7 7. “IT’S A BABY GIRL!”
"Khalil! You should call the boys now." Salma said as she sat beside him in the hospital.
"I am trying Zain but he is not answering." Khalil said dialing Zain's number once more.
"And what about Hashim?" Salma asked.
"He will be here anytime." Khalil answered and then stood up as Zain had picked up the call.
"Where are you, Zain? Come to hospital. Moona has given birth to a baby girl." He told and after hearing his reply he said, "okay just hurry up" and hung up. After about half an hour when Moona had transferred to her room, Hashim reached.
"Where have you been?" Khalil asked him.
"I was in the ICU just looking after Mehak." He replied.
"How is she now?" Khalil asked.
"She's still." Hashim said tiredly then turned to Moona to congratulate her. She smiled sadly nodding her head. Hashim hold the girl in his arms bending down to kiss her forehead. After about 15 he stood up.
"Where you going?" Salma asked.
"I have to go to Mehak, appa." He replied.
"Let me come." She said standing up. Hashim noded and opened the door. Just as he pulled it he saw Zain standing outside lifting his hand to knock. They both locked eyes with each other for some seconds but then Hashim left with Salma.
"Come Zain." Khalil motioned him. So he just came in and rushed to hold the baby. He looked at her for a moment and then..
"She has Taimoor's lips and eyes." He said smiling at Moona.
"Yes."She said tears beaming in her eyes.
"I gonna grab something to eat." Khalil said and left.
"So you noticed." Moona said after he had gone.
"What?" Zain asked sitting on the chair near bed with the girl still in his arms.
"That she has his eyes and lips." She replied now crying.
"Hey.. I think everyone can tell." Zain said.
"No one has said that." She said.
"Well maybe they don't wanna hurt you."
"No. They didn't notice." She paused. "I am gonna miss him." She was hiding her face with her hands now. Sobbing.
"Moona look at me." Zain said standing up from the chair. Moona looked up. Her face was red and wet. She looked tired and miserable. Zain handed her the girl and came closer.
"First stop crying. I have something to tell you." He said while she wiped her tears and looked at him for a moment.
"Now look at her. You have a reason to live now. You have a responsibility. She needs you and you need her." He said softly.
"I know. It's just..." she stopped.
"It's nothing, Moona. Look at the brighter side of the aspect. You remember the story of Maryam (Mary). She was a single mother."
"Well that was different. That was a miracle." She looked at him like he was some mad man quoting this example.
"Yes. That was a miracle. But she is a role model for all the single mothers like you. She survived that and Allah helped her because she had faith in Him." She was now looking at her child while Zain was again sitting on the chair.
"All you have to do is to have faith in Him and everything will be alright." Zain said. Just then the door opened and Khalil came in with some food in his hands.
"You made my sister cry." He looked at them. Moona chuckled.
"No. We just talked." Zain said to him and turned to Moona. "Promise me, you will do what I just told you."
"I will." She said.
"Well then I have to go." Zain said, standing up.
"Where are you going?" Khalil asked him. But the door burst open again and this time it was Hashim. He was panicking. Salma came behind him.
"What happened?" Khalil asked.
"She is gone." Hashim replied.
"Who?" Zain said reaching to get him in the chair. While Khalil pulled Salma to the couch.
"Mehak. And dont touch me." He said just as Zain grabbed his forearm. Zain just stood stunned. Moona was having trouble to understand the situation.
"What are you talking about?" She asked.
"Mehak is gone. We searched for her like everywhere." Salma replied.
"WHAT??? She is gone like she is kidnapped?? Zain said.
"Yes, I saw them and I ran after them but I was too late." Hashim answered.
"Well you should have come to me." Zain said and then ran outside.
"Where did he go?" Salma asked.
"To find her." Khalil said.
"Or maybe to assure that they had done it perfectly." Hashim scoffed.
"Now what is that about?" Moona asked him angrily.
"Its nothing. You two stay here." Khalil said and grabbed Hashim out of the room.
"What is the matter with you? You think Zain is doing something wrong?" Khalil asked.
