Qurban

•18• Call / کال

Irtiza was in his study along with Qadir and his son, Basit. The three of them were gathered to discuss the upcoming rally. The last one paid off and the public's response had been in their favour. Not to mention the demand he made in that rally. The aftermaths of that stunt still hadn't died down and people were still waiting and speculating when any of the party would drop the bomb. Media's eyes were trained on Idris who had been quiet ever since the rally. Some were speculating it was the calm before the storm. And may be they weren't wrong given how he called Irtiza for a private secretive meeting he still hadn't told his partner, Qadir about.

Irtiza eyed Qadir who had his eyes squinted at a paper. Basit, on the other hand, seemed distracted by his phone. Irtiza dropped the pen on the table and addressed Basit

"Give us some privacy, please."

The young man's eyes shot up to him simultaneously as his father's.

"Why?"

It was Qadir who asked the question. Irtiza looked at him and whatever he found in his gaze made him turn to his son

"Leave us, Basit."

The younger man nodded his head and left the two men in privacy. The door clicked shut behind his wake and Irtiza sighed.

"So what is it?"

Qadir asked while leaning back in his chair and folding his arms across his chest. Keeping quiet for a minute or two, Irtiza finally spoke up

"I met Idris three days ago."

Confusion marred Qadir's face, but he kept silent and waited for him to continue.

"He threatened to hurt my family if I didn't stop."

Understand sparked in Qadir's eyes and he muttered

"What did I even expect from a man like him!"

Qadir scoffed and took a sip of his tea. But Irtiza looked deep in thought. Qadir noticed it too because his next words were

"You look quite disturbed. Is everything alright?"

Irtiza sighed and rubbed his eyes. Everything was taking a toll on him. The rally, the upcoming elections, the looming threat. He quietly stood up from his chair and walked over to the window. The lush green garden adorned with different types of plants and fountains that were flowing with water twenty four seven was his view yet his eyes were stuck on his daughter. She was knelt beside some pots watering them, unaware of his eyes on hers. Something tightened in his chest, like a block of lead was constricting his windpipe, making it harder to breath. Taking a deep breath in, his eyes still trained on his daughter, he spoke to Qadir

"My daughter... she's... she's the one of the  people I care about most." 

Qadir's eyes danced between him and the window, possibly wondering why he was even telling him that when he was known to be closed off and anti emotional.

"If something were to happen to her..."

A shudder ran down his spine, but he sighed again and suppressed it. Turning around, he walked over to his chair and took a seat.

"Idris threatened to hurt her in order to set scores with me. I cannot let that happen. Not after what she had gone through."

Qadir shifted in his place and asked

"Why are you telling me all that?"

The next words were harder to leave Irtiza's throat. It was obvious in his intake of breath and hesitation to continue.

"If I could marry her off to a powerful family..one that could protect her additional to the security that I provide, it will ease my worries for her."