"Good grief! People have turned our house into an arena. Whomever you look at, descends from above..." Farooq made a face.
"And what else... Considering others' home as a wrestling arena is not a good thing," Hamood said, making a face as well.
"Who are you...? And what have you come here for...?" Farhana glared angrily at the chubby young man.
"I am Kaka..." the young man said with a smile.
"Kaka... Whose baby (kaka) are you?" Farooq laughed.
"Obviously... I belong to my parents. Do you have any objection?"
"Why would I have an objection? Whomever's baby you are... what is that to me... Right, brother Gaami...?"
"You are speaking the truth... Who are we to object?" he smiled.
"Boys! Kaka has not come here to joke around..."
"Then what has he come to do...? By the way, my sister already asked you earlier..."
"What did your sister ask...?" Kaka opened his eyes wide.
"Precisely this: what have you come here to do...?"
"I will tell you... Just let me catch my breath." He sat down cross-legged in the courtyard.
"Today is a strange day... What bizarre things are landing in our home." Farooq sat down cross-legged right beside Kaka as well.
"Get up from here..." Kaka glared at him.
"Why should I get up? You are forgetting... this is our home. I can sit anywhere... Understand...?"
"I understood... Sit as much as you like, but if you try to make any mischief, I will give you one hand (strike you)..."
"And if I do not wish to take it, what will you do...?"
"What will you not wish to take...?" Kaka asked in astonishment.
"Your one hand..." Farooq smiled.
"If you do not like one hand, I will give you two hands..." Kaka said, laughing.
"Kaka! Are you crazy...?" Gaami asked.
"I am not crazy, but I make the sane ones go crazy. If you want to become one, do let me know... It will take only a few seconds..." Kaka said with a laugh.
"By the way, why did you call me crazy...?"
"If you give both of your hands to Farooq, what will you do yourself? How will you eat and drink...? That is why I called you crazy." Gaami was smiling.
"Oh... That was not my meaning..." He got flustered.
"Whatever your meaning was, what is it to us... Now quickly tell us the purpose of your arrival... so that we may be assured..." Farhana said in exasperation.
"I have come to take Farhana..." he said with a smile.
"Which Farhana...? Which Farhana are you talking about...?" Shazi asked, startled.
"Inspector Junaid's Farhana..."
"Oh... Have you seen her...?" Hamood asked.
"I have not seen her..."
"If you have not seen her, how will you take her away...?" Gaami asked.
"You people will tell me about her... who Farhana is," Kaka said, laughing.
"You think... you will take Farhana along with you! She is a very hard nut to crack (a crooked pudding)." Hamood laughed.
"I do not merely think so... I am certain... I will take her along with me."
"Oh... Why don't you say it plainly... You have come to kidnap Farhana!"
"Fine, here I say it... I have come to kidnap her..."
"Farhana is not an easy morsel... that you can just kidnap her," she smiled.
"She is an iron chickpea... Chewing her is not easy... In attempting to chew, many people have broken their teeth... Therefore, if you want what is good for you, go back where you came from," Farooq said.
"Why did you call me an iron chickpea...?" Farhana asked, glaring at Farooq.
"Well, I couldn't very well say an iron chickpea-ess..." he laughed.
"You people are crazy...!!" Gaami said with a smile.
"How did you make such a splendid guess...?" Farooq swung around toward him.
"Kaka had not seen Farhana... He did not recognize her, but you told him... who Farhana is..."
"W-what do you mean... I told him." He became flustered.
"I will deal with you later... First let me talk to this child of a Kaka."
"Oh... So you are Farhana..." Kaka said. Then he began looking at Farooq with grateful eyes:
"Hey... Why are you looking at me like that...? Do you intend to eat me or what?"
"Farooq... Thank you..."
"In celebration of what...?"
"You pointed out Farhana, that's why..." he smiled.
"But I have already told you... She is an iron chickpea-ess... Oh no... an iron chickpea... Chewing her is not easy..."
"And I don't like easy tasks anyway. It will be fun. Come on, Farhana! Get ready to be kidnapped..." Kaka turned toward Farhana... She was standing with Begum Junaid.
"While we are here, you cannot look at Farhana with an evil eye." Gaami stepped abruptly in front of Kaka.
