15 15. “USMAN”
Moona entered the lounge of the Villa, tears falling from her eyes as she saw Humna sitting on the couch watching some movie. When she heard the noise, she turned.
"Oh my God! What happened? Why are you crying?" She lept on her feet and came towards her, putting her hand on Moona's forearm.
"I tried to stop him." She cried.
"And??" Humna asked.
"He said he didn't have any choice."
"Come, sit over here. Let me get you some water." She led her to the couch.
"No. I want to be alone. I am going to my room. Bring Hania to me." She said and went upstairs. Humna sighed and went to her room where Yumna was playing with both babies.
"PHUPHO is asking to take Haniya in her room." Humna said, bending down to pick Haniya in her arms.
"What did he said?" Yumna asked.
"Nothing, you know he had made his decision. We cannot do anything." Humna replied.
"Then why did you let her go there. You have hurt her." Yumna said, giving her a look of disgust.
"Because I just wanted her to see herself that once he has made his decision, he does not step back. Also I wanted him to know that how much she care for him."
"And what do you get?"
"What do you mean? Now it will be easy for phupho to move on. She need focused on this case."
"I don't understand what you are trying to do. Anyway you should go. She must be waiting." Yumna sighed. Humna just nodded and went out of the room.
............
ONE WEEK LATER:
It was 10 in the night. Hashim was in his bed reading a book. Since Khalil had asked him to spend much time with his son, it had become a habit of Hashim to go to the Villa for the breakfast and drop his son there. Then after office he would go back to the Villa to pick his son. So at this time his son Saud was sleeping beside him. Suddenly his phone started to ring. This was his private phone which Zain gave to him. Only Zain could call on this phone. His heart skipped a beat. He put the book aside and picked up the call, coming out in the balcony.
"Hello!" He greeted, looking out in the dark. His face beaming.
"Is this Mr. Hashim?" The man on the other side asked.
"Yes, This is Hashim. Who are you?" Hashim asked, frowning.
"My name is Usman. Can I meet you tomorrow?
"But who are you?" Hashim asked again.
"Actually Mr. Zain told me that you need me." Usman said.
"I don't even know you." Hashim said, irritated now.
"I didn't say that you know me. I will tell you everything when you will meet me." He said.
"Look I don't have any interest in meeting you. So whoever you are don't call me again."
"Mr. Zain told me you would say that. Let me tell you why your meeting with me is important."
"How did you get this number?" Hashim asked, although the next second he thought how stupid he was. Of course Zain gave him.
"This is about the case he was working on." Usman seemed to ignore his question.
"Meet me at the dinner at the Villa tomorrow." Hashim said.
"Okay!" And the call was disconnected.
.............
Moona came out of her car. She was standing in front of her own house. The house where she had spent about five beautiful years of her marriage, full of joy, full of life. She swallowed thickly as she looked at the main door of the house. Taimoor's name was written on the name plate. She stood there for some moments and then, opening the gate, she went inside. She used to come there with Salma and the girls every week. But they hadn't visited last week because of Khalil's attack. She went to her room to let herself freshen a bit. There was a dinner at the Villa tonight. Some friend of Khalil was coming. She knew Khalil will call her in some minutes asking her where she was, but she didn't care. She just wanted to be alone at this moment. She opened her bag to reach her phone to power it off. Unlocking her phone she opened her WhatsApp as she looked for any message that was important. It was then that her mobile beeped, showing on the screen that there was a mail from a private E-Mail address. She opened the mail. It was an audio. After a moment of consideration she pushed the play button. It was a song, sang by a man. In the thousandth moment of the second, her brain gave her the signal that she knew the voice. She paused the audio, her eyes filling with tears immediately as she sat on the edge of the bed. she played the audio again and listened to the voice.
So you find yourself at this subway.
With your world, in a bag by your side.
And all at once it seemed like a good way.
You realized, it's the end of your life.
For waht it's worth.
Here comes the train upon the track.
And there goes the pain, it cuts to black
Are you ready for the last act,
To take a step you can't take back?
Taking all the puches you can take,
Took 'em all righg in your face.
Now the countless back is breaking,
Again, again,
For what it's worth.
Here comes the train upon the track.
And there goes the pain, it cuts to black.
Are you ready for the last act,
To take a step you can't take back?
Back! Back! Back!
So you find yourself at this subway.
With your world, in a bag by your side.
The song was completed. Moona opened the mail desperately. There was another.
'Don't call me or mail me here. Your email address is being bugged.'
Moona turned off the phone and squeeched her eyes as tears came out of her eyes silently. She was missing him. She wanted to talk to him. Now when he was away from her and she cannot contact her, she realized how much he meant to her.
"Oh Allah! please help me!" She prayed silently.
...........
At the same time at the villa, Khalil was continuously trying to call her but her phone was powered off.
"I don't know if she is okay." He said to Hashim who was sitting on the couch in the lounge. Salma was in the kitchen with the girls getting everything ready for the dinner. Usman had came some time ago and now he was sitting there with them.
"She will be okay." Hashim assured him.
"I think I should call Aasim and ask him." Khalil said. He was pacing in the room. His face was pale as he had recently recovered from the attack.
"Ask him what?" Hashim asked.
"Whether she is with him or not." Khalil said, dialing his number.
"NO. NO." Hashim yelled standing up from his place as did Usman.
"Why?" Khalil asked startled by their reaction and immediately cutting the call.
"Because what if she is not with him? After all he is not the person we can trust. And besides we don't have Zain here who can do something to assure that he will not hurt her whereever she is." Hashim said.
"Then what should we do?" Khalil asked.
"Where else she can go instead of this place?" Usman asked.
"Her own house." Hashim replied quickly, his eyes widing with the realization.
"She is there." Usman said.
"How can you say that?" Hashim frowned.
"Wanna bet?" Usman raised a brow. Hashim stared at him. He was a young man who must be in his early twenties. At the first sight he seemed to be a boy who had just came in this world for fun. But after that first impression, he was different.
"Lets go then." Khalil said.
"I think I should go and check. You guys stay here." Hashim said.
"Isn't there any landline?" Usman asked again.
"Oh yes." Khalil said and dialed the number. After a few bells the call was picked.
"Hello. Moona?" He said, an affectionate smile forming on his face at her voice, but then he realized that her voice was wet.
"Hey Moona! What happened? You alright?" He asked her.
"Yes I am alright." She replied.
"What are you doing there? We are waiting for you over dinner here."
"I am sorry. I just wanted to be alone for sometime so I came here. I am coming." She said.
"Alright hurry up. And turn your phone on."
"Yeah. Okay."
"She is coming." Khalil said, putting his mobile on the center table.
"Thank God! She is okay. I can't bear any trouble now." Hashim said. Khalil glared at him while Usman chuckled at his reaction.
......
