Healing Her Scars (Stealing My Enemy's Possession)

DEC 1995 "Nafisa, Zoheb, I’m ready." Zeeshan, the leader of Ravens g**g, summoned in a deep, strong voice that made him scary. He loaded his Pistol and placed it in the case of the leather belt on his waist and another in the sock of right leg. This time, he wore a baggy blue shirt with metal strips at various places and the name of some imaginary company embedded on the shirt’s chest. His rough, masculine appearance was intimidating. Today they were going to meet the Client and every time Zeeshan had to disguise completely because nobody had ever seen ‘Kronos’, the name he opted for in their business world. And it was better and safer that way. Zeeshan was anticipating Zoheb’s request to come out and was angrily touching the door knob again and again when he saw them walking towards his car calmly, through the window of his room. He was angry as this deal was very important to him and these love birds were delaying it. Nafisa is the ‘brain’ for Ravens and no one would ever expect that because she had the look of an innocent Angel but actually she was trained to kill. The security, safety and planning of the team lay in her hands. She was chosen for this because she is a practical person and shrewd diplomat who cared merely about her husband Zoheb who was head over heels in love with her and their Chief, Zeeshan. Zoheb checks Zeeshan’s attire and the only thing which he replaced was his heavy Pistol which was visible in his belt with a smaller, lighter and more efficient German Pistol and said “This will do” as he is the weapons expert and trade specialist of their squad. If not for their former chief, who had the talent of carving diamonds from coal, Zoheb was too sweet and soft hearted to be within them. Zoheb was the legal veil behind which the Ravens carried out their illicit activities. The owner of a massive estate business and Fisheries export ruling the sea of Bombay. “Let’s go.” said Zoheb to both of them. Unfortunately, Nafisa was the reason why he was here.The only people Zoheb ever cared about were Nafisa his wife, and Zeeshan whom he regards as his brother comprised his entire family. Zoheb walked with a confident smile on his face wearing a formal white shirt and trousers. And Nafisa... to look at her, anyone would get mistaken that she's some Angel fallen from heaven, such were her innocent and heart melting looks. Dressed in a simple salwar suit and a scarf covering her head, no one could ever suspect that she worked with them. She caught the sight of her silhouette in the rear view mirror of the car and began driveling over her own perfection. "Masha'allah! I look so perfect." She said to herself and Zeeshan rolled his eyes. "So ready?" Zoheb asked. "Hmm." Zeeshan said adjusting that stupid dress. "OK then. Drive the car." Nafisa said, throwing the keys at Zeeshan. ‘The nerve she had! I am the boss here.’ "What?" Zeeshan asks unbelievably. "Bodyguards drive the car." She declared arrogantly. Zeeshan sighed and quietly sat in the driver's seat. He just couldn't get angry at anything they did as they were the only family he had after all. And they started their journey towards the meeting point. Zeeshan had an obsession with spacious, family cars and this one black Tata Estate was his favorite; also he owned three of them white, black and red. "Zoheb Everything set?" Zeeshan started the enquiry like always. "Yes Bhai. Well... I don't think, they'll allow us to keep the guns in the meeting. So I've taken tranquilizer in case if everything doesn't go as planned. You want our shooters at location?" “No. I don’t want to give them a chance to turn against us. But one will be fine.” "And Nafisa... Have you come up with anything shocking regarding their case history?" Zeeshan asked, maintaining his eyes on the road. "Yeah. The party coming today is sent by ‘the SERPENTS’." She said calmly. "What?" he asked, completely shocked. How could she be so calm? “The ‘Serpents’, that brutal g**g from Delhi who have a crime record in d**g peddling, flesh trade, human trafficking and every other crime ever listed. Why didn't you inform any of us before? They are our worst enemies and you know that.” "Calm down Zeeshan, Zoheb. And listen to me... They think we don't know that they are pawns of the Serpents which gives us a bonus point. Second thing,this time they are ready to pay an extra half of the payment and in return they want us to abduct a girl who is a big threat to them. And they want her ‘alive’. That means the girl has some connection with the Serpents. And they desperately need her back. So they have hired the best to find her, which is us. Therefore you boys don’t mess it up. We go there and pretend like we don't know them, get every possible information about the girl, find her and use her against the Serpents. Got it?" ‘That's why she's the brain of Ravens. She can think what no one can.’ Zeeshan admired in mind. Serpents, the other g**g from Delhi who had no principles. They could do anything to get their way. If the girl has betrayed them then Zeeshan couldn’t fathom what they’ll do with her. Delhi, their base and this place Bombay was Zeeshan’s Kingdom where even their shadow was impermissible. A vicious and brutal Rehaan Ali controlled all such activities in Delhi along with his naive younger brother, Rehman. "Start the car Zeeshan. We're getting late." Nafisa said irked. That’s when he realized he had applied brakes in shock. Zeeshan just nodded and they had to shake Zoheb a little to see whether the information sunk in. He was compassionate, forgiving and gentle especially when it came to women and children. “Bhai before taking a decision just remember it’s not our protocol to kill women and children. Well, on senior citizens, conditions apply.” Zoheb reminded Zeeshan. “We’ll see Zoheb. I don’t promise anything.” It was an answer content enough for Zoheb. He knew Zeeshan never betrayed his work, word and family. They reached an empty old ruined site full of stone pillars everywhere. "Looks like hardly anyone ever visits this place." Zoheb said. “That’s exactly why they have chosen this place Zoheb.” Nafisa said. They moved forward and as expected the men waiting there asked them for their guns and other weapons as they wanted the deal without any treachery or violence. As Zeeshan was about to go behind them, one of their men stopped him with his hand. "Only the main party is allowed. No bodyguards." ‘Not again.’ Zeeshan mumbled. "He'll come with us." Nafisa said rather ordered. Even as a woman, her voice was more dominating and authoritative than Zoheb’s. "But-" "Oh come on. You have taken our weapons right. And we can't trust your Boss." Zoheb reminded them and all three walked inside. "Good Day, I think we were here to do business with Kronos. Where is he?" the man waiting there in mid-forties asked, puffing a cigar. "Good day to you too, Kronos couldn't come because of an injury." Nafisa said, looking at Zoheb. "We are his team. I am Nafisa Khan and Mr. Zoheb Khan. We are here to handover the shipment to you. Zoheb?”She turned to Zoheb. "Ah yes." Zoheb scanned his pockets and took out an envelope."This is the address of where the truck is parked. We appreciate transparency so you can pay half of the amount after you check the truck and confirm the stuff. And what were you talking about some girl on the phone?” Mr. Sheikh nodded, straightening his glasses and gesturing to a man who brought an envelope. “This is the girl's photo who has brought you so much fortune. We want her. ‘Alive’.” He said, emphasizing the word, 'Alive' more than necessary. "We've sent our men to fetch her but she's in Kronos’ territory... Bombay, where all other gangs are incapable except himself." He said, making Zeeshan smile wide in pride. "OK. Mr. Sheikh. Your work will be done. By the end of this month. And don’t forget, we want our payment in solid gold bars." Nafisa cleared. “Will take care of that Nafisa Jee. Nice doing business with you.” Mr. Sheikh said, forwarding his hands for a handshake. "OK then. Everything is done. We take a leave." Zoheb said, shaking his hand and they turned to leave. "Good bye." They were leaving when Zeeshan murmured to Zoheb, “These people didn't ask the main question which I was waiting for. Well and good.” "Wait!" Mr. Sheikh called out and slowly walked to them. "Not only we... But no other g**g has ever seen 'Kronos'. I doubt if any Kronos exists or not."He said, taking another puff of his thick cigar. Nafisa turned around to face Mr. Sheikh. "Mr. Sheikh, Have you ever seen death?" Nafisa asked curtly. "No." He replied obvious. "But you believe it exists and sucks the life out of every being. Right?” “Yes.” “Have you ever seen Wind?" "No." "But for sure, it exists. Same way, nobody has ever seen Kronos but he evidently exists. He's our leader, mentor and Chief of the Ravens. Now Good bye."She said, wearing her shades and they left. *** “Bhai half of the money later?” Zoheb asked. “Yes. First thing, they wouldn’t dare double cross me and second, whether we like it or not, we have to maintain a trust relationship with our clients.” Zeeshan reminded. All the way while driving, Zeeshan kept staring at the envelope, planning to open it once they reached home. “Now I'm sure about what you said Nafisa. She's definitely valuable to them. The amount they are spending to find her is way too much for just a kidnap. What do you people think?" Zeeshan asked them. "Zeeshan, I think she was a member of the serpents and she betrayed them so they want her... But the question remains... Why alive? They could ask us to kill her straight away. This would secure and seal their secrets forever, wouldn't it?" Nafisa said and most of the time she is right. "What if she belongs to some rich, reputed family who is creating problems for the g**g and they want her so that they can blackmail them or has some secret code or password for something important." Zoheb's guess. "But they could have done it themselves. Why us?" the question in Zeeshan’s mind remained. "Like they said, they're sure she's in Bombay and here, only we can." Zoheb said proudly. Zeeshan sighed. There are endless possibilities. Both of them could be right, both of them could be wrong. Only this girl could solve this mystery. And it won't be easy to find her with nothing but a photograph. No address, phone no., not even her name. They reached home too tired. "Good night. We'll talk about this tomorrow and next time please avoid morning meetings. It’s December for God sake. The cold kills." Zoheb complained and left. "Good night Zoheb". Zeeshan said and retired to his room. ••••••