"First of all... I washed my eyes before coming... So my sight is not dirty, it is neat and clean... Second of all... I will play your tune (beat you up) and take her away..." Kaka said, laughing.
"But why do you want to kidnap Farhana...? What harm has that poor girl done to you...?"
"Nothing at all..."
"Then why did you come to kidnap her...?" Hamood asked in astonishment.
"Because I have been told to do so..." he smiled.
"Who told you...?"
"The one who gives me money every month..."
"So you want to kidnap Farhana for money..."
"That is the matter..." he laughed.
"And if we give you more money than that...?"
"Then I will still take Farhana away..." he laughed.
"Why... Why will you take her away then...?" Farooq glared at him.
"Because once I make a promise, I fulfill it at all costs."
"Oh... oh..."
"Come on then... Kidnap Farhana and show us...!!!"
"Here, steady yourself then..." Kaka said and suddenly lunged at Gaami... He was ready for this assault... so he deftly stepped aside. Kaka went over him and crashed onto the ground... then immediately sat up...
"I will not let you even lay a finger on Farhana," Gaami said with a smile.
"I am surprised... Why are you helping us...?" Begum Junaid said in a voice drowned in wonder.
"I had said... I will tell this later..." Gaami said and dropped quickly to the ground. Kaka had lunged at him once more. Gaami was exceptionally agile.
"I am familiar with your tactics... Therefore, at least you cannot harm me in the slightest..." Gaami smiled.
Hearing his words, Kaka froze right where he was... and began staring at Gaami in sheer astonishment...
"W-what happened... W-why are you looking at me like that...?"
"What did you just say...?"
"He said that he is familiar with your tactics... Therefore, you won't be able to harm him in the least," Farooq said quickly.
"I asked him... not you..." Kaka looked at Farooq angrily.
"This is the limit... There is no appreciation for goodness nowadays..."
"How are you familiar with my tactics...?" He had become somewhat anxious.
"This is a secret matter... I will reveal it when the time comes..." Gaami smiled.
"To hell with you... I will turn you into digestive powder (crush you to dust)..." Kaka said in fury and charged at him like a bull. He wanted to headbutt Gaami, but failed this time too... Gaami was an apparition... Slipping out of his reach in the blink of an eye.
"Aha! Wow... You are quite an incredible thing... Making Kaka dance on his toes... Bravo..." Hamood cheered playfully.
"Thank you for the praise...! I will wear him down to exhaustion and defeat him..."
"Then take one 'bravo' from my side as well," Farooq smiled.
"Only one 'bravo'... You are very stingy, my friend."
"Yes! Because I don't have many to give you... Hey, hey... Watch out...!" Farooq yelled.
Kaka had lunged at Gaami once again. This time the manner was very dangerous... Gaami could not evade, and Kaka dragged him down to the floor... Then both sprang up with a jerk simultaneously. As soon as he rose, Kaka tried to punch Gaami in the ribs, but twisting like a fish, Gaami not only managed to save himself but also struck the side of his open palm against Kaka's neck. A faint shriek escaped Kaka's mouth... Then, clutching his neck, he sat on the ground. There was pure agony on his face. Everyone marveled at Gaami's agility.
"Wah... That was the first strike..." Hamood shouted loudly.
"The first strike... Oh..." Farooq said in a lost tone.
"Oh... Th-this... This could be the title of some novel... That is what you want to say, right?" Gaami chuckled.
"Yes... This could truly be the title of a detective novel," Farooq smiled.
"Once I am free from here, I will certainly write a detective novel with this name..." Gaami said with a smile.
"Oh... So are you a thing called an author...?" Farooq asked in surprise.
"If you consider authors to be things, then I am indeed a thing..."
"What a thing you are...!!! Masha'Allah..." Hamood said, smiling.
Kaka, holding his neck with one hand, was still sitting on the ground... Then he rose swiftly... and began spinning on one leg... Now the situation was such: he was spinning round and round on one leg, and their eyes were spinning along with him:
"Gaami... Watch out... Looks like... he is going to make a very dangerous strike..." Farooq was just saying this when Kaka collided into Gaami... He had twisted to save himself, but could not succeed in his attempt. He flipped backward and slammed against the wall... An involuntary scream broke from his mouth. They saw: Kaka stood to one side, smiling:
"This is what is called... a counter-strike..."
