Nora's POV:
The
mid of night had draped the world in an impenetrable shroud, but my thoughts refused to follow suit. It was a sleepless night, one I would long remember, and it was all thanks to the enigmatic man who had been at the center of my father's discussions - Arsalan Khan.
My mind was a cacophony of questions. What was it that set Arsalan Khan apart, making him a name to be feared in the deepest corners of our city? I couldn't fathom how one man could amass such power and control over others. As I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, I wished I could uncover the truth behind the aura of dread that enveloped him.
Restless and filled with curiosity, I decided to take a path that would lead me down the rabbit hole of information. My laptop beckoned, and I complied, launching my search. The moment I typed "Arsalan Khan," my screen was flooded with results - a deluge of stories, all connected to this one man.
However, it wasn't the story of a heroic figure or a charismatic leader, as I had half-expected. Instead, it was a tale of crime and darkness. Arsalan Khan, a name etched in the annals of infamy, had a rap sheet that would chill the bravest of hearts. Not once, but twice, he had tasted the cold steel of jail bars. His life was marred by violence and shadowed by death.
It wasn't just the number of crimes associated with him, but the brutality and ruthlessness with which they were executed. The chilling accounts of his actions left me in a state of disbelief. The names and events in front of me seemed more like scenes from a horror movie than the life story of a real person.
The further I dug, the more unnerving it became. Arsalan Khan was no mere criminal; he was a gangster. The crimes associated with his name were beyond reckoning, and the authorities had struggled to bring him to justice. My heart raced as I read about his escapades, a sense of dread and fear taking root within me.
As if to add an even more chilling element to this story, there were no photographs. Arsalan Khan remained faceless, a name whispered in fear. The absence of a visual image only served to heighten the air of mystery and menace that surrounded him. It was as though he were an enigmatic phantom, slipping through the fingers of justice, always out of reach.
Closing my laptop, I found myself shrouded in darkness, both literal and figurative. A deep, unsettling fear had taken root within me. Nora Ahmed Ali, who had lived a sheltered life under her father's protective wing, was now confronted with the grim reality of a world she had never imagined.
With a heavy heart, I couldn't help but worry about the unforeseen consequences of my father's involvement in this world.
As I lay in the dark, unable to quell the unease that gnawed at me,
I prayed for safety and wished to never cross paths with the enigma named Arsalan Khan.
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T
he next morning dawned with an air of trepidation that hung heavily in the Ahmed Ali household. Fatima, Nora's mother, had been occupying the grand sofa in the hall, her face etched with worry. Nora, descended the stairs, her steps heavy, mirroring the disquiet that filled the house.
Fatima's tense demeanor immediately caught Nora's attention, and she couldn't help but share in her mother's anxiety. A sense of foreboding loomed over her, a feeling that something was amiss, something beyond the mundane worries of daily life.
As Nora approached her mother, ready to inquire about her distress, her dada Jaan, Khalid Ali, who was usually a man of unwavering composure, was locked in an intense phone conversation with someone Nora couldn't see. The somber atmosphere had cast a pall over their home.
Just when Nora was about to reach her mother, Khalid Ali's voice cut through the room like a bolt of lightning. The words he spoke were like an electric shock, sending shockwaves of disbelief through Nora's veins.
"Ahmed is in the hospital... he got in an accident last night."
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Nora sat by her father's bedside, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Ahmed chuckled weakly, his eyes crinkling at the corners as they locked onto his daughter.
"Baba, ye kese huva?"
[Baba, how did this happen?]
Ahmed reached his hand toward her, brushing away a tear from her cheek. He smiled reassuringly.
"Accident huva Meri jaan, par main theek ho jaunga."
[An accident happened, my love, but I'll be fine.]
Her mother, Fatima, watched the scene unfold. She stood at a slight distance, her face a tapestry of worry and heartache. Her husband's health, the pillar of their family's strength, hung in the balance.
Nora leaned closer, her voice a hushed caress.
"I was so scare-"
Ahmed emitted a soft chuckle, a paternal gesture filled with warmth and assurance. Fatima's own visage bloomed into a tender smile.
"My beloved, do not entertain such fears. I'm here, by your side."
Nora's tears flowed more freely, yet they were lustrous droplets of relief. With great care, she pressed a tender kiss to her father's cheek, a caress that respected the intricate web of medical paraphernalia surrounding him. Fatima's eyes glistened as she observed the deep connection between her husband and their daughter.
Nora: "I love you, Baba."
Ahmed: "And I cherish you, my dearest Nora."
The room was filled with an unspoken bond, a silent symphony of love and gratitude that transcended words.
Khalid, who had just entered the room, looked at the father-daughter duo. He observed their interaction, the concern in his eyes softened with affection. He knows how Ahmed must be feeling right now, looking at his little daughter. Once upon a time, he too used to look at his daughter like this. If only she were...
"Let's not go there," Khalid thought and cleared his throat, gaining their attention.
"Ahmed beta, 3 baje hai. Dono bachiya kab se bahar hai, aur kuch khaya bhi nahi hai unhe, toh hum yehi keh rahe the ki abhi ke liye inke ghar bhejna sahi hai."
