Qurban

•26• Bedlam / انتشار

Irtiza was brought to the hospital by Altamash. He had lost so much blood already. He was taken into the operation theatre immediately but the doctors knew it was a police case. Altamash couldn't tell them what happened for obvious reasons, so he went in a corner and dialed the only person he knew would come racing

"Hello?"

"Your mamo has been shot! I've brought him to the hospital."

"What?!"

Subhan all but shouted in the phone and hung up after inquiring about the hospital. Pocketing his phone, Altamash leaned against the wall. His white shirt now supported a big blotch of red in the middle.

Someone had tried to kill Irtiza Aqeel.

It was a sniper indeed. Someone already knew he would be there, meeting him alone in a deserted place like that.

And who could that be?

Altamash's jaw clenched as his mind went straight to the first person who would stoop this low.

The hurried sound of footsteps however, broke his hateful reverie and he saw his best friend rushing toward the OT.

"How did all this happen?"

Subhan fired his question. Altamash stayed silent for a bit, but then he held nothing back.

"He called me for a meeting. We were in the middle of it when he was shot."

"Did you see who did it? Anyone at all?"

Altamash shook his head and the man before him cursed. Holding his head in his hands, Subhan muttered

"How am I going to tell Bhabhi."

Altamash could only think how much it would break her. But she has to know. Gulping, he lowly said to his best friend

"You should call her. She should be here."

Subhan nodded his head and walked a little farther to call Zainab. Altamash plopped down on the uncomfortable plastic chair and dropped his head between his shoulders. After a few seconds, he felt Subhan occupying the other chair with a sigh.

"They're coming. I've also called Safa. She'll be able to support Bhabhi."

Altamash nodded his head but could feel Subhan burning with unasked questions. He could feel the bubbling curiosity almost radiating off of him. But right now, he wasn't in the state to answer any of it. But to put Subhan's fear to rest, he added in a hushed voice

"Later. I'll tell you everything."

For a moment, Subhan didn't speak a word, but then Altamash heard him say

"I trust you, buddy."

The ordinary three words sentence almost knocked Altamash to the ground. Facing him, he only found his best friend staring at him. Patting his shoulder like a brother, Subhan muttered

"I've known you all my life. We'll get through this."

Altamash was so blessed, so so glad that he had Subhan by his side. Because he knew what major storm was waiting for him. Sooner or later, the world would know that Irtiza had been shot, that there had been an assassination attempt at Irtiza Aqeel.

He had to be ready. To face it all.

Because it was his fight now.
*****************

Rushed footsteps had Altamash opening his eyes and he saw four lean figures running toward the OT. He instantly recognized all of them. Safa, Jaweria, Narmeen and....the woman with hauntingly sad eyes that were resembling a pool of water. Standing up from his chair, he saw as the four women crowded his best friend who faced them all with a solemn expression.