Married To A Captain

Chapter 21

"Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer - We will surely cause him to live a good life, and We will surely give them their reward [in the Hereafter] according to the best of what they used to do." - Quran 16:97,
Jummu'at Mubarak✨

Fatima's heart pounded as the guard pushed her down the dimly lit corridor. The metal door slammed shut behind her, the sound echoing in the narrow space. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what was happening. Where were they taking her? And why?

They stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. The guard knocked twice, and a deep voice from inside told them to enter. Fatima was shoved inside, stumbling a bit but managing to stay on her feet. The room was a stark contrast to the rest of the place. It was decorated with rich tapestries and a large, ornate desk sat in the center.

Behind the desk, a man sat in a high-backed chair, his face hidden in the shadows. The guard spoke up.

"Boss, the girl is here."

The man slowly turned his chair, and Fatima's breath caught in her throat. It was a face she hadn't seen in years but knew all too well.

"Nasir?" she whispered, unable to believe her eyes.

Her cousin, Nasir, was the last person she expected to see here. He looked older, harder, but there was no mistaking him. He leaned back in his chair, a cold smile on his face.

"Surprised to see me, cousin?" His voice was mocking, almost cruel.

Fatima could hardly breathe. The cousin she had once known, the one who had shared her childhood, was now a criminal mastermind.

"How... how could you?" she stammered as the shock was quite evident on her face.

"What happened to you, Nasir?"

Nasir's smile faded, replaced by a look of pure anger. "Do you think I'll let you go after your parents killed my mom? I told your dad to slow down the car, but he didn't. He crashed, and what happened? My mother was taken away from me! You ruined my life. Took my happiness."

Fatima shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Do you think you were the only one who lost everything that day? I lost my parents and my sister. I lost everything!"

Nasir's eyes blazed with fury. "Your dad was reckless. Because of him, my mother died. I lost everything that day. I lost the my mother, I lost my happiness, my father blamed me for my Mother's death and you expect me to leave you unscathed? Common teems, I thought you were smarter than this?"

Fatima ducked her head, feeling the pain choke her. She could still feel her mother's body on her lap, her own hands covered in blood.

She had begged her mother to open her eyes, but there was no response. The memory of that moment hit her hard, and she let out a scream, crying loudly as the helplessness and grief overwhelmed her.

She wished so desperately it was her in that makara, wrapped in white cloth, her eyes closed forever, sparing herself from the agony of loss.

But then she recalled, "Every soul shall taste death."
And well this time, it was her family that tasted the cold hands of death.

She locked eyes with Nasir and uttered, "You lost your mother, but resorting to kidnapping and torture, is this how you honor her memory? You're not the Nasir I once knew, the Nasir I cherished. This brutality, it's not who you truly are. You've changed and it's for the worst"

Nasir's eyes welled up briefly before he composed himself and instructed his guard to escort Fatima away.
****

As Muhammad's squad infiltrated the location where Fatima was held, they believed they had the upper hand. However, as they advanced, a member of their team was struck by enemy fire, signaling an ambush.