ٹوٹے زمانے تیرے،

ہاتھ نگوڑے.. ہاتھ نگوڑے۔

دل سے دلوں کے تونے،

شیشے توڑے.. شیشے توڑے۔

Tutey zamane terey,

haath nigorey..haath nigorey.

Dil se dilon k tune,

sheeshey torey, sheeshey torey.

"Taya abu I'm.... " Fahad didn't have an answer for Iftikhar. He was too worried to explain himself.

"Drop the women home and return back. I'll be there in a few minutes."

"Ok!"

"Shahvez ne safar kerna hai, iss waqt ye baat ussey na pata chaley."

"Jee." Fahad tried to sound convinced. With great difficulty holding back his mental state.

He put down the phone, almost blacking out at the windshield when Iqra held his arm with both her hands, noticing his expressionless face.

"Mera qusoor hai.. mujhe tum logon ko idher akela nahi chorna chaheye tha."

"Bhai please. None of it is your fault." Noor wasn't ready for this! Any of this...

Fahad took a deep breath and started the car.

"Where are we going?" Iqra asked.

"Home." He replied.

"I am not going anywhere until I see them both again!" Noor's eyes filled up once more.

"Noor bacha. Iss waqt zid mat karo," Fahad turned around and wiped her eyes.

******

"Fahad what's going on?" Hassan got up and dialed his number after getting to know from Saima.

Fahad explained to him while driving back trying his best to facilitate any sort of panic.

But Hassan had still sensed it with his professional instinct.

"Which market is this?" He asked in a low voice, moving away from the living room.

"Hassan stay there." Fahad knew instantly.

"Just tell me!" He insisted.

"Kya karey ga tu aake? Tu ghar pe situation dekh hum kerte hain Kuch."

"She could possibly be in a problem and you expect me to sit here and wait?"

"Minahil bhi hai uss k saath," Fahad reminded him.

"Are you telling me or should I find out myself?"

"The opposite side of khyber road, building 204." Fahad had no choice.

"I'll be back." He told Saima and Madiha and left outside the main door.

"Beta Kuch bata k-" Madiha tried to say but he left in a matter of seconds. She felt something wasn't right.

••••• ••••• •••••

He dodged an overhead punch by rapidly changing levels and striked the opponent's abdomen, causing him to kneel. He then hit his head upwards with his knee and punched his face right through. The front man collapsed on the ground on his stomach and tried to lift himself using his arms but he put his foot on his back, preventing him from moving and yet again, he collapsed. This time completely losing into unconsciousness.

"Fair play." Claps made by two hands echoed in the room one on the other as he stepped back and unrolled his hand wrap, wiping the sweat off his shoulders with a towel.

"Another one down with such politeness oh God!" Ali said with a sarcastic smirk.

"True that. Would you like a round.. Mr. Ali?" He looked up at him, raising his eyebrows.

"I.. erm.. appreciate it but I would want to go to bed with all my body parts tonight, thank you." Ali scratched the back of his ear.

"Come on! I'll be very much 'polite'.." He passed him a narrow smile, getting off the ring.

"One day my friend, one day." Ali threw a bottle of water at him.

"Idiot." He said at Ali's dramatic remark and went into the dark pitched shower cell.

*******

"Someone has come to visit..."Ali knocked on his office door.

He walked upto the window in a black t-shirt and dark sweatpants. His hair was damp from the shower as he ran his fingers through the front which slicked it behind, leaving a wet strand on the edge of his forehead.

It was Anwar at the main gate, behind the circular fountain and the pathway that led to it. He was in disguise; revising his words and explanations. He held up the coffee mug in his hand, sipping into it. Behind Anwar was Rehana, his wife.

"There's a surprise behind him Ali. Have you noticed?" He took another sip.

"How could I not. Congrats, another victory for you." Ali came in and stood by him, facing the window.

"Shut up, you son of a.." He paused looking at the smiling Ali.

"My mother really did me a favour raising you Mr. Sherzai." Ali took the mug out of his hand and drank from it.

"Indeed. I would kill you for her easily." He held up his phone, now telling the guards to let them through.

They both walked downstairs.

"Anwar... What an unpleasant evening." He put his hands in both pockets and stared at him with strict expressions.

"It wasn't our fault. That girl-"

"Girl? Or your incapable men?" He cut him off. His voice echoed through the walls.

Anwar looked at the sides.. Rehana stood behind him, wearing a long overcoat with skinny jeans and open hair. She eyed the man talking to Anwar top to bottom but he didn't seem to have looked at her once.

"Listen here. I want those documents sent to the ministry by tomorrow. A minute above 12 and you'll see where you have landed." He advised Anwar, fixing his wristwatch.

Anwar absorbed his words as someone manages to absorb hot poison into their throat.

"I hope we're clear." He said to him.

"What do I do with those girls? They're a threat." Anwar asked.

"Two underage girls are a threat to you. I had no idea what real failure looked like until now. Well done!" He turned around.

