Chapter 12: 8. 𝗡𝗮𝘇𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗮𝗴 𝗷𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗴𝗶..

❛ Woh agar ban sanwar gaye hongay,

Dekhnay wale mar gaye hongay.❜

Third Person's POV:

“Zaviyar se pata chala ki woh aadmi jinhone tum ko follow kiya, woh Adil Shehzad ke bheje log the.”

Altan blew out a cloud of smoke, "Hmm. Laga hi mujhe."

"Woh sirf humein darane ke liye bheje gaye the. Koi nuksan ya hamla karne nahi," Arya scoffed and sat down on the sofa beside Altan, "Jaise ke hum darr jayenge.”

Altan smirked, “Kar len de koshishan, eh ped te sher di jang ich jituga ta sher hi.”

(Kar lene de koshishein, yeh bhed aur sher ki jung mein jeetega toh sher hi.)

With the same smug face, he inclined his head on the headrest of the couch and in silence he stared at the ceiling.

All the cockiness departed from his body once Mahoor's teary eyes and cries flashed before his eyes.

His jaw ticked and the veins on his temples popped out. He took a puff of the toxic stick, "Yeh baaton se samjhega nahi, goli kha ke dum lega."

Arya placed his leg over the other knee, "Shuruwat bhi tou tumne ki thi. Kya zarurat thi uski biwi ko jaan se maar dene ki?"

Altan cocked his own eyebrow, "Kaunsa uski biwi ussey pyar karti thi? Uske hi second in command ke saath rangeen raatein bita rahi thi, toh kis baat ka badla le raha hai yeh? Ki woh aurat bewafa nikli ya fir mujhe bhi offer kar rahi thi iss baat ka?"

"Woh banda woh ladki se shiddat wali mohabbat karta tha. Bewafai ka dard hua hi hoga par tumne jaan jo li hai, zahir si baat hai uske liye aayega hi."

“Aan de, dekhde aa ki kar luga. Koch karan toh pella hi onhu main jahannum da darvaja dekha dena aa.”

(Aane de, dekhte hai kya kar lega. Kuch karne se pehle hi usko bhi jahannum ka darwaza dikha dunga.)

Arya sat up straight, "Yeh bata Mahoor ka kya reaction tha? Bandi ghabrayi ya fir hass hi rahi thi waha bhi."

Altan's expressions morphed into utter graveness, he rubbed his thumb over his lip, "Darr gayi thi. Bhot."

"Oh."

He tossed the remnants of the cigar in the ashtray and slouched, "Tez bolti hai, tez jawab bhi deti hai par," his eyes softened and his gaze flickered to Arya, "Dil se bhot narm mizaj hai. Ro leti hai koi bhi inconvenience pe."

"Isey angrezi mein kahenge sensitiveness."

His gaze shifted to the floor, he nodded and whispered, "Kal bhi wohi hua. Itna darr gayi thi ki aasu hi nahi ruk rahe the uske."

Arya's lips zipped in a thin line. The thoughts prowling inside his head were what he needed to let out but he knew Altan wouldn't budge from his decision. He was still thinking that letting Mahoor go would be the best alternative any day.

"Woh iss dunia ke liye bani nahi hai. Koi nahi bana hai. Humein bhi, humari marzi ke khilaf laya gaya tha yeh jahan mein par ab humare hathon mein kise hum le aaye aur kise inn sab se dur rakhein. Behtari isi mein hai.."

"Ki woh meri biwi bane."

Arya gaped at him and gave him a once over, "Hein?" he shrieked.

Altan's forehead creased, “Iss mein itna hairan hone jaisa kya hai? Usey girlfriend ni bana raha main. Umar ni eh meri aa chichori harkatan karan di.”

(Umar nahi hai meri yeh chichori harkatein karne ki.)

Arya gawked at him in astonishment, "HEIN?"

Altan rolled his eyes and lowered himself to Arya's gaze. He mocked Arya cheerily, "HEIN!"

