Qurban

•06• Challenge / للکارنا

Altamash was fuming the whole dinner. His dark eyes boring daggers at the man sitting only a few feet away from him. The marbled eyed man matched his stare with equal fervour. Not batting an eye and constantly keeping him under radar. Altamash never strayed too. He knew all too well who the man really was.

Basit Qadir. Son of Qadir Yaban.

One of the most powerful and important names of Pakistan.

Altamash also knew why Irtiza, Zainab's father, was really there having a casual dinner with them. It was no causal meet up. It was a move. A strategist one. An excellent calculation on his part given the fact that his own grandfather's name was dirt in the public eye due to the recent turn of events.

"I must say the damage done to your reputation is unimaginable."

The lawyer's voice caught Altamash's ears and he looked at the balding man in front of him. He was a short, stout man in his middle fifties. He had been their lawyer for over two decades. Loyal as hell and adhesive like a leech, but he was good business. He knew when to strike, when to object and when to stay silent. He was indeed a very good lawyer.

Only con was that he was a servant of money and not justice.

Typical.

"Tell me a solution. I don't need your opinion."

His grandfather's voice cut through the tension and he narrowed it to slits on the short man. Altamash eyes darted to the table few feet away from him again and he was relieved to see that the marbled eyed fool was leaving with his mummy and daddy.

Altamash turned to the current conversation and saw Idris's eyes fixated on him. Rather on where he was staring moments ago. A plastic laugh escaped Idris's lips as his eyes connected with Irtiza's. The other man staying silent but having a conversation with his eyes. Altamash wasn't interested in their dynamics. No, his eyes sought to the girl standing beside her father. Head bent down and eyes down casted. She looked weaker than he last saw her in Islamabad. When he felt her head tilting up a bit, he broke his stare and looked anywhere but her.

Get your wits together!

He reprimanded himself before fisting his hand. He could feel her eyes on him. Maybe she was annoyed by him. Maybe she was not. Who knew.

Idris was the first to broke the heavy stare down between him and Irtiza and faced his lawyer. His expressions calm and relaxed. Altamash knew better. Idris Nawaz was the most angriest when he seemed the most calmest. Irtiza's potential meeting with the Qadir's didn't sit well with his grandfather. He knew why the meeting took place in the first hand. Irtiza had been wanting to take part in politics for much longer than he could know. And given the dire circumstances, it was a golden opportunity for him.

The world was hating on his grandfather. They needed a new good leader and why would Irtiza drop the opportunity. No, it was an open challenge to Idris Nawaz.

And Idris Nawaz never liked challenges. For him, there was no one worthy enough to challenge him. Simple.

And arrogant as hell.

Irtiza's lips tipped upward in a smirk before he said something to his daughter and then they were out. As soon as they were out of the restaurant, Idris growled at Ilham, the lawyer

"You have two days to sort this whole mess out. 48 hours. Not a minute more."

Ilham nodded his head before standing to leave, but stopped and faced his grandfather

"Be aware of the man who just left. He's younger than you and smarter."

Idris only narrowed his eyes before beckoning the waiter over for the check. Altamash was glad that he could go on his own merry way, but Idris's voice stopped him