10 10. CRIME PARTNER

"You know what? I am gonna kill you for this, Hashim!!!" Zain said glaring at Hashim who was standing at counter in kitchen.

"Why? What did I do?" He shrugged.

"Wait." Zain said and then put the phone back on his ear. "Humna, I'll call you later. Please dont tell anyone about this. I will explain. Bye." He put the phone on the table and went to kitchen.

"What was this?" He asked Hashim who was opening the bags laying there.

"What?" He asked.

"I told you this is the secret between you and me. You should have at least watched that I am on the phone."

"Who was it?"

"Humna." Zain said pressing his teath.

"NOOOO!!!" Hashim said leaving everything on the counter.

"YEESSSS!! Now I have to give her explanation for this incident." Zain picked the bags.

"What are you doing?"

"Preparing dinner." He replied.

"But what will you do about Humna?"

"I will handle. Dont worry. And just keep silent I need to think."

Hashim just shook his head.

           ................

"Humna? What are you doing here? Its cold outside. Come on in." Moona said peeking out of the door of balcony. But then she realized that Humna is not listening so she came out.

"Tell me, what happened?"

"Nothing. I was talking to Zain bhai."

"And what about?" Moona asked crossing her arms.

"I wanted to talk about your job but he cut the phone." Humna told her.

"Why do you want to talk him about my job?"

"Because I wanna know that why on earth he wants you to go to that company for job."

"What do you mean?"

"They are not good people!" Humna said, annoyed.

"How do you know?"

"Ughh phupho???" She looked at her in clear annoyance.

"What???" Moona asked.

"You remember the loss we faced five years ago?"

"Yes. I do."

"That was because we were parteners with Asim's company. And he deceived us."

"Ohh!! I didnt know that." Moona was shocked.

"Yes, so baba started the business on his own and now since then they are our enemies in the business world."

"Why did Zain want me to go there, then?" Moona asked herself.

"May be he has his doubts on them. And since he cannot go himself, he asked you to go over there and collect some evidence. Nor did he know that he is putting you in danger." Humna was angry at Zain.

"Calm down. He investigated against them so he cannot go. But he want to put a spy among them. Good. I am going." Moona decided.

"What?? No! You can't go!!" Humna said.

"I have to. Someone have to."

"He doesn't want a spy there. He just want you to go there. Just be yourself. Be who you are! He already has a spy among them."

"And who is he?" Moona asked as Humna leaned forward.

"Dont tell anybody. Even if you see Hashim there just pretend that you don't know him. Because he is the spy." Humna told her in a very low voice.

"Hashim?? But they fought?!!"

"To dodge us. They are Hashim and Zain. They are not normal."

"Did he tell you?"

"No I just arranged the pieces of puzzle." Humna smiled. That was the moment when Khalil came out.

"What are you both doing here? Its so cold outside. Come in.!"

"Yeah! We are coming." Humna said.

"Thankyou Humna." Moona said as Humna was going after his father. She turned and smiled at her.

"Anytime phupho!"

...............

"I can't believe you ruined everything!" Zain said while eating dinner from his plate. He had brought pasta from the restaurant because Hashim loved it.

"It tastes delicious." Hashim didn't give a damn about Zain's plan.

"Hashim please listen to me!" Zain looked disturbed.

"What?"

"Look, Moona is going to be there tomorrow for a job interview. You make sure that no one get to know about you two."

"What about 'we two'??" Hashim wondered.

"That you two know each other. Just pretend to be two people who are just colleagues. And don't get too attached with her. You will raise suspicions." Zain raised his index finger at Hashim who just noded.

"Tell this to Moona. I can handle it. But imagine her entering the building and the first thing she sees is me and then all of a sudden everyone is looking at me because she will be all like 'Hashim!!! Hashim!! Over here! What are you doing here??' And you know everything will collapse." Hashim said imitating Moona which led a chuckle from Zain as he imagined the whole scenario.

"She will definitely do this." Zain noded. "I'll talk to her tonight."

"So you wanna watch a movie?" Hashim asked eating the last oh his pasta.

"Yeah! Go arrange the setup I'll join you shortly." Zain replied.

"What are you gonna do?"

"I have to clean this mess you created." He gestured to the dirty table.

"Hey you were with me, creating this mess, so don't blame me." Hashim said rising from his chair.

"Alright then, come and join me cleaning this." Zain smiled.

"I think I should arrange the setup for movie." Hashim said leaving the kitchen. Zain laughed at his reaction and then started cleaning the kitchen with a beautiful smile on his face that reached his grey eyes. And it had happened after a very long time.

..............

Moona was laying in the bed and trying to get some sleep before her interview. But she cant even close her eyes because all she kept thinking was what if she didn't get the job? What will be their next strategy? Although she didn't even know their first strategy. She was thinking why hadn't Zain told her about their plan? What if what she and Humna were thinking was not even their plan? It was 12 am in the morning and she laid there on her back with eyes popped open. Suddenly her phone started to ring. She picked it up.

"Hello!"

"Hey! It's me Zain. How you doing?" Zain said from the other side of the phone.

"I am absolutely fine! How are you, Zain Sahab (mister)?" She asked with a bright smile appearing on her face.

"Don't call me that!" Zain said sitting upright in his bed.

"Why?" Moona asked, smirking.

"What am I? 60?"

"I didn't say that." Moona was also sitting in bed now.

"It felt like that." Zain replied.

