"Zahra, I want to talk to you"
"Yes" she replied as they both sat down on the couch.
"Are you fine Zahra? I couldn't talk much with you that day"
"Yes. I'm"
"Irtaza bhai is fine with you now?"
"Yes he is. He took good care of mine"
"That's really nice to know. I'm glad everything is now at its place now. But you look a bit disturbed?"
"No. Not at all"
"You do Zahra. Is there something bothering you?"
"Kind of. I've been feeling restless, since Irtaza left. As if my sixth sense is signalling me that something bad is going to happen"
"You're worrying yourself, uselessly, Zahra. He'll be come back home, safe and sound. Its just a four day mission"
"What is that mission Haseeb?"
"He had some deals with the international mafia. It was regarding the transportation of some drugs but his enemy has suddenly got active due to which he himself decided to look after the smuggling"
"That sounds dangerous" she commented. "What enemy?"
"The terrorist group. They are strongly against Irtaza bhai's mafia"
"Why?"
"Because there various acts which are even unlawful in mafia's world. That's why. Now tell, how to make you and Dua both bring together on a same page?"
"I don't know Haseeb. Let the time do its job"
"Time failed siso. Otherwise she'd have approached you long ago. Guess, we need to do something about it"
"Haseeb, I'll talk to herself in detail. If that doesn't work, then we shall act on your scheme"
"Sounds good. Zahra do you know what happened to Daniyal?" he asked, out of the blue.
She was taken aback by his question. It was just so sudden.
"He was killed" she replied.
"By whom?"
"Irtaza"
He just nodded his head, understanding already knowing that it was going to be Daniyal's fate.
"I'm really sorry. I know you loved him"
"I'm fine now."
"You sure thing?" he asked with surprise. "Last time I checked you were deeply in love with him"
"People change Haseeb" she replied, not wanting to tell her about the whole story of her harassment.
He nodded his head, understanding.
"Haseeb, you know, I want to share something with you"
"Yes?"
"I tried to kill Daniyal"
"What?!"
"If Irtaza hadn't reaached there on time then surely I'd have killed him"
"What?! Why did you try to kill him? You loved him?"
"Because, it was his family and he himself who sent that man Asim, to deceive my Baba. He was well aware of the whole plan" she replied, deliberately skipping the harassment part.
"What?! Shit head man! Fucker! Bastard! Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Then you should have really shooted him, Zahra"
"I couldn't. This thing does not reside inside me to hurt someone whether it be my worst enemy. It hurts, I feely guilty, that I tried to kill a human being"
"It was your vengeful feelings, Zahra. Just that"
"But still, why did I let myself take control of these feelings. I feel so guilty. It is against my morals"
"Zahra, listen. Revenge is a very strong emotion. Even you can say the worst form of rage. And it often blinds your senses of reasoning. Revenge is a fire, which burns both persons, it really is dangerous. There is no need for you to feel guilty about this, first of all. Those emotions must have numbed your senses. It really is natural. Its not that I'm supporting the killing but it is understandable. We often can't control on our emotions. We are human beings, imperfectionism runs in our veins. Nobody is perfect. Human are called human because they make mistakes" he explained, in his lecturey tone.
She just nooded. She couldn't help but agree. That day, it was just her and her desire of revenge. No other feeling was present.
"Haseeb when will Irtaza come back?" she asked after a few seconds of silence.
"So far, I know almost within four days. Or exact on the same day, when Shehryaar bhai will"
"Oh" her lips formed an O shape. She didn't know why she has been asking the same question on and on. Like was she trying to relieve that restelessness in her heart?
"Seems like someone is missing her husband" Haseeb smirked, teasing her. This made her red.
"No!" she squealed, "I was just asking!"
"But you keep zoning out, whenever his name comes. I think you miss him dearly. And I also think you're in love with him"
"Stop making stupid assumptions Haseeb!"
"Zahra loves Irtaza bhai!" he began to tease.
"Ohoo! stupid!"
"Zahra loves Irtaza bhai! Listen everyone, someone over here is deeply in love with Irtaza bhai!!" he said loudly, as if announcing some news.
"What?! Haseebbbbb! Stop screaming!"
"You know I love teasing you. So, our dear spectators, we have our guest over here, Zahra. Who is deeply in love with my brother, Irtaza" he said, addressing to his imaginary spectators. "This girl, Zahra, keeps zoning out whenever his name comes and his cheeks turn red whenever his name is mentioned somewhere. Isn't it love? Yes it is!!" he said like a news reporter would do.
"Haseeb! You talk alot!"
"So Zahra, how and when you fell in love with my brother?" he formed a mic of his had and forwarded it infront of him.
"Oh really Zahra?" A voice said and there head snapped towards the source. It was Dua, who stood by the door. "Are you in love now?" she said, moving forward and settling herself on the bed, infront of her.
"Dua, why you being rude here?" Haseeb interefered, noticing her rude tone.
"Haseeb, its solely between me and Zahra. Please stay out" she said in a serious tone and that shut him up.
"Hands backed. I'm leaving" he said and stood up, leaving the room. Now they both were alone.
"So Zahra, tell me how your married life is going?" she asked. Her voice cold and laced with malice.
"Good" she replied shortly.
"Ah nice. And how's your relation with my brother?"
"Dua, what has happened to you? Why are talking like that?"
"I swear Zahra, if you ever tried to hurt my brother ever again, then you'll see my worst side" she threatened, ignoring her question. "I mean it" she completed.
"Watch your tone, Dua. Watch your tone" Zahra retorted. "You may regret it some day. Without knowing the complete truth, you can't call me the culprit"
"I'm already regretting trusting you Zahra!" she shrieked. "How can you be so cruel to play with someone emotions like that. How can you?! Its not because he is my brother, let it be anyone, that was a hit below the belt, Zahra!"
"I again insist Dua, dug in the whole detail then come to me!" she shrieked back.
"Does that matter now? Can your actions be justified, no matter, whatever the case was?"
"Yes they could be. And I don't owe you any justification, Dua"
"You owe me! You do owe me! That person was none other than my brother, who had loved you so dearly. So dearly, with his whole heart. Since his childhood, when he didn't even know the meaning of the word 'love' Zahra! He loved you!"
"I don't want to argue with you, if you don't want to listen my part. Please leave my room"
"You broke my trust on you Zahra" with that, Dua left the room, harshly shutting the door behind.
She was partially right, even completely right. She really had no answers to her questions. It was Daniyal who had poked her. And her senses were so numb because of the affection she had for him, she didn't think straightly what was right and what was wrong.
She acted like a puppet of Daniyal.