Widow

34. NEW ENERGY!

"What's this, Zain?" Moona asked him. She was holding her daughter in her arms. Fortunately, Shanzay had taken Haniya with her for some time before the attack.
"It's from him. The same person who attacked me." Zain said, giving the cloth to Usman.
"What do we do now?" He asked.
"We will try to find out who he is because he is very dangerous. Far more dangerous than Aasim himself." Zayn sighed. Khalil came out of the building.
"What happened?" He asked, exploring their worried expressions.
"There is a note from the same guy who attacked Zain some days ago," Khadija told him. Zain was going inside. Everyone followed him. The police were clearing the scene.
"Where do we go now, Khalil?" Salma asked.
"To Moona's house of course," Khalil said.
"I have to leave. See you guys tomorrow there." Zain said.
"What? Are you leaving us all in this mess?" Yumna asked.
"Usman is here, the police are here. What else do you need?" Zain turned to her gesturing to Usman who was examining a shell of a bullet.
"She is right. We need you here." Khadija nodded. Just then they heard voices outside. Zain turned to Usman immediately and ran outside. Usman followed him quickly.
"I am just asking you to inform Zain, he knows me very well." Shanzay was speaking to the officer, holding Haniya in her arms.
"Hey, Shanzay. Come on in." Zain rushed towards her taking Haniya from her. He then turned to the officer. "It's okay. She is a friend." When they both had gone inside, Usman turned to the officer. "Whenever someone says he or she knows Mr. Zain, just inform him. Don't indulge in some senseless conversation!"
"As you wish, Mr. Usman." The officer nodded and Usman went inside. Shanzay was sitting with the other women of the family in the lounge. Zain and Khalil were standing far away at the corner of the lounge.
"I am going to inspect the balcony," Usman said and went upstairs.
"Something big is coming," Zain mumbled.
"What big?" Khalil asked in a low voice.
"I don't know but something terrible. These incidents are clues." Zain said. "Anyway, you guys pack and leave. I will work here." Khalil nodded and turned to the women.
"Okay women! Hurry up!! We are leaving." He said and after an hour they were leaving for Moona's home.
"I'll come to breakfast," Zain said to Moona while opening the door of the car for her. She just nodded.
          ..................
The next morning Hashim woke up for FAJAR prayer. He sat in his bed for a moment then went to the bathroom. When he came out, he took out the prayer rug from the cupboard and spread it on the floor. After he had prayed and when he was folding the rug, a noise from outside made him alert, he quickly came out. There was a light coming out of the kitchen. Hashim reached the door and then sighed in relief. Zain was sitting there, drinking water.
"When did you come?" Hashim asked, filling a glass for himself.
"Where have you been all night?" Zain asked.
"Here. Why?"  Hashim asked.
"There was an attack at the villa last night," Zain told him, placing the glass on the shelf.
"What? An attack?" Hashim spilled the water from his mouth.
"Yeah, and fortunately we all survived but that was a severe one," Zain said. Now he was going to Hashim's room.
"Thank God." Hashim sighed following him into the room. Zain was making space for himself in the bed as Saud was also sleeping there.
"Your prayer?" Hashim asked.
"I stopped at the Masjid on my way here and now I am going to sleep. I have been up all night however wake me up before breakfast. We have to join the family at Moona's place." Zain replied. Soon he was asleep. Hashim closed the door and came outside. He was dialing Khalil's number on his phone.
      .................
"An attack on the villa!! I cannot believe this." Hashim said. They all were sitting in Moona's lounge. The house was not as much as the Villa but it was enough for the family to stay there. Assad and Yumna were sharing a room as Khadija and Moona were sharing the other. One room was left for Khalil and Salma.
"Well. That was a very severe attack. Moona could have died if Zain had not gone outside in the lawn." Khadija smiled, serving the tea. They have had their breakfast. Moona looked at Zain who was sitting across her on the couch with his head on the back and eyes closed.
"Zain, go inside. You can sleep in my room." She smiled. Zain looked at her for a moment and then rose on his feet.
"Thank you." He mumbled.
"He slept for two hours after FAJAR today," Hashim said, grabbing his tea from Khadija.
"What do we do now?" Yumna asked. She and Assad had not gone to school today.
"Saud's birthday is in two days." Moona smiled.
"We should celebrate," Yumna said with amusement.
"Under these circumstances?" Usman asked.
"Yes, why not? That will cheer everybody up." Khalil nodded.
"Moona, give me some covers. I can't sleep without them." Zain said peeking out of the room.
"Yes, he can't!" Hashim smiled as Moona rose to her feet and went inside with Zain.
"The next wedding is going to be theirs. I am telling you!" Khadija said.
"How can you say that?" Khalil frowned.
"Because, first, Zain is in love with her." She opened her index finger in front of her brother's face.
"Did he tell you?" Hashim asked, shocked.
"Yes, he did." Khadija smiled.
"He told me too." Hashim nodded.
"And what's the second thing?" Salma asked ignoring their conversation.
"Haven't you seen the way they both deal which other? Consider only this cover thing for instance. He could have asked anybody but he specifically called Moona." Khadija said.
"That's Moona's house so that's nothing exceptional," Shanzay said.
"Alright, we'll see," Khadija replied.
"Where is your husband, by the way?" Hashim asked.
"He is in Islamabad. Also, he is leaving tomorrow." Khadija told them.
"And what about you?" Usman asked.
"I am staying for a while." She said.
"That's good. Moona will have some company." Salma said.
"She is having a very good company." Khadija smiled as she saw her coming out of the room.
"He is so spoiled." She said sitting with them.
"Alright, get up, everybody we all have work today," Khalil said and got up. Hashim nodded and turned to Shanzay.
"Come with me."
"But I have my car." She said.
"I know, you can leave that here," Hashim said. Shanzay nodded and followed him out.
    .............
"This attack has shaken me, boss. What if I was not there? What if I had not gone to the lawn on time?" Zain was sitting in front of Najeeb in the headquarters.
"I can understand, Zain but you were destined to be there." Najeeb nodded.
"They will attack again," Zain said.
"Yes, they will." Najeeb agreed.
"What should I do?" Zain asked.
"Did you examined that note he sent?" Najeeb asked.
"Yes, no fingerprints, nothing."
"He is a very clever man indeed."
"We can't even accuse Aasim of being behind all this." Zain rubbed his eyes with frustration.
"Hey, Zain, everything will be fine. Just relax." Najeeb said.
"How can I relax when I know that they will attack again? A more severe one this time." Zain asked.
"You have to because panic will not help us." Najeeb pointed.
"I am not panicking," Zain replied.
"You are not relaxing either," Najeeb said.
"I am just scared for my family. What if something bad happens? This man does not seem normal to me." Zain sighed.
"Hope for the best. Go to your family and spend as much time with them as you can." Najeeb suggested. Zain nodded; his eyes were lingering on the file placed on Najeeb's table.
"We need to find evidence that Taimoor found against them." He said after a while. Najeeb stared at him for some time.
"Why didn't that occur to us before?" He asked in shock.
"This was the time for it." Zain smiled and rose. "I am on it." He said with new energy in his voice. Najeeb smiled and nodded. Zain came out of his office.
"Meet me at my place tonight." He texted Usman. There was a smile on his face and a spark in his grey eyes.
        .....................