Mafia Captured

2. Silence and Flames

Some figures lurked outside Karim's house in the shadow of the veil.

"Boss, they're all inside. Should we launch the attack?"

"No, lock the doors from outside. Set the house on fire." The command came through the other end of the phone.

The man nodded and retrieved a petrol bottle from his car.

---

"Jahra, where is Arham? Why hasn't Karim bhai brought Arham back yet?"

Sahira spoke with worry. Her eyes were fixed on the door. She had already prayed Maghrib but Arham hadn't returned yet. Arsalan had come in the morning. That's why Sahira hadn't left her room. When she went out, she saw everyone was present except Arham. Anxiety settled in Sahira's heart. She informed Jahra, who then informed Karim. Later, it was found out that Arham was hiding in Arsalan's car. There was no need to worry; he was safe with Arsalan.

Sahira was angry with Arham. She was going to scold him severely when he returned. But now she was starting to feel anxious. Arham hadn't returned yet.

"Karim's call came. Arham's perfectly fine. He'll be here in a while. Don't worry so much." Jahra reassured her. They both were busy folding clothes for all the children.

"By the way, tell me something. Since you've come here, this house has come alive. Before, it was just me, Karim, and Ibrahim. And the house was so quiet. But now there's noise and commotion all the time. Your sons don't take after you. Ammu used to say you were very quiet, like my Ibrahim. They're a real handful."

She chuckled and paused her work for a moment.

"Your sons haven't taken after you."

Sahira was startled, hearing Johar's words. She didn't want her sons to be like their father. Or, to become a criminal like their father.  Arsalan was their father, but it was only their misfortune.

When Jahra saw Sahira lost in deep thought, she gently shook her hand and asked,

"What are you lost in thought about?"

Her thoughts halted at the movement of his hand, and Sahira looked at him in shock.

"Oh, nothing."

Jahra, her voice laced with curiosity, broke the silence. "Sahira," she began, "I still can't believe you raised four children all by yourself. I remember the struggle I had with just one! The labor pains, the sleepless nights, the constant worry – it was overwhelming."

A wistful smile graced Sahira's lips as she recalled the challenges of her past. "I don't know how I managed either," she admitted. "Allah has always been merciful to me. Sometimes, I wonder how I pulled it off, all alone."

Jahra's eyes filled with admiration. "You're incredibly strong, Sahira," she declared. "Raising four children single-handedly for so many years..."

Sahira shook her head, her expression somber. "It wasn't bravery," she corrected. "It was a necessity. I had no choice. As a mother, my love for my children made me helpless. I couldn't bear the thought of Arsalan finding out about them. I had already lost one child. I couldn't lose another." Her eyes hardened, a flicker of pain crossing her face. "The rest, I left to Allah."

Jahra's heart ached for her sister, the depth of Sahira's suffering evident in her words. "But what if Arham's brain surgery hadn't required that doctor?" she asked gently. "Would you have never returned?"

Sahira's voice turned pensive. "Perhaps not," she replied. "Arham had been complaining of headaches for a few days. I didn't pay much attention at first. But when the pain became unbearable, I took him to the doctor. That's when I discovered his brain tumor."