Entangled Lies of the Elite

Chapter 9 [Last]

Chapter 9
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-Flashback-

7th April  - The day of the murder.

It was 5:30 in the evening, Ayra and her colleagues were packing up the for the day, they got off earlier than expected thanks to the audit going on in the hospital. She sighed in relief as she picked up her belongings and made her way towards the exit.

“Arzu, are you coming with me?” She asked her friend who usually used to drive back home with her, well that kind of reduced in the last few weeks, she thought.

“No, I’ll get a bit late, Boss asked me to complete this report.” She shrugged off as she worked on the file in front of her not giving a single glance at her friend.

“Okay, I’ll be leaving then.” Feeling dejected she walked out.

There was something wrong going on in her friend’s life and she could feel it. The woman who used to be with her all day sharing every single thought of hers was now acting like a stranger. The woman who always supported her didn’t even pay heed to the general talks nowadays. She wanted to ask her about it, she wanted to help her in solving the issue if there was any. What is wrong with you Arzu? She sighed as she reached her car. Opening her bag she looked for the keys, she couldn’t find them in it so she checked her shirt pockets.

Where did it go? Oh my God I left it on the pharmacy’s desk! She groaned in irritation as she realized that she had to walk all the way back from the parking lot which is going to take her another 10 minutes of walk.
-

Upon reaching there she heard some people talking in a very secretive manner. Her curiosity got the better of her as she headed where the voices took her. Surprisingly it was the cabin she and Arzu along with their colleagues worked in. What is going on here? She wondered as she was looked through the slightly open door, she was about to walk in when the conversation froze her.

“Did you arrange the drugs I asked for?” A man spoke from inside the room

“Yes I did, the whole batch is ready for you.” The next reply came from Arzu.

“Is it the same solution as before? Are you sure it is going to work in one go?”

“Don’t insult my work Safeer, you very well know how perfect the last batch was, did any of your victims come back to conscious before your desired time?” She shrieked at the insult she felt.

“Well I have to applause on that. The drug did wonders on the poor women and children, one dose and they were knocked off. Waking up only to realize that they were in a different country.” He sneered at the misery of people.

“No one would have given you even a dose of such life threatening solution, be thankful of the favor I’m doing for your so called foundation.” Giving a pleased look at the appreciation she said.

“Oh please… You have been paid well for your services so don’t act like this was a ‘favor’ done by you.” He gave her a glare as he picked up the ordered drugs and started to walk out of the cabin.

Ayra quickly moved away and hid in the lobby which was right next to the door, once the man was out of sight she took a deep breath and entered the cabin with thousands of thoughts in her mind.

Who are you? What have you done to my friend? She was in tears thinking about the stuff she just heard.

“Arzu!” she whispered trying to control the tears which were now running down her face.

The woman who was standing at her back facing her turned around the second swiftly as she heard her name, she looked at Ayra with horror on her face.

“What have you done? Why Arzu?” She cried thinking about the souls who were hurt because of this woman’s greed.

“What did I do?” She replied in a quiet tone, trying to see how much has she heard.

“You illegally sold drugs to human traffickers? Are you out of your mind?” She screeched at her.

“It’s not what you-" Trying to save herself she started to speak only to be stopped by her friend.

“It is! I’ve heard it all, you’re going to land yourself in a huge trouble. This is going to end up terribly for you if you don’t stop!” She practically begged her friend wanting to save her from the disaster she was heading to.

“Stay out of it.” She spoke in a dead serious voice.

“No! I am not going to let you ruin your life, you will stop this right away!” She harshly said as she held her hand to get her away from the pharmacy.

“Ayra don’t. Just don’t interfere in my work. I don’t want your help!” The woman pushed her away with force.

“What is wrong with you? You have put so many of the lives in danger, do you realize how many people will suffer because of this?” Trying to balance herself from the sudden shove she spoke in horror.

“I’m saying it for the last time. If you don’t stop, the consequences will be awful.” She threatened her.

