Shadows

In the alleys of Saba, Nasir found solace in the company of shadows. While many parts of the world feared the darkness that shadows brought, to him, they were loyal companions. They offered him a sense of belonging that had eluded him throughout his life. From one alley to another, Nasir moved seamlessly, forging an unspoken connection with the ever-present shadows, his silent and faithful companions in a world that often felt cold and unforgiving.

In the eyes of the world, Saba was a city of perfection, steeped in history and culture. In his country, it was the seat of power, home to the Royal Ashraf who governed the entire nation. Yet, to Nasir, Saba was a place of coldness and unforgiving harshness. But who cared about his perspective? In this country, people seemed to thrive on the misfortunes of others, and the city operated in distinct, unforgiving stages that had turned Nasir's life into nothing but a quagmire of despair.

"Boy," a voice startled him. Turning, he found Pal standing at the end of the alley.

"Hurry," Pal waved at him. The man wore a strained expression, his eyes heavy with weariness and a hint of bloodshed. His voice was deep and husky.

Nasir jogged in a hurry, catching up with the man. He shook Pal's gloved hand firmly.

"Can I see her now?" Emotions swirled across Nasir's face.

"You still doubt me, huh? Trust me, she's in safe hands," Pal reassured him, giving his head a reassuring tap and ruffling his hair.

"I did trust you, Pal. But after all these years, my trust is fading fast. Please, let me see her," Nasir pleaded. Pal gave him a sympathetic look and headed north.

Elkamal Forest Park was a national treasure, belonging to the Dakir family, one of the major Noble families in the west. They held significant business interests in Saba, unlike most other Noble families who invested primarily in foreign countries.

Pal led them to this park, where he already had tickets. Nasir walked in silence for the rest of the journey. Pal took them to the wild game reserve.

"The girl on the left," Pal said, watching the lion's den.

"What about her?" Nasir asked, his suspicion growing.

"Her name is Maira. She's sixteen, and she's the sole breadwinner of her family. Her father suffered a heart attack after losing his son," Pal explained with a menacing look. Nasir sighed, his concern deepening.

"Pal, what's going on?"

"Take her life," Pal said, producing a gun and offering it to Nasir. He hesitated to accept the weapon, eyeing Pal with a mix of confusion and disbelief.

"You'd do it," Pal said, his gaze fixed on Nasir.

"If you want to see her, you'll do it."

"Why are you doing this? I did everything you asked me to," Nasir protested but reluctantly snatched the gun from Pal's hand and approached the girl. He kept the gun lowered as he observed her cleaning. When she turned around and met his eyes, her expression twisted with fear, and he pointed the gun directly at her. She began to panic but remained frozen. Nasir squeezed the trigger, but there was no deafening bang. When he opened his eyes, the girl was laughing at him.

"Hi!" She said, chuckling.

"You've just passed your test," her voice was smooth and calculated. A rough hand startled Nasir as Pal tapped his shoulder.

"Boy, you did great." Nasir dropped the gun, his hand trembling. He knew he had committed to a life he couldn't easily escape. The gun might not have been loaded this time, but soon it would be, and his next victim might not be so fortunate.

Nasir was now one of the unfortunate souls ensnared in Saba's grasp, its teeth digging into his life. He walked away, struggling to catch his breath. This was his existence now, a life he had to endure for the sake of his sister. Could he ever find the courage to face her again after making someone a fatherless, a sisterless soul? Could he bear that burden? His eyes welled up with tears. He missed his sister, he missed his mother, he missed the perfect family they once had. But Saba had ripped everything away from him, and this was the twisted life he had been thrust into.

"I know it's hard, but this is your life. I want you to understand something upfront," Pal caught up with him, speaking in a serious tone.

"I'll let you see your sister, but remember one thing, boy: she'll be safer away from you. I promise I'll ensure her safety." Nasir put his arm around the man and finally let out all the tears he had been holding back. This life was not of his choosing, and it had turned his world upside down in the blink of an eye. He wanted to forget everything and start anew, but he didn't know how.

"Come with me," Pal urged, leading him further into the park, where families sat on the grass, having picnics. He heard laughter first before his eyes landed on his sister. She had grown since the last time he saw her. She was dancing with an old, wrinkled man, an old woman sat nearby, eating grapes, a man in his thirties sat beside the old woman, cheering them on, and another young man danced on his own.

"She's happy! Pal, she's happy!" Nasir's eyes glistened.

"Yes, boy, she is. I can see that, and she will be for the rest of her life unless you want to interfere. They are a noble family, Nasir. The old man had always wanted a daughter but was only blessed with boys. He is the sheikh of the Akram family, his wife is Umrah, and his eldest son is the heir. Your sister could someday marry him. Her safety and her happiness are ensured. I can't say she doesn't miss you, but she has faith. You should have faith as well." This was the first time Pal had called him by his name, and Nasir knew it would be the last.

"This is what I wanted for her, a happy life, a happy family. She's better off without me," Nasir mumbled, his voice filled with resignation. He turned and fled the park, eventually finding himself at a bar, where he spent every last coin he had on liquor.

