They looked; it was Farooq. Behind him stood IG Sheikh Nisar Ahmed. They quickly stepped inside:
"You're back, Farooq...?" Hamood asked.
"Not yet... I'll arrive in a little while." He smiled.
"Where are those three...?" IG Nisar Ahmed asked, looking around.
"Uncle! They managed to escape..." Farhana smiled.
"Escaped... How? The door was locked from the outside," he asked in astonishment.
When Farhana narrated the details, his mouth was left wide open...
"Oh... Then they were like elusive phantoms..."
"Exactly... They were extremely quick. I am puzzled, though... How did they leave without taking me?"
"This is the limit! What a brilliant plan I had devised to get them arrested. Alas! You ruined it all." Farooq made a face.
"Never mind... Don't fret... God willing, we will have them arrested next time."
"Farooq! Any news of Father? I mean, any contact with him?"
"No contact at all... Not only him, but Uncle Ikram and Muhammad Hussain Azad are also missing along with two subordinates."
"Oh... dear... Did you talk to Uncle Khan Rehman?"
"While coming here with Uncle IG, I tried contacting him from his phone, but his phone is powered off. Professor Uncle's phone is also switched off... Speaking to his family revealed that they are searching for him too. As if both of them, just like Father, have vanished... May Allah have mercy... My heart is sinking... Heaven knows who is making our people disappear one by one... But why is he doing this? What motives does he want to achieve?" Farooq went on saying.
"Oh... oh... The situation is terrible. Uncle! You tell us, what should we do now... We can't think of anything." Hamood said with deep concern.
"Don't worry... I will do something..." IG Nisar Ahmed said.
"Please do something... My heart is sinking." Begum Junaid said.
"Bhabhi! Allah will have mercy... I must leave now." IG Nisar Ahmed said, and then he departed.
After his departure, Begum Junaid retreated to her room, and they began glaring at Gaami and Shazi:
"Good grief... Why are you staring at us like that?" Gaami grew uneasy.
"Th-then... how else should we stare... Tell us, and we will stare that way." Farooq smiled.
"Anyway, this gentleman is an expert at staring." Hamood said with annoyance.
"Is staring necessary? One can talk without staring too." Gaami laughed.
"Fine, then tell us who you are and how you agreed to act in our favor... considering we are seeing you for the first time in our lives. Right, Farhana! Am I speaking the truth...?"
"Yes... Gaami! We are not completely assured about you. I'm thinking... You might strike at us at any moment." Farhana said.
Hearing her words, Gaami and Shazi exchanged looks... Then Shazi began:
"Do you not trust us...?"
"Honestly speaking, fifty-fifty..." She smiled.
"Fifty-fifty..." slipped from Gaami's mouth.
"Yes... Fifty-fifty... meaning it is there, and it isn't. Don't forget how you broke into our house. When does a well-wisher ever enter someone's home like that?"
"And what about our support for you against Kaka, Baaja, and Baba? What was that? When does someone with ill intentions ever do that!" Gaami said.
"You're right... But if you clarify a few things, we will be further reassured." Hamood said.
"Hmm... You have a fair point too... Fine, I'll tell my story then." Gaami conceded defeat.
"Oh... So you have a story too...?" Farooq made a face.
"And my story is deeply painful. If you hear it, you will start weeping."
"Oh... Good grief... Th-then... Then don't tell your story." Farooq said, flustered.
"W-why...?" Gaami asked in surprise.
"Because hearing painful stories truly makes me cry." Farooq said hurriedly.
"Fine, then weep your heart out today... because you have never heard such a sorrowful tale before." Gaami said with a smile.
"Oh... N-no." Farooq got confused.
"Gaami! Leave him alone... and tell your story." Hamood glared at Farooq with piercing eyes.
Gaami glanced at everyone and began:
"I have committed many murders..."
"Oh... Good heavens... Th-then... Then you are a murderer!" Farooq jumped up.
"When did I deny it... That I am not a murderer?" Gaami made a face.
"Man! Stay quiet, let him tell the story." Hamood said with irritation.
"Yes, so I was saying... I have committed many murders."
"Now tell us this too: why did you do it?" Farooq asked.
"I was helpless...!!"
"And why were you helpless?"
"Well... This won't do... I'll tell the story from the beginning..."
"Then tell it... Why keep hitting the brakes again and again?"
"I was living a peaceful life with my parents in a beautiful village. My elderly parents lived merely to see me. I had a sweet little sister. Her name was Arisha... She was the apple of everyone's eye. She was in the second grade... Exceptionally bright. She always secured the first position in her class. We owned a small timber yard. Our livelihood ran smoothly on its income... Our village was nestled between two mountains. It was a Friday when he came to me. He was a stout man with a fair and reddish complexion. In appearance, he looked like a gentleman. He sat down right beside me. During our conversation, he asked about my earnings... I told him... I earn enough to get by easily. I am content with my income and thank Allah. He listened to me attentively... When I fell silent, he said: 'You are a very good man... I want to help you...' I asked: 'In what way do you wish to help me?' He said: 'If you work with me, I will give you a lot of money. So much that you will become the richest man in this village...' Hearing his words, I was astonished. He was a complete stranger to me. Perhaps from another region. I thanked him and said: 'I am content with my life, my brother... Please help someone else... There are many unemployed youths wandering in this village... Help them... If you say, I can introduce you to them.' Hearing me, he laughed aloud and said: 'You are a strange man... I want to help you, and you are telling me to help someone else.' Hearing his words, I said: 'I am mentioning someone else because I don't need excess money. I am happy with my life...' Then he left, saying: 'Think it over... I will come back to you after fifteen days, then whatever your decision is...'" Gaami stopped here and fell silent.
