to toe  then in a strange voice said harbor nowadays are you 

Of course  how do you know 

I can read the hidden contents inside of closed envelopes 

page 15

....by the grace of almighty,  beghum looks fantastically happy,  is everything all right 

At night after  doing the kitchen  she came to her room  to find  Suleman  as usual waiting for her,  danya  put away his empty tea cup on the sidetable and unintentionally  rubbed her face  , naushaba  was leaving for good,  was that really showing on her face 

Perhaps today  there was no trouble  with nothing

Suleman   teased her , she sullen again sat down on the bed looking at him 

You are speaking as if I open up an entire grievances office before you everyday,  I only complain when  I can  tolerate it no more,  I share my tales of sorrow with you in the hope that you will definitely understand me , in fact I share my experiences  with only you  and my intentions are not bad nor do I mean to be complaining 

Her voice became throaty with emotions choking her 

Suleman became nervous and confused,  he exclaimed he was only  teasing her, it was  a joke,  she ought not to become so serious about  little things, he lovingly  called her crazy woman,  hitting his head softly  on her head,  this was his favorite style of  to change  the mood 

Danya sighed deeply 

Of course she was  so happy  but behind every happiness  there is a hidden fear  that  something would happen  to not let her enjoy this happiness 

dil ki dehleez per

....today I will do the washing and laundry,  tomorrow I will spend the entire day with ammi 

Danta lifted her head and looked at the  clear blue shining sky  , she came to her mother in law  s room to take her permission to use the washing machine,  

She was busy speaking on the phone her way of talking and facial expressions  suggested  the conversation was rather special and meaningful 

Danya sat down  som distance away from her  waiting fir her to end her conversation on the phone 

Safta beghum  winded up ger telephonic talk with   farewells  and turned towards her daughter In law 

Amma I was thinking  a big pile of dirty clothes  is  collected,  can I use the washing machine,  tomorrow I can spend the day with ammi at her place,  for quite some time I couldn't find time to visit her,  she had  cleverly  asked for her permission to visit her mother's house  too, though she wasn't one of the traditionally notorious mother in law  who  is interfering and  self centered  yet danya always  informed her and took her permission  before doing things,  safya beghum  liked her this habit very much,  her daughter In law respected her and was considerate 

from previous

....for the last rites  the rising voice of the priest  turned  somber,  ,rain was pellting on the windows , the noises  outside   disappeared into the   sound  of the falling rain,  Richard s mind began  racing,  he wasn't ready for this,  if he waited for his turn to come   by then it would be too late,  these people were  so , he began searching for a proper word to complete his idea,  they were great and he was to pay for it all , the priest put his  hit hand heavily on his shoulder 

You are doing good for your family,  let it be your guiding light,   you be the  guide  and show them the purpose of life,  you can do it,  the priest smiled at him,  I have read in the newspapers  he died a hero s death  , is that true 

Richard avoided  seeing directly into the priest's eyes  , he shifted his gaze to look out of the window,  the spreading darkness  seemed to enter inside through the window 

balae bedarma

....Richard Faraday walked  and the floor slabs  shook , there was a sink in the corner,  he needed to wash his face again,, his forehead was  sweaty and he felt his skin  sticky , all of a sudden he was aware of  dirt   , there was something   there  that even holy water couldn't  clean,  he  put his hands under cold water and looked at himself  in the mirror 

Why ever didn't I  agree  to that 

This thought was   constantly bothering him for past   few nights,  every step he took  proved wrong,  suddenly  the door behind him was shut with a bang that startled him 

A voice apologetically  rose   for frightening him

It's all right father,  I want to confess , he turned to look at the priest  who responded with a smile 

You are taking quite a long time  in here , are you all right,  the priest looked worried 

bhoolne ki bimari

...the psychiatrist sat in his office  when suddenly a patient walked in without permission  and lay down in the sofa  where tge patients  would sit to answer  the questions  of the doctor 

