A Tale of Hearts

Chapter Thirty Nine

Zoya's POV:

The breeze outside was chilly. I stood rooted to my spot as I waited for the murderer to speak. He casually took out a cigar from his coat pocket and lit it up and then looked at me.

"It was smart of your parents to change your name. They must have known that I would come to find you." He smiled as if he was relieved to see an old friend or something. I scrunched up my face in return. This man was crazy. Insanity reflected in his eyes. 

"How did you recognise me so quickly?" I was genuinely curious. All it took was one look for him to pin me down. 

"I might not have but then the way you looked at me, as if you had seen the angel of death, made me confirm my suspicions. You still have the same terrified expression from that day. How long has it been again?" He held the cigar in his mouth as he started to roll his sleeves up to his elbow. Was he going to strangle me outside of the hall or something? How crass. I had expected a headshot.

"14 years and a few months."

"I am flattered you are keeping track. Do you have any other questions for me?" He moved his fingers through his hair to gel them back in style. 

"I do actually. Did you really kill her?" His expression changed to one of surprise. He grinned as he looked at the pitch black sky. There were no stars out today. And then his expression turned to one of sorrow. The dark expression from that day returned completely.

"I wish I could have. But when you love someone so deeply," He paused for a few seconds and then stared at me. "It feels odd to talk to someone about this. No one apart from you really knows what happened that day. It is liberating really."

"Wait, you didn't kill her?" My voice rose in surprise. "Where is Kainat then?"

"Ah, you even know her name? That is no good. I thought you were just a bystander but then I remembered. You were little Kamran's friend weren't you? Or more like he was obsessed with you." He looked behind him to see Kamran running outside, right towards us. "Or it appears like he still is obsessed with you. It must be the Narejo blood. It drives one crazy."    

When I didn't say anything, he continued. 

"I will give you one last chance Anushay. Run. Run like you mean it. If you escape the Narejo's for good, I will forget we ever knew each other. You will never say a word to anyone about me or Kainat to anyone. Especially Kamran. The moment you do, I will hunt you down. That is the promise of a Narejo. Go now. Your ride is here." 

He pointed to a car and then gave me a bone chilling smile. It was a warning and I had to heed to it. And so I did.

I rushed to the car. I could hear Kamran roaring something at me but in a fit of panic, I didn't care. I couldn't hear anything apart from the thumping of my heart and that murderer's laugh. No, he wasn't a murderer if he claimed that she was alive. Then, where was she? I didn't have the time to think about this either. I didn't even get his name. I had to leave. Leave Karachi and the Narejo's for good. I didn't have the guts to look behind at Kamran. 

"Take me to the Clifton Hotel." I told the driver who nodded and started to drive away. "Take the quickest route please."

I can do this. I can leave. I have to leave. 

Farewell, Kamran Khan Narejo.

Kamran's POV:

I had been watching her like a hawk the entire night, waiting for the right moment to pounce. Anushay. My beloved Anushay. She was mine. I finally found her.

But whenever her eyes met mine, she would look away almost immediately. Why was she avoiding me so much today? She was fidgeting too. As if she was nervous about something. Did someone say something to her? I made sure she didn't leave my line of sight but then Sultan told me that abbu needed me urgently. That ammi wasn't feeling well and was having a nervous breakdown. I looked away from Anushay to go to mother. It was true. She was hyperventilating and wheezing. 

"If Kainat was here, she would have seen Ibraheem's wedding too. Our family would have been complete too." Ammi mumbled as she scratched her arms. She was panicking again. I thought she was holding up fine but it looked bad. Someone must have said something to her again. Damn it. I hugged her to calm her down and took her to a quieter and safer place. Tears rolled down her eyes as she kept mumbling the same sentences. I rocked her to sleep while holding her tightly. 

I had wanted Anushay to meet ammi so she would feel better. Ammi adored Anushay. For some reason, whenever I talked about her, Ammi would show the smallest of smiles as if she was reminiscing about better days. I had hoped for them to meet today but with the way things are, it seems a little difficult. Oh well, I can always ask her to meet later. I am sure they will get along really well. Once ammi fell asleep, abbu told me, he would sit with her and placed her head in his lap and asked me to go handle the arrangements. I nodded as I left the room and headed to the main venue.

Now then, where was she? Must be close to Misha or Rubab. Rubab was standing with Fahad. Misha was talking to one of the cousins while Ibraheem was hugging some uncle. I slowly scanned the rest of the hall and felt my heart beat pick up pace. Not there. Or there. Or here. Where did she go? The bathroom? No. Anushay. Just where are you?

And then I saw a glimpse of her leaving the hall. Why was she rushing? The food was yet to be served. Was she leaving? As if I would let her. I started pacing towards the exit but someone stopped me.

"Bhai, where are you going? Uncle Zubair is calling you over there." Shamsher stopped me and I looked behind him to see her walking out of the exit. I glared at him causing him to wince in surprise. "What's wrong? Why do you look so pissed?"

I ignored him as I stepped aside and started running towards the exit. She should not get away. She can't. The moment I stepped outside I saw her enter a car. She didn't even look at me and instantly slammed the door. I ran to her car and slammed my hands on the glass to stop her.

"Don't you dare run again, Anushay!" I roared but she ignored me as the car started to drive away. "I will find you! Mark my words! I will find you, no matter where you run!" I had no idea why she was running from me. I thought maybe she finally remember what we shared but it was impossible. I had to drag her back. I took out my gun and pointed it towards her car tire but I didn't want to turn the car upside down so I decided not to shoot.

Wassal was standing close by with a cigar in his hand. He watched the entire thing without batting an eye. His eyes were trained on the car that was driving away at a fast pace. The moment I turned to him, he handed me his car keys as if he knew what I wanted to do.

"Go on, bring her back." He said without asking any questions. I gladly took the keys as I sat in the car and reversed. I dialed another number as well.

"There is a girl named Zoya Ali who will try to leave on one of the flights. Early twenties. Find out what flight it is." I ordered one of my men and then hung up.

You are not getting away, Anushay. Not this time. 

This is not a goodbye. This is just the beginning. 

Author's Note:

Hello and Asalam o Alaikum Lovelies!

I hope all of you are well.

Who has expected this plot twist? All this time, it was Wassal Khan Narejo who had haunted Zoya. What do you think is going to happen next? Will Kamran find Zoya or will Wassal get to her first?