Mannat

17 | Shiza is found

ZAYAAN

My phone boomed with an incoming call displaying Asad name on the screen.

"Hello" I answer

"Zayaan, I have sent you the location. I think you should hurry. According to my information they are all set to fly in few minutes, we are not sure where they are flying to." Asad distress laced voice rung in my ears.

"Okay" I reply in one word and disconnect his call.

I slide the messenger open to find location and curse audibly whilst banging my palm on the counter.

It was Nathan Fernando's fucking house which means he is planning to take Shiza in his private plane.

"Zayaan are you okay?" Qulsum asked alarmed.

"I- I found Shiza's location. They are planning to take her away... That bastard had the nerve to touch my fiancée." I roared with my jaws clenched.

Qulsum' s expressions changed from bewildered to dreaded one.

"I have to leave now."

"Wait. I will come with you." Qulsum said

"What? Are you serious? I am not taking you there." I state walking past her.

"Zayaan" Qulsum strode in front of me and stood in my path. "I am coming with you. I am scared for Shiza." She whispered while tears welled up in her eyes.

"No Qulsum. I am not taking you and it's final." My voice came out a bit rude and authoritative.

No way in hell I was taking Qulsum there.

Listening to our loud conversations Mr. and Mrs. Irani strolled downstairs.

"Everything okay Zayaan?" Mr. Irani questioned looking to-and-fro between Qulsum and I.

"Shiza is at Nathan Fernando's house."

Mr. Irani face turned pale. "Nathan Fernando?" he mumbled.

Everyone in business world knew Nathan Fernando. He is rude, dark-souled, evil and psychotic person. He is someone, girls should stay away from.

"I will inform police. I think you should leave." Mr. Irani gulped massaging his temples.

"Will Shiza be, okay? Nathan Fernando – he can do anything. He is a gangster. Shiza is with a bunch of psychotic men." Qulsum blabbered biting her lips and wiping the tears which rolled down her cheeks.

"Qulsum stay strong, please." I mutter steeping closer to her petite form.

"I will come with you. I need to see her Zayaan. Why did he take her?" Qulsum was sobbing uncontrollably.

"Qulsum?" I call her but she kept on muttering something incoherently while crying.

"Qulsum." I grasp her arms and jerk her closer to me. "Stop" I pronounce staring at her skittish orbs.

"Please take me with you."

"Understand Qulsum. If I take you there, I will be worried about your safety too. I must focus on bringing Shiza back." I was trying to make Qulsum perceive the danger she might land into.

Qulsum languidly raised her hands and placed it on my chest whilst looking at me with concern and angst brimming her eyes. "I won't cause any problem. I'll stay outside but please take me with you."

I close my eyes shut and rub my temples. Inhaling deeply, I finally look at Qulsum. "You will not come out of the car, okay?"

♡♡

"Make sure she doesn't step out of car and if I don't come out in one hour, I want to drive Qulsum back home..." I instruct Asad to take care of Qulsum and to not let her come inside at any cost.

"Take care" I whisper looking at Qulsum through rare view mirror.
She bobbed her head in agreement. My eyes rambled all over her face for one last time and then I stepped out of car.

Giving Asad a nod I was about to walk towards the gate when Qulsum' s weak and soft voice rung in my ear.

"Zayaan sunein [listen]..." I halt in my track and turn around to face her. The car window was rolled down.

"Apna khayal rakhein." [ Take care of yourself] She mumbled batting her eyelids.

I was rendered speechless after listening to her voice; her voice was laced with concern and fear.
Giving her a midget smile I stepped away from car.

♡♡

Sneaking into his house wasn't difficult because Asad had bribed two of Nathan's guys to help me get inside his house. As we reached the front door, which was guarded by two armed men. One of the guys started conversing with them, drawing all their attention towards him while the other guy helped me in sneaking inside.

"Our work ends here, Mr. Zaidi. The stairs will take you to her." The second guy said, pointing at the stairs which led to the top floor.

The house looked extravagant from outside, but from inside it was reeking with smells of alcohol. The furniture was haphazardly dispersed. The paint on the walls was worn out in places.

Looking around once, I strolled towards the stairs carefully. When I reached the top, I looked around to see there were more than six doors and I wasn't sure which one of them would lead me to Shiza. One wrong door; both Shiza and I are done with our lives.

My phone was continuously vibrating in my pocket making it difficult for me to ignore. I retrieve my phone to see a text from Asad.

ASAD — Nathan just arrived with few of his men. You need to HURRY.

"Fuck" I curse under my breath and pushed open the first door in front of me. It was pitch dark I couldn't see nor hear anything.

My hands trailed over the wall trying to find the switchboard. But before I could do anything I heard loud voices outside the room.
"Get the girl and meet me at terrace after you are done with packing. She is in third room." It was Nathan's voice.

I waited for another two minutes until I was sure that everyone has left, I creaked the door open and peeked outside.

I tiptoed out of the room and padded towards the third door. All the while my heart was thwacking in my chest. I thrust the door open, hands wobbling.

There was a dim light burning in the corner of the room. My eyes swiftly rambled the surrounding finding Shiza in the center of the room. She was tied to a chair, a plaster placed on her lips. Her clothes looked intact making me sigh in relief. Her eyes were closed while a thin stream of dried blood was smeared on her cheek.

I took few steps closer to her, "Shiza..." I mumbled but the voice which rung in my ears didn't belong to me.

I instantly swirled around only to come face-to-face with Qulsum and that moment I felt my stomach drop.

❤...