"HEIN?"

Altan smirked as he assumed an upright position,“Sherwani tyar rakhio hun, hun ta sidha viyah hoga.”

(Sherwani ready rakhna khud ke liye, an seedha viyah hoga)

Arya pulled his hair in frustration as a line of worry puckered on his forehead and he murmured, "Hein?"

Altan patted his back and Arya glanced at him. The Sultan nodded and threw a sarcastic smile, "Hein!"

•♡•

"Pappa."

"Yahi rukna. Kahi jana nahi, Hoor. Pappa jab tak aa nahi jate, yaha se jana nahi."

The seven year old girl sobbed as her father hid her in a basket behind a trolley of vegetables.

People were scurrying away to save their lives as the gunshots blew, scaring them for their lives.

"Pappa.. Nahi.."

“oor.."

"OH, MAHOOR!" Seyran violently jerked Mahoor, bringing her back to the present.

Mahoor blinked several times and looked at Seyran, "Haa?"

"Kaha khoyi hui ho? Teen baari tumhe awaz lagai maine."

Mahoor closed her eyes and massaged her temples, "Samajh nahi aa raha hai yaar kuch."

The mattress of the bed dipped as Seyran sat in front of her. Caressing her head a little, She noticed her condition.

Mahoor wore a pista color khada dupatta. The beauty of it was enhanced by a deep maroon contrasting shade on the borders. The dupatta was heavily embellished with light golden embroidery and rhinestones.

She completed the look with a jadawi of maroon pearls. Her eyes were glittered with golden eye shade. A line of eye-liner was perfectly stroked on her upper lid waterline. Her eyelashes were perfectly curled and coated with mascara, making them look longer than usual.

Her chubby cheeks were covered with a light hue of pink blush and a deep maroon shade covered her lips. Her hair was tied in a french braid and soft tendrils caressed the sides of her face.

Seyran admired her features the most. She kinda wished if only she'd have her cheeks and some of her body weight, she wouldn't be having an iron deficiency or she wouldn't have been bullied by always getting called a haddi for being skinny.

Mahoor had perfect curves which she lacked. If she had a big chest like hers, her breasts wouldn't have been a topic of body shaming.

She thought of herself as a basic girl who was cherished by everyone in terms of the beauty and down to earth nature but in her mind she lacked in that department.

"Kal jo haadsa hua ussey pareshan ho?"

Mahoor's eyes gleamed with uncertainty, "Yahi nahi. Mujhe kal raat se ek aur incident yaad aa raha hai. Jab main saat ya che saal ki thi, pappa ke saath bazaar gayi thi. Tab bhi aisi bandooke chali thi aur inn sab se mujhe bachane ke liye unhone mujhe ek tokri mein bandh kar ke thele ke peeche chupa diya tha. There's more to the story, par yaad nahi aa raha hai.”

Seyran brows furrowed in concern as realization dawned upon her, "Yani ke woh log shayad tumhara toh kahi peecha nahi kar rahe the?"

As Mahoor tried to remember the dreadful incident, the pain in her head only grew more.

She nodded, "Lag tou mujhe bhi aisa raha hai. Yeh shayad pappa ke koi dushman ho? Isiliye ye kahani repeat ho rahi hai."

"Aur kal se tum bechare Haider bhai ko kasurvar pakadwa rahi thi jab ki woh banda tou shareef hai."

Mahoor rolled her eyes, "Yaha behen ki fikar kar lo, woh paraye insan ki nahi," her annoyance vanished instantly and panic struck her features, "Agar yeh log Philippines tak ponch gaye toh kya karenge hum? Bhai, mera contract terminate ho jayega aur acting ke sapne ko alvida kehna padega."

Seyran slapped her hand on Mahoor's forehead, making her wince.

"Kabhi tou kuch accha bolo, kabhi tou kuch accha socho!"

Mahoor threw daggers at Seyran's way who shrugged and continued, "Mujhe gut feeling aa rahi hai, aisa kuch nahi hoga. Allah pe apna yaqeen qayam rakho aur bina dare aage badho."