Anwar trailed his eyes to his foot, closing his fist. There was silence.

"Do whatever the f*ck you want with them."

he said in a louder tone and pointed him towards the door.

Anwar walked out with brutal intentions running into his veins for the ones responsible.

"Keep an eye on this bastard." He said to Ali.

•••••••

"This isn't your everyday trial and error inspector! You know very well who we're talking about here." Iftikhar said sternly.

"I understand Iftikhar Sahab but we can't take a serious action before 24 hou-"

"Are you in your senses? 24 hours? You think we're playing a game here..?" Fahad snapped.

"Sir, either you start now or you risk losing your job. The choice is yours." Hassan walked in and folded his arms, talking in a crude tone.

The inspector had given Hassan a brief look and dialed a constable's number.

"We have to inform everyone at home. It's not suitable to delay any longer." Iftikhar told them.

**Trigger Warning**

My heart ached as we were forcefully pushed farther and farther away from my house. It felt as if I was being teared apart from my family and reaching them being this close yet so far, was impossible.

My intuition forced me to retaliate once again and I kicked the man's foot behind who held me to walk.

"B*tch.." He called me and now pressed his filthy palms against my shoulders, his screeching fingers digging into my skin. I tried to move myself to Minhail's direction with the help of her voice. Each time I was pulled back roughly on my own track.

We kept tugging ourselves for minutes until we reached a main road. I found hope again thinking there would be a chance for us to call help. But they dodged it and turned towards an intersection.

"Help!!!!!" Minhail suddenly twisted towards the road and shouted. The cloth on her face had loosened.

One of them pulled her back and folded his hand on her neck. She gasped for air as I shaked and jumped at my place looking, unable to speak.

We stood in front of a damaged brick wall and were pushed to enter the door one by one. It was dark and it smelt horrible. At this point I had no vision.

This room had some yellow light peeking through a window and rusted metal equipment here and there. They threw us on the ground and we landed on someone's feet.

"Rot them.." He ordered and all of them left out the room.

No. This can't be happening.

I slithered on the ground trying to get up but I struck the floor, parallel to Minahil's face. She shakes her head at me slowly, telling me that this was it. That moment filled my heart as fire expands into a chamber. I became still, looking at her.. The fire's intense smoke had left hot water vapor up to the window and there shed my impulsive eyes; repeatedly and

continuously as the person dragged Minahil by her legs away from me and I couldn't even move due to being tied.

Left on the ground sideways, I was unable to see anything that happened past a point. She cried out loud when the cloth was removed from her mouth. I tried to move again, turning to free myself but of no use.

Then... I heard loud sounds of something made of metal as it dragged on the floor like a stick.

"No.. please.. PLEASEEE. ZAINAAAAAA." Minahil screamed my name and it pierced through my soul. Her screams became louder.

And... he hit her. She yelled out of pain. He hit her again! And again. She cried and cried, trembling and blubbering.

"Zainaaa..." she called out my name, her voice bursting with screams. I was unable to hold myself back.

I managed to slide off the wrapping on my mouth by biting into it. It eventually slid off my niqab.

"CHOROOO!!! PLEASE KHUDA K LIYEEEE MAT MAARO USSEY!!" I broke down and shouted as loud as I could.

The more I cried for her, the more I requested him to stop, the more I took Allah's name being completely trenched hearing her calls, the faster he hit her.

I moved and twisted to open up my ties but nothing worked as I fell on the cold cemented floor for the twentieth time.

"I'm sorry Minahil. I am sorry..." I whispered in silent tears.

I thought these were the most painful few minutes of my life. I was wrong.

"Hosla karo Madiha. Kuch nai hoga unhein." Zahra and Saima consoled her who had been crying non stop for the past hour.

"Zahra mujhe jana hai wahan." She got up, sobbing; took her shawl and dashed towards the door when Iqra went behind her and held her, in tears herself.

"KESE KERLUN MAI SABR??? Tum log samajh nahi rahe. Vo meri bachiyon ka pata nai kya haal..." She fell on the ground on her knees uncontrollably.

Noor quickly ran towards Madiha, holding her up. She had never seen her mother; being a patient woman, break down in such a way. Her heart had shattered even more after witnessing this.

"Tum Kese bachao gi unhein? Hosh karo Madiha. Allah Bohat meherbaan hai." Saima rubbed her hands.

••••••

He was on the terrace, leant on the handrail, flickering a pistol back and forth in one of his hands. The clattering noise of heels came from behind him.

"Who let you get here?" He turned around.

"Kya farq parta hai?" She inched closer to him.

He clenched his jaw at the fact that he had to look at her face, profound with makeup and red lipstick. The coat was gone. She wore a short cuff top beneath it.

"Get out." He ordered, giving her a disgusted glance.

"Itni jaldi? Abhi to tum.." She slightly pulled the bottom of his shirt with her fingers in the shape of a pinch.

He instantly twisted her arm behind her, forcing her to angle down the balcony which caused her pain.