"Farhana... Get ready to come with me..." Kaka said with a laugh.
"Meaning... Farhana should get ready to be kidnapped."
"Yes..." Kaka turned abruptly serious.
"The Abduction of Farhana..." Farooq said quickly.
"We know, this too could be the title of some novel. Please do not speak... There is a quite terrifying situation here..." Hamood said hurriedly. His manner was such that everyone began smiling.
"Amazing... You are smiling even under these circumstances," Kaka was astonished.
"We manage to smile even in worse situations than this," Farooq said playfully.
"He truly does not know you people... Otherwise, he would never have come here..." Gaami was back on his feet once more.
"Wah... Now that's the spirit..." Hamood said.
"Say whatever you want... Do whatever you want... I will kidnap Farhana and take her away."
"And try as much as you like... You won't be able to take Farhana from here."
"Let's see... who succeeds... Who will face me now?" Kaka said, laughing.
"What do you mean who...? Defeat me first..." Gaami smiled.
"Oh... Are you capable of competing...?"
"Yes... You do not know me... I know you very well," Gaami said with a laugh and stood before him.
"Ammi Jan... Today our home has truly become an arena..." Hamood said.
"Indeed it is... I am worried thinking about your father... Where could he be... in what condition could he be." Begum Junaid looked distressed.
"May Allah have mercy... Wherever he is... he must be under Allah Almighty's protection... Insha'Allah..." Farhana said.
"Insha'Allah..." they echoed.
The situation was strange... They could not make sense of anything. Inspector Junaid had not reached home... Gaami and Shazi had come to help them... but their manner of arrival was worrying. Kaka had jumped from the roof to kidnap Farhana... He was working for money. The mobile phones of Hamood, Farooq, and Farhana had stopped working... They could not call anyone for help... Meanwhile, Begum Shirazi had locked her house and gone somewhere. Begum Junaid was lost in entangled thoughts.
"Gaami... If you say so, I can subdue him..." Shazi said suddenly.
"No... His thrashing will happen only by my hands..." Gaami smiled.
"For thinking, it is a good thought..." Kaka said laughing, and with remarkable agility, grabbed Gaami by the shoulders and gave a jerk, sending him rolling far away... Kaka almost sprinted right over him and kicked him in the ribs... Gaami shrieked... At the same time, his fist struck Kaka's face, sending him tumbling backward with a scream... Gaami sprang to his feet like a coil... Then he showered a rain of kicks upon Kaka...
"He will die this way... Stop it... He is half-dead now... Hopefully... he won't croak anymore..." Hamood became anxious.
"Croak... He is Kaka... not a frog..." Farooq smiled.
"Such people are frogs indeed, jumping at others' beck and call..." Hamood made a face.
"Let him go, brother... We do not shed anyone's blood unjustly..." Hamood pulled Gaami back from behind.
"If you say so, I'll let him go." Gaami released Kaka. Blood was flowing from Kaka's mouth, and he lay flat on the ground...
"Farooq... Bring a rope from the room and tie him up... We will hand him over to the law," Farhana said.
"All right..." Farooq said, and bringing a rope from the room, began tying Kaka.
"He is tied up now... What do we do next...?"
"Gaami... Shazi... If you don't mind, may I go aside and speak with them for a moment...?" Begum Junaid asked Gaami.
"Certainly do so... We have no objection..." he smiled.
"Thank you...!" Begum Junaid said with a smile. Then she took Hamood, Farooq, and Farhana into the room.
"Are your mobile phones really out of order?" Begum Junaid asked.
"It seems so," Hamood said.
"Oh... May Allah have mercy... The circumstances are not good."
"I am worried thinking about Father; where on earth did he go?" Farooq said.
"What is your opinion regarding Gaami... Shazi?"
"So far, they haven't tried to harm us; rather, you saw... for our sake, he clashed with Kaka and beat him half to death..." Hamood said.
"I think... they are truly our well-wishers... From their talk, it seems... they are aware of some conspiratorial web that has been spun for us somewhere, and perhaps they want to protect us from that web," Farhana went on saying.
