Widow

5. WE ARE FAMILY

It had been a week since Taimoor's death so everyone had returned to their routines. Moona was staynig at Khalil's Villa. She was waiting for her delievery which was soon so that she may have something or someone to tend to. Zain had been having breakfasts with them daily now although he had not discussed anything about this case with them yet. Hashim also visited but never specifically on breakfast because he had his own family (a wife and a son of two months). His wife had returned from her parents' house so he was quiet busy. Khalil also had started to go to his office as he's a very successful business man and could not afford any more absences from his office although Hashim (his manager) was always there to see the matters.
Khalil had a brother who died two years ago of lungs cancer leaving a four-years old girl 'Aqsa' and a widow 'Sadia'. Also he had a sister 'Khadija' apart from Moona, who lived in Canada with her husband and was childless.
Hashim had been Khalil's manager since five years. He married a girl 'Mehak' from his office and now had a beautiful two month old son 'Saud'.
Zain knew Khalil for five years when Hashim introduced him to Khalil. Khalil was in desperate need and he needed Zain. Zain proved himself. Moona had been married then to Taimoor and Taimoor was not very fond of talking about his friends in front of her so she never knew about him. And that was good for Zain!!
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Today, they were having their breakfast at Khalil's villa. Khalil had called Zain and Hashim to join him at his house. Moona was also present today although she didn't use to have breakfast with them at the table.
"I want to talk to you about your progress in this case." Khalil said after breakfast. While the girls were wiping the table.
"I think now is not the time." Zain replied.
"Why not?" Hashim turned to him.
"Because I am also in doubt about certain aspects of the case. I am trying hard to get some evidences but there are not any strong ones." Zain said in despair.
"Its been a week now." Moona frowned.
"Murder cases take very long time. Even years." Zain said.
"So what is your strategy then." Khalil asked.
"I cannot put them behind the bars just because of a little doubt on them." Zain said now clearly irritated by the conversation.
"Who are them?" Humna said sitting beside him.
"Those who killed Taimoor." Hashim replied.
"You know them??" She said. Shock on her face.
"No, Humna, I dont."
"Then what are you doing?" Khalil said.
"Investigating." Zain repliad then continued.
"There is something I want to say."
"What?"
"We are a family now. We have to trust each other. No one will hide anything. We have to be clear with each other. Only then we will survive this case.Now I have something to show you." He said pulling out an air tight packet from his pocket. There was a coat button in the packet.
"What is it?" Hashim asked. Everyone was looking at the button.
"It's a coat button." Zain replied clearly annoyed.
"Where did you get it?" Khalil asked.
"Does anyone of you know about this button??" Zain asked alerting on Khalil's question.
"No." Was the answer.
"I took it from Taimoor's fist. May be it is one of the killers." Zain said. He was about to say something but Hashim's phone interepted. He took out the cell phone and answered.
"Yes, meri jan." Zain chuckled and got a glare from Hashim. After 2 minutes Hashim hung up.
"Mehak is coming. She is just two minutes away from here." He said and stood up.
"I need to talk to you. Let me come." Zain also stood up. Hashim noded and they both came outside.
"So??" Hashim asked.
"You told me that 'the old man' I asked you about was Moona's father." Zain said following Hashim outside the house. He had his hands in the pockets of his jacket.
"Yes. Why are you asking?"
"But Moona is Khalil bhai's sister." Zain asked confused.
"Oh yes she is. Actually when she was born her mother died so Khalil bhai's mother fed her. And now she is his foster sister." Hashim explained.
"What is she actually to him?" Zain asked.
"First cousin. Her father and bhai's father are brothers. You never asked that before."
"It never bothered me before."
"And why is it bothering you now?" Hashim said with a smirk on his face.
"Because Iam working on Taimoor's case now." He said and turned back.
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When he came back , he just went upstairs on the balcony, staring out in space.
"You said we should not hide anything from each other." Moona said standing beside him. Zain sighed and looked at her then returned to his previous position.
"I did."
"And what do you mean by that?" She frowned.
"It means we are all in danger. We have to protect each other and for that we have to tell everything to one another." Then he suddenly turned to her. "Are you hiding anything?"
But before she could say anything, there was some noise downstairs.
"They are here." And she left. Zain just looked at her leaving and then followed her. Everyone was in lounge.
"No one has work today I guess." He said watching Khalil and Hashim sitting on the sofa with Saud in Hashim's arms. He reached to held him when Khalil motioned Hashim to let go to office. When they left Mehak came to Zain who was playing with little Saud.
"He needs rest now. This is his sleeping time." She said. Zain smiled and gave the baby to her.
"If anyone wants lift, I am offering." He said standing up. But the women said that they didn't so Zain came out and went to his home for some work.
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"So what do you wanna do after everything?" Mehak asked Moona. They were sitting in the lawn.
"After everything?" Moona raised her eyebrows.
"I mean after you have the baby." She said eating peanuts from the plate placed on the table infront of them.
"I will look after the baby."
Moona said.
"And where will you live?"
"I will live here for sometime because you it will be difficult for me to do it alone. But I will shift to my house soon."
"I think you should live here." Mehak said.
"But why? I have my own house. Moreover I don't want to be more burden on my brother. He had already done so much for me." Moona said. Her love for her brother evident from her voice. Mehak smiled.
"I wish I could do something for you."
"You will. When the time comes." Moona said assuring her with a smile. Mehak just noded.
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When Zain reached his house, he was shocked to see  a brown envelope on his threshold. He picked it up and went inside. There was paper inside the envelope. He reached to take it out. It was typed and read:

"So Mr.Zain Abdullah, we told you not to involve in this matter but you have a very bad habit of interfairing. Now get ready for the consequences."
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