Menace

Bakale Cafe bustled with life at all hours of the day. The cozy establishment offered a variety of fast food, tea, and coffee. Its strategic location between Sayyad College of Science and Technology and the National Museum made it a hotspot with numerous benefits and little competition. Students from the college congregated at the cafe throughout the day.

Nasir had tucked himself away in a corner of the cafe. Books were scattered across the table, an iPad in his hands, and earphones plugged in. To any casual observer, he appeared to be a student deeply engrossed in studying, listening to music. However, Nasir was far from oblivious to his surroundings. He noticed the female students sitting across from him, the elderly academics beside him, and the tired-looking woman in her own world. Most importantly, he focused on his target: two men engaged in a heated argument beside him. At first, when he had walked in, they hushed their conversation. But as they realized he was just a seemingly distracted college student, they let their guard down, thinking he wasn't paying attention. Little did they know, Nasir was here to do just that.

"You have to tell him the truth, man," one of the men insisted.

"I can't. I don't want him finding out about the content I lose," the other replied.

"You have to. I won't endanger myself because of you."

"He doesn't have to know."

"How did you lose it?"

Their argument continued, and Nasir pieced together one fragment of information after another from their conversation.

The men left abruptly when one of them received a call. Nasir waited a few minutes before he packed up and departed. He walked through several streets to where he had parked his car and drove home. He had deduced everything from their conversation, having followed them closely for almost a week. Pal had entrusted him with the task of finding out what was going on with these men. They were involved in smuggling operations for boss, but in recent weeks, they had become reclusive. Pal had assigned Nasir to spy on them, and the young man had done his best.

He had discovered the reason behind their reclusive behavior. One of them had lost a substantial amount of boss's money in a gambling club and was too afraid to admit responsibility. Boss was not known for forgiveness, and if he got wind of this, both men would likely meet a gruesome end. Nasir knew that they both deserved the harsh consequences. Why would they gamble away millions of dollars belonging to boss? of all people.

Nasir settled into his Dayat apartment over the past week. It became his sanctuary, a place he had grown to love. However, with the newfound independence came the weight of solitude. He couldn't help but miss Pal, his mother, and his sister, especially during the quiet nights.

His days were a whirlwind of activity. Nasir and Pal delved deeper into their line of work. Some days, he was tasked with delivering mysterious packages across the city. Spying became second nature to him, and most of his days were spent engaging in covert activities. Maira frequently crossed his path during these operations. Nasir developed a knack for intimidating people, but Pal seldom took him along on more dangerous assignments.

Nasir was gradually drawn into a different world, one filled with shadows and secrets. He began to see people in new and complex ways. Boss wasn't the only shadowy figure in the city; Nasir learned about other powerful drug lords, some even more influential than Boss. These criminals operated not just in Saba but throughout the nation, and some even had international connections.

"Hi there!" His mentor's voice came through the phone.

"Don and dusted," Pal said proudly.

"What did you find out?" Pal asked, getting straight to the point. Nasir contemplated for a second, aware that whatever he told Pal would likely be relayed to the boss, and the men involved would soon face dire consequences.

"They gambled a million dollars that belonged to the boss," he replied, "and they were planning to meet with a drug lord to negotiate for protection from the boss. They were offering information about the boss's whereabouts."

"Good job, boy," Pal acknowledged.

Nasir continued his day in his apartment. He ordered lunch, took a nap for a while, and hit the gym in the evening. Sweating heavily, he returned home, not surprised to find his apartment door wide open. He knew it must be Pal; Pal had a spare key. Still, he held his pistol cautiously as he entered. Upon closing the door behind him, he was shocked to find the boss sitting on his sofa, wearing a wicked smile that sent shivers down Nasir's spine.

"Saba Boy's Academy," the boss said nonchalantly, a chuckle escaping his lips. It was clear he had gone through Nasir's belongings, holding the admission form in his hand.

"You know it's hard to get in, right?" He continued to taunt Nasir. The young man remained silent, calmly walking up to him and taking the form back.

"I'm not going to apply, Boss," Nasir stated firmly, tossing the form into the dustbin.

"Very well," the boss conceded the point, but Nasir knew this discussion wasn't over.

"Impressive, boy. It took me a solid ten minutes to break into your apartment," the boss added, and Nasir's eyes narrowed.

"Do you do that often?" Nasir asked, a hint of curiosity mixed with caution in his voice.

"What?" the boss replied, feigning innocence.

"Breaking into people's apartments," Nasir clarified, his eyes searching the boss's face.

"I did, boy. I started somewhere, and I wasn't fortunate enough to be trained. I learned everything by myself. To reach this stage, I did break into people's apartments," the boss admitted, a tinge of nostalgia in his voice.

"Enough about me. I'm really impressed with you. Pal told me about those men. Those bastards not only gambled my money, they tried to take me down. I appreciate what you did today, boy. Do you know why I picked you, or why I chose to invest my time in you?" Nasir shook his head, eager to hear the boss's explanation.