Mahoor nodded in agreement, "Sahi baat hai. Allah hai toh kis ke baap ki majaal hai humein kuch karne?"

Seyran smiled adoringly, "Pagal."

Mahoor gazed at the angel sitting in front of her like she came down from heaven.

Seyran wore a saffron red khada dupatta with heavy golden masala (border) on it which had a slight hint of olive green in between the masala.  It was very rustic and royal as it was her mother's wedding dress. The overall drape was made of a beautiful net. Hers was accompanied with a dark green jadawi.

Mahoor admired Seyran's petite form. Her high cheekbones, the sharp jawline, sexy collarbones, deer-like doe eyes and the twinkle of her organ of sight, Haye! She could stare at her all day and night without getting bored. That's how enchanting Seyran was in her eyes.

And Mahoor wished if she was slim like Seyran, she wouldn't have to eat less or worry about her weight and didn't have to go through bullying. If she had a sharp jawline like hers instead of a soft one, she'd look more appealing. If she had a small chest like hers, her fake friends wouldn't have made it the only significant part of her personality and the upper part of her body would have felt a little at ease.

Wasn't this ironic? What we hated about ourselves, was always loved, wanted and admired by the other.

Seyran snapped her fingers before Mahoor's face, bringing her back to reality.

"Kaha kho gayi, madam?"

Mahoor beamingly shook her head. She placed her head on her knee, "Tum kitne pyare lagre, Ma Sha Allah."

Seyran lips curled up, "Khud ko aaine mein dekhna bhool gayi kya? Sahi mein kahi ki hoor lag rahi ho. Ma Sha Allah."

They both chuckled and recited Ayat-ul-kursi under their breath. After chanting, they both softly blew it over each other to protect one other from the nazar.

They both got up and sprawled their satin shawls on their shoulders, leaving them to dangle on their hands. The satin piece of cloth didn't warm them up but it surely matched with their khada dupattas.

They looked at the mirror and gave themselves a thumbs up for their looks and made their way for the awaiting car ride to the wedding function hall.

•♡•

Altan was leaning against the car with his hands folded across his muscular chest. He was wearing a white color salwar kameez and a kanjali green shawl hung in his neck of which one side of it was thrown on his right shoulder.

He rubbed his fake mustache, "Jaise hi Bakhtawar akele mein mila vaise hi usey gayab kar marriage hall ke peeche laa lena, waha koi parinda nahi aayega."

Arya nodded stiffly. Tonight was the night where they'd get their answers for the questions which were left hanging in the middle, causing years of agony, fury and yearning for vengeance.

Fifteen years ago, they both, together, lost the remaining light of their lives and succumbed to darkness forever.

To avenge her was the only mission of their lives and they dug out everything to get their hands on her killer but it never led to it.

However now was the time where they'd get to know the reason behind her assassination and the assassin should only pray for himself to get an easier death as Altan would make sure not to make his death come near that term.

"Nahi. Mubashira ko sath le jane kaha hai."

"Hai kidhar woh madam par?"

Sweet melodic voices reached the men's ears and their attention snapped to the women, getting out of the apartment being heavily dressed up.

Altan's breath hitched and he froze. The woman who just appeared in his vision was heavenly to hold.

‘Uff.. Mere khudaya!’

His heartbeat fastened when she came and stood right before him. His eyes were refusing to avert their gaze from her and his mind was commencing to feel hazy.

He was staring at her for too long and Altan believed in nazar.

‘Nazar lag jayegi.’ And very subtly, he shifted his gaze to the ground and didn't dare to lift his head up.

"Offo, Ma Sha Allah! Manhoor, tum tou bilkul choti dulhan lag rahi ho." Arya praised Mahoor who smiled tightly.

"Mahoor, not Manhoor."

Arya waved a hand, "Ha, wohi. Saira, tum bhi kamal lag rahi ho. Dono behne ek dum sundar lag rahi ho."