"He is. He is up to something. Note this. And I will prove this someday and on that day you will regret. You will regret that you did not put my word into consideration." Hashim said and stormed off. Khalil hit the wall with his fist angrily and went inside the room.
.................
The next day when Khalil entered his office he was shocked to see Hashim sitting there with a piece of paper in his hand.
"What are you doing here? Is something wrong?" He asked sitting on his rolling chair.
"I have something to tell you." Hashim said and handed him the paper. Khalil read it and then looked up.
"What is this nonsense?" He asked furiously.
"It's quiet simple. I am resigning." Hashim shrugged.
"Why?" Khalil was having difficulty in hiding his temper.
"Because I got another job. And the salary is double."
"Tell me this isn't about salary. Tell me you are doing this because you do not want to be with us anymore. You are avoiding us from now on."
"No it's not that. It's just... Oh I cannot tell you this. Time will come bhai. I will tell you everything. I have a job to do. I have to find my wife. And believe me I will remain the same expect with Zain. But I will not stop visiting you and family. Just please sign this." He said tears now forming in his eyes.
"It's very hard Hashim." Khalil said.
"I know. But I need you to do this." Hashim said. Khalil took the pen and after some time of consideration, he signed the paper.
"Moona is coming home tomorrow. You should come." He said.
"I will try." Hashim replied and took his resignation letter. After this he nodded his thanks and left. Khalil sat there in deep thought.
..............
That night Zain called Khalil and asked him to meet him at his house so Khalil went there without telling anyone. Humna was at hospital with Moona while Salma and the other children were at home. When Khalil reached the place he saw the door was open. So he came out of the car and went inside. In the lounge Zain was sitting on the couch with a mess on the central table. Khalil went towards him and said his salam.
"Wasalam. How is everybody?" Zain said gesturing hjm to sit.
"Everybody is fine. Except that Hashim resigned today." Khalil told him and to his surprise Zain was not shocked on this news. Instead he asked him calmly.
"So where did he get his new job?"
"How did you know?" Khalil asked.
"He got his new job at 'Ammaar brothers'. And they are giving him double salary as the manager." Zain informed him.
"I cannot believe this. How do you know?"
"I went to his place yesterday."
"And he told you everything and didn't tell me?" Khalil asked not believing Zain.
"No he is still mad at me. I found this myself. Actually I am visiting his house since Mehak's poisoning. For some evidence you know."
"And he does not know!" Khalil said acknowledging.
"And he does not know." Zain nodded.
"I got the sample of the food. The plan was to kill the whole family, I guess."
"And now they have captured Mehak." Khalil said.
"Which mean she is in danger. You remember why Taimoor was killed?" Zain asked.
"Because he knew something important about them. And Mehak also know something that's why they have captured her. Maybe she saw the attacker the other day and now they thought that she might say something about him so they kidnapped her." Khalil said joining the pieces of puzzles.
"You are right. And I am depressed because I have tried everything to find her but I can't. I cannot find her. Tell me what to do? Tell me before its too late." Zain asked Khalil, desperation evident in his voice. Just than his phone rang.
"Excuse me." He said and left the lounge. After five minutes he came in. His eyes were red now. He had cried.
"What is it?" Khalil asked him confused.
"You will know." He said as Khalil's phone also started to ring.
"Its Hashim." Khalil said picking up the call.
"Yes Hashim?.. hey what is it? Why are you crying?... tell me.. you are scaring me okay!!.." And then he just sat there dumbfounded. His eyes wide open. Zain took the phone and cut the call. Then he stood up.
"We have to go." He said. But Khalil didn't say a word.
"Bhai come on we have to go. He is waiting. He needs us." This time Zain held him up from his arms.
"Why is this all happening to us, Zain?" Khalil asked.
"I dont have the slightest idea." Zain shook his head while locking the door. He went over to his car. Khalil sat beside him.
"I am thinking about Saud. He is just a child." Khalil said.
"What did he recieve?" Zain asked in low voice while driving the car. The reply came after a very long pause and Zain just closed his eyes for a moment swallowing a lot of pain.
The reply was: "Her head.."
.................