"You are passionate about everything," the boss said with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"You can reach the stars if you want to," the boss said cryptically as he dropped a thick envelope on Nasir's table.

"This is your reward for today. Keep impressing me, and I promise you, you'll get everything you want," the boss added before leaving. Nasir picked up the envelope, a myriad of emotions swirling across his face. Earning money in this way was a far cry from the life he once knew. He couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him, and why things had turned out this way.

Nasir's days were filled with calculated investigations and discreet stalking. He questioned everything that the boss or Pal assigned him to do, harboring a growing suspicion. While he wouldn't dare question the boss or Pal directly, he began to shadow some of the boss's men and Maira. In doing so, he uncovered valuable information about the boss.

He found that the boss hailed from the South, specifically from the B. Halba clan, as his features hinted. The revelation about the boss's and Pal's lifelong friendship was a nugget of knowledge Nasir kept to himself, sensing that it might prove useful in the future. Nasir was cautious not to dig too deep, aware that Pal or the boss might catch on to his investigations. Instead, he relied on online research and discreetly tracking down some of the boss's less cautious associates.

Nasir's online knowledge had grown significantly, and he enjoyed exploring the vast realms of the internet. He connected with notable hackers who helped him further his skills. He even enrolled in an online computer program, which added a significant advantage to his spying efforts. Hacking into phones, computers, and portfolios became a routine part of his espionage.

One of his primary targets was Maira, and he monitored all the information she relayed to the boss or anyone else. Through this digital surveillance, he uncovered her real name, details about her family, and their struggles. Her father's presence in a rehab center, her mother's frailty, and her role as the family provider became well-documented in Nasir's records. He even pinpointed the exact addresses of her home and her father's rehab center.

Nasir decided to take his investigation a step further by visiting Maira's troubled father. He hoped that a face-to-face encounter might yield first-class information about the boss. In their line of work, information was power, and Nasir was determined to gather every piece he could use to achieve his goals.

"Your uncle suffered from PTSD," the psychiatrist explained to Nasir as they entered Maira's father's room. Nasir, armed with knowledge about her family, found it difficult to hide his true feelings as he visited him, disgusting himself as the crazy man's nephew.

"That's evident. He witnessed his son's brutal murder," Nasir replied carefully to the psychiatrist.

The psychiatrist continued, "He can hardly sleep, even with the medication. Sometimes, we have to restrain him to prevent self-harm."

"It's heartbreaking to see him like this," Nasir added, feigning empathy. As he laid eyes on Maira's father, sitting at the edge of his hospital bed, Nasir couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. The man appeared worn down, drained of life. His eyes were vacant, his shoulders slumped in resignation. Nasir hesitated for a moment before approaching him. Maira's father looked at him with empty eyes.

"Can I have a moment alone with him?" Nasir requested, and the psychiatrist left, closing the door behind him.

The visit yielded no valuable information. Nasir attempted to converse with the man, but his words fell on deaf ears. Frustrated, Nasir sat beside him on the bed, gently holding his hand.

"I apologize; I was selfish to ask you anything. You're unwell and distressed, and you must miss your family. I miss mine every day. But when I think of how happy my sister seemed to be, I find solace in the life I live," he empathized. Nasir then headed towards the door, but before closing it, he heard a faint, groggy voice.

"Don't be deceived by appearances. Don't trust... Iowa." The man repeated the cryptic phrase. Nasir was disheartened; it seemed the man was simply lost in his own madness.

Later, Nasir met with Pal for lunch at his place. After their meal, Nasir was handed a box to deliver to some shady individuals, as was usual. He left Pal's place, continuing with his tasks.

Saba hadn't just stolen Nasir's future; it seemed to have sucked away every ounce of happiness from his life. That day, he sought solace in the alley, just as he had done countless times before. There, he blended with the shadows, momentarily forgetting his troubles. Darkness was a constant companion, an alluring embrace he found himself drawn to whenever life became unbearable.

When he and his sister were forcibly evicted from their home, their mother's body was still warm from her recent passing. They had spent the entire night by her graveside, tears flowing endlessly. The morning light brought no comfort; instead, they were driven away by the stern cemetery guard. Nasir, clutching his nine-year-old sister, had turned to the police for help. He hoped they would place her in a children's shelter, but fate had a different plan. The police officers attempted to sell her to Pal, and that's how Nasir first crossed paths with his enigmatic mentor. It was the start of the dark and turbulent chapter of his life.

"How dare you, boy," Maira's voice dripped with anger and menace as she confronted Nasir. He was frozen in place, his heart pounding in his chest. It was a grim reminder of their initial encounter, where he had held a gun, just like she was now.

Maira raised the weapon, aiming it directly at his head. Time seemed to stand still, and Nasir couldn't move a muscle. The tension in the air was palpable. And then, with a deafening bang, the gun fired, and Nasir's world went dark.