Altan pulled Arya's sleeve and Arya frowned seeing him ogling at the ground as if there's something interesting going on.

"Niche kyu dekh raha hai? Teri heroine saamne hai roz tou marta reh raha tha usey aankh bhar dekhne ab mauka mil raha hai toh kya ab uske pairo ke neeche ki jannat dhund raha hai?"

Altan leaned down to his height and whispered in a not so soft tone, "Bakwas bandh kar. Aur Mahoor ko ghurna bandh kar."

"Hein? Mai nahi ghur raha usey. Ab baat karte hue insan muh nahi toh kya asman dekhe?"

Altan glared at Arya, "Nazar lag jayegi usey. Nazrein neeche rakh ke baat kar."

Arya scoffed. He gave Altan a once over and gawked at him as if he had lost his senses.

"Tu tou aisi baatein kar raha hai jaise tujhe yeh ladki se ishq ho gaya hai."

Altan's whole existence ceased. His godly face morphed into voidness. His fisted hand, uncurled. The wind whirled, making a single wavy lock of his thick jet black to fall on his forehead.

Ishq?

'Chahat bhi hui hai kya?' The animal in him mocked.

'Kuch hai bhi tou kya faida? Woh paak rooh tujh jaise matlabi haramzade aur khooni darinde se kyu koi vaasta rakhegi?' The monster in his head ridiculed him, bringing back Altan's true self and showing him how he was living in delusion of having her in his life.

Mahoor cleared her throat, "Dono nanad-bhawaj ki gossip ho tou chale? Humein late ho raha hai, kahi nikkah na miss hojaye."

Altan stood there rigid. Even he didn't know how the jeering of the demons in his head stopped.

He didn't know how to get rid of them or how to put a halt on them but with Mahoor being around him, he didn't have to try anything.

The screams, the yelling, the mockery, the torture and the animosity of the demons inside his head seem to go away in her presence.

Mahoor and Seyran moved forward to the back passenger seats and Seyran smiled awkwardly at Arya. Her introvert ass couldn't think of any other thing.

"Seyran hai mera naam. Saira nahi."

Arya pouted, "Yaad rakhunga."

"Koi baat nahi." Seyran sat down in the car and Mahoor on the other side.

Altan's brows creased. He looked around him and Arya.

“Yeh nand bhawaj kaun hai yaha?”, he continued to look out for the ladies which made Arya chortle.

"Abhi nahi samjhe?"

"Na.." the realization dawned upon him to whom exactly Mahoor was calling nand bhawaj. He turned around and threw daggers at her through the slide of the window glass but the woman was busy gossiping with her cousin Seyran and newly joined Mubashira.

"Bhot muh chalta hai yeh ladki ka."

Arya patted his bicep, "Aadat daal lo. Zindagi bhar yahi muh se kaam chalana hai."

•♡•

"Seyran Api, meri bhi shadi mein aap khada dupatta pehenna." Mubashira said in excitement.

"Ha, Ha. In Sha Allah. Jab hogi tab pehen lenge."

Mahoor groaned, "Beta tum na apna focus tenth ke baad kaunsa subject lena hai uss pe karo, apni shadi ke kaamo mein nahi."

Seyran rolled her eyes and Mubashira scoffed, "Jis din mujhe mera Salar Sikandar mil gaya na, main tou baji bhag rahi hu uske saath nikah kar ke iss ghar se."

Altan and Arya listened to their conversation intently in amusement. They tried to turn on the radio of the car but the girls chattering were entertaining them, specifically Arya.

Altan was only content with Mahoor's voice and thoughts. He was listening to their conversation intently while Arya sped the vehicle on the road swiftly.

Mahoor shook her head, "Yaar, Pir-E-Kamil mujhe parni hai par roman urdu mein. Angrezi mein kaha maza iska.”

“Urdu sikh lo na fir aap.”

