Lost Without You

Chapter 03: Searching out for paranoids

"the past has no power"
-2019.

Aariz's POV

It was a fine evening. While practicing my usual daily workout, I was informed that my senior wished to meet me.

The news left me confused, as it never happened. Mostly in rare cases, or whether we're being called for some emergency.

Shutting everything down, I changed into my room, and quickly made my way towards the head office, not before leaving a message for my roommate informing about the keys where I had put them.

So, I am a Captain. I had worked my living strength to gain this rank. I'm a strong, straight forward, and cold person. But it would suck at feelings and emotional things. I had only one aim in Life, Work. And only work. My life surrounds around my job and my every free time has been spent with my roommate or friends.

I have no specific choice of hobbies. I like football, and soccer. And sometimes, I like to listen to some old music in silence-with no company.

I have three siblings. One younger brother-who died in an accident, and one baby sister-who was five years younger than I. My family lives in another city. I work here. I loved my job.

People would call me rude, introverted and extremely unsocial. But I cared less to explain my inner trauma's. I liked silence, a few of close friends and just good food. And yes, this was what I liked apart from my daily boring and straight routine. I like food, like a lot.

I reached there in no time, and now standing in front of his room. His name was engraved with silver paint. Major Farooq Shameer.

The name itself gave me pride and joy. He was the man who was behind my success. I could never explain what he had done for me. He was like an angel in my life. And I respected him, a lot. I knocked over the door, softly.

"Come in." I heard him from the other side.

I turned the nob and entered his office. The room was warm compared to the outside. The same old furniture, one chair, with one mahogany table- over a lot of files and two intercom on one side. While on the other, our flag at the corner and some paper holders and a few pens neatly stacked, neatly. Walking towards his table, I stood straight, my hands behind my back.

"Assalam-o-Alaikum
Captain Aariz here. Sir!" I salute, loudly.

Just like the way I'd always do, in our official professional way.

He looked up from the file he was reading. "Walaikum Asalam Aariz. Sit. I was waiting for you. I want to talk to you." he greeted me back, smiling, in a little unprofessional manner.

My instincts told me that nothing was serious in a country's danger way. I obeyed his order.

He closed the file he was going through. I looked up and again smiled I returned it.

"How's life going?" he asked.

"Alhamdulillah, with the grace of Allah. How's Auntie, and Sarmad and everyone at home?"

His family was really close to me, especially his younger son.

"Everything is fine. Your Aunty was asking me to invite you over for dinner. Tell me when you have a day off," he said. I nodded.

Actually, he was handling the other staff. So, I had to check my schedule to tell him.

"So! Did you call your father back?"

The question suddenly turned my back tense. I turned emotionless and shook my head.

"I didn't get the time." I said, it sounded unsure.