["Ahmed, it's 3 o'clock. Both girls have been outside for a while, and they haven't eaten anything. So we were suggesting sending them home for now."]
Fatima nodded, but Nora had other plans.
"Haam, Baba ko chhod ke kahin nahi ja rahe."
[ we won't go anywhere, leaving Baba."]
Khalid insisted.
"Bete, baba ko raat mein discharge mil raha hai. Raat ko jitna chahiye, utna le lena."
["Child, Baba will be discharged at night. You can take him home at night."]
Fatima's maternal worry and daughterly love led to a brief standoff. Nora was determined not to leave her father's side.
"Nora! Jidd mat karo. Aur apni maa ke saath ghar jao. Hum aa jayenge."
["Nora! Don't be stubborn. Go home with your mother. We'll be there."]
Ahmed told her. He understood the situation and wanted Nora to be safe.
With no other way to argue, Nora reluctantly agreed and left with her mother. They left the room under the watchful gaze of the guards who would ensure their safety on the way home.
After they had safely departed, Khalid turned to his son and looked at him with a mix of concern and anger.
"What was the need to meet Amir Khan?"
Ahmed glanced at his father. He knew how strongly Khalid felt about this. He spoke carefully.
"Baba, hum nhi gaye the usse milne, vo khud aaya tha."
["Father, I didn't went to meet him. He came on his own."]
Khalid's expression darkened with a mix of frustration and concern.
"Kitni baar bolun main, Ahmed? Kitni baar? Ghar ke liye abhivyakti se jyada, apni patni aur bacchiyon ke liye chinta kar."
["How many times do I have to tell you, Ahmed? More than expressing yourself at home, worry about your wife and daughters."]
"Baba, mujhe kuch nahi hua hai aur nahi hoga. Accident mein vo thoda nashe mein tha, driver ki wajah se yeh hua."
["Father, nothing happened to me, and nothing will. In the accident, he was a little drunk, that's why it happened because of the driver."]
Khalid struggled to hide his concern, but deep down, he couldn't help but fear for his son's safety.
"Abhi toh ghut maat bolo, Ahmed. Mujhe un logon ka phone aaya tha. Peeche haath ja unke raste se unko jo karna hai, karne de. Aaj dhamki di hai, kal kuch aur kar sakte hain."
["Don't talk lightly about it now, Ahmed. I got a call from those people. Stay away from their path and let them do what they want. They gave a threat today, tomorrow they might do something else."]
Khalid broke down a little, the weight of his responsibilities and his fears for his family taking a toll on him.
"Baba, aap fikar mat karo. Ab kuch nahi hoga."
["Father, don't worry. Nothing will happen now."]
Khalid simply looked at his son, the storm of emotions in his eyes not fully abated, and left the room.
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Ahmed Ali pov
Ahmed Ali sat alone in his dimly lit hospital room, the ominous shadows cast by the window's bars only adding to the heavy atmosphere.
Flashback of Amirs words runs in his mind.
"Yaad rakho Ahmed tum ye Jo bhi kar Rahi ho uska anjab bohot bura hoga!"
"Soch lo fir se ahmed , vho tumara bohot bura haal karega."
"Kyal rakhna ahmed chachu"
The threats were veiled but unmistakable, and the weight of the unknown adversaries pressed heavily on his mind.
Ahmed clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening in anger and frustration. What had he done to deserve this? The path he had chosen, the choices he had made-it had all started with good intentions, a desire to bring about positive change. And yet, it had spiraled into this dark abyss, with threats and dangers lurking at every turn.
As he sat by the window, a deep sense of regret welled up within him. It had all begun because of her
Ahmed ran a trembling hand through his hair, his thoughts a tumultuous whirlwind. Why had he let himself become ensnared in this treacherous web of politics, power, and corruption? It was a question that haunted him, and he had no answers
Just why!
The walls of his room seemed to close in on him, and the weight of his predicament was suffocating. He couldn't bear the thought of Nora and Fatima, his wife, being dragged into this menacing world. As a father, his primary duty was to ensure their safety and happiness
But as he looked out the window, Ahmed Ali also realized that he couldn't simply back down. The forces at play were too formidable, and he had made powerful enemies. The challenges ahead were daunting, and the consequences of his actions had far-reaching implications.
In that moment of introspection, Ahmed knew he had to summon the strength to confront the darkness that had engulfed their lives. It was a battle he never sought, a role he had never imagined for himself, but it was a battle he couldn't afford to lose.
Nora's innocent face, her laughter, and her dreams were his motivation to persevere, to weather the storm. Ahmed vowed to emerge from this ordeal with his family's safety intact and a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
He returned to his hospital bed, his resolve hardening. The road ahead was treacherous, but he would navigate it, not just for himself but for those he loved. The fight against the malevolence that had infiltrated his life had just begun, and Ahmed Ali was determined to face it head-on.
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Words count: 2,119
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Chapter 3 ends here,
So are you guys read for the war to begin?
Is it a war or ... Something else
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Until next chapter
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