Chapter 51 #7
"The knowledge of the shipment wasn't limited to Kabir, and they got access because of his negligence. Whoever planned this made sure they could ambush us at the right moment and stop those shipments from reaching their destination too.", His eyes hardened.
"I had already prepared for something like this." His gaze shifted briefly towards Safiya, who now stood wrapped in Riffat's shawl.
"When I sent the gifts away with Safiya, I made sure the shipments would be dispatched on the same day. The entire arrangement was nothing more than an illusion to understand their methods, to see how quickly they would react and, more importantly, to find out how they intended to strike. "
The living toom fell silent, " And who do you suspect is doing it? ", Nauman stepped forward.
" Don't you think it's Eshaan? He doesn't want you working with Akshat. ", Zaviyar nodded at Safiya's words.
"And they walked straight into it.", Zaviyar's expression remained unreadable as he looked at his family.
"But what I overlooked was their plan to kill me. They knew everything and planted a driver to kill us today. If Safiya hadn't shot him... I'd probably-"
"Dekha, isiliye main nahi chahti thi ki tum kaam karo, kyunki yeh safe nahi hai. Maine kaha tha Zaviyar se kitni baar ki tumhara Almora jaana band karwa dein, par nahi..." Tayi Ammi's voice trembled with the fear she had been carrying for far too long.
"Main yeh hargiz nahi chahti thi ki tum kaam karna band karo, lekin apni jaan ko jokhim mein daal kar nahi.", Safiya stared at her, realization slowly settling over her features.
(I never wanted you to stop working, but not at the cost of putting your life in danger.)
"Aap mujhe isiliye job chhodne ka keh rahi thi?"
(You were asking me to leave my job because of this?)
"M-Main tumhe tab sach nahi bata sakti thi, kyunki tum dar jaati. Aur jab maine suna ki..." Her voice faltered, the words catching somewhere between fear and regret.
"Tayi Ammi, aap samjha kar toh dekhti."
(Tayi Ammi, you could have tried explaining it to me.)
" I didn't want you to be scared, so I thought I'd make myself a little cruel in front of you, just so you would stay safe. "
The room fell into a heavy silence before Zaviyar finally spoke, his gaze sharpening with every passing second.
"Zaviyar, you must be careful. He might try to attack again.", Nauman said, concern laced in his voice.
Safiya's answer came without hesitation.
"You're wrong, uncle. He won't attack again. Rather than feeling like they wanted to kill us, it felt as if they were diverting our attention from something important. If they wanted to kill us, why stall for so much time?"
A faint, knowing smile touched his lips.
"You indeed are smart, my wife."
His gaze shifted towards the others, his expression turning grave.
"They wanted to get to know our hideout spots and the loopholes in our security. Which means they already know our tactics."
"Don't worry, Dad. I'll make sure to wipe out their existence." Zaviyar's voice was calm, almost frighteningly so.
"And Kabir." Zaviyar's gaze hardened as it settled on him. "You're not fit to take any responsibility yet. Try to learn first."
Kabir lowered his gaze and nodded, stepping back with a dejected expression.
Nauman's words stopped Zaviyar, " You made mistakes like this too, Zaviyar. "
" I did. And got locked up in the storeroom for days. I was beaten to death, because i couldn't carry out my responsibility. I don't want the same for Kabir, but if he insists on helping me with business. Then he needs to learn what it's like. ", Zaviyar's authoritativr words, only made Nauman nod.
" Those were extreme decisions taken by Baba. He will learn eventually. ", Nauman added
" Learn. ", Zaviyar pronounced the word almost mockingly, with a scoff.
" I hope not at the cost of someone's life ", Safiya could feel the tension surging in the room. It was the first time she had felt this unknown heaviness around this family.
" It's okay. He will learn, let him be with you and teach him. ", she spoke, trying to calm the situation.
He nodded, just then his eyes caught the stagger in her steps. He clicked his tongue.
" You're hurt. ", his voice came out soft.
She shook her head. He bent down and lifted Safiya into his arms, and she immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him just as tightly.
Her face disappeared into the crook of his shoulder, seeking the safety she instinctively associated with him.
Without another word, Zaviyar turned away, carrying Safiya in his arms as several staff members followed behind them, carrying first-aid supplies, food, water.and everything else they might need.
As soon as they reached the room, Zaviyar halted.
"Stop.", he commanded the staff. The sudden command made Safiya jolt awake. She had nearly fallen asleep in his arms, exhaustion finally beginning to overwhelm her.
