The villain
1299 Words
The villain …
> "I have no desire for the colors of spring...
It would be better if the clouds of sorrow lingered a little longer."
The night was wrapped in deep darkness.
Since these were the final nights of the lunar month, there was no moonlight to soften the sky. The darkness was so thick that it seemed impossible to see even the hand stretched out before you.
A cold stillness hung over everything.
It was a forest.
Even in broad daylight, its dense trees inspired fear. At night, however, the place became something entirely different—far more haunting.
Yet the forest was far from empty.
Dozens of people were hidden among the trees.
They were the guardians of the law.
While the people of their country slept peacefully in their homes, these officers sat silently in the darkness, holding their breath as they kept their eyes fixed on the lonely road ahead.
They were waiting for a criminal.
A smuggler who had been transporting massive quantities of explosives across the country.
His organization had tormented the government for years.
The police had arrested many members of the g**g before, but every single time, the lack of evidence forced the courts to release them.
And whenever someone important was finally caught...
Their powerful connections always secured their freedom.
Under the command of Asad Jehangir, the police had quietly surrounded the entire forest.
Since the operation involved explosive smuggling, Asad had been informed in advance and had arrived fully prepared.
The police were not alone.
Doctors, reporters, bomb disposal experts, and fire brigade teams were all present at the scene.
Asad Jehangir refused to risk the lives of his people.
He wanted every possible emergency under control.
That was why every precaution had already been taken.
Nearby stood Humaail Sohaib.
He had always complained that Asad never allowed him to accompany him to crime scenes.
Today...
For the very first time...
Asad had brought him along.
Yet Humaail wasn't happy.
A strange heaviness weighed on his heart.
Again and again, his hand drifted toward his phone.
Every part of him wanted to call...
The villain.
To warn him.
To stop him from coming.
But...
He could not betray these heroes...
For the sake of that villain.
The ticking of time echoed silently.
With every passing minute, the night grew darker.
Areez Haider checked his watch.
Dawn was still far away.
But Hanzala Ayub stood only a few steps from him.
He was there alongside the police.
In case of any emergency, the hospital staff had joined the operation to assist the authorities.
Areez looked at Hanzala.
Hanzala was always calm.
Always composed.
But tonight...
His lips were tightly pressed together.
He looked deeply troubled.
Areez himself wasn't any calmer.
His phone screen remained unlocked.
One number continued glowing before his eyes.
The villain's number.
But...
He could not betray these heroes...
For the sake of that villain.
Everyone was on high alert.
The vehicles were in position.
Several officers were stationed high among the trees.
Drones hovered silently overhead, monitoring every inch of the forest.
As the night grew deeper with every passing moment, even standing still became difficult for Azal Qureshi.
Leaning against a vehicle, he slowly turned his head to the right.
Khizar Qureshi stood a short distance away, his lips pressed into a thin line.
He was the one who had obtained the emergency arrest warrant for the villain.
Now he stood silently...
His eyes fixed on the road.
The road from which the villain was expected to arrive.
Azal lowered his gaze to his phone.
Its screen was dark.
Just like his heart.
On the outside, he appeared completely emotionless.
But inside...
Every part of him was praying that the villain would never come.
He could still warn him.
Even with everyone surrounding him...
He was capable of sending a single message.
A single call.
A single warning.
But...
He could not betray these heroes...
For the sake of that villain.
Far away, hidden in the darkness, another car stood motionless.
It wasn't officially part of the operation.
Saif sat behind the steering wheel.
He looked into the rearview mirror.
Saahir Farqaan was sitting quietly in the back seat.
It was because of the information he had provided...
That this entire operation had been planned.
And perhaps...
No one present was more restless than he was.
Once before, he had stood against evil...
And he had failed.
Tonight...
He wanted to leave no room for failure.
His heart screamed at him to give the villain one last chance.
To warn him.
To stop him.
But he held himself back with all his strength.
Because...
He could not betray these heroes...
For the sake of that villain.
The darkness slowly began surrendering to dawn.
The time of Fajr approached.
True dawn finally broke.
Every person instantly became alert.
Then...
A faint light appeared in the distance.
Everyone instinctively tightened their lips.
Asad Jehangir once again reminded his team to stay alert.
The approaching vehicle gradually became visible.
There was a glowing sticker fixed to its hood.
It had been made with phosphorus.
Even in the darkness...
It shone clearly.
"The Villain."
The words caught Azal's eyes.
His jaw tightened.
He had arrived.
The headlights of the vehicle were switched off.
Not because he feared danger.
But because...
He simply preferred driving that way.
> "I look more like a villain this way..."
He always said it with pride.
Everyone silently watched the approaching vehicle.
Behind it...
A large container was attached.
> "Please... don't come here. Turn back..."
Unlike everyone else...
Ibad Talal didn't care about the heroes gathered in the forest.
For the first time in his life, he was desperately trying to save the villain.
He had already called him...
Warning him about everything.
Just as the villain had always saved him before...
Tonight, he wanted to save him.
A faint smile appeared beneath the black mask.
> "It's already too late..."
His lips moved softly.
Before another word could be spoken—
A powerful voice echoed through the forest.
> "Stop the vehicle! You're surrounded from every direction!"
It was Asad Jehangir.
The instant his command rang out, massive searchlights burst to life.
Blinding white beams illuminated the black car...
And the container attached behind it.
The heroes instinctively tightened their grips on their weapons.
According to the intelligence reports...
The container was carrying explosives.
And the villain was accompanied by men willing to die for him without hesitation.
No one expected him to surrender.
No one believed he would stop.
But then...
Everyone froze.
The vehicle came to a smooth halt.
Silence spread across the forest.
The driver's door opened.
He stepped out calmly.
Dozens of floodlights immediately focused on him.
Dressed entirely in black...
He looked like a missing fragment of the night itself.
A black mask concealed his face.
A black cap shaded his forehead.
His identity remained completely hidden.
No one could tell...
Who he was.
Or even what he looked like.
From the distant parked car...
Saahir Farqaan watched everything in silence.
His lips tightened.
Although the forces had surrounded the villain from every side...
No one dared approach him too closely.
If the explosives detonated...
The consequences would be catastrophic.
Asad Jehangir slowly raised his pistol.
Never taking his eyes off the masked man, he began walking toward him.
> "Drop your weapon."
Even if the intelligence suggested he was carrying explosives...
Asad still believed there was a chance the man wouldn't choose suicide.
Around him, the officers advanced as well.
Step by careful step...
Closing the distance.
But none of them moved toward the container.
Every step...
Was directed toward the man himself.
Because no one trusted that container enough to go anywhere near it.
- Writer