Doctor you must help me,  I am  in a  difficult situation,  I am in a position impossible,  I was a successful businessman,  married to a beautiful woman,  happily settled with my children in a big house,  other family members lived with us,  I had a high social standing,  everything is lost, the reason is   memory loss,  business failed  because  I forgot all the names and identities of my clients,  my wife and children left me,  I understand it's not their fault,  usually I don't go back home at nights  anymore because I forgot my own address,  I spent the whole night  wandering around,  my condition is getting worse and worse,  for heaven's sake please help me 

page 11

....he pressed the button  but nobody appeared for long,  he pressed the button again,  this time  footsteps were heard inside,  the door opened,  it Was opened by a young attractive woman,  fleetingly Faisal thought he had seen her somewhere before,  he shook off the idea from his mind,  every time he cast his eyes on beautiful face the image would get stuck in his head 

I am very sorry madam  to disturb you all this time of the day,  I find myself in the midst of a problem,  trust me,  I am  a decent man 

Faisal I believe you  she smiled 

Hearing his own name mentioned from her lips  startled him 

How could you possibly know me 

You forgot me, we were together at college,  you were one of  my admirers 

saudae zr

....master   looked at each one surrounding him one by one  , his gaze stopped on wajahat 

I want you to do this work 

Yes of course  , his tone was  polite 

In this bag there are two crore  dollars  said humanity master,   you have to reach  sherjal , , sherjal will take it to someone else  who doesn't live in this  city 

Allright 

It's two  and police mobile    becomes more  hyper active  then  at night,  you must  stay very careful,  the way is rather long,  you will reach there by five 

I will take those routes where police patrol is  absent,  but there is a secret pocket ìn my car the  ghosts of police can also never find it 

Just because of that secret pocket I chose you 

So I start off  on my journey said wajahat,  on my way  I will stop a while at home,  I am already late fir home,  shabnam becomes worried 

But be careful 

Don't you worry  master 

Wajahat picked up the bag and  left the master  s house 

He wanted to go home because both loved each other 

He had just pressed the door bell and shabnam opened the door 

palkon se uthau uss ko

....beloved is close to me  what more  do I want 

Holding  them prisoner  in the safety of my eye lids closed 

If wanting to leave  walk away trodding over me 

Adorable  so adorable my beloved is

Resides in my heart where else can I find them

Possessive as I i  have no wish to  expose them to others 

If wanting to stay  they adorn my eyes   forever 

If fallen  I softly pick them up  back 

..

Sara sat next to ansar, , on his   exclamation  turned lamuhala to enquire  and ensure   , why he couldn't wait  for her a bit longer 

Because  we knew  you were going to make an entry  so we decided to  set this up  by then you would be here,  explained salar sahib  expecting  fari to protest,  fari was looking elegant in her simple style 

saving face

....those days he was kept very busy and worried,  he rang up his closest friend airaf ,  after customary   greetings he asked him  dear arfi are you busy 

Right,  there were two meetings very important  but why do you ask,  is everything fine with you 

His response was against his expectations 

Yes sort of  Right   but not entirely,  by when will you be free 

One meeting is at six the other from eight to eleven later in the evening 

There is a gap of two hours in between I am coming to you to discuss it

When he emerged from his office  he stood there waiting for him  with his car 

Now tell me what is wrong professor,  dumping himself comfortable ease he patted him informally 

I need to buy something,  he shared his problem 

So what is so special about this 

It's just so,  driving the car he said and turned towards the  animal market 

page 194

....Rahim  became a little bit nervous  the house was too big and  living there  all alone by himself was somewhat  unnerving,  at that point  doctor arranged entered  the room with his son sultan 

Son , consider this  as your own house,  you will live here from now  with us, just say whatever you want,  doctor  sat down by the side of Rahim saying his last line to sultan 

Rahim became tearful 

Rahim had agreed to accompany the doctor on the wise elders of the village,  , he had rejoined  his  studies,  he was  given admission in sultan  s school,  sultan was three years his senior 