"Oh... Did he return after fifteen days or not...?" Farhana asked.
"He returned after fifteen days. As soon as he sat beside me, I told him... I am ready to work with you... Because I am in dire need of money. Hearing my words, he was surprised at first, then said with a smile: 'What happened in these fifteen days that you are asking me yourself...'"
"It was indeed surprising... Why did you agree to work with him when you were content with your life, with your earnings?" Hamood asked.
"In reality, those fifteen days brought a storm into our peaceful life. My mother was struck by a fatal illness. My little sister slipped on some stones while walking home from school. Due to a severe head injury, she went into a coma. Mother passed away within just three or four days. With these successive blows, the entire order of life fell into shambles. I was reduced to begging for every penny. It came to the point of borrowing from people." Gaami fell silent once again. His face had turned utterly dim.
"Oh... oh..." escaped everyone's mouth at once.
"A terrible tragedy befell you..." Hamood said in a sorrowful tone.
"Then what happened...?"
"Hearing about my circumstances, he expressed sorrow and took me with him to a city... He was a massive transporter. He owned countless large and small vehicles running across the entire country... Among these vehicles were passenger buses and freight trailers hauling goods from one place to another. He was a billionaire, perhaps. He appointed me as a supervisor over the drivers. Since I received a handsome salary, my circumstances transformed within days. I built a splendid house in my village. When I married, my wife took care of my father and sister. The peace of my life had returned. Then one day, by chance, I discovered that my employer was involved in some illegal racket... The information wasn't clear, but my ears stood at attention. I am one of those people living in this country who, even in these fallen times, love their homeland intensely. Always ready to stand in battle against those trying to hollow its roots. What that illegal business was, I learned much later... But I could never discover what location he utilized for that racket. I tried frantically through my sources to find out, but could not succeed. My employer's name was Faqeer Parinda. Extremely innocent in appearance, but in reality, a ruthless man. Scolding his employees over trivial matters was his habit. In subdued words, I warned him several times about the ill effects of this habit, but he was intoxicated with wealth and power. He disregarded everything I said. Long story short! One day, I quietly quit his service... To be frank, I escaped from his clutches. I had amassed a great deal of wealth. I sold the village house, bought a house in a remote city, and began living with my family. I set up a small shoe factory. Allah granted immense blessings in it, and my wealth began growing rapidly. Then one day, Faqeer Parinda tracked me down... Through his henchmen, he had my factory set on fire. I suffered immense losses. He didn't stop at that... He came after my life. He used to say: 'Why did you quit my job? I lifted you from the dust to the skies, and you abandoned me. Do you know how many problems I had to face after you left... I will not forgive you... I will destroy you...' And then he did just that... In a car accident, my wife and only child were killed... Outwardly it was a coincidental crash, but I knew it was orchestrated by Faqeer Parinda. In that accident, I was severely injured... Now the sole purpose of my life was to take revenge on Faqeer Parinda. He ruined me; I wanted to ruin him. Therefore, I began tracking him. He generally does not appear before people. All his operations are managed by his men; he pays them hefty salaries. I learned that these days he has arrived in this city and is scheming some conspiracy against the country. So I came here in search of him." Gaami fell silent. Everyone was watching him. There was a peculiar sorrow etched on his face.
"Oh... oh... Truly, your story is exceedingly painful." Farhana said.
"But you had said... A conspiracy is brewing against us... What is that conspiracy, who is orchestrating it... and how did you find out?"
Gaami smiled and said:
"Some of my friends belong to the criminal underworld. They merely gave a subtle hint that a net was being woven around Inspector Junaid's party... An attempt would be made to kidnap his daughter. Hearing this, I resolved to protect you... and fight against the conspirators... Shazi is my closest friend... He is with me in all these matters. You have already witnessed that." Gaami said with a smile.
"Yes! We've seen it, but you haven't mentioned the name of the conspirator." Farooq glared at Gaami.
"What sense is there in glaring over this?" Gaami laughed.
"How should I know if there's sense or not. You kindly tell us the conspirator's name."
"His name could not be ascertained, but my friends are sniffing around for him. The moment they catch wind... They will inform me immediately." Gaami said.
"Gaami! A few questions in your story demand answers; if you say so, may I ask?" Farhana said with a smile.
"Ask... What do you wish to ask?"
"The first sentence of your story was that you have committed many murders, yet throughout the entire story it was never mentioned again. Why?"