"Conspiratorial web... Oh... Wow... Th-this... This could be the title of some novel," Farooq said. Begum Junaid glared at him... He got nervous...
"I take my words back... This cannot be the title of any novel... Are you happy now...?"
"Farooq, you..." Farhana gave him a piercing glare.
"Sorry... I won't speak now..." he said quickly and placed a hand over his mouth. Farhana smiled.
"I think... we should talk openly with Gaami and Shazi... who they are and why they want to help us," Hamood said.
"They have already said... they are our well-wishers and will reveal about themselves when the time comes. Therefore, asking them is futile," Farhana said.
"I am thinking... When Begum Shirazi returns home and finds her door locked from the inside, what will her condition be?" Farooq said.
"She will raise a huge commotion..." Hamood said.
"We won't let her raise a commotion... Finding an opportunity, we will unbolt the latch from inside and put the padlock on from the outside..." Farhana said, smiling.
"Yes... That will be fine... Now let us go outside... Gaami and Shazi must be waiting for us."
"Let's go..." Begum Junaid said, and they walked out into the courtyard. As soon as they entered the courtyard... the doorbell rang.
Everyone was startled... Then from Begum Junaid's mouth involuntarily escaped:
"Who has arrived now...?"
"Shall I open the door... Oh... Wow..." escaped from Hamood's mouth.
"What happened... What was the need to say 'Oh' twice? Such extravagance of words is not good," Farooq said quickly.
"Extravagance of words... Wah... Well said..." Gaami chirped.
"Farhana... Did you not notice? The manner of ringing the doorbell is familiar."
"Oh... This is... This is..." She stopped mid-sentence.
"Don't invent tales... Go and open the door... Begum Shirazi is outside."
"Oh... Your neighbor has arrived," escaped from Gaami's mouth.
"Yes... The manner of ringing the bell is hers... But..." Hamood said.
"Now where did this 'but' come from...?" Gaami made a face.
"But she will be furious..." Hamood smiled.
"Because we opened the door to her house..."
"Understood correctly..."
"Anyway, make up some story and pacify her... Until then, we will hide in some room," Gaami said.
"What is the need to hide... We will tell her the whole truth... She is very kind... She won't get too upset..." Hamood said with a laugh.
"Meaning... she will definitely get upset."
"She has every right to get upset... After all, the padlock of her house was broken..."
"Not broken, unlocked... Shazi, give him the padlock," Gaami said to Shazi, who promptly handed Begum Shirazi's padlock from his pocket.
"We don't break locks... We unlock them and put them back on when leaving... That is why we had kept this padlock safe... Now, since the lady of the house has arrived... we are giving it to you."
"Now go... Open the door... before she rings the bell again," Begum Junaid said.
Hamood ran to the door and pulled back the bolt... Begum Shirazi stood outside, brimming with anger. As soon as the door opened, she stepped in swiftly and stopped directly near Begum Junaid:
"The door to my house is locked from the inside... whereas I had locked it from the outside... put a padlock on... How did this happen...?"
"Do have some water first... Then I will explain. Farhana! Bring some water for Begum Shirazi... She has arrived exhausted," Begum Junaid signaled to Farhana.
"Bringing it right away, Ammi Jan..." Farhana said and fetched water from the refrigerator. Begum Shirazi held the glass... then gasped:
"Oh... Who are they...?"
"I will explain... First sit inside the room and drink water..." She took her into her room. A short while later, when she returned, there was a smile on her face.
"Gaami... Unlocking someone's lock is not a good thing. Both of you could have come inside through this very door... through which I entered..."
"In the future, we will try to enter through this very door."
"All right... I am leaving... Hand over, Hamood... Give me my padlock... and go unbolt the latch from inside..." Begum Shirazi said smiling, and taking the padlock, walked out of the house. Hamood had gone and unbolted the latch from inside.
"Hamood... Go close the door... I want to ask them something," Begum Junaid said, looking toward Gaami and Shazi.
"Sure, Ammi Jan..." Hamood said and reached the door... As soon as he touched the door... a terrifying face suddenly appeared right before his face... He jumped back and fell... Then a voice struck everyone's ears:
"Here we come..."
(To be continued)
