******

"What do you mean, nail him?"

Zaheer got up from his seat excitedly. Aamir couldn't help but notice his friend's sudden enthusiasm, a feeling so out of place with the situation they were in that he quelled the urge to ask Zaheer if he were all right.

"Yes! Finally!"

"Kindly elaborate," Aamir commented drily.

Zaheer rolled his eyes at that and sat down. "It finally struck me that we're looking at this case all wrong, Aamir. So far, we've been defensive thinking that the Bastard has enough material to blackmail you so bad, and that it practically made him invincible! Turns out he's not Aamir, he can't be! We have to be on the offensive!"

Exasperated, Aamir said, "football terminology aside, will you please explain clearly. I didn't understand anything you just said!"

"Aamir! For God's sake! Ugh, okay fine. I'll explain. See, what he's asking for now is money. He seems too smart because he kept all the evidence to get to you later. But if it was only money that he wanted, he could've gotten it much earlier with far less hassle."

"How?"

"When did he blackmail Faiza first?"

Aamir thought for a second and said, "after my accident."

"Exactly!"

"Exactly what?"

"What the hell Aamir! Use your head! If he wanted money that badly he would've gotten Faiza and Mayra to give it to him at a time when it would be so easy and risk free. No one would question the money being lost, especially you, as you were in the hospital paralysed. But think about it, a sharp, clever and criminal mind like Jaffar's let go of that golden opportunity and now he wants to blackmail, when its clearly so dangerous, especially with you looking out for Mayra?"

Aamir suddenly sat up straight, "you're right! It doesn't make sense."

"Exactly," Zaheer nodded, "until you consider the reason why he suddenly wants money again, why he suddenly chose to reappear, why he's so foolishly risking his life."

"What could be the reason?"

"That's exactly what we have to find out. If we can find a weakness, trust me we'll hit him so hard, he'll never mess with you again."

"How can we though? This guy is bloody invisible for all we know."

Zaheer was silent for a while, contemplating the enormity of their problem. "He'll slip up soon enough. If he needs money for a reason that we think, then he'll grow desperate. That's what we need. We need to stall him Aamir. Drive him to madness. Besides, I have a few hackers trying to trace his number. They should be able to dig up something soon enough. "

"Hackers?"

"Yeah, the number wasn't a cell number. It was a computer call with hidden identity base system as a programmed installation. My men told me they've dealt with this before, they can do it again. Now we've just got to wait and watch. Either we corner the Bastard bloody bad, or he slips up and gives us an advantage. Trust me, we're closer than you think."

"I guess you're right," Aamir agreed.

Both men resorted to silence after that, knowing that there wasn't much that they could do anymore. That, Aamir concluded, was the hardest part. He was used to being in control, he needed it at all times but his ife seemed to enjoy keeping him on his toes far too much.

He hated it when life threw him such curveballs. Especially ones that involved his family's safety and well-being. The sooner this mess was over the sooner they could move on with their lives.

Aamir could sense that something good was round the corner. An instinct, his sixth sense, whatever one may call it, he could feel it. May be because he had made peace with his father again, or may be because Mayra had made peace with hers, or may be because he had never felt so close to Mayra ever before than he did now. Whatever the reason, he liked what he was feeling now and he wanted it to continue and culminate into the end of all of their problems.

And yet, he knew he wouldn't be able to rest until this whole fiasco was settled once and for all.

"Don't worry Aamir," said Zaheer, watching his friend frown. "We'll get him. All you have to do now is think of what you'll do to him once we catch him. How many of his bones will you break?"

Aamir smiled at the joke. "How many are there?"

"Two hundred and six."

"Pity I can't break a single one."

Zaheer jerked back in shock. "What? Why?"

Aamir leaned back in his chair and recalled the scene before he came to see Zaheer.

Mayra had rejoiced with the whole family at their impromptu reunion. A joyous occasion it had been for sure and never before had Aamir felt so confident that he could tackle any problem, all because he had his family's support. Especially his father's.

Aamir pulled on a fresh shirt and watched the drops of water that fell from his head dampen his crisp white shirt. On another day, it would've mattered. Not today. Not now.

Mayra walked into their room with a faint smile on her face and his coffee in her hands.

"What's so funny, sweetheart?"

Mayra laughed lightly, "Nothing, just Zara's excuses for not wanting to go to college today."

Aamir turned around, amused. "What did she say?"

"That she was 'too emotional after witnessing the blood of this family reunite under the blessings of this family's patriarch'. Seriously!"

Aamir burst out laughing at the theatrical way in which Zara had framed that. His sister sure had a flare for drama.

"Mom didn't listen though," Mayra continued. "She said that she is 'too enraged to be in the unbecoming presence of her three quarrelling offspring who still haven't learnt the obedience that this family commands'."

Aamir and Mayra both laughed at that.

Aamir sat down and took his coffee from her hands but first gave her hands a little kiss. Mayra blushed at that and quickly averted her gaze. Finding his hair still wet from his shower, she picked up his towel and started to dry it for him, hesitant to approach the topic.

Aamir extended his neck to give Mayra full access to his wet head. She was becoming increasingly comfortable with him, touching him on her own. He wanted to dance out of joy.

"Aamir?"

"Hmm?"

"What.. what will you do to Ja.. him when you catch him?"

Aamir's eyes flew open at that Bastard's mention. "What?"

"What will you do to him?"

"I have a huge score to settle with him, Mayra. You know that."

Mayra's hands stilled.

Aamir pulled her in front of him and made her sit on his lap. She squirmed uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze.

"Darling, tell me what is it?"

"I.. I don't want you to get into any.. any fights," she said, quietly. "I know he.. he.. deserves to be punished very severely for what he's done, and I'm sure the police will take care of that, I just don't want you to.. to.."

"Hit him? Punch him? Break all of his filthy bones?"

Mayra flinched at that, "all that. I don't want you to do any of those."

Aamir wrapped his arms around her and pulled her impossibly close to his chest, "why?"

"Because.. because I, I like this side of you. And I'm scared.. of the .. the violent side." Hastily she began to explain. "I trust you, I know you will never hurt me again, I know that. Its just that I don't want you to succumb to your anger once more. You've worked so hard to fight it, I'm afraid you will waste all of that effort on a man who doesn't deserve anything from any of us."

Aamir nodded in understanding but he was absolutely unwilling to let go of the pleasure of hurting Jaffar. He wanted, he needed, an incentive. "Okay. What do I get in return?"

Of all of his reactions that she had expected, this had not crossed her mind, "What would you like?"

Aamir stretched his neck, putting his cheek right in front of her face, letting her know what he wanted.

She blushed and tried to stall when he said, "it's only fair."

Her sense of fair play decided that it was indeed only fair and slowly she leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

He hugged her tightly to his chest and whispered a promise in her ear, I promise, I will never hit anyone ever again in my life."

Aamir smiled at that memory and told Zaheer, "Mayra made me promise never to hit anyone."

Zaheer threw back his head and laughed so loud that his startled secretary came running in. Shooing her away, he turned to his friend and said, "man, you're whipped."

"Totally."

*****