Chapter 6: Mission 1 "Reach store first"
Ashad heart was pumping after the last sentence Ahmad delivered, he went straight to the balcony to get some fresh air and get his mind off all the chaos, there was smoke rising from a distance, and now the scream and cries for help were no more, the disorder has settled down and it felt like all had gone back to being right, but was it? many zombies were still roaming the land, he looked down and saw that his car was gone, his car was stolen by someone, "Asshole!" Ashad growled as soon as he punched the railing of the balcony, Saad came from behind the said "Calm down girl, those things are not deaf they can hear you!", Ashad calmed down and said, "Yeah but some bastard stole my car!", Saad again said calming him down "You or us no one can do anything now, relax!" as soon as he finished a voice came "Go to sleep both of you, you have some mission to do tomorrow!" they turned around to saw Waleed and Karim entering, Karim said, "Yeah Waleed is right you should get going!" they both listened to what they say and went straight to Saad's bed, "Can't believe I have to share my bed with you!" Ashad didn't bother replying and went straight to bed and slept within seconds of lying down and after that, he knew nothing happened.
Ashad woke up at 4:45, an hour before the Fajr prayer, he rubbed his eyes, and unexpectedly all his tiredness was gone in a matter of minutes, he rose from his bed and went to the bathroom, and got some water splashed his face and performed Wudu(Ablution) and went to the main hall and found Ahmad and his son Areeb sleeping there, he went to Mahnoor's room where his family was sleeping, he entered the room and reached his little sister Sonia, he at snail's pace picked up Sonia and kissed her on her forehead and asked Allah " Oh lord of the here and hereafter please protect the kids of the world don't make their childhood into something painful!" as he puts her down unhurriedly.
He then left the room and went to the balcony where he found Waleed and Karim talking about something, "You both should get some rest!" said Ashad to Both Waleed and Karim, they both turned to see Ashad standing there, Karim said, "You woke up so early!" but Ashad replied, "Yes that sleep is enough for my account, I'll take the night watch!" Waleed replied, "Well he is right I'm so tired, I must have some sleep or I will be having nausea!" Karim agreed and they both went to sleep.
Ashad took out a packet of cigarettes and took one piece out and was about to place it in his mouth when he realized the promise he made to Mariam, he quickly throw away the packet to fulfill the promise, and then he thought that he is alone and how the hell he is going to spend his time he was thinking about the possibilities that will happen, "Will our mission will be successful!", "Will we reach home easily without any difficulties and without losing anyone!" thoughts were constantly rolling in his mind creating unnecessary tension in his mind.
But the got control of his thought and said, "When will you stop thinking about the worst situation that can happen or creating useless tension!" he took a deep breath and sat on the chair, and rested for a second when suddenly Hasan came out of nowhere and while rubbing his eyes he said, "I'm not tired anymore!" Ashad heart melted and he forget all the problems as he said, "Ok then sit down with me let's talk about but talking must be silent because all of them are sleeping, and we.." he turned to Hasan to complete the sentence and he did as he continued "And we don't disturb those who are sleeping!" as Ashad said, "Well down!" he pulled his hand up and said "High five!" as Hasan replied by high five him back.
"What are you awake now?" asked Hasan as he sat on the seat, "Nothing I'm not feeling tiredness anymore and why not talk with my favorite little cousin!"
"That means Hussain is not you're favorite, Ashad?" said Mahnoor who came looking for Hasan, "No I was about to say Hussain after all they are the sons of my favorite cousin and most beautiful girl in the world!" Mahnoor gave a smile as she said "Well you are one of a flat....!" her sentence got cut off as a loud explosion occurred happened 20 to 30 meters away from their house, Hasan was about to scream when Ashad puts his hand on his mouth, Mahnoor fell on the ground because of the fear, Waleed, Karim followed by Ahmed and Anees ran to the balcony, "What happened?" asked Ahmad as Mahnoor takes terrified Hasan back inside, "Don't know!" replied Ashad as he got up and he was sweating and heavily he was breathing, "There was no sound of jet or bomber plane!" Ashad finally completed his sentence as he ran back inside, for fear had engulfed him, "Wasn't there a Gas station there, if I remember correctly." said Karim, "Yes there is, was I must say now, I think there is a fighting going on!" replied Anees but Ahmad began to pull them back and said, "Let us get inside, I don't want those things or whatever to see us and came on us like a thunderstorm!" and they went inside and closed the door.
