Imperious

Chapter 18

Avoid suspicion. For suspicion in some cases is a sin. (Quran 49:12)

After giving a statement, Nafeesa was freed of the legalities at three in the morning.

Karam was detained for abduction, his father, captured for abetting him.

With great difficulty, Nafeesa had explained the ordeal to Constable Shehla as truthfully as possible. Her face reddened in humiliation, but Constable Shehla was comforting about the matter and drove out as many words as she could with her deferential behaviour.

When confronted, alone, Karam denied ever having attempted such a deed, claiming that it was another one of Nafeesa's tricks to trap him. Constable Shehla, upon roughly examining Nafeesa's physical appearance, did not agree. An internal examination was suggested but Nafeesa shook her head and said that Karam's previous offences were sufficient enough for a death sentence. Such examinations would only tense Farasat and Iqtidar and the publicity of them was not desired.

Khurram admitted having kidnapped Nafeesa, taking the blame solely upon himself. He also agreed to the conditions he had set before Farasat but continued to deny that his son had murdered Sadia. There was no evidence to suggest that Summayah or Kadar were involved in the men's' activities.

The subsequent court hearing was arranged earlier than the proposed date, and a call was made to Yusuf Shah discussing the situation. There was now sufficient evidence to sentence Karam for the murder of Sadia, but the custody case of Inaya required a little more work.

If she had not been abducted, the process of justice would have needlessly dragged and Nafeesa's time would have been wasted in countless court proceedings impatient to hear a verdict that would be prolonged in its delivery. The Jatois were satisfied for now.

The men had drove to Khanumpur in a black Land Rover, the car with which they conducted serious business.

Iqtidar took to the steering wheel and Farasat sat beside him in the passenger seat. Nafeesa was left to sit with Arham in the backseat.

Nafeesa rolled down the window and watched the clouds roll over the skies in complete silence. Her life seemed to be moving as fast as them and she was trying her best to keep up. The ordeal would not leave her mind, regardless of the fact that she had left the place in which it had happened. Karam's eyes flashed before her own. It was over, yet it was not quite over.

Her father had not uttered a word to her since their reunion in the Residence. She was bought a fish fillet from Mc Donalds along with a large tango and then urged to eat it. Nafeesa, famished, had forced the sandwich down her throat despite feelings of nausea.

"Look at this," said Arham, handing her a small plastic dog with a Sherlock Holmes cloak and cap.

"Snoopy," Nafeesa smiled.

"I thought to buy one of the Happy Meal toys for Inaya. She likes little figures a lot. But you can give it to her yourself. She missed you a lot."

Nafeesa sighed ruefully. She had missed them all.

The sun had risen above the peaks of the trees and the time for Fajr prayer had passed. The Jatoi brothers did not stop to observe it, but drove on deciding that they would offer a late prayer at home to compensate. It was almost half past six in the morning when they arrived back at the Manor.

The women would be preoccupied in breakfast preparations.

Nafeesa steadily stepped out of the car before hurrying into the courtyard in the belief that her mother would be sitting at the steps, ready to wrap her into an embrace that she was in dire need of. She was dismayed upon facing an empty space.