Stairway to Heaven

30. Loose ends

It had been a while since he left Hajra to hang out with Ammar and others. He had just drove away from the hospital, when something unusual caught his eye.

A van far ahead of him stopped in its tracks and 2 men stepped out to forcefully grab a woman walking on the side of the road and pushed her in, before driving away.

For a fraction of second, Mateen couldn't believe his eyes. He felt frozen in his place with shock and then he didn't know why; but for whatever reason Hajra's face flashed across his mind and before he could even think clearly, he was following them.

"Hello? Raheel—Note down this car's number for me." Mateen could feel himself breaking into cold sweat, as he tried to discreetly follow them along a deserted road; whilst calling his ASP friend from way back in school. Raheel's family was very well reputed in the field of Bureaucracy and they had links in all sorts of places.

"Crap." Mateen let his control relax on the accelerator, when the Van ahead began to slow down. Without having to think, Mateen could see what was about to happen.

"Raheel, send a team to this location right away. They have spotted me already. I think there's atleast 4 of them."

"Are you going to tell me what the hell are you upto Mateen? You never change, do you?! You just got back and already you are—"

Mateen knew that despite his castigation, Raheel had already mobilized all units to his location. By now, that Van had stopped and Matteen too was waiting in his car, awaiting their next move. His main objective was that girl's safety. He feared if they had weapons on them, then things might turn ugly and he too might get hurt—without being able to save that person. And then everything would've been for naught.

"—The nearest station is 25 minutes from your location. It will take them atleast 10 minutes to get to you, at the quickest. GET. OUT. OF. THERE. MATEEN! Get away now! I'll take care of it, so just—"

Mateen was barely listening to anything he was saying. His gaze was fixated on that guy who had stepped out and was now aiming his gun towards Mateen's car, which was a good 4-6 metres from his van.

"MATEEN?!" Raheel cried out, when the sound of gunshot resounded through his phone on the other side. Mateen who had ducked just in time, was barely able to stop himself from shaking in fear. The bullet had gone right through his headrest—meaning that man had aimed for his head.

He had meant to kill Mateen.

"I am alive—" The phone was still in his hand, but Mateen couldn't bring himself to sit up. He was trembling in his place.

"Mateen. Leave. Now!" Raheel himself was on his way to Mateen with his team, but he couldn't do much in that moment, except fearing for his safety.

"WHY CAN'T YOU JUST DISAPPEAR FROM MY LIFE!! JUST GET AWAY FROM ME! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT! YOU HEAR ME?! IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT FOR BEING BORN! IT WOULD'VE BEEN BETTER IF YOU'D JUST DIED!"

'Ah—Shit.'

He didn't expect it, but he knew why he had remembered Mush's words in that exact moment. The guilt was coming back at him. He couldn't help but feel like this was a sign—Almost, like a premonition. That he was now finally going to pay for his crimes against her.