"Okay. What do you want from me, Zain?" Moona said, getting serious.

"Now what does that mean?" Zain raised his eyebrows.

"You called me at 12 am. Surely you want me to do samething." Moona said.

"You have some intellect." Zain noded.

"Tell me."

"Okay. Listen..." And after this Zain told him all the plan.

"So I have to do this? That's easy." Moona said after hearing the plan.

"That is not as easy as you think. Now I should go and sleep. You should be careful. Best of luck." Zain said with some expression of worry.

"Thankyou. Everything will be fine." Moona replied.

"I do hope." Zain said to her.

"Zain?" Moona said softly.

"Hmm?" Zain said as he lie down in the bed.

"Dont worry. Everything will be fine." She told him.

"Just don't get yourself into trouble. Hashim will be there close to you. Okay. Now get some sleep. Good bye." Zain said.

"Good bye." Moona smiled and cut the call. And soon after their conversation she was asleep. The last thought in her mind was that Zain did worry about her.

...............

The next day when she parked her car in the parking area, she saw a girl getting out of a car beside her. The girl was wearing black pants along with a white top that reached her knees. She had almond eyes and beautiful black wavy hair which suited to her fair complexion. Moona herself was wearing a royal blue dress. Her golden hair were tied in a beautiful french braid. She came out of the car and went towards the lift. When the lift arrived, it was empty. Both the girls entered and for the sake of passing time the girl asked Moona.

"I've never seen you here? Are you new?"

"I've come for the interview." Moona said.

"Oh! For the secretary post?"

"Yes."

"It's a tough competition." The girl said. Moona didn't reply.

"By the way, I am Shanzay."

"I am Maimoona." Moons said. At the same time the lift opened at her wanted floor. So she came and turned to Shanzay and smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Shanzay. See you soon." And turned to the receptionist.

"Excuse me. I am here for the job interview!"

"Sure ma'm, your name please?" The receptionist asked.

"Maimoona Rehman."

The girl checked in the record and said.

"Please wait there. We will call you on your turn."

And after about three hours Moona was coming out of the office building with a huge smile on her face, dialing a number on the mobile. When the call was picked up, she almost exclaimed.

"Hey Zain, I have a great news for you. Can we have lunch together?"

"Is it good news or bad?" Zain asked.

"I am hungry." She said as she continued walking towards the car.

"Well, that IS a bad news. Okay I am texting you the place. Come over. Bye."

"Bye." Moona sighed and opened the door of the car.

...............

It's been two days since Moona had got the job and today was Saturday, weekend, Khalil had arranged a dinner at Villa for everyone in honour of Moona. Salma had been pacing in and out checking the arrangements. Khalil was telling her that Hashim will be there and he was bringing somebody.

"And what about Moona and Zain? Where are they?" Salma asked putting some plates on the dining table.

"Don't worry both of them will be soon here." Khalil said. The door bell rang.

"Yumna go see who is at the door!" Salma said to Yumna who was trying to make something out of her hair.

"Asad will see." She said.

"Ugh!!!" Asad sighed and went to the door. After half a minute he came inside exclaiming.

"Baba!! Baba!! It's Hashim bhai!"

Hashim entered after him with Shanzay.

"Salam! How is everybody?" He smiled.

"Wasalam. We are good. You tell?" Humna replied coming down from stairs.

"Fine. Everybody this is Shanzay. She is my colleague." Hashim introduced her.

"It's so nice to meet you all." Shanzay smiled.

"You too. Make yourself at home. Come sit here." Salma replied motioning her to the sofa while Khalil turned to Hashim.

"Let's have a walk in garden until dinner is ready." He said.

"But bhai.." Hashim tried to protest.

"No but.. come on." He took him outside. His expression grave.

"What happened?" Hashim asked when they had reached the garden.

"What is the meaning of this?" Khalil asked looking in his eyes.

"What?" Hashim looked confused.

"What is that girl doing in my house?"

"Shanzay? She is a friend, just a friend." Hashim explained.

"Hey what is going on here?" Moona's voice came from behind. They both turned to see Moona coming towards them followed by a confused looking Zain.

"What happened? Is everything okay?" Zain said approaching them.

"Ask him?" Khalil noded towards Hashim.

"What is it?" He turned to Hahsim.

"It's nothing. I just brought a friend home." Hashim replied coldly.

"And who is that friend?" Zain asked.

"Shanzay." Hashim said.

"WHAT???" Moona yelled.

"Moona go inside." Zain turned to her but she was not paying attention.

"You brought Shanzay home??" She was staring at Hashim.

"Moona!!!" Zain yelled.

"What??" She turned.

"Go. Inside." He said in a very cold voice.

Moona stared at him for a moment and then went inside.

"Now, you tell me. Why did you do this?" He then turned to Hashim.

"She is my friend." Hashim said.

"A friend??? How can you say this?" Zain exclaimed.

"Why not?? She was a colleague. And we became friends. Just like you and Moona." Hashim said.

"Don't you dare say anything about Moona." Zain grabbed him from his shirt. Khalil put his hand on Zain's.

"That is what I felt when she died. And don't worry, I am not doing anything wrong." Hashim said in a low voice, pulling Zain's hands down from his shirt.

"Good bye." He said and left. Leaving a confused Khalil there. Zain stood stunned there just like Moona who was standing in the window looking outside at scene of garden. A tear left her eye and rolled down her cheek...