For a few following days Rahim remained nervous lonely and scared,  then gradually he adjusted himself  and became acquainted to his surroundings  in the city,  both became close and informal friends,  tgey began sharing their experiences and thoughts with each other,  Rahim would  object to some inappropriate habits of sultan who simply laughed off and completely ignored his  advices 

ehsaase jurm

,,,,..in one corner of  the  partially dark room  he sat sobbing  on the floor mat with his head  sunk between his  knees, , in the city a five year  old girl richly dressed slept , she was  a true image of an angel of purity and innocence,  he weeping lifted his head up to look at the angelic child,  his tears were  the tears of guilt  , his tears were  tears of fondness for the child 

gazal

....that was a moment  most exotic enchanting 

After that all was left emotional  emptiness

Same etes  like  incessant monsoon 

Same heart  but like a fierce storm 

Sixth sense    awakened  yet

No angel I am just a mortal  man 

Suddenly a flashing of light seen

It was the day of knowing to me 

Out of the pages both came out 

Neither  they geetha nor I Quran  like 

For many days someone remained a Talib

In a complete household like a guest 

page 166

...ignoring small  matters as insignificant and useless  is not correct,  , even little things prove  mighty,  , 

The  spring season was  beginning,  it was the last day in March,  , , the lawyer as usual was  seeing his clients in his office  when the secretary   on the intercom announced  there was a lady who wanted to see him,   she looked quite worried  her name was  saira beghum 

Police  doctor and lawyer  attract  people in distress,  explained the lawyer  casually,  the woman  wanted  to see him without prior appointment,  she held a piece of paper  perhaps  a reference,  daud khan  sahib had sent her , she said  the lawyer knew him  very well 

There was just one   acquaintance  he knew  by that name,  she was sent by the drama director  , he was  a television  show director 

Heaving a sigh of relief he asked  how many more people were there 

Just two  answered Nadya his secretary,   one other  with appointment  and she 

, rightfully  the man with appointment  came in and half hour later  the beghum sat before him,  sge was in her late fifties,  ordinary  looking  shirt woman,  her face was  showing  extreme  fear and worries,  after exchanging customary  civilities  he asked her professionally  what brought her to him 

from previous

...what do you want lieutenant 

I am leaving  but you stay,  darling snatched the hat from  Joey s head,  then  he  also pulled the only scarf around his neck,  take off the coat then I shall show you how I am going to protect you 

Joey threw away his coat onto the sofa  and sat down,  darling wrapped the scarf  around his face like a mask and stood up,  during the winters  scarf is a quite a useful thing,  it prevents  you from cold weather  and the face is completely  hidden,  it  was  extremely cold last week  wasn't it

I think today it's  the  coldest day,  Joey was absent minded but  Jimmy won't  be feeling cold at all,  darling took off the scarf and flung it towards Joey  or perhaps   , now tell me Joey what exactly had happened  that fat tuck was enraged 

Joey became nervous  

Since morning  so much  gad happened fast enough  glared  darling watching  carefully  Joey s nervous  condition,  one hole was made in the head  the second hole  tore his heart  apart,  similar to poor Andrew  s

Joey  was by now  trembling with fright so was his voice 

They were professionals  and outsiders,  that is my opinion,  spoke darling, you and  Andrew worked for Jimmy 

wadamaaf gawah

....oh God,  Andrew  how did you reach here for heavens 

Andrew did not reply,  he was  shot on his left  breast bone  and second  bullet had   burst opened his  head,  the killer  had made sure he won't survive,  

Do you know him  asked the sergeant  opening the  car door,  saif was in the passenger seat  , his head leaned on the window 

If you were at berthend to gamble  then you  definitely must know  Andrew  said the lieutenant     surveying the road 

