I want to call home." Kanwal said during breakfast with Ahad.
Kanwal woke up early in the morning and searched every corner of the mansion but found no sign of landline phone, nor had she seen her phone after coming home from convocation. Kanwal wanted to call home and Maaz too.
The promise she had made him keep was to convince her parents to leave Shareefabad, even better if they leave the city. Take away Alina from a place like this and send her to a boarding school if necessary, because as a sister, Kanwal doesn't want Alina to have a future like hers.
"Why?" Ahad paused for a moment before asking.
In response, Kanwal looked at him like he had lost his mind.
"I want to talk to her." Kanwal kept her eyes on him but Ahad didn't even glance at her.
"About what?"
"What do you mean about what? I want to know how everyone is." She frowned.
"Everyone is fine."
"How do you know?"
"That's a quite silly question when you know the position I hold in the Black Eagles." Ahad answered calmly.
Kanwal cringed at the name of Black Eagles, "So you really keep eyes on my family?"
"And what is wrong with that?" Ahad's eyes met Kanwal's.
"It's... I want to hear my Ami's voice."
Ahad inhaled a deep breath before saying, "You cannot talk to them."
"WH-?... why?"
Kanwal waited for his answer which wasn't meant to come.
"Why am I not allowed to call my mother?"
Ahad felt the change of tone in Kanwal's voice and he could guess that she would start crying at any minute but he kept his focus on the food.
"I am asking something." Kanwal raised her voice.
"There is no use of crying or raising your voice. It is the rule from the start that the people Black Eagles pick from colleges will not contact or meet their family ever again. And the same applies to you. I will not bend the rules for you." Ahad said, looking at her teary eyes and got up.
"You should've listened to me when I came to you before." He said, wiping her tears with his right thumb and left after grabbing his hot tea.
Ahad isn't the type of person who could handle a crying woman, so he stayed in the other room, trying to avoid confronting Kanwal. He was aware that if he allowed Kanwal to call her family or meet them, Moosa wouldn't mind at all. Yet, he stopped himself from doing so. Perhaps there was a part of him which still wanted to punish her for refusing him and making him suffer.
Am I this low...???
Ahad asked himself and got irritated.
~*~
As soon as Ahad's car stopped on the porch, a guard came marching towards it and opened the door for him. Ahad stepped out of the car, and with a curt nod and answered the guard's Salam.
Ahad wasn't planning to leave the house today. In fact, he planned a whole day of outing with Kanwal. But after the morning conversation they had, Ahad doubts that she would want to talk to him or go anywhere. So instead of sitting home and doing nothing, he came to Moosa's house, the main base of Black Eagles.
Coming inside the house, he directly made his way to Moosa's study on the third floor. Reaching the door of the study, a small smile creeps upon his face as he saw Yawar who was also making his way there.
As soon as their eyes met, Yawar murmured Salam and the smile on Ahad's face widened while answering him. Yawar glared at him and opened the door saying, "Elders first."
"Thank you." Ahad chuckled before saying.
"Assalam o Alaikum!" Moosa left his seat and greeted Ahad with a smile.
"Wallaikum Assalam. How are you?" Asked Ahad.
"Alhamdullilah." Moosa answered, leading him to a sofa at the corner.
"Did you do something about the favour I asked you on the phone?" Ahad asked, settling himself on the sofa.
"I did mention it to her." Moosa looked at Yawar and said, "Yawar, tell Shahina that Ahad Bhai is here to talk to her."
Yawar who was listening to their conversation silently nodded on Moosa's command and left the study.
"Couldn't you find a better person for this job?" Ahad said as soon as the study door slammed closed.
"He needs to learn to control his emotions." Moosa said in a monotonous voice while looking out the window.
Ahad only smirked and refrained himself from saying anything. He has seen the professional side of Moosa. Ordering around his men, kidnappings, to torturing and even killings, but he has also seen him smoking packs of cigarettes after coming back from any rescue missions. Putting aside the work, Moosa's emotions have a firm grip on him. Unlike Ahad, who has the ability to put up a nonchalant face, even if he is shattered to pieces from the inside. Ahad doesn't let himself be carried away by his emotions. He tends to sit back and curve the situations slowly into his favour. And when it's the right time, he easily gets hold of what he wants.
