THE PRICE OF LOVE

Episode7 : When Revenge Starts to Feel Like Care

The golden evening light was hitting the glass of the coffee shop. Saba entered and felt like she was stepping into a new world. Soft jazz music, the smell of coffee, and books everywhere.

Ali Khan was sitting in a corner. He stood up as soon as he saw Saba. It was part of his upbringing, but today there was a strange sincerity in it.

"You came," he said with a smile. "I ordered a cappuccino for you. I hope you like it."

Saba sat down hesitantly in front of Ali Khan. The waiter came and after asking Saba, Ali Khan ordered coffee and then turned to her.

"Tell me. How was your first day at the job?"

It was not just a formal question. There was real interest in his voice. Saba felt it, and she started telling him about the challenges of her day.

Ali Khan listened carefully. He gave practical advice on every problem. "Tomorrow I will tell you a shortcut of our system. Your work will become half."

For a moment Saba looked at him carefully. "Why are you doing this for me? Helping me so much?"

The question made Ali Khan alert. The old purpose flashed in his mind: revenge. Destruction.

But when he looked into Saba’s innocent eyes, the words changed on their own. "Maybe... maybe I also want to know why."

It was an unintentional confession. Ali Khan controlled himself. "I mean, we are friends."

"Yes," Saba said with a smile. "We are friends."

That smile shook something inside Ali Khan. Something that was not part of his plan.

"You know Saba," he said softly, stirring his coffee. "The day you slapped me... my life changed after that day."

"Really?"

"Really." He took a deep breath. "You showed me that there are people in the world who are not afraid. Who speak the truth. I have everything, but this one thing... this courage... I didn't have it."

Saba became quiet. This was not the Ali Khan she knew. This was someone else. More human. More vulnerable.

"But seeing your courage..." Ali Khan continued, "I felt... maybe I can also change."

These words came out of his mouth, and now he couldn't take them back. A voice inside shouted: 'What are you doing? This is against the plan!'

But another voice, soft and real, said: 'Maybe... maybe there is strength in truth.'

"Ali Khan..." Saba said softly. "You... you are good."

These four words were no less than an earthquake for Ali Khan. For years he had been called 'rich', 'powerful', 'dangerous'. 'Good'? Never.

His throat got tight. He wanted to say something, but words were not coming out. Finally he just nodded.

"Thank you," he said in a low voice. "You... you are good too. Very good."

Silence fell. But it was not an awkward silence. It was a peaceful silence. Both were lost in their own thoughts.

Finally Ali Khan broke the silence. "How is your father?"

The question was unexpected. Saba looked at him in surprise. "He is better. The operation was successful. Because of your prayers."

"Prayers..." Ali Khan said with a smile. "I don't know if I pray or not. But... I did for you."

This was another truth that came out of his mouth. He himself was surprised.

Saba's eyes became wet. "You... you really..."

"Yes," Ali Khan said, now in control. "I really care about you. Like a friend."

The evening was getting dark. The lights of the coffee shop became dimmer.

"I should go," Saba said, standing up. "I have work again tomorrow."

"Yes," Ali Khan said. "And... Saba?"

"Yes?"

"If there is any problem... any problem at all... call me. Always."

Saba nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Ali Khan. Really."

She left. Ali Khan kept sitting there. There were two cups in front of him. One empty, one half full.

He took out his phone. He wanted to message Sami. 'First step complete. She is getting close to me.'

But his fingers were not moving. His eyes were on the empty cup. Saba's cup.

A strange conflict. A war was going on inside him now. Plan vs reality. Revenge vs friendship.

Finally he put the phone down. He picked up the cup. And without thinking, he put it to his lips.

Where Saba's lips had touched.

And at that moment, a worry came on Ali Khan's face that was not part of any plan.

A worry that was saying: 'What am I going to do now?'

The second day of the job and Saba was feeling more confident than before. The shortcuts told by Ali Khan had made her work surprisingly easy. She was arranging files when her boss called her.

"Saba, take this file to the office upstairs. To the board room."

She picked up the file and was on her way to the board room when she heard whispers of two employees near the door.

"...yes this is the girl. Ali Khan specially got her hired."

"Are they related?"

"I don't know. But I heard Ali Khan himself said to take special care of her."

Saba's steps stopped. The edge of the file bent a little in her hand. Special care? Why would Ali Khan say that? For a moment Sophia's warning echoed in her mind.

But then she thought, maybe because of friendship. Maybe he really cares about her.

That same evening at the hostel Sophia cornered her.

"Saba, we need to talk."

Both were sitting in the room. Sophia's face was serious.

"I talked to an employee of your company today. He is my cousin's friend."

Saba looked at her in surprise. "And?"

"And he told me that after getting you hired, Ali Khan gave special instructions. Your work should be reviewed daily. Every move of yours should be watched."

"This... this is a good thing," Saba said. "Maybe he cares about me."

"Saba!" Sophia held her hand. "Listen to me. My brother Shehryar... he was also in their circle. I know how these people work. First they bring you close. Then they control you. Then..."

"Then what?"

"Then they destroy you," Sophia had tears in her eyes. "Shehryar had a friend. An innocent girl. A friend of Ali Khan trapped her like this. Gave her a job. Helped her. Then..."

Saba's heart beat fast. "Then what happened?"

"Then when she became fully dependent... when she had no way out... he used her. Humiliated her. And then... then that girl committed suicide."

Silence fell in the room. A coldness descended in the air.

"Saba, I love you," Sophia said, wiping her tears. "I can't see you get hurt. There is still time... come to your senses."

Saba was quiet. Two pictures were fighting in her mind.

On one side Ali Khan's face saying: "You are good. Very good."

On the other side Sophia's face warning: "This is all a trap."

"But... he has changed," Saba said softly. "I have seen it in his eyes."

"A leopard doesn't change its spots, Saba," Sophia said. "He just hides them."