The next day, Amir and Aisha met with Ravi in secret. They agreed to release the evidence to the press, but the response was immediate and violent. Extremist groups took to the streets, accusing Amir of betraying his people. Government officials tried to discredit the story, while shadowy figures sent threats to his family.
Farhan, still in prison, became a lightning rod for both sides. Riots broke out across the country, and the fragile peace that Amir had fought so hard to preserve was on the verge of collapse.
As the violence escalated, Amir received a cryptic message from Imran: *"Meet me where it all began."*
Amir knew exactly where Imran meant. The old mosque on the outskirts of the city—the place where their friendship had first blossomed in their youth. It was there that they had once spoken of unity, of a better future for their people.
Now, it was a battlefield.
Amir arrived just as the sun was setting, casting long shadows over the ancient stone walls. Imran was waiting inside, his face unreadable, his eyes cold.
**Imran:** (calmly) “You couldn’t leave well enough alone, could you?”
Amir stood tall, his voice steady.
**Amir:** “This isn’t about you or me, Imran. It’s about the future of this country.”
Imran shook his head, a bitter smile on his lips.
**Imran:** “You still don’t get it, Amir. There is no future. Not for people like us.”
Before Amir could respond, gunfire echoed in the distance. The city was burning, consumed by the very hatred Amir had tried to extinguish. Imran stepped closer, his voice low and dangerous.
**Imran:** “This is what you’ve caused. Your fight for peace—it’s torn the country apart.”
Amir’s heart pounded, but he stood his ground.
**Amir:** “No, Imran. This is on you. On all of us. But it’s not too late. We can still stop this.”
Imran’s eyes flashed with anger, but before he could respond, the doors of the mosque burst open. Armed men flooded in—both police and militants, each one ready to claim Amir as their prize.
The final standoff had begun.
YOU ARE READING
The Three Gates
AdventureA journey of a man discovering himself, finding love and fighting for his motherland. Can he hold the fort on all three gates?