"Tujhe marne ka shok hai Rehana aur mujhe maarne ka!" He twisted it harder. She let out a cry, squinting her eyes.

He yanked her back on her floor and she landed on the ground on her face.

"The last time I let you go wasn't because you begged me for your life, rather it was an accident."

"Why can't you just take me? What else do you want? I have everything to offe-" She got up and stepped towards him.

It was hard for him not to slit her throat as the words left her mouth.

"You see this?" He took out a cigarette lighter from his pocket and lit it up.

"What do you want me to do?" She asked without taking influence.

"I want you to pass me your hand."

She extended her hand up to his face gladly with no remorse in her eyes.

He held her hand and brought it closer which pulled her along. He gave her a subtle look right through her narrow brown eyes, filled with kajol. She smiled at him, angling her eyebrows expecting something else when he had roughly pulled one of her fingers and darted the flame in the middle of her palm. She instinctively tried to pull away but he gripped her wrist so she couldn't move. She howled with pain trying to move but it was useless.

He left her wrist after a small amount of skin was fully burnt. She immediately took 5 steps back, blowing into her palm and with uneven breathing. She looked up at him who had put the lighter back in his pocket and ran out the terrace making a dreadful face, tears trapped in her eyes.

Ali came running onto the top floor seeing her exit the building.

"How did she manage to get here the second time?" Ali asked.

"Check the CCTV," He told him.

"Bhai why don't you just drain the bullets down her! If you command, should I-" Ali was intensely angered as he shouted.

"You're not doing anything of that sort, Ali!" He cut him off.

"WHY??" Ali was confused.

"She has a daughter."

Ali stood still looking at this baffling man who was now taking a glass of water from the dispenser and pouring it on his left hand, rubbing in from the place he had touched her from.

•••••

The sky started turning into a light blue as morning approached. I had lost count of hours, wandering on empty roads at several points in the territory with no progress on their whereabouts.

But I wasn't going to stop. I am not losing you before you even became mine. Today, tomorow or the day after it, I'll find you Zaina.

****

"Kuch pata chala?" I called Fahad.

"Nahi." His voice was low.

"Tu theek hai?" I asked.

"Nahi."

"Hosley agar murda hon to shikasht muqaddar hoti hai mere bhai."

"Har koi tere jesa nai hota. Log muqaddar aazmaye bagair hi haar jaaya kerte hain."

"Uski qeemat itni kam nahi k hum ussey zamane k karz charha dein. Hum Nahi haarein ge Fahad!"

"Khuda karey."

Minhal's mamu reacted by blaming the Mirza's completely. But he wasn't objected and allowed to say whatever he wanted to because they did realize that they were at fault. He threatened to get them arrested, being unable to understand that their own daughter also went missing. Fahad tried his best with him and asked to cooperate, apologizing repeatedly.

"Since Yesterday evening," Iftikhar told Shahvez, sitting in the car.

Shahvez just looked at him in refusal. WHAT was he saying?

"Zaina and Minahil?" He wanted to be told otherwise.

"Yes. We have been looking since then. I'll call the head minister today and- " Iftikhar kept on saying as Shahvez was just lost.

"Shahvez?" Iftikhar moved his shoulder.

The paleness of his face was clear. The colours were gone. He now looked like Colonel Shahvez, the unharmed and vigilant!

"Take a turn and drive to the west department," He said to Iftikhar.

"Right now? But you just had a flight..."

"We need to go. I will tear up the city if I have to" Shahvez looked him in the eye although his eyes were slightly red.

They stopped in front of the room with the gold plate which said, "Ejaz Lugari."

"Farmaiye. Kaise kaam aa sakta hoon mai apke?" He asked them to take a seat.

"Meri beti aur uski dost. Dono ko dhoondna hai. Jald az jald." Shahvez got to the point.

"I see..." He conjoined both his hands together on the table.

Ejaz was a man in his 40s and a close trustee of Shahvez from before his retirement. He was one of the leading investigators who had solved many difficult cases in the past and seemed like the best option for help at the moment.

••••• ••••• •••••

*Trigger Warning**

Now I could only hear slow, broken sobs and loud breathing from the other side.

Why her innocent soul Ya Allah? I asked in my head. Wishing till death that I could exchange her wounds with myself.

He untied my legs, pulling me upwards to stand. I backed off immediately, running into the opposite direction when he had grabbed my arms and forced me to walk out the door.

"GET OFF OF ME!!" I screamed in his ear, twitching.

"I decide." He spoke.

"let me go...." I moved recklessly in his grip.

"I have great plans for you." He said in a low voice.

He walked me up some stairs as I froze my feet into the ground pushing backwards but he was steady. He locked the door from behind after turning on a red bulb above this area which was in the middle of 3 triangular pillars. I ran away from him as he left me but there was no way out that place. Everything was covered and blocked. He took shallow steps towards me, removing the jet jacket that he was wearing. I inched back closer and closer to the corner. This man had an uneven face and his eyes were small and insensitive as if he was drunk.