“Waqt kaha hai mere paas? Aadha din college mein, aada din part time job mein, pow din content edit aur shoot karne mein aur bache kuche lamhe padhai karne mein jaata hai.”

Seyran stroked Mahoor's hair, “Mehnati larki hai humari.”

Mahoor raised her eyebrows,“Tana maar rahi ho ya fir sahi mein tareef kar rahi ho?”

Seyran controlled her laugh, “Joh tumhe sahi lage woh.”

Mahoor narrowed her eyes at her and shifted more into the window, making the girls chuckle.

The car came to a stop and they all got down. The three girls rush to the women's side of the function hall, leaving the men alone to find their own way.

Altan's eyes followed Mahoor till she disappeared from his vision. Pulling out a cigarette and lighting it up, he rested his back against the car.

He closed his eyes as his lungs consumed the toxic air and his mind again played the past events.

‘Ishq hogaya hai kya ussey?’

Was he capable of loving someone? Someone so pure, full of light and joy.

Even he didn't know how to put his emotions together and how to draw out the exact feelings for her.

He cannot name them yet but whatever they were, he was holding onto them.

Locking the car, Arya came around and stood beside Altan.

“Sultan, Itni cigarette piyega toh mar jayega ek din.”

He opened his eyes. The chilled air grazed their faces.

He placed the cigarette between his lips and chuckled bitterly. Releasing a gust of smoke, he said, “Hun cigarette ki jaan toh marugi? Oh kudi de bulla da hassa hi kafi aa.”

(Cigarette kya jaan se maaregi? Woh Ladki ki labon pe ki ek hasi kafi hai)

Arya smiled in sorrow, “Shuruaat hai, aage aage dekho hota hai kya.”

“Oh, Bakhtawar miya sunte tou jau.”

Their heads snapped at the name and saw two men hugging and laughing about something.

Altan's back straightened and Arya got alerted. They both looked at each other and Arya nodded, confirming that he is the man Bakhtawar, they were looking for.

Their search was over. The murderer of the precious woman of their life was standing in front of them.

The man in front of them had a short build of 5'6 or probably 5'7. He wasn't muscular either but had a toned body. His beard and hair had strokes of gray and he was sipping juice from a paper glass while talking to the man.

Bakhtawar shook his hand and turned around. He threw the paper glass on the grass and moved to the marriage hall.

His phone rang and his brows shot up seeing the call from a private number.

He looked around and walked to the backyard of the ceremony hall. Bakhtawar answered.

“Sahab..”

“Altan, Hindustan mein hai.”

Bakhtawar's eyes widened and fear blinded his vision.

“Ky..kyaa?”

“Issey pehle woh tumhe dhunde apni jaan bacha ke bhago.”

“Par.. Hello.. Hello!” he yelled as the call from the other side declined.

Bakhtawar tried ringing that private number again but his efforts went in vain. His clasped his hair and sweat trail down his body even at twelve degree temperature.

He knew if Altan caught him, his death was destined. The Sultan would get out the truth and kill him in his own sadistic murderous way and if Bakhtawar decides to stay loyal to his boss, not a day will pass without an ounce of torture.

In simple words, Altan was his death.

The terror of Altan Mirza was very much evident in the mafia world and nobody dared to even test him because they'd either end up losing their heads or down in the basement.

Bakhtawar hastily put his phone in his sherwani's pocket to flee away from the ceremony, actually from the country itself.

He wiped his forehead and swiveled around only to get his breath strange in his throat.

There stood a tall, muscular man with another man behind him.

The man moved forward and Bakhtawar took a step back.

“kau..kaun ho tum?”

Altan smirked and he let out a dark chuckle, “Yeh sawal mujhe bhot pasand hai.”

“Saaf.. Saaf kaho kaun..kaun ho tum?”

His steps ceased and rage oxidized in Altan's body. The murderer of his beloved human was standing right in front of him. All the amusement left Altan's being and all he could see was red as he spat in venom, “Teri maut.”

