Widow

16. "I KNOW WHO THE KILLER IS!"

Dinner went well. After the dinner Usman asked Hashim about the meeting he had asked for before. Hashim led him to the balcony. When they entered the balcony, a scene appeared in front of Hashim's eyes. This was the same balcony where Zain had stood when Taimoor was killed, this was the same balcony where he stood when Mehak was murdered, this was the same balcony where he stood when his mother had died. He had always came here whenever he was sad, whenever he needed solace. They both had shared their best and worst moment here at this balcony. Now standing there without his best friend, Hashim was missing him a lot.
"So I wanted to tell you about the case." Usman said.
"I know every little detail of this case." Hashim replied, staring in the darkness of the night.
"Well that a mere wishful thinking." Usman smiled.
"Wait a minute. You read the case details from a file. Right?" Hashim turned towards him.
"Yeah." Usman nodded.
"I witnessed each and every minor detail." Hashim said, "So technically, that's not a mere wishful thinking. I really know every detail." He said.
"I can prove that." Usman challenged, a mischievous smile on his face.
"Prove it." Hashim accepted.
"I know who the killer is. Do you?" Usman asked. Hashim backed of a little.
"Who is the killer?" He asked, his voice so slow that Usman had to lean towards him to hear what he said. After hearing the question, he took Hashim by his arm and led him to the chairs placed there in the balcony.
"Let's sit down and talk about this." he said. "Do you remember when Mr. Zain asked you about the old man when you guys brought the body of Taimoor at the villa?"
Hashim nodded at the question.
"Do you remember when Mr. Zain told you that the fact that Mr. Ubaid is Maimoona's father never bothered him before like it did him then?"
Hashim just looked at him dumbfounded.
"And do you remember when Mr. Zain showed the whole family a button from the coat of the killer?"
"Yes." A  voice came from behind, startling them both as they both turned to look back. Humna was standing there, tears forming in her eyes, telling them both that she had comprehended the information.
       .................
"I swear I did not mean to tell anybody apart from Hashim." Usman said, talking over the phone. "I did look around before starting to tell him.. I don't know when did she came there."
"Okay what do I do now?" He asked after a long pause, listening to the man on the other side of the call. Now he was talking in low mumbles.
       ...........
Usman had left after the meeting at the balcony. Khalil had noticed the change in Humna's behaiviour. He went to her room after everybody had left. The door of the room was open. Khalil stood there for a moment watching her as she was sitting on her bed, deep in thought. Her behavior was worrying him. He cleared his throat to gain her attention.
"Baba! What are you doing there? Come in." She said, smiling and making place for her father on the bed.
"How are you?" He asked, once he sat there.
"I don't understand?" She looked at him, confused.
"Are you alright?" He asked again.
"I don't know baba." She shrugged.
"Is this about Usman? Did he say something to you?" He asked softly.
"About what?"
"I don't know, about anything." Khalil said. Humna sighed, she got what her father was thinking.
"No, he didn't say anything." She shook her head.
"Then why are you behaving so odd since he left?"
"It's nothing." She tried to convince him by smiling at him, but her smile didn't reach her eyes.
"Why does everybody keep hiding things from me?" He said, irritated.
"Okay. I will tell you everything when the time will come. But be positive it's not about Usman or any other guy." She put her hand on his father's forearm and then her head on his shoulder.
"A proposal came for you." Khalil told her.
"What? Who?" Humna asked, raising her head.
"Haris. He asked me. I want you to think about it. Decision is yours." He said and went out of the room, leaving Humna sitting on her bed stunned.
             .......................
Moona was sitting in her office arranging some files she had to give her boss when her office door opened.
"Can I talk to you after office? It's necessary." Shanzay asked.
"Sure. Why not! Is everything okay?" Moona asked.
"No, nothing is okay. I will tell you." Shanzay said as Moona nodded and got back to her work.
Later that day, they both were sitting in the lawn of the villa.
"Now tell me what is wrong?" Moona asked her.
"It's my father, we had a fight yesterday."
"Why?" Moona asked picking up her cup of tea.
"He wants me to cut off with your family which I cant." Shanzay replied.
"Why would he say that?"
"I don't know. He just hate Khalil Bhai.
"Well that's not new." Moona smiled.
"What do I do now?" Shanzay asked.
"So you told him that you will not leave us."
"Yes. Also I am in search of an apartment but you know I cant get any apartment soon."
"I have an idea." Moona got straight in her chair.
"What?" Shanzay asked, leaning towards her.
"Me and you can live in my house together." She said excited.
"But Khalil Bhai.." Shanzay looked towards the villa.
"I can handle him. Don't worry." Moona said.
"You can handle whom?" Salma asked as she sat with them.
"Your husband." Moona smiled at her.