Submission

5

Zafar was in his room packing his suitcase and other things, he believed in a minimalistic lifestyle, so he didn't have much to pack anyways. But still, he needed to crosscheck. 

Although he wasn't fussy about things, he had a bad habit of getting attached to his old belongings, thus never actually parting from them. He was checking the drawers when he heard the knock on his door. 

He opened the door to find Mr. Gul waiting outside. 

'Mr. Gul, please come inside ', Zafar opened the door wider and let him enter.

'Zafar how many times must I tell you to call me uncle at least', he reprimanded this young man who grew up in front of his eyes.

'I am sorry ...Uncle...is it OK now ?', Zafar laughed and pulled out a chair for him.

'Are you sure that you want to leave ?' Nazar Gul asked him. 

'Yes, My work is finished here, and you have a whole team of loyal supporters and party members. I am sure you will be fine now, but if you have any troubles, I am just a call away', Zafar reassured him with his rare smile.

'As you wish my Son, but I would have loved to see you around ', he was trying his best to make Zafar stay back. Nazar Gul felt safe and confident when Zafar was around. 

'The business in London is suffering a lot these days; otherwise, I would have stayed back', he added further. 

'When is your flight ?'

'It's tomorrow evening ' Zafar replied.

'Ok, Son take adequate rest and do meet me before you leave, I would be in city office that time ', Nazar Gul asked him.

'Sure uncle, I wouldn't leave without saying goodbye to you ', and he hugged his fatherly figure of his. 

After he left, Zafar finalised his packing, and he removed the hidden CCTV camera and smiled, remembering a silly girl. He kept it back in his luggage and locked it. 

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Nazar Gul got busy in planning for the new cabinets and assigning ministries. 

He was in a fix because all the opposition party members had voted for him as well and he was still doubtful about their loyalty.  He was somehow sure that it was Zafar's handy work, to have them all at his side. 

He eventually decided to have a meeting with his trusted members and discuss this issue with them. 

On the other hand, Ghulam Ali was still burning in the fire of revenge. In the end, he was left all alone.

Thanks to Nazar Gul and his dog, Zafar. 

'I will never forgive you for the humiliation you have put me through Nazar Gul; you will also suffer the same, probably worse than mine. Just wait and watch ', he laughed an evil smile and called his son from another city.  

Faizan Ali was a university student and also a competent student leader. He was sure about his career as a politician, so he decided to venture into it a bit early. And like his father, he was equally cunning and an opportunist. He was aware of the controversy his father suffered in the recent elections, and it had impacted him as well. 

He became the laughing stock of students after the results were declared. He was equally eager to take his father's revenge from Nazar Gul. 

He was more than eager to oblige when his father called him back home, and he knew the purpose very well. 

After careful planning, they were successful in devising a dreadful plan to take their revenge from the new President! 

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'What happened to you? Why are you crying ?' Noor asked her sulking sister.

'Zafar is leaving. He has a flight tomorrow ', Haya replied sobbing into the pillow. 

'Oh', Noor understood yeh reason for her sister's distress. 

'I don't even know when he would return, how many months or years  I would have to wait before I could see him again ', Haya sobbed, Noor felt sad on seeing the floating tears in her eyes. 

'Haya, why don't you propose him before he leaves ?', Noor suggested, excitedly.

'Are you out of your mind Noor, mother would kill me if she ever comes to know about this', Haya was terrified of her suggestion.  

'Who would tell her? You, me or Zafar? None of us. Trust me she wouldn't come to know. And he is leaving tomorrow; you will not have a better chance than this Haya. What if he accepts your proposal and asks your hand in marriage from father ', Noor's statements were making sense and gave her new hope. 

'And in the worst-case scenario,  what do you have to lose? Nothing! Even if he rejects it, he is leaving tomorrow anyways ', Noor added, and that finally convinced Haya. 

'You have a point, Noor, I don't have much to lose anyway. If he accepts, maybe we can get married right away ', Haya concluded and decided to go ahead with the plan. 

'You are so smart Noor, I love you ', Haya hugged her, and they started planning. 

They must do it tonight !!

Haya wore a new dress and applied some light natural makeup. She didn't want to appear desperate. Although she was, but showing it couldn't be advantageous in her situation. 

After having a final look at her reflection in the mirror, she finally approved her looks and left on her mission.

Noor accompanied her till his door and hid in the sides, just in case she was needed. 

Haya knocked slowly at his door. After a few more minutes, he finally opened the door. 

'Zafar'  Haya, almost gasped seeing his naked torso. 

'Haya? Are you OK? What happened? ', he was surprised to find her at his door at that time.

'Yeah... I want to say something to you ', Haya said shyly, she was red in embarrassment as all he wore was short. She was abit uncomfortable seeing him like that; therefore, she lowered her gaze. But now it fell on his naked chest, and she further dropped it to find a bulge on his shorts. By this time she was already red in embarrassment. Eventually, she settled for his bare feet! 

'Yes ?', he said groggily.  

'Zafar..I...I...Zafar. ..I..', those words simply refused to come up to her lips. Haya was trying hard to concentrate but his almost naked self, only made matters worse. Again her eyes followed the same sequence. 

Ten minutes passed like that, and Haya was still trying to utter the next word after 'I'. 

' Why don't you complete the sentence tomorrow?', Zafar suggested, as he was too sleepy to concentrate anyway.  

'Yeah. ..that would be better ', Haya slowly said and turned back. She heard the door closing behind her. 

In the room, Noor was ready to blast her off.

'You are such a coward, you have no right over love! Just forget him..OK.', Noor reprimanded her sister. 

Haya could only listen to her and lament over her missed chance. 