Pal found him that night and took him back. Nasir spent the entire night wasted and most of the morning in a drunken stupor.

"Boy! Wake up! We have a long day ahead. You might meet the boss today," Pal announced, his tone impatient. Nasir stirred and groaned, dreading the idea of meeting the boss again. The boss was the head of Saba's underworld, and everything that happened at night or in the shadows went through him. He took a hot shower, dressed in simple jeans and a shirt, and found Pal watching a movie in the living room.

"What's this movie about?" Nasir asked as he prepared a bowl of cereal and sat down beside his mentor.

"The movie?" Pal raised an eyebrow.

"I mean, what's the plot?" Nasir clarified.

"I don't know, I just like watching the beautiful girls," Pal replied, causing Nasir to burst out laughing.

"Yeah, I should have guessed that," Nasir said with a grin as he turned his attention to the screen. It didn't take him long to deduce the plot of the movie.

"It's about thieves who stole encrypted national secrets and the police trying to catch them," he explained. Nasir had watched this movie before, with his mother and sister, the first time it premiered in one of the movie theaters.

Emotions crept into Nasir's mind, but his sister's laughter echoed in the back of his head. He had found something to combat the sadness within him, and he would do whatever it took to keep his sister safe. If that meant working for Boss and taking down people, he would do whatever it took to ensure her everlasting happiness.

"That reminds me, Pal, who was the girl yesterday?" Nasir asked between spoonfuls of cereal.

"I told you, she's Maira," Pal replied, brushing off the question.

"Yeah, I know that. What I meant was, how does she know about me?"

"She's one of Boss's informants. She spies for him. I've known her since she was a baby. Her father used to work for Boss, but after his son was brutally murdered, he went off the deep end. She's got talent, and she's cute. Boss likes cute, so..." Pal explained.

"She's just a child, for Allah's sake," Nasir narrowed his eyes in disgust at Boss, but he knew he wasn't powerful enough to go against him, especially when his sister's fate hung in the balance.

"Listen to me, boy, you don't question the Boss. If you want to survive, you accept that he's right in whatever he does," Pal sneered.

"Right, my foot. He takes advantage of children, please," Nasir muttered, his frustration evident. Pal said nothing as he stood up and picked his jacket. He pocketed his wallet and grabbed his keys. Nasir followed him as they rode under Saba's harsh sun. The ride was silent as both Nasir and Pal kept to their thoughts. Nasir's life was taking a leap, and he knew that soon he would be given assignments to take down people and be paid for it. He would smuggle those intoxicants in and out of the country. If his mother were here right now, knowing the stuff he got into, she would have a heart attack and die. But she was already gone, dead for seven long years. He held back his tears, remembering how he had buried her, the same day he and his sister were thrown out of their home and onto the streets. That's how he fell into the wrong hands or the right hand in the wrong way.

"Boy, before we meet boss, I want to clarify two things. Firstly, you are no longer Nasir; get yourself a cool alias. Don't reveal your real name to anyone. And secondly, remember, we don't have friends in this line of work. Friends can slow us down or become liabilities," Pal said as he drove into a shady street, his eyes focused on the road.

"Pal, I get it, and 'Boy' sounds cool. You've been calling me that for ages, and everyone already knows me as 'Boy.' It's perfect, I don't mind," Nasir replied, glancing at his mentor. Pal was a handsome man, but his shadowy eyes scared people away from him. Those eyes held stories, pain, and sometimes even fear. Nasir scrutinized him, trying to pinpoint what was off about Pal.

"It's not fair that you know my real name, and I don't know yours," Nasir grumbled.

"Who do you think I am?" Pal asked with a sly smile.

"You look like an Aziz," they both burst into laughter.

Pal parked their car under the shade of a sprawling tree, and the two of them made their way into an imposing building on the dimly lit street. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. Shady men occupied the space, some engaged in gambling, while others shouted loudly, creating an unsettling yet stagnant energy. These were dangerous individuals who could lead you to your grave without hesitation.

"Boy, let's move," Pal urged Nasir as they ascended a flight of stairs. Along the way, Nasir spotted Maira seated on a couch, engrossed in her phone. She looked up and smiled at him, and he returned the gesture with a smile of his own.

The boss's office exuded an air of opulence. It was dimly lit, and Nasir took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness. The man seated behind the grand mahogany desk hardly resembled the stereotypical image of an underworld boss. His face was remarkably smooth and seemed to be in a perpetual, albeit eerie, state of smiling. His voice was deep and commanding, capable of sending shivers down your spine. Judging by his skin tone and facial features, Nasir deduced that the boss hailed from the North, probably belonging to the B. Halba clan. Although it wasn't Nasir's first encounter with the boss, it was the first time he dared to look at him with a semblance of confidence.

"Boy, you've grown quite handsome overnight," the boss remarked with a mischievous tone that pierced the otherwise silent room.

"If you say so. Pal doesn't seem to think so," Nasir retorted, shooting his mentor a defiant look. 

"Sharp as always." The boss chuckled.