9 9. “YOU MISS THOSE DAYS?”

Breakfast has gone pretty good the next day. Only that Hashim was present there too. When Zain entered the room everybody was already sitting on the table waiting for him.

"I am sorry for bieng late." He apologized sitting in his own chair infront of Moona.

"Well it's okay we just waited for like fifteen minutes." Hashim said in cold voice pouring his tea. Khalil glared at him but he was not looking.

"So Zain what are you doing today?" Salma asked serving breakfast to everybody.

"I have a meeting at lunch today regarding the case." He replied looking towards Moona who noded assuring him that she will be there.

"I dont think you are working on this case anymore." Hashim said again.

"Of course I am. You lost Mehak about a week ago just because I am working on this case. And they wanted to hurt me." Zain said angrily.

"Well you are clearly not hurt." Hashim said.

"Hashim!!" Khalil said instantly.

"What do you know about my feelings?" Zain asked.

"If you are hurt you should have stopped now."

"Why would I have stopped?"

"Zain! Hashim please stop this." Moona said.

"Because we lost two important people of our lives just because of you and your obsession with this case."

"You are disgusting." Zain said and stood up to leave.

"Zain where are you going?" Khalil said motioning him to sit down.

"I dont want to have any of this conversation. Especially with this person." He said and left the room. Khalil followed him.

"What is wrong with you guys??" Moona yelled at Hashim who was having his breakfast now.

"You should stop him from following this case. This is madness." Hashim said.

"We are not gonna do this. Infact we will do what ever we can to support him in this case." Moona replied.

"Then I guess this is my last breakfast in this house." Hashim said.

"Dont say that. You both are dear to us equally." Salma said tears ready to fall from her eyes.

"No we are not." Hashim replied. Moona stood up and walked to the central table where her mobile was placed. At the same time Khalil entered the room.

"Did you stop him?" She asked. Khalil moved his head in a NO. Moona dialed his number and he picked up.

"Zain where are you?... okay I am coming." She said and hung up.

"I am going." She then said to everybody.

"Look no one would have come for me like that." Hashim said to Salma and Moona gave him a pity look before leaving. Khalil just sighed.

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

Moona reached the place where Zain had asked her to come the other day. When she arrived she saw him standing at the side of the road probably waiting for her. It was Jinnah Garden. Zain opened the door of the passenger seat and sat.

"Hey. You have to park the car then we will talk in the garden." He said. Moona just noded and went to the parking area. When they had parked they went inside.

"So tell me something." Moona said walking on the track with Zain.

"What is going on between you guys? I mean you both are best friends and you both know each other since like..." she stopped.

"Since 17 years." Zain completed.

"17years is not a short period. How can you ruin this entire friendship?" Moona asked appalled.

"I am not ruinig anything. I tried to fix up things among us but he is way too emotional. He always ruin everything." Zain said.

"But you guys are much more than brothers." Moona said. Now a little softer.

"We were. Not anymore."

Zain replied. They had reached to a bench now.

"You should give this friendship another shot." Moona said forcing him.

"You know what? I am sick of this conversation we are having. Why dont we talk about what we should talk?" Zain said sitting on the bench. His grey eyes seemed very tired all of a sudden.

"You remember when we met for the first time?" He asked.

"Yeah when you came before Taimoor's death at my house." She said nodding.

"No. Our first meeting." Zain said.

"That was first." Moona assured.

"No. Remember when we first met at the breakfast at Khalil bhai's?" Moona remained quiet for a moment then she looked at him.

"Yeah. Yeah I guess I remember but that was just an interaction not proper meeting." She said after some thinking.

"I was so tired and Hashim wanted to have breakfast with the family so we came there." Zain said as he was in deep thought.

"Zain?" Moona asked.

"Hmm?"

"You miss those days?" She asked looking directly at him.

"Yes I really do. Messing up with Taimoor, the joy and laughter on the table. That was something seem to be perfect." He sighed. "And now I have lost two of my best friends. Life is so unpredictable."

"Two?"

