LAST MAN STANDING

CHAPTER-12

After a long time, Aasim and Inaaya were walking together in the city after spending time in the café. It was sunset. the sky turned into a hazy red colour shifting from the light blue of the upper atmosphere. Everyone could hear the usual chatter of the city. Then, they came across a TV shop. The headlines said:

                                 RAW agent Ravi Kumar has been executed

                                 today by the Pakistan government.

"Thank god, he got killed. it's a complete relief. How dare they even enter here. Let's hope the same happens to the other girl." One man standing beside Aasim said. "Mind your language. how could you wish for killing a girl. Imagine if it was your daughter" Aasim shouted. "it's not so it doesn't matter. However, who are you to speak for her?" .He gave a suspicious look. Aasim just held Inaaya's hand and walked away trying to escape his next question. At that time, a police jeep stopped nearby. One of them took out a piece of paper showing everyone asking if they knew about the person. Then, the man standing near the TV shop snatches the paper and points his index finger at Aasim. The police run after him. He is surrounded by cops before he even realized it. "you are under arrest, sir."

"I am sorry. I think you have the wrong person." Inaaya explained. 

The police display the sheet to both of them. She was in shock. Aasim didn't know how to explain to her. Inaaya was about to persuade but Aasim just held her hand back. She then understood they were right. An old man was walking and stumbled over the police. One of the police tried to lift him in that process, but the gun fell from his hands. Aasim's reflexes were so fast that the police didn't even realize when Aasim held the gun next to the old man's head. "LEAVE ME OTHERWISE I WILL SHOOT HIM. DO NOT ACT SMART WITH ME AND STEP BACKWARD." Aasim warned. The police slowly started walking backwards with their guns still pointing at him. Inaaya was so frightened to see him shouting like this. He ran towards the police jeep with the old man. Inaaya followed him too. He sped off immediately with the jeep heading out of the city. The cops tried to look for an alternate vehicle and finally found some bikes behind.

"why are the police chasing you, Aasim? What is happening?" Inaaya was asking in confusion. "I have no clue." Aasim had no idea how he got caught. 

"Aasim, you are hiding from me something?" 

"I AM NOT. JUST SHUT UP!!" Aasim shouted.

 He was worrying about the police catching up after him. he had to lose them quickly. The old man remained quiet surprisingly cooperating with him in this situation. The tracks were dusty with sand on the sides. He immediately took a left turn taking him onto another lane. The wheels drifted due to the high speed creating a huge dust cloud. He realized if he goes through the bushes he will go directly into the forest. He immediately took the turn losing the police off his track before the cloud faded.

"Aasim, I think you are up to something wrong. Tell it to me right now." Aasim sighed while Inaaya was looking at him waiting for an answer. "the truth is..." "Is?" "They realized I make the krygonium missile and since the word leaked, they are after my life." Inaaya started to panick. Aasim put his hand over her shoulder asking her to calm down. He stopped the Jeep near his house and brought both of them inside. Inaaya gazed around the house in surprise.

The old man was slept during the whole ride. Aasim woke him up and got him inside the house. "I am sorry, sir. I didn't mean to do this to you. please don't tell anyone." Aasim pleaded to the old man. "ok. Just get me a glass of water. I need to take tablets." Aasim ran to the kitchen and got him a glass of water. "Aasim, we need to talk."Inaaya pulled him aside.

Meanwhile, in China, Xin Cho is sitting on a cushioned straw chair opposite the president sitting on a sofa on top of a grazed lawn. "are you sure this will work, Xin?" "Sir. He will do this for his mother." "but we have so many people here. There should be someone who can do this well." 

"Sir, talent can from anywhere but it is not there everywhere. We should also think about the quality of the missile. Aasim has done various weapons but it hasn't been recognised because of a lack of marketing. It is good for us to use him like this since he doesn't know his true value." Xin explains. "hmm... what are you planning to use it for?" 

"We can use it on America, sir. We could use this to eliminate America as a superpower. Then, we just stay on top of the world. The damage this would create would not let them stand back on their legs."

"Be realistic... Be realistic, Xin. I don't think it's easy to handle the after-effects. We need to give answers to the United Nations on our highly destructive act. If we get caught during the exporting process, it will be a situation I cannot handle. We can work it out using peace treaties with the other countries." "WE DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THAT!! YOU ARE ALREADY BLOODY OLD", Xin shouts. The guards standing around are surprised. Xin realizes his tongue just slipped. "listen, you need to be grateful to this old man to put you here. Don't ever think of trying to control me. Otherwise, you wouldn't want to see the corpses of your daughter and wife roaming around. Would you?" The Prime minister whispers in his coldest voice next to Xin's ears. "sorry, sir". The prime minister walks away with his bodyguards. Xin takes the wine glass. His fist tightens like a rock breaking the glass leaving him with blood across his palm.

"Aasim, are you sure this is all about the Krygonium? because if it isn't I am disappointed in you." Inaaya asks. "trust me. it's all fine. It's pretty late, you need to go. I will take care of this old man." Aasim pushes her outside the door with his hands on her back and locks it. Some peace finally after Inaaya left. "Zzz...Zzz..". Aasim's head was paining from hearing that old man snore horribly. He went up the stairs to check on Zoya and Omar. Omar looked so tired. Aasim poured some water into his mouth from a glass. Zoya was on her chair with her hand tied with a rope. "do you still need to tie a rope to me?" 

"My house. My rules." Aasim replied with a smile.

"so what happened when you left?" "I was just speaking with Inaaya regarding the missile. We were just about to leave and the cops were after me. I somehow tried to escape but now they are publicizing my face." 

"How is that possible? Did you speak to anyone about me and Omar over here? Who is this Inaaya?" Zoya was just throwing questions frantically.

 "no, I didn't tell anyone regarding you. Inaaya is just someone I met who got me into QUT. She helps me out a lot."

 "Aasim, I don't think you should speak to her. Omar mentioned having someone in QUT leak information for him, please understand. You cannot trust her." "but..." Zoya placed her finger on his lips. Her eyes were on the door. She sensed the intruder on the opposite side and grabbed the knife from the table. The sound of loud thudding of footsteps was heard. She ran charging towards the old man. Aasim tried to catch up with her pace but Zoya was too fast. "Zoya, stop. He won't do much harm." She jumped over him throwing him on the floor. 

"you're dead, old man." Zoya says. She turns his face to get a clear look.

"ZOYA??"The old man shouts.