I've Got My Eyes On You

Chapter 21 - Maryam

The air in the room hung heavy with tension as Murtasim Khan entered, his eyes fixed on Habib-the key to unlocking the mysteries that had haunted him for seventeen long years. Farid, seated beside the aged figure of Habib, visibly aged over the years, looked up with a mix of fear and helplessness etched on his face. Murtasim snapped his gun in front of Habib's face, the metallic sound echoing through the room. His eyes appeared dark, carrying a weight of unspoken sorrow. It seemed like he had cried, yet it seemed like he had never allowed himself to shed tears.

"Habib sahab batayen mujhe! Kahan leke gye thy ap appa ko!" Murtasim's voice pierced through the silence, a demand that carried the weight of years of searching and yearning for answers.

As Murtasim stood there, his gaze piercing into Habib's eyes, the room seemed to hold its breath, capturing the intensity of the emotions that surged within the hardened exterior of the underworld figure. The vulnerability etched on Murtasim's face contradicted the image of the ruthless man he was known to be. Habib faced not just the barrel of a gun but the relentless pursuit of a man who had carried the burden of unanswered questions for far too long.

Farid, ever loyal but burdened by the knowledge of Habib's inability to speak due to a burned tongue, uttered words of helplessness as he dragged Murtasim out of the room slowly, "Murtasim, he can't speak. Zaban jala di gyi thi inki"

Murtasim's heart raced, the anticipation of confronting the past and unravelling the truth intensifying with every passing second. As he looked at Habib,who had vanished on the night of Maryam's death, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions-anger, dread, and an insatiable thirst for the revelations that remained elusive. Habib, now in his late 70s, bore the marks of time, wrinkles etched on his weathered face telling stories of the years that had passed. Murtasim's gaze bore into Habib's eyes, desperately seeking answers that lay dormant within the man's silent existence.

Dreadfully, Murtasim turned to Farid, his eyes narrowing with intensity, indicating that the time for silence had ended. The urgency and desperation in Murtasim's demeanour sent a shiver down Farid's spine, a fear he had never experienced in the years of their association.

"I don't care - ye mar jayen ya zinda rahen- mujhe jawab chahiye un tamam sawalon ke jo mein pichle kayi saalon se talash ker rha hun. Do something-I want to know everything as soon as possible. I'll make sure nobody remains alive, khuda ki kasam, jaan lelunga mein tumsabki!" Murtasim's words resonated with a firm and dread-filled tone, a threat that hung heavily in the air. Farid, caught between loyalty and the impending storm, felt the weight of Murtasim's wrath bearing down on him.

"Murtasim rela-" Farid began

"Farid- DO SOMETHING," He dismissed

____________________________________________________

The weight of unresolved secrets pressed heavily on Murtasim as he returned home, hopelessness clouding his features. Placing his two phones on the table-an embodiment of the dual life he led-he found no solace in the pursuit of truth that had eluded him once again. Stress lined his face, his shoulders slouched under the burden of unanswered questions.

Meerab, attuned to his usual demeanour, noticed the unusual silence that enveloped him. Gone were the flirtatious gazes, the teasing words that often danced between them. Murtasim's silence was palpable as he sat on the couch, his hand covering his eyes, rubbing away the fatigue that etched lines on his face. He wasn't even smirking.

"Murtasim?" She uttered and got no answer back.

The room hung in a heavy stillness, broken only by the buzzing of Murtasim's phone. Meerab's attention shifted to the screen, revealing a text from Laila. Her narrowed eyes turned toward Murtasim as she questioned the untimely message.