Qurban

•50• Him / وہ

"Altamash calm down. Zainab will be fine."

Altamash unheard his father's reassurance. He was lying. Zainab wasn't safe. She was in danger and he had no idea, not a single clue where she was or who she was with. After the encounter with Idris, he drove like a madman and came home only to find it empty. No sight of his wife. The dirty dishes were still in the sink, the dining room table was still covered with the utensils they ate their breakfast in. Everything was just as it was before.

She wasn't just home.

"May be she went somewhere. She must have forgotten to tell you."

Altamash shook his head.

"No, she hasn't. She would have called me. She's in danger."

Yahya frowned. By the way the house looked, it didn't seem like she was kidnapped. Even her purse was missing and it indicated that wherever she left or whoever she left with, she knew them and left with them willingly.

"Have you called Subhan?"

Altamash nodded his head and just then the doorbell rang. Yahya motioned Altamash to stay put and answered the door. The door revealed Subhan whose eyes momentarily widened at the sight of him.

"Yahya..uncle?"

He seemed almost uncomfortable, so Yahya eased his discomfort

"That's me. He's waiting inside."

Both the men walked inside and Subhan immediately joined his friend

"What happened Altamash? You sounded stressed on the call."

Altamash's eyes met with his father's and he felt his throat close up. How could he tell Subhan that he had put Zainab in danger. He would never forgive him. He promised to always keep her safe.

"What's wrong?"

Subhan asked, his voice getting a pitch higher as he observed the eye contact between the son and the father.

"Sit Subhan."

Yahya said but it only aggravated him.

"No, tell me what's wrong?"

"Zainab is in danger."

Subhan's eyes widened in surprise

"What?"

He almost shouted. Yahya quickly intervened

"She might not be. Altamash met his grandfather in the station. He made some threats and now he's worried."

Altamash started pacing again. God those were no threats. Those were warnings.

"What threats?"

Altamash closed his eyes as he heard Subhan's voice getting concerned. The man had already lost his brother and if something were to happen to Zainab, he wouldn't be able to cope with that.

A hand came upon his shoulder, stopping his paving.

"What is happening, Altamash?"

Altamash tipped his head toward his room, wanting to talk to him alone. Yahya politely excused himself and gave them space to talk. Subhan followed Altamash to his study where he narrated the entire story that went down with his grandfather.

"That son of a **."

He stopped mid sentence realizing what he was about to do.

"It's no issue."

Subhan rubbed a hand across his face.

"What do we do now?"

Altamash had no idea. He had to find Zainab anyhow. Grabbing his phone from his pant pocket, he dialed her number again.