'You are right; probably we aren't fated to be together ', she had accepted defeat and laid dejected on the bed. 

All her prayers and promises, which she made went in vain.

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Haya and Noor left for college early. They didn't want to face Zafar and his soul-piercing eyes, which were always trying to dig secrets. 

Haya had accepted her fate, that she and Zafar weren't made for each other, and that made her more sad and gloomy. She was sure that by the time Zafar visits next time, she would already be married to someone else. As she was about to complete her graduation and her mother was already after her father's life to find a suitable match for her. 

Afterall losing your first love wasn't a small thing. She was feeling a mild heartache since yesterday, and the whole world seemed to have lost its charm. She was in a sombre mood; she just wanted to lay on her bed and cry. 

Why hasn't God listened to her heartfelt prayers? All she ever wanted was to have him, as a rightful partner. 

Was it so hard to give? She was angry at God as well! 

She had prayed for Zafar since her teenage, just one thing she had wanted in her life and she couldn't even have that. 

Noor tried to console her, but nothing helped in lifting her mood. They were sitting in the canteen, when Haya's classmate, Ruby, joined them. 

'Hi Haya'

'Hi Ruby', Haya replied slowly.

'I am throwing a party today, and you guys are most welcome to join it ', she flashed a smile through her painted lips. 

They weren't best of friends, so having an invitation from her side was a bit surprising.

The sisters had never attended college parties or even their friend's birthdays because their mother was against all sort of mixed gatherings.

But today Haya was too low to think anything else.

'I am sorry, we are going shopping today with the family ', Noor parroted the same reply as always, which was their go-to excuse.

'But I am free ', Haya said, disinterested.

'Oh..lovely', Ruby glared at Noor, shutting her up. 

'It is at 7 pm. I will text you the address ', with that she left them alone. 

'What's wrong with you, you aren't even friends', Noor asked. 

'So what? Do I have a right over my own life or not?  I wish to attend this party. Period. ', Haya wasn't in a receptive mood. She was angry at everyone. 

'Haya, please think it over, and Ruby's family belong to the opposition, it seems fishy to me ', Noor tried to put some sense into her adamant sister. 

'So what ?? I don't care, I will go to her party, and I dare you to tell it to mother ', She threatened her younger sister. 

Noor stayed silent and left for her class to attend the last lecture. 

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Haya was getting ready for the party; it seemed a big one as the address which Ruby sent, was of a famous five-star hotel!

She decided to wear a fancy western outfit just to minglepp with them.  She was feeling rebellious and angry for an unknown reason. 

'Haya, please don't go, I am feeling very unsettled, and my heart is having a feeling of Deja Vu', Noor again tried. 

'Shut up Noor', Haya said while she applied pink rouge over her apples. 

'You don't want to see off Zafar ?', She threw her a bait hoping her to catch it. 

Suddenly her hands stilled, and her eyes teared up. She threw everything and started crying, remembering her failed first love. 

Seeing her crying for Zafar, was worse than seeing her off to the party, Noor regrettably consoled her and said,

'Ok, OK..Don't cry please....you can go to the party. I will manage here ', she offered.

Haya wiped off her smudged mascara and reapplied the makeup. 

After a while, she left in a waiting taxi, which her sister called for her. 

After some time, she was standing in front of the tall sky scrapper. She had always wished to come here with Zafar or Noor at least, but Alas she was here for 'not so friendly ' Ruby's party. 

Anyways, I should enjoy my remaining days as a free bird, and she entered the building. 

After a while, she was standing in front of a suite. Somehow, her guts advised her against knocking it. Probably its because she has never been to such a party alone and that too secretly. 

Why the hell did she come alone? Noor could have accompanied her. 

Ruby and she didn't have any common friends, what would she do among all those rich spoilt kids! After her anger dissipated,  she was now beginning to see some logic into her actions.

Eventually, she decided to listen to her guts and return to her home's safety. 

She turned back and began to leave. 

Suddenly her name was being called out from behind her; it was Ruby. 

'Haya,  finally, you are here. Come inside,  we all were waiting for you', Ruby's fake smile was quite evident. 

'Oh Hi', Haya said sheepishly and moved towards the dreaded entrance. 

As she entered, the door was quietly closed by Ruby, locking Haya inside. 

Ruby ignored her shouts and left from the hotel. 

Her task was finished! 

She was to leave the country on the next flight. 

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Zafar reached Nazar Gul's office to say his goodbyes to him; he was all set to leave this country.  

Nazar Gul was in a meeting with his ministers when his PA informed him about Zafar's arrival.

He left everything and met him with open arms. Zafar was afterall his godsent angle. 

'Are you leaving finally ?' Gul asked him.

'Yes, uncle ', Zafar replied.

'When are you coming next ?'

'Whenever you would call me', Zafar replied with a smile. 

'It would be soon then; I am searching for a worthy wife for you, my son', Nazar Gul said. 

'Hahaha ', Zafar laughed, ' Uncle, don't burden yourself please, I already like someone'. 

Nazar Gul was surprised by his admission, he didn't seem the romantic type to him with his forever grim mood. 

Suddenly Zafar's phone rang, one of his spy whom he had relieved this morning, was calling him. This can't be a good news !

'Yes ?', Zafar said. 

After listening to the phone for a minute. 

's**t !!'  Zafar cursed and ran towards his car.

Nazar Gul was surprised by his dramatic reaction and wondered what could be that serious to elicit such a dramatic response from the ever-cool Zafar !! 

He brushed it off and got busy in his meeting when he was disturbed by his wife's call. 

He almost caught himself from falling when his wife told him about his missing daughter. It was nearly nine in the night. 

He immediately left for his home. 

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