''Are you ready?" asked Ahmed as they gathered in the hall for the execution of the mission, they all said "Yes!" as they circled around the table, Ahmed began "So! The mission is simple and the first task is to "reach the market first!"
they all agreed and Anees said, "Quiet simple." as they gathered at the main door and finally said goodbye to their families, Ashad picked up Sonia and hugged her, and whispered in her ear 'I'll return soon my life!" then he turned towards his sister, Tania, "Don't cry I'm will return in a matter of minutes!" as he rubbed Tania's tears from her beautiful face, "Sadness nor tears suit your beautiful face, relax!" and finally he turned towards to his brother and said, "You may...." he paused then continued "Who are you again?" Ayaan looked at Ashad and said, "Seriously, you had to make the 'Im invisible joke' now, you have only dad jokes to tell!" Ashad smiled and said 'Well, you are right after all I'm going to be a father, soon if I get the time!" as he looked to Mariam, who angrily looks back and said, "Well, Gentleman, you want to wish not to return back because if you survive out there you will definitely not here!" as she gives a scary smile, as Ashad turned towards her and said in her ears "Then I'm 100 percent gonna survive out there, as I'm familiar to facing risk or danger!" Mariam laughed, as Ashad gets back and notice little tears falling from her eyes, "Please don't, not now please, or else I'm not going to focus on my duty!", he turned towards Motther and said, "Please make Dua(دعاء or A prayer) for us, Mother!", she replied and said "You are always in my prayers!"
Finally, the Man on duty, Areeb named, turned towards Grandma Farhat, asking her for her blessings, she said with a hurt tune "If you're Grandpa Sajjad was here, he would be proud of how you are putting your life at risk for other!"
Ahmad said, "Now please listen everyone, barricade the door keep your ears open and eyes wide!" he took a break, and finally after a sigh, he said, "It could happen that some of us may not return, I hope it never happens, but somehow if it did, then don't give up hope and survive don't let grief take you, it can do much worse to you then you think it can!", he turned to Haseeb and said, "Protect them!", Haseeb replied "I'll do it as long there is strength in my blood!" Ahmad then finally said his last words to him "if I die, you are the new leader!" Ahmad didn't let Haseeb say anything and they quickly ran out of the door.
"Thank Allah that explosion caused a massive distraction for the zombies to go there and leave the streets empty!" said Anees happily but Ahmad said, "But we shouldn't let our guard down at any cause!" this sentence led Ahsan to say "Couldn't agree less with you!"
"Let us use this side walking, there are cars, and could provide an excellent hiding position!" said Ahamd and they followed his words as he said.
On their way Saad saw the same shopkeeper they bought the chocolates from, he turned to Ashad and said "Look the poor shopkeeper!" Ashad looked at the shopkeeper and felt the pain for his family for he would never return to home normal.
They reached the Store and there were many bodies of zombies and humans lying dead, "There are cuts and slashes on the bodies, as you feared Brother Ahmad, the store is already occupied!" but Ashad said to them "There is a body of women and 2 kids, both are girls, they were killed by the occupiers!" Ahsan said, "Well they are human and not to say the least!"
Amad thought and finally said, "Let us draw the bastards out, see the car there, let it go boom!" the elders were not comfortable, "Well it can be worse!" but a reply came from Saad "And epic at the same time!", Ahmad said, "Let's go!" and then the elders began to pray for it to go well.