"Yes Taimoor and Hashim." Zain replied then turned to her.

"I want your help."

"What help? I am ready to do anything you want."

"Are you sure?"

"Positive!" She assured.

"Good. I want you to do a job."

"What job?" She asked, confused.

"I will tell you and you will have to be close to your boss and do tell me everything you find about him. Every minor detail." He said.

"Why do you want me to do this?"

"Because you are the only person who can do this."

"But you can ask Humna because I have two little children to look after."

"I know but this is important. I need your help. Please try to understand. There is a job vacancy in Asim's company, you should go there."

"Why are you doing this? And why would I go to Asim's company for job? Why?" Moona asked.

"Because I doubt them. I think they are involved in all this is happening."

"And why would you doubt them?"

"Look you remember the coat button?" He asked. Moona stared at him, confused. Then noded.

"That button was one of Asim's men."

"How did you know that?"

"Research." Zain shrugged.

"Then that is the evidence."

"Unfortunately I lost that button." Zain said placing his phone between them on the bench and then stood up.

"How could you let that happen?" Moona looked at him appalled.

"I dont know, it just happened. It was stolen from my car."

"So you are saying that I have to go to his office for a job and find some evidence??"

"Just do what I say!" Zain said picking up the mobile as it was ringing.

"Who is this crime partener guy?" Moona asked. Zain looked at her in shock and then just shook his head.

"Not now Moona." He picked up the call.

"Yes? Okay do your best and meet me at my place at dinner." He said and then motioned Moona to stand up. Moona obeyed and they came out of the garden. Zain was giving instructions on the phone. When they reached the parking area he cut the call and turned to Moona.

"I will mail you all the necessary things. You go down there tomorrow with your CV." Moona noded and sat in the car.

"So when are you seeing Hashim?" She asked.

"I dont know really. Maybe soon." Zain replied smiling.

"Best of luck." She smiled in response and started the car. Zain waved her good bye and went towards his own car.

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

"I have to tell you something." Moona said to his brother at dinner.

"What is it?" Khalil replied

"I want to do some job." Khalil stopped eating his dinner.

"Why?" He asked.

"I need to get out of this house. I need some activity in my life."

"And what about the children?" Khalil asked continuing his dinner.

"I will take care of them when she will not home." Salma said.

"Fine, If you both have decided then I have no objection."

"But have you find any job?" Humna asked.

"Yes there is one. You know Asim's company. There is a vacancy. Zain has arranged the interview tomorrow. I have to prepare for it."

"If Zain has arranged the interview than the job is yours." Yumna said smiling.

"What does that suppose to mean? If I dont clear the interview then?" Moona asked.

"Then you dont know Zain bhai." Yumna said.

"Whatever." Moona shrugged but she was confused now. Khalil looked at her and smiled.

"Everything will be fine. I am with you." Moona just noded.

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

Zain entered his house and went to the kitchen to put the dinner he brought there.

Then he went to fresh himself. When he came out of the bathroom he decided to prepare the table for dinner. His crime partener was coming to have dinner with him after a very long time. So he was very happy. He was humming all the time preparing the table. Then he went to the lounge and opened his laptop and started studying the case for more details. Suddenly his mobile rang. It was Humna.

"Hey. What are you doing?" He said picking up the call.

"Are you free?" Humna said urgently.

"Why?"

"I want to meet you. Can I come over?" She asked.

"Actually I am about to have dinner with a very special person. So what about tomorrow?" Zain said looking at his laptop.

"But this is urgent." Humna insisted.

"Can we talk on phone about this?"

"No! We have to meet, now!!" Humna said.

"Look Humna dear, I can't cancel this dinner. I have been waiting for this for a very long time."

"Okay. But do tell me is it a girl?" Humna said out of curiosity.

"No. He is a boy and a very good friend of mine." Zain laughed. Suddenly a voice came from behind him.

"Not a single bottle of cold water in your fridge, Zain. What do I drink now?" Zain closed his eyes and sighed. On the other side of call Humna was stunned after hearing the voice..

She knew who was his crime partener now.....