6 6. ATTACK

Zain rushed outside and drove rashly back to Khalil's Villa. After about 5 minutes he was there ringing the bell. He kept his finger on the button until Humna opened the door with an expression of clear annoyance on her face.

"We are not glued with the door. It takes sometime to come."

But Zain pushed her aside and ran inside.

"Uffffff..." She exclaimed and went inside after him.

"Where is everybody?" He asked Salma who was sitting in the lounge cutting vegetables.

"The girls are upstairs and Asad is in his room. But why are you asking?" She asked.

"Oh thank God." Zain sighed and sat on the sofa. Salma watched him with confused expression. He was now doing something on his mobile.

"What's going on, Zain?" She asked.

"Nothing, appa." He said and after sometime stood up.

"You are hiding something." Humna said, crossing her arms and standing in front of him.

"Just stay safe." He smiled and went outside.

"I dont know what his intentions are." Humna said to her mother sitting on the sofa beside her. She picked up the book she was reading.

"Humna, please you have to do something with your life. Girls your age help there mothers in order to learn something." Her mother said but Humna didn't gave any reply so she just sighed.

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

Hashim came out of the meeting room along with Khalil.

"Zain has been calling." He told Khalil.

"Dial him." Khalil said heading towards his office. Hashim followed.

"He is not answering." Hashim said.

"Keep trying. Maybe he is busy at the moment." Khalil said. Hashim noded. After sometime Khalil stood up.

"It's 9pm and I am going home. Are you coming?"

"No, Mehak is at home. She came back in evening." Hashim said.

"So you are going home?" Khalil asked.

"Yes, I have some work here but I will leave in about an hour." Hashim said.

"Okay then. Khudahafiz." And Khalil left. After an hour Hashim also left. When he reached his house he saw Mehak comforting Saud, who was crying loudly.

"What is going on?" He asked smiling.

"I dont know. He just dont stop crying. I have done every thing." Mehak herself was almost crying.

"Here. Let me. I will take him outside for some time." Hashim said holding Saud in his arms and heading outside. He kept walking on streets until Saud was asleep. Then he went back. He put Saud in his cot and went to kitchen. But what he saw was enough to freak him out.

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

Moona was in her room getting ready to sleep when Yumna came rushing in her room.

"Phupho!! Hashim bhai called. He has taken Mehak appi to hospital."

"What?? What happened?" Moona asked with fear in her eyes.

"Nobody knows. He found her fainted on the kitchen's floor and he called baba. They have gone to his house so they can bring Saud here."

"But how did she faint?"

"I dont know. What is happening phupho?" Yumna was very much frightened. Tears were in her eyes. Moona reached her arms and hugged her comforting her.

"Shhshh.. Everything is gonna be fine. We are all together here with you. And until we are together no one can cause us any harm. Just believe in Allah and be alert always."

"I am alert." Yumna said.

"Good. Now wipe your tears and we will go out in lounge. And dont cry in front of Asad. Okay??" Yumna noded now wiping her tears. Then both of them came out of the room where Humna was sitting with Asad telling him some story. She gave them a sad smile and turned to Asad.

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

Someone was calling him from far away. Soon the voice became more clearer as he opened his eyes. It was Khalil. He was leaning on him.

"What's wrong, Zain? We are trying to wake you up for like 5 minutes!!" He asked.

"What time is it?" Zain asked in sleepy voice closing his eyes again.

"It's almost 11pm." Khalil told him.

"WHAT??" He jerked up and then winced. There was this unbearable pain in his head.

"What is it?" Khalil asked concerned.

"Nothing. It's just headache. How can I sleep so much and wake up with this headache?" Zain was now rubbing his forehead.

"When did you sleep?"

"I think after my Zuhr prayer. But wait what are you doing here?"

"We called you all the time but you wouldn't answer so we came."

"We?" Zain frowned.

"Yes. We. Me and Salma. She is in the lounge with Saud." Khalil told him.

"Saud?" Zain asked standing up from bed. He went to the washroom and opened the tap. Khalil followed him.

"Yes. Hashim has taken Mehak to hospital. She has been poisoned." Zain turned to him with soap in his hands.

"Poisoned??"

"Yeah. Be quick. We have to go." Khalil motioned towards the open tap and left him with his thoughts.

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

Zain had told Khalil about the threat. Khalil went home to drop his wife and Saud while Zain went to the hospital. When he reached there he saw Hashim standing with the wall of ICU. He seemed so worried. Zain's heart sank. He reached him.

"What did the doctors say?" He asked.

"She had taken a very small dose so she survived."

"Thank God! Have you eaten?"

"Next 24 hours are critical. If she wakes she will be alright otherwise not."

"She will be alright. Now come. Have something to eat." Zain took him by his arm.

"I am not leaving her." Hashim refused. Then he cried. "What's happening, Zain? I am scared."

"I dont know what is happening but I have something to tell you." He said looking in his eyes.

"What?" Hashim asked.

"I received this today." He held out the letter. Hashim took it with confusion on his face. When he read the letter his expressions changed.

"That is the reason Mehak is in this state now." He said with rage.

"Maybe." Zain said taking the letter back.

"Why you didn't pick up my calls today??" Hashim asked. His tone was totally different now.

"I have been sleeping all the day." Zain said.

"Wow. You get a letter and you do not even bother to tell anyone and sleep all the day. That is great."

"Hashim it is not like this. I tried my best to tell you." Zain said trying to calm him down.

"Oh yeah! How?" Hashim scoffed.

"I called you a lot but youe phone was all the busy."He said calmly.But all of a sudden Hashim caught him by his shirt.

"My wife is in that death cage because of your bloody nap, Zain. You are the reason of all that is happening to us. First Taimoor and now Mehak."

"SHUT UP!! JUST SHUT UP!!!" Zain snapped. More loud than Hashim this time.

"Hey. What in the name of God you guys are doing?" Khalil said as he came into view. But they didn't listen.

"Let him go, Hashim." He asked Hashim who was still standing in the same position.

"I said let him go!!" Khalil now demanded. Hashim did so but ripping Zain's shirt.

"You will have to pay for this behaviour of yours." Zain pointed to his shirt and left. Khalil rushed after him and grabbed him by his arm.

"Just leave me alone." Zain said. Khalil let him go and turned to Hashim.

"What was that?" He shouted.

"Dont you see? He has sold himself out." Hashim said.

"Just behave yourself." Khalil snapped and picked up his phone which was ringing. After the phone call he turned to Hashim.

"I have to go back home. It's Moona. She is in labour."

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