Bakhtawar visibly shook. He didn't have to join the things to understand. Altan Mirza had found him and now was the time where death itself came to take him in the arms of torment.

Bakhtawar took a step back and Altan grabbed him by the collar.

Altan slapped him and hissed,“Aise hi jab pandra saal, goli chalane se pehle kadam peeche liye hote na tou tu aaj mere haatho mar nahi raha hota.”

Bakhtawar fell to the ground and Altan kicked him in the gut, making him wince in pain.

Altan lowered himself to the ground, pulling out his gun, he stabbed the nuzzle of the pistol on Bakhtawar's temple at which blood oozed out at an instant.

He pulled him by the collar and roared,“Kyu? Jawab de mujhe kyu?”

A sudden pain rose in Bakhtawar's chest and he clutched his aching organ. He started to sweat profusely and he puked out blood at which Altan dropped him and he stepped back.

Altan looked at Arya who was as bewildered as him.

Bakhtawar coughed violently and vomited blood again.

Altan stilled as realization dawned upon him.

“Arya, gadi nikal.”

Arya nodded hastily and before Altan could drag Bakhtawar up, everything went silent.

Altan walked to the body lying on the floor which wasn't making any action. He lowered himself and placed his fingers on Bakhtawar's neck, checking his pulse.

Nothing.

Altan held Bakhtawar's hand and checked the pulse on his wrist.

Nothing.

He checked his heartbeat.

Nada. Nothing.

Altan blinked in astonishment. He almost got his hand on Azyan's murderer and he lost it in the blink of an eye.

Now the answers were left hanging between for the Lord knows when. His hunt of fifteen years to find this man who was now a corpse went all in hell.

Altan looked at Bakhtawar and he slapped his cheek, hard.

“Oye, uth!”

He again slapped the dead corpse and pulled him by grabbing his collar, “MUJHE MERE SAWAL KA JAWAB DIYE BEGAIR, TU MAR NAHI SAKTA!”

Altan smashed the Bakhtawar's head in the  ground violently. He was seething in anger and the demons inside his head were now free from the cage.

Arya looked at the scene in front of him going on. Altan was out of control as he repeatedly kept punching or smashing Bakhtawar.

He didn't know how to go and pull Altan back from beating a dead body to bring back to life.

A tear trail down his cheek and Arya let out a sob. The pain in his chest hasn't subsided for fifteen years.

The wounds were still fresh and coming this close to find her killer and the reason behind her death and then to get everything taken away from them in a moment was only adding more misery to their suffering.

He wobbly walked to Altan and held his shoulders.

By putting every energy left in him, Arya pulled Altan back and freed him from the corpse.

“Mar chuka hai woh.”

Altan panted densely. He still wasn't over from beating the corpse. His hands itched and the monster in him didn't get enough; they both weren't satisfied.

His gaze shifted to Arya whose eyes were shedding tears and it only made him more furious.

He took out his sound suppressor gun and shot the corpse till the firearm got empty.

“Sab khatam ho gaya hai, sab khatam.” Arey whispered in a heartbreaking despair.

Altan looked at his knuckles which were oozing out blood.

He peered at Arya with dead eyes and deadpanned, “Mere hunde hoye koch khatam ni hoya, na kadhi hovega.”

(Mere hote hue kuch khatam nahi hua hai, na kabhi hoga.)

•♡•♡•♡•♡•♡•

*Ahem* How are y'all?

Exams are nearby and I do nothing but procrastinate. This is the shortest chapter I have ever written but this is the only chapter which took so much time for me to write it down that I can't tell y'all 🥲

Cannot wait for you guys to read the next chapter as I'm dropping a huge surprise in it!!

Also, Mohabbat-E-Masaaib has hitten 300k reads! Congratulations to us🥹🥳

The bonus chapter will be up real soon once I'm done with my papers.

Ramzan Mubarak in advance, babies!

May Allah accept our ibadah, duas and make it easier for us to fast in this last summer of the Ramzan💫

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