He carried her gently to the bed and lowered her onto it before walking back towards the trolley. He gathered the first-aid kit and the food along with the other necessities, then returned to the room and quietly closed the door behind him.
For a moment, he simply looked at her.
Then he dipped a clean cloth into the warm water and carefully took her hand into his. His fingers moved gently over her skin, wiping away the dirt and the faint stains of blood until her hands were clean again.
"I killed him, Zaviyar. What if the police..." Her voice trembled as the weight of what she had done finally began to sink in.
Zaviyar immediately caressed her knuckles with his thumb, his touch slow and reassuring.
"Don't feel guilty. You did that to save yourself.", Safiya lowered her eyes, still struggling with the turmoil inside her.
"Aap aaram karein. Baaki sab hum sambhaal lenge.", His words softened something inside her, easing the guilt that had been clawing at her chest, even if they couldn't completely silence it.
(You rest. We'll take care of everything else.)
Just then, his phone rang. Zaviyar glanced at the screen before answering and placing the call on speaker.
"Sir, you were correct. Our hideout spots were destroyed."
Waqas's words made Zaviyar click his tongue in irritation. His jaw tightened, anger flashing through his eyes, but he quickly concealed it. Safiya had already been through enough. He wouldn't let her see how deeply this had shaken him.
"Have you caught them?", His voice remained unnervingly soft, almost gentle, but the murderous intent beneath it was unmistakable.
"Yes, sir.", Zaviyar ended the call and tossed his phone onto the nearby table before turning his attention back to Safiya. He picked up the ointment and carefully applied it over the scratch on her wrist, his touch surprisingly gentle despite the tension still lingering in the room.
"I might have to go now. But you take rest. I'll send your food. Eat it and sleep.", He was about to pull his hand away when he felt her fingers tighten around his wrist.
"Let me clean your wounds.", He knew there was no point arguing with her. With a quiet sigh, Zaviyar sat down beside her and offered his hand.
Safiya took it into hers, her fingers trembling slightly as she began cleaning the blood and dirt from his skin. She worked carefully, wiping every wound before applying the medicine with delicate strokes.
But her mind refused to stay in the present.
The memory of him killing that man with his bare hands flashed before her eyes again. The sheer brutality of it, the coldness in his expression, the blood staining his hands. All of it all came rushing back at once.
Her hands began to tremble. Safiya swallowed hard and bit down on her lower lip, trying to steady herself. Her index finger brushed over a particularly deep cut on his hand, tracing its edge absentmindedly.
She barely had time to react before Zaviyar suddenly caught her wrist. His eyes met hers.
"Yeh darr tumhari aankhon mein achcha nahi lagta."
(This fear doesn't look good in your eyes.)
Safiya looked away, her voice barely above a whisper. "Kuch cheezon se darr lagta hai.", His grip loosened slightly, but he didn't let go.
(Some things are frightening.)
"Mujhse bhi?", She finally looked at him.
( Even of me?)
"Aapse nahi..." Her voice faltered before she gathered enough courage to finish. "Bas iss soch se ki kabhi agar aapki gun meri protection ke bajaye mere khilaaf hui toh?"
(Not of you... Just the thought that what if, someday, your gun is pointed against me instead of protecting me?)
For a moment, Zaviyar said nothing. His gaze remained fixed on hers, unwavering and absolute.
"Aisa kabhi sochna bhi mat.", Safiya slowly nodded, " eat dinner and take some rest. "
(Never even think of such a thing.)
There was no room for doubt in his voice.
"Khayal rakhna.", she whispered. (Take care.)
He gave her one last look before getting up and walking towards the door. Safiya's eyes followed him until he disappeared from the room, the gun tucked securely into the waistband of his trousers. A quiet reminder of the danger that still surrounded them.
Safiya hadn't changed her clothes. She simply paced around the room, restless and unable to settle, biting her lip as she repeatedly glanced towards the clock.
Just then a knock echoed in the door, and she ran to open it. Only to be disappointed when she saw that it was Shabana.
" I'm here to take the dishes. ", Safiya nodded. Shabana frowned seeing the food untouched.
" Ma'am, sir will scold me if he gets to know that you haven't eaten anything. Just eat a few bites, at least drink the juice. ", Safiya pinched the bridge of her nose, nodding.
" Okay. I'll eat. ", Shabana nodded.
Safiya went near the food, and picked up the spoon to eat. She brought it near her mouth, but paused.
" Close the door. I'll call you to take the dishes. ", Shabana nodded, and closed yeh door behind. She stared at the food, but she couldn't bring herself to eat. She closed the lid of the food.