Perhaps it was one of the reasons why Moosa chose him to handle the social side of Black Eagles.
Not long after, the door of the study opened, revealing Shahina holding a tray of tea and some snacks, followed behind was an annoyed-looking Yawar.
"Assalam o Alaikum." Shahina mumbled like she was holding back her tears. On hearing her voice, Moosa and Ahad's heads shot up to Yawar, who got startled and quickly took a seat at the corner.
"Shahina, come here." Moosa said, pointing towards the sofa beside him. Shahina timidly moved and sat cautiously on the sofa beside Moosa.
How is this girl going to live her life...???
Ahad often thinks that whenever he watches Shahina. According to Moosa, she has shown much improvement since the past year as beforehand, she was a girl who was afraid to talk or smile.
As second in command of Black Eagles, Ahad knew about Shahina's past. How, when and from which place and circumstances she was rescued from. But he couldn't imagine the torture she had been going through. Therefore, Ahad had always been extra careful in addressing this timid looking girl. Although she was Moosa's favourite kid, even more than Yawar, she has never tried to step out of her shell. That's why Ahad thinks that a girl like her could be a great diversion of Kanwal's attention for a few days.
"Your Ahad Bhai needs your help." Moosa carefully chose his words. Shahina raised her head towards Ahad and lowered it again. Taking it as a hint, Ahad and Moosa switched their places and now Ahad is the one who is sitting beside Shahina.
Ahad turned his face to Yawar and gave him a wink, he turned his attention to Shahina.
"Shahina, why didn't you come to my Walima? I was waiting for you to introduce Kanwal to you." Ahad said politely.
"Hmm?" She raised her head, looking completely lost.
"You know I am your custodian now, right?" Shahina nodded in answer.
"It means you are my family too, just like you are to Moosa and Nats." Ahad was explaining it like she is a five-year-old kid.
"So, I have been thinking of introducing you to Kanwal today. She was missing her little sister so much. You think you can give her company for a while?"
"Moosa Bhai will be coming too?" Shahina asked, looking at Moosa.
"No. You will be going with your Ahad Bhai." Moosa, who was drinking tea, replied. He deliberately used 'Your Ahad Bhai' instead of 'Ahad' to make her clear that he is her brother, someone who could be trusted.
"Kanwal and I will drop you here after dinner." Shahina didn't deny going. Instead, she asked about Moosa. Therefore, Ahad gives another shot.
"It will be a few hours and you will be back home."
There was a moment of silence and then Shahina asked hesitantly, "Should I change my clothes?"
And both Moosa and Ahad burst out laughing, making her squirm more in her place.
"Sorry Bache (kid), we weren't laughing at you." Moosa said, smiling at Shahina.
"Wear your favourite dress, I am only giving you fifteen minutes." Ahad said, looking at his wristwatch. Shahina nodded quickly and left.
After a few minutes, Moosa said in an authoritative tone, "Yawar report."
"Everything went smoothly, the material is in perfect condition. I have settled the final deal for tomorrow. It is up to you to sign the final documents, but... I think they need to be taught a good lesson in keeping their mouth closed and minding their own business. They are trying to take advantage of us for being the only provider of our shipments."
"Hm..." Moosa said, lighting his cigarette.
"Let me deal with them this time." Ahad said.
"But you can't sign any deals related to weapons or governmental work." On this, Ahad gave him an impressed look and Yawar rolled his eyes.
"Good! I am happy that you're doing your homework properly." Ahad said to Yawar and turned back to Moosa, "You see, Nats' and my choice was right about him."
"I still don't like dragging Yawar into this. Anyways, you think you can spare some time tomorrow?" Moosa asked Ahad.
"Sure, it's better to stay at home and be the target of Kanwal's hateful gaze." Ahad said in a carefree style.
"Her reaction is inevitable."
"I know, but ..." the knock on the door didn't let Ahad finish his sentence.
"Come in." Said Moosa. Soon after, the door slightly opened and Shahina peeked inside.
"I am ready." She mumbled awkwardly.
Ahad chuckled and said, "I am ready too. Okay Moosa, see you at night."
Both of them shook hands and Ahad left the house with a reluctant looking Shahina.