Ayra was stunned, this was not her friend, this was an unrecognizable person in front of her. “I’m also saying it for the last time if you don’t stop I will have to go to the police. Think about it, I will see you tomorrow.” Glaring at her she took the keys from the desk and went away.
_

An average winter night is usually very quiet and peaceful in this particular gated community of Karachi. Clear sky along with cool breeze and just a few cars passing by the road could make anyone sigh in peace considering how calm it feels. Ayra’s balcony held the same aura but her inner struggle wasn’t letting her feel any type of positive emotion today, she was struggling with her conflicting thoughts. The silent night was making her feel suffocated, the cool breeze was making her shudder in fear.

She couldn’t believe her best friend could commit such a horrible crime, was she always the same greedy person? Did she really misjudge the woman into a supportive friend? She cried as the realization hit her once again.

Arzu not only got involved in illegal business she also put uncountable lives in danger. God knows how many people suffered in this mess.

Her thoughts got interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. It was almost 10pm she noticed, who was it? She headed towards the door, opening it she saw Arzu standing in front of her.

“What are you doing here?” She looked at the woman in confusion.

“We need to talk.” Arzu entered the apartment keeping her bag on the table.

“You’re going to stop, aren’t y-” before she could complete her sentence she felt herself being injected with something. Turning around she looked at her friend in horror.

“What have you done?” She screamed.
The woman stared at her with stone-like eyes.

“Arzu, what have you done to me? What have you injected?” She cried loudly, as she realized the danger. Her heartbeat was unusually increasing and as a pharmacist herself she knew this wasn’t normal.

“You didn’t leave me a choice. I told you to stay out of my business but you didn’t listen.” She whispered.

Ayra sobbed as she felt herself gasp for breath, she looked at her friend trying to form few words but the only thing she could hear was the sound of her increasing heartbeats. They were so loud that she couldn’t understand anything else.

It wasn’t long before she was gone.

The world was too cruel for her.
-

“It’s over" Arzu whispered on the phone from the back of the building.

“Well done, we don’t want anyone to ruin our business. Do we?” Over the phone Safeer spoke as he fell back on his chair laughing without any fear.
-
-Back to present-

Zeynep looked at the devil who narrated the murder like a story in front of her. She was flabbergasted at the cruelty level of this woman.

Didn’t she feel an ounce of hesitation while murdering the poor soul? Letting out a breath she tried to come up with more questions.

“How did she have bruises on her body?”

“To make the trap for Talha seem more realistic I gave her the bruises after her death" She said without any delay.

“Why did the drug never appear in the autopsy report?”

“It was a special kind of solution I made. An undetectable drug to be exact.” She shrugged, knowing very well that nothing is going to fix the situation.

“You live in a wealthy area. As far as I know, you never had any difficulties related to money, then why did you join such ‘activities’?” Zeynep trailed off with sarcasm filled voice, she couldn’t understand what made this lady do all this.

“Why?” She laughed slightly leaning back on the chair, “I don’t know how I started working with them, it was all of a sudden you know. I was offered and I accepted.” She rolled her eyes.

“Offered? Accepted? You do know we are talking about an illegal business here… It’s a shame to even call that crime a business.” She couldn’t help but raise her tone.

This woman was getting on her nerves.

“That illegal business gave me so much, everything I couldn’t get otherwise. I surely wasn’t deprived of money before this too but that wasn’t mine. That was my family’s. Having your own money, your own hard-earned money is something different,” frustrated she replied, “Ask more questions. Quick.”

Zeynep was working in this department for a long but she never had to witness such criminal, there were criminals who at least acted as if they regret but this lady didn’t have an ounce of regret on her face. Nothing at all. She didn’t know whether to be shocked or appreciate the honesty.

Honesty, oh the irony, She inwardly laughed at her thoughts.

“Hard-earned money?” She raised her eyebrows, “Selling illegal drugs is what you call hard-earned money?” she scoffed off.

“Well officer whatever you think, I don’t really care. I have told you everything about the murder. There isn’t any way out so what are you waiting for?” Arzu snapped.

“Arzu Sheikh, I don’t really raise my hands on criminals like you, it isn’t my way but that doesn’t mean I can’t. It will be better if you lower your tone,” Speaking each and every word very clearly she said, “I hope you ponder over your doings in the jail because you have a lifetime for it.” Zeynep looked at her for the last time as she walked out of the room.
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AND WE ARE DONE.
Just an epilogue left. Phewww!