It was a chilling  November morning  , they were present  at a spot  on one side   there was a park on the other side  a row of apartments,  windows were decorated with blue stars suggesting  at least one of the family members was  a military person,  some windows displayed gold stars  that meant   their  family members will never return home 

pyari appa

...  for   too many days  she had not  visited  elder appa s , there were so many  reasonable reasons,  now  during the month of ramzan   with daily fasting  going out was not so practical  above all elder appa  and her   long  chatterings were intolerable,  yet  it was decided  strictly on principle  on the eid day   they would give her a surprise visit,  sge otherwise  every day spoke to her on the phone it would not be ethically correct to misbehave  with her appa  in her own house as the hostess,  who served no less than at least five dishes  , it was  entertaining to hear the conversation 

My dear sister,  you are a flop because  of your laziness,  I wash my whole house everyday,  followed by cooking  sehri for seven  that means seven different tasting dishes,  for lunch  sufficient  wholesome meal  for all is  exhausting 

What,  food in ramzan , the  criticizing mouths  were shut up before opening 

Have patience to listen carefully 

 Appa would  say  annoyed 

Hospitality  dear Hospitality,  everyone  comes looking for food  

Because I am single I prepare  iftari,  believe me, two types of sweets and unlimited   salty  dishes,  all appropriate and perfect  fifteen or more so dishes  to keep the children happy,  mian ji  s face swells up like  a country drum 

But appa 

Keep quiet and let me finish  before I forget what did I cook yesterday 

page 49

....farannwas driving  very fast  because Anaya s university was  exactly on the other end of  the city 

People  don't know how to drive,   irritated he  pressed the horn  , sgarah Faisal was  tightly congested with  vehicles,  the rule here was nobody gave way to anyone, ,  it was impossible to keep driving on your own side,  everyone was ready to jump other vehicles to get ahead,  m faran  saw the  traffic lights changing,   he moved  the car forward,  suddenly a biker playing  on his life   cut across from the  left hand,  sharply reacting  and placing his foot on the brake  faran  poured  out choicest   abusive  words in abundance  before     speeding up to   cross the road  as a  result   he almost  touched the distant car ahead,  the devil  at that moment put a wicked idea into the driver's mind  that he should take a right turn  so he  braked mid way and  faran trying his best to avoid the direct hit failed to  escape    the pajero  , oh no he screamed nervously,   visibly  the damage was done,  naturally the papers driver  refused to accept the blame,  , a    rough   fight  began,  public  around  intervened and  the matter cooled off , faran in  rage  reached the university 

Where  is she  he asked himself  resting his head against the back of the seat,  very few students were  around 

He thought the university wasn't  secluded at all,  his wife madiha says right  Anaya  likes to  fetch  attention 

supari

....it was  some time  in the afternoon  and  the heatwave  beginning  in summer,  but  the weather was  confusing  uncertain swinging between winters and summers,   an old  house  built  in a posh colony,  a car stood  behind the thick  canopy of trees growing  before it,  the bonut of the car was open,  someone was  bent over the engine 

On the driving seat  sat a man  unshaven and bearded , his eyes were covered with  dark glasses   nobody could  see what was he watching,  he was in his forties,  his real name   was not known but every one called him Shane 

Shane was  established criminal in the under world,  for money he was ready to do anything,  he finished his task  with a finesse  and not a trace was left behind,  yet he was several times sent to jail  to be released  soon enough  for lack of evidence,  he would go back to his  criminal life,  he did everything  and  never refused to do anything,  , show him the money and he would do the job 

For years his other two partners  with him were Salim and Rashid, they were together  they were his  juniors 

Rashid was  looking at that moment  at the engine Salim was  sitting   in the driving  seat 

pehli kahani

....it's a common belief  behind every  crime is a story,  there could be several  several  unsolved  knots  and each and every knot unfolds  a secret,  Ralph  though was  not at all  interested in them,  for him   catching the  criminal was    all that makes a perfect detective,  that day  again  he got himself his favorite  red brownie  cake pastry  and walked back to his mobile  van  his wireless was  buzzing,  he exclaimed  tonight  I am gonna be kept busy 

