Chess & Checkers

16. Shadows of Deception

TRIGGER WARNING: THE LAST PART OF THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS CONTENT THAT COULD BE TRIGGERING FOR SOME PEOPLE.

READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

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The next few weeks passed by in a whirlwind as the second business quarter brought endless deadlines, a lawsuit against Murtasim that, even though settled silently outside of court, had people not only questioning Murtasim's reputation but also pointing fingers at the company for appointing a man with anger issues as the Chief Executive.

Amidst this tempest, Meerab and Murtasim found themselves in a relationship crisis when Meerab, after multiple phone calls from Shahmeer where he begged for her forgiveness, decided he deserved a second chance after all.

And if that wasn't stressful enough, Malik Zubair, from whichever corner of the world he was hiding in, decided to stir up trouble in the village once again. There were rumors about a potential rebel group that consisted of men from both the clans.

Murtasim and Shahnawaz, had been in the village for a week now as they held panchayat after panchayat to try and come up with a solution to stop this group that had begun to terrorize and murder innocent people.

So far, three bodies had washed up ashore the river that divided the Khan territory from the Maliks. Three grieving widows demanded justice for their dead husbands, who seemed to have been brutally murdered, a conclusion drawn by the multiple stab marks on their bodies.

"Meerab..." Murtasim groaned, feeling the weight of exhaustion press down on him like a heavy blanket. His temples throbbed with each heartbeat, a relentless reminder of the sleepless nights he'd endured. Yet, amidst the fog of fatigue, he knew there was no respite in sight until the problem at hand was resolved.

"Kaha na, abhi baat nahi kar sakta, panchayat bulai hai mujhe jaana hai," he muttered wearily, his voice tinged with frustration. Collapsing onto the couch, he closed his eyes, seeking a momentary escape from the ceaseless demands of his responsibilities.

"Eik hafta hogaya hai tumhe gaye hue. Eik hafte se tum ne mujh se theek se baat nahi ki." she lamented, her voice heavy with sadness. She understood his reluctance to to talk to her, yet the silence between them weighed heavily on her heart. "Jaanti houn tumhe acha nahi laga mera phir se Shahmeer se milna lekin uss ki aese saza dou ge mujhe ke baat hi nahi karou ge?"

"Tum apni marzi ki malik hou Meerab, tum jou chahe woh karou, mujhe koi farq nahi parta" Murtasim replied tersely, his tone revealing his inner turmoil. He had no desire to entertain discussions about the man who had once been a friend but now seemed hell bent on disrupting their lives.

And amidst his frustration, Murtasim couldn't shake the feeling of being isolated. It seemed he was the only one who recognized Shahmeer's true intentions, while Meerab remained steadfast in her belief that their former friend had changed. Little did he know, Meerab herself harbored doubts about her decision to reconcile with him, her wavering resolve hidden beneath a facade of certainty that even she herself was not sure whyshe had put up in the first place.

"Murtasim—" *beep* The abrupt sound cut through the thick tension, signaling the end of their conversation before it could delve any deeper.

*Flashback*

*About three weeks ago*

"Tum uss se nahi milogi, bas mai ne keh dia" Murtasim snapped sharply, his voice cutting through the air like a blade as he fastened a button on his suit jacket.

"Kyun?" an enraged Meerab demanded, her anger flaring at the audacity with which he presumed to dictate her actions. "Mai koi bhed bakri nahi houn, jisse tum ne jab chaha kahin bhi bandh dia aur mai chup chap wahin khari rahungi" she retorted, her voice laced with defiance as she marched towards him, gripping his arm and turning him to face her. But her boldness only seemed to stoke the embers of his anger and frustration, and as their eyes locked, the intensity of his glare caused her breath to catch, prompting her to take a step back.