LAST MAN STANDING

CHAPTER-08

Inaaya was driving her red-coloured Lamborghini to her apartment. It was around 9:00 at night. Cars were speeding next to her car with the headlights flashing all over. Different coloured lights flash from the malls and shops nearby over the front glass of the car. She was just smiling imagining something else. Her mind kept replaying the date she had with Aasim. She just felt so light-hearted after that. The last time she spent time like this was 3 years back on a date with Noel. Then, she remembered about her husband, Noel.

People say that only 1% of the people are the most successful in the world and Noel was one among them. He was the CEO of the company RAZE, an automobile manufacturing company. He had a good physique and natural charisma . He was a natural flirt and he tried it on Inaaya. It worked pretty well on her. After dating for 6 months, Noel proposed to Inaaya on a stage during his branch opening in Karachi. In front of such a huge crowd, she couldn't say anything else other than a 'YES'. While inside, she still wasn't sure about it. Then, they got married and gave birth to a girl recently. Only months later, she realised he was faking it all just for the fame. 

Inaaya came to her house and parked the car in the garage. Just as she opened the door, her six-year-old daughter came running and gave her a hug with her small hands grabbing her legs. " how was your first day of school, girl?" Inaaya asked. "it was great. The teacher just asked us to introduce ourselves and we played sports." "That's great. Have you been spending time with your dad?". The little girl puts her head down and her smile fades. Inaaya sighs. He lifts her daughter's head and smiles at her. "after I refresh myself, I will tell you a bedtime story. Fine?" "Okay". Her daughter smiles and runs to her room.

Inaaya opens Noel's room door slightly. Noel was on the phone with someone else. "hey maria, don't worry. Everything will be fine. Everyone faces such problems in life." The girl on the phone says, "Sir, I am not able to do it. I am having a rough phase." "It's fine. Come in the afternoon to my house. Ok, we will discuss your problems. Don't worry no one will be there at my house." Inaaya just leaves there and refreshes her dress. *no one will be there at my house. what was he even thinking? is this the man I decided to marry.* she spoke to herself.

Inaaya refreshed herself and sat next to her daughter on the bed narrating her the story. "And happily ever after...". her daughter's eyes were closed and Inaaya gave a light kiss on her forehead. When she came out of the room, she saw Noel sitting in front of the TV. "what happened, Inaaya? Why you came so late today?" 

"I was busy with some work. How does it matter to you?". 

"it matters because you are my wife. Whatever you do matters to me," Noel shouts at her. " you don't even care about our family. Do you know anything about your daughter?" "I don't have time to spend. I have a whole company to take care of." "yes, the company where the clients go to their CEO for dates and speak about their problems.", Inaaya shouted.

"she was just facing some problems. Don't you understand?" "how will I understand? Someone ready to understand someone else's problems other than his daughter's. You have completely changed Noel. You are not the person I met."

Noel raised his hand midway and stopped in the middle. "Remember, one thing. I am the same flirt to every other girl, the way I was with you. I am the same successful and busy person when I met you. I am still the same lover I was with you. if there is anything that changed, it is time and the way you look at things." "Yes, you are right. I am sorry." She cries and walks back to her bedroom.

Noel started to roar with anger. Why won't she understand him? Then, he found her phone on the sofa. He peeped to the side to take another good look if she went in. Then, He picked up to check her messages to catch her red-handed if she liked someone but he couldn't find any suspicious texts. He checked the drawer beside him and took out his GPS tracker. He slowly slid it between her phone cover and her phone. He smirked and threw the phone back on the sofa. Now, she would definitely get into trouble or that's what he thought so.

In Aasim's house, Aasim is sitting on the balcony with Zoya. In the middle of the forest, sunlight passes through the spaces between the leaves of the tall trees. Nature looked so serene with just the noises of different birds chirping. Zoya looks at Aasim sipping his coffee and enjoying nature. "why didn't you just leave me there during the accident, Aasim?". " that's because I thought you deserved a second chance to live. I didn't want to leave someone there to get killed." "then, you should have left Omar there. Why didn't you?". "I didn't know he was a terrorist and I think everyone deserves a second chance," Aasim told. "I wish Abhinav had that second chance too.", she cried. "I don't know if I could help but if there's anything I am there for you." she tilts her head slowly onto his shoulders and wraps her hand around his arm holding the gun.

A few seconds later, he gets a call. "HELLO" "Hello, Qasim." Aasim's voice trembled with fear hearing him speak. "I heard you made the deal with my sister. I will see how you will do it. You still have the hardest part: creating a chamber to contain the reaction and then activating it. You will be delivered the krygonium. I will be eager to see your finished project." "Yes, sir. I will...". The call gets cut. Aasim put his head down. Why did he speak so rudely to him? Did he like to watch him lose? Zoya sitting beside folds her fingers. "what happened?" "Nothing. I have to complete the missile."

Zoya places her hands over her head in tension. Aasim says, "I think you should go and stay in your room. I have put a CCTV camera to ensure both of you don't mess with me." "What happened to you? Weren't you all kind to me?". "yes, there is a limit to it after some time it becomes stupidity, I think I will stop this project," Aasim tells her. "No don't. look making weapons is what you like and you can prove Qasim wrong. Then, once he sees it, you can use it for your benefit by not giving it to him by getting a patent for it. Then, it becomes your sole property to choose who gets it." "What benefit do you get by helping me?" "I can ensure no one gets harmed and you will help me transport Omar Faruq to India."

He stared at her for some time clueless about whether what he was doing is right or wrong. Then, he finally decided. "fine, it's a deal. I will do it."

He then told her to move signaling with the gun in his hand. She was confused about what happened to those moments they spent together but she thought to forget it. it could create a problem for her. He made her sit on the chair tying the ropes. Then, He hears a notification sound. He scowled at her face. There is a hint of guilt on her face. He pulls out her shoe and takes her phone from it. The notification reads-

RAWAT

Ravi is with them. Hurry and free him.

"Seems like someone called Ravi is in danger. Another RAW agent?" "Please Aasim understand. He needs help. I just was trying to tell them, I am good." "SHUSH", Aasim shouted at her, spitting on her face. "go tell them I am good, eating properly #chilling with Aasim and all. Now it's clear. Nobody is going to save Ravi. Do you get that?" "no please, Aasim. Don't do this." He grabs her head with his long fingers grabbing her hair tightly and places a knife close to her neck. She got frightened. She started breathing heavily. She could feel the cold metal of the knife lightly touching the skin of her neck.

There was a fire burning in Aasim's eyes. He saw the fear in her face. Suddenly, he shook his head and there was a complete change in his expression. He felt clueless about what he was doing with her. He stepped back and throws the knife on the floor away from him. He puts the bandage back on her mouth and says 'Sorry'. Zoya felt like she just had a multiverse of dreams. He saw his phone ringing on a table at the Centre of the dusty room. he took his phone and switched off the lights in the room immediately. The door was locked. The room had only one small window at the top of the wall to with the sun's rays coming out of it and the only source of air for them. 

The knife on the floor was shining and gleaming with the sunlight falling on it's edge. Waiting for the opportunity to wield it for a  new war. And we won't keep it waiting, won't we?