"The answer to this is... After my wife and daughter were killed, I abandoned decency. I joined criminal elements. I did this solely for the sake of taking revenge on Faqeer Parinda. Where ghee can only be extracted with crooked fingers... Nobody cares for straight fingers... I take up arms against every oppressor who tries to harm my country. Sadly, I had to kill many such people..." Gaami explained.
"Oh... oh... So that's the matter..." Hamood said.
"And this fact has informed us... That we are currently talking to a gangster... This gangster gentleman has been present in our home for a long time. He has even eaten food with us." Farooq said, making a sour face.
"Okay... Now tell me this... Why do you want to protect me... and why only me... Why not my brothers?" Farhana smiled.
"Because among the feats of Inspector Junaid's party, I admire your character immensely..." He said abruptly, and they all paused in surprise:
"Oh... That means you read our exploits with keen interest."
"That is indeed the case..." He smiled.
"You only like Farhana's character...?" Farooq asked.
"Yes... Only Farhana's..."
"Yet you talk one hundred percent in my style! What sort of logic is this? You ought to like my character too." Farooq said with innocence, and everyone burst into laughter.
"Okay... Don't you worry; in the future, I will try to like your character too." Gaami said, laughing.
"Only try...?" Farooq snapped.
"I can only try... I cannot make a promise."
"Oh... Wait... Hey..." Suddenly Hamood was startled.
"What happened, Hamood... Why are you startled?" Farhana asked quickly.
"We are gossiping here... While Father and the others might be in heaven knows what condition..."
"Oh... oh... Uncle IG hasn't contacted either."
"Oh... What do we do now?" Farhana asked.
"You will tell us that..." Farooq said quickly.
"Why should I tell you... You could tell us too."
"You, because the factory of brilliant schemes belongs to you... Not to us." Farooq chuckled.
"Oh... Fine, I'll think of some scheme..." Farhana said and became lost in thought.
"Think of a solid scheme... Mind you, don't think of a feeble one!" Farooq said.
Farhana glared at him with piercing eyes.
Suddenly, persistent knocking began on the door. Everyone exchanged startled glances...
Then Farooq spoke softly:
"I can say one thing with certainty."
"This is no time for claiming things. Man! Why do you try to sing an ill-timed melody? Pay attention to the time and place." Gaami made a face.
"Say whatever you want, but I stand by my statement: that I can say one thing with certainty." Farooq said with a smile.
"You won't desist from speaking your mind... So quickly say whatever you wish to say." Hamood said, burning with annoyance.
"That the visitor is either blind or mad." Farooq smiled.
"Good grief... How can you say that he is blind or mad?" Hamood slapped his thigh in exasperation.
"Hamood! Is the doorbell button installed outside or not?"
"It is installed," Hamood said, surprised.
"And what would you call someone who cannot see that big button?"
"Blind...!"
"And the one who doesn't press it despite seeing it... What about him?"
"Man, he would be mad..." he grumbled in frustration.
"This is the limit, man! Look where you drag the conversation." Gaami said with a laugh.
"As if you never drag it anywhere." Farooq said in such a manner that everyone burst out laughing.
"Will you get up only when the door is broken down?" Hearing Begum Junaid's voice from the room, Hamood quickly stood up and ran toward the door.
"Make sure to ask who is outside before opening the door."
"I am not mad... I will definitely ask. Hey there! Who are you outside?" Hamood asked in a rather loud voice.
The knocking on the door abruptly ceased. Then a feeble voice struck their hearing:
"I am mad..."
"Oh...! Good heavens... Th-there... There really is a mad person outside!" Farooq stammered.
"What is there to stammer about?" Farhana glared at him so fiercely that he shrank back. Seeing this, Gaami, Shazi, and Farhana involuntarily smiled.
"Why did you shrink back now...?"
"This is too much... When I speak, you complain why I speak; when I cower, you ask why I cower... Where on earth am I supposed to go...?"
"Farooq! You are mad... I swear." Farhana laughed.
"I am not mad... The mad one is outside... Right, Hamood?"
"Good grief..." Hamood said, slapping his thigh.
"Why are you standing like that? Why don't you open the door?" Farhana snapped at Hamood.
"How can I open it...! The knocking has stopped, and after that single sentence, there is total silence outside."
"Oh..." escaped everyone's lips simultaneously.
The knocking on the door resumed. They looked at each other, as if asking: what do we do now...?
"Open the door... I am mad." It was said from outside once more.
"Farhana! Should I open the door?"
"No, not yet... Oh...!!" Farhana gasped. Then she turned to Farooq:
"Go... By now Begum Shirazi must be home."
As Farooq sprinted toward the staircase, Farhana called out:
"What's the need to run... You can walk calmly too."
"I ran so that no one leaps from the rooftop." Farooq shouted while running.
"Open the door... I am mad." The voice came from outside once more.
"We are opening... Have some patience, Mr. Madman!" Shazi shouted loudly, and total silence fell outside again.
In a short while, Farooq was seen descending the stairs. Everyone noticed the color had drained from his face... Their hearts sank in shock.