Placing his packet of pastry and bun on a seat and picked up the wireless set close to his mouth,   it was  sergeant tailor on the other end 

Mrs Erickson  wants to know  why her car still isn't back at home 

Ralph sighed deeply,  beck was on his way and  within minutes will be reaching  there 

pehli kahani

....it's a common belief  behind every  crime is a story,  there could be several  several  unsolved  knots  and each and every knot unfolds  a secret,  Ralph  though was  not at all  interested in them,  for him   catching the  criminal was    all that makes a perfect detective,  that day  again  he got himself his favorite  red brownie  cake pastry  and walked back to his mobile  van  his wireless was  buzzing,  he exclaimed  tonight  I am gonna be kept busy 

Placing his packet of pastry and bun on a seat and picked up the wireless set close to his mouth,   it was  sergeant tailor on the other end 

Mrs Erickson  wants to know  why her car still isn't back at home 

Ralph sighed deeply,  beck was on his way and  within minutes will be reaching  there 

page 111

..,,aren't you feeling well 

Right,  I was about to take a rest  sge spoke tersely,  he felt he was hit, what fauzya had told  him last night he believed it, , pushing her aside he walked inside,  he asked her to shut the door, reluctantly she shut the door behind her, 

Don't forget it's not our house,  not our property  noŕ we are the owners,  we live here as refugees , jannat and Rahim are  not our unpaid slaves nor paid servants,  he did his best to make her understand the point  , she reacted by looking at him  in a strange manner 

I know it

No you don't,  his tone was  firm,  had you known it you would never have  spoken  rudely to jannat 

page 107

.... respected sister had come to our house,  said Rahim opening the door,   sehrab sahib was more confused than surprised  

Where are they 

Inside in the drawing room,  spoke Rahim,  she looked quite  worried,  she was  saying  she desperately needed to  talk to sehrab  her son  she refused to leave without seeing you sir,  

Did you offer tea and refreshments 

Certainly of course 

Are fauzya and rahela with her 

No sir  , Rahim shook his head,  I had  gone  to get the groceries  both were not there,  perhaps  gone off on a stroll

Sehrab was surprised  rather  because she usually  went  outside the house  with Rahim escorting her

Sehrab    contemplating  moved towards tge drawing room,  sshagufta khatoon  sat there   in a sofa,  she looked  completely tired  , one elbow resting on tge arm if the sofa  , her head resting on the side,  sunk in  deep thoughtful reflection 

He lightly coughed  and greeted here,  startled  she  stood up

Dear son,  you have come,  how   I was  waiting for you,  her stress was  apparently visible  he smiled  reassuringly 

What happened  respected sister,  what  makes you so unhappy 

page 104

....he also heard  the sound of the caller rising,  he waited patiently outside for someone to open the door,  waiting for some time  he again  pressed   the door bell    and few minutes later the door opened and Arshad stood there  ,  who  looked bewildered  and then   suddenly  blossomed up and happily greeted the visitor  , sehrab sahib 

The shrewd visitor   understood  Arshad was happy to have someone  to cheer him up when he looked so upset

I I was  at  naghat  s place  spoke sehrab sahib stepping inside,  tge house was locked,  is she alright,  did she come here,  deliberately he didn't mention  iqbal

Of course  bubi naghat is fine  but there is another matter,   glad you are here,  , bibi naghat is inside  and  senior sahib from Karachi has also arrived speaking  so he opened the  door  to let him  in, the  bedroom was empty, MacBook was gone somewhere,  Arshad showed him in and invited him to sit down in a sofa,  himself he walked up to the second door,  senior sahib   was  definitely  iqbal himself  , it seemed  naghat was  normal  because Arshad hadn't  described anything    disturbing like wasim had  to  sound it so sensational  and to  perhaps make mischief  , thought sehrab  looking  carefully at Arshad  whose face  revealed nothing