STAR CROSSED

18. Maaz's POV

'Maaz, what would you like?' Uncle looked at me with a sign of relief when I entered his office where him and Miraaj were waiting for me.

'Just tell me what you need' I told him, glancing at Miraaj to figure why exactly he called me urgently.

'Maaz' Uncle insisted me to sit.

'What's going on, tell me' I watched him, I hated this kind of behaviour if he had something to say to me, be done with it already.

'We found Usman' Miraaj announced as Uncle was struggling to get his words right.

'Where?' I tried to hold my temper. I was saving all of it for him, all the hate, all the anger, all the pain that started eating me alive when he killed my brother.

'He is dead' Uncle explained, pulling out his phone and showing me a picture of him covered in blood, unconscious. I snatched the phone out from his hands and looked at the picture closely. He was dead, but his death felt too easy. I wanted to be the person who led him there, not someone else.

'Who did it?' I asked them.

'We don't know, but we got the news...it's confirmed' Uncle uttered his words with hesitation, he was hiding something.

'Is this everything? Who confirmed the news? Where was he and when did it happen?' I wanted to know all the details. Whoever killed this bastard, how come he reached him before we did.

'About two night ago in Hasilpur, I was talking to one of our business partners in Bahawalpur and he mentioned it to me about Usman. He sent me this morning' He explained to me. It sounded too simple, too easy. I kept staring at the picture, something felt off. Somethings were not adding up.

'It's done Maaz, he is dead' Uncle took back his phone and looked at me, he was expecting me to say something. It can't be over just like that.

'I want to see him in front of my eyes' I said. This picture wasn't good enough to prove his death.

'I am going to Hasilpur' I got up to leave but Miraaj stopped me.

'Maaz hold on, Usman is dead and we don't know who did it...going to Hasilpur is a bad idea especially when everyone knows that you are the one who wanted him dead more than anyone' He stood in front of me.

'He is right Maaz, you have to be careful...I wanted you to know about this as soon as possible so you stop blaming yourself...Usman got what he deserved and I think it's about time things go back to normal' Uncle added further. 

'Go back to normal? What does that mean?' I turned around to face him. I wasn't sure what he was talking about. He stared me but didn't say anything, but I got an idea about what he was referring to. He was mentioning about her.

'She has nothing to do with this conversation' I warned him before he could say anything.

'She does and you know it' Uncle argued.

'Uncle, Subhan must be waiting, he wanted to talk to you about next week's delivery' Miraaj sensed the tension and intervened just in time before things could get out of hand.

'He can wait, I want Uncle to finish' I walked closer to him and told him to speak up.

'Looks like you have a problem with her' I said on his behalf.

'I am going to make this simple for you Uncle, what I do with Eman...whether keep her with me or leave her...it's nobody's business but mine and neither it should affect you or anyone else and as far as work is concerned, I have always been steps ahead with any threats that might harm us so what I do with Eman should be your last concern if not none' I made it clear to him.

'This is not true and you know it...since you've married her how many times have you been at the warehouse or meeting our partners or taking responsibility to monitor our shipments...do you know we almost had a raid at our distribution centre if I hadn't got a call from one of my workers...you are not steps ahead anymore, you are behind...I have seen you running and now you are crawling...you are hiding in your home with her...what is going on? And now...Usman is dead, the person responsible for Kabeer's death is finished so are you willing to step up or not' He raised his voice at me, and I slammed my hands on his desk making him go quiet.

'I am here to watch out for you not clean after your mess...the people you hire for this work are the ones responsible...it's their duty to serve you...I work for you to protect you not your people and remember I answer to no one. I am here today because I want to not because I have to, keep that in mind and if you have any problem with me then say it so we can settle this properly, and if that happens you know who would lose what' I warned him.

'You are taking this the wrong way Maaz, I am not blaming you for it, I am trying to make you understand why I need you here with my side' He replied instead, putting his hand on my shoulder to calm me.

'None of this would have happened if it wasn't for Usman, but now you don't have to worry about him. I gave you some time to find him but now that he is dead you shouldn't have any problem with joining us again' He proposed, thinking as if it was all that easy. Maybe it was but it didn't feel that way. I should be relieved with this news since I got what I always wanted but somethings were still a bit challenging for me accept.

'I will join you when I am ready, in the meanwhile Miraaj is here...he'll keep me updated and if I feel something needs my attention I'll come over to take care of it' I stepped away from him wishing to leave.

'Give my regards to her' I heard Uncle say from behind and I shut the door behind me as I left telling Miraaj to come outside so I can talk to him alone.

'Is there anything about Usman that I should know about?' I asked him straightaway as we reached my car.

'I know just as much as you know but something seems off Maaz I mean who could it be?' He paused.

'I have to go to Hasilpur' I confirmed.

'You won't listen, will you? Fine, I'll come with you' He offered but I stopped him.

'I want you here, keep your eyes and ears open and tell me everything that is going on here...stay close to him' I added, and he understood but when I finished, I still sensed a hint of uncertainty on his face.

'What?' I demanded.

'What are you going to do? I mean with Eman? Are both of you...' He waited.

'Just stay alert' I looked back at him briefly and hit his arm, so he doesn't ask anymore questions related to her, especially thinking about what what happened between us last night when I kissed Eman.

I got inside the car and started driving back home, a strange anticipation sneaking inside of me, an urge to see her again after she walked away quietly from me when I kissed her. She went to Amma's room and stayed there the whole night leaving me wondering with what she was thinking. This morning I tried to catch her, even get a slightest glimpse of her but I failed, I waited for her close to Amma's room but Amma told me she was sleeping, she was mocking me so I left without seeing her. This was the first time I ever felt this way about anyone. I never looked forward to seeing anyone like this before. But this was my side of the story, what was going on with her? And what will happen once she learns that Usman is dead? I slowed down the speed of the car and tried to buy some time to rethink about how I was going to give her the news and the outcome that will follow.

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Hello my lovely friends,

Hope you'll are doing well. 

Let me know how you all are spending your time during quaratine? I have been working, reading, trying a few new reciepes, taking an online course lol and a lot of netflixing haha

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did please do vote, comment and share. & enjoy a double update this week as well! xx