– Episode 12: We Are Here)
"What happened, Sir...?" Ikram looked toward him in surprise.
"Oh... I suspect the Fat Boss intends to keep us tangled right here... Is his real game something entirely different?" Inspector Junaid began pondering over everything that had transpired so far.
"You're right, Junaid! On the surface, the Fat Boss’s scheme is merely to keep us captive... He might even intend to cause us some harm, but the true underlying plot is something else entirely... and we must uncover that hidden truth," Khan Rehman said.
"What lies beyond these doors...? And where is the secret passage through which the Fat Boss returned to this hall?" Ikram questioned.
"The Fat Boss claimed we couldn't exit through door number one without his permission...!" Muhammad Hussain Azad added.
"So could there be another exit out of this hall?" Professor Dawood asked with a smile.
"Thank goodness you spoke up, Professor... otherwise I began to think you weren't even here with us..." Khan Rehman chuckled.
"Tie everyone up with ropes... pick up the Boss and prop him against the wall..." Inspector Junaid ordered.
His command was carried out immediately. Inspector Junaid walked over and sat down right next to the Boss:
"I take no pleasure in killing, but when someone deliberately becomes their own worst enemy, I never hesitate. Let me ask you plainly... what do you really want?"
"I want to keep Inspector Junaid and his party trapped in this very room..." the Boss chuckled.
"We know that much. Tell us this... why do you want to keep us imprisoned?"
"I will not tell you..."
"Keep your mouth shut, then... I'll extract it from your henchmen," Junaid smiled coldly.
"Inspector Junaid! My men know nothing. Their job is simply to brawl, kidnap, and follow orders, that is all... and I pay them handsome sums for their services."
"Oh... yet they collapsed before us like wet firecrackers," Ikram laughed.
"No matter... such things happen from time to time," the Boss laughed back.
"Alright, will you keep quiet now...?" Inspector Junaid said, then turned away: "Khan Rehman... think of a strategy to get us out of here."
"I... er... that is to say, me...?" Khan Rehman grew flustered.
"What happened? Can't you devise a scheme?" Inspector Junaid smiled.
"I can think of one... of course I can!"
"Then what was that stutter all about?"
"I was just reminded of Farhana... coming up with clever schemes is her specialty, after all," Khan Rehman smiled.
"Farhana... oh, blast... who knows where they are?" The mere mention of Farhana brought thoughts of Hammood and Farooq to Inspector Junaid’s mind as well.
"Six doors open into this hall, each numbered. We know door number one leads outside... we have already explored beyond door number five... that leaves doors two, three, four, and six. Khan Rehman, you will enter door number two. Ikram, take door number three. Muhammad Hussain Azad, investigate door number four... and Liaquat, door number six is your responsibility. Here are our objectives: locate any secret passageway beyond door number five... search for any clue revealing the Fat Boss’s true agenda... and find any alternate exit from this hall besides door number one. Move out now... and keep your eyes and ears wide open," Inspector Junaid instructed them thoroughly.
Everyone slipped into their assigned doors, leaving Inspector Junaid, Professor Dawood, and Asad in the central hall.
"Well, my boy... what will you do?" Junaid turned toward Asad.
"Sir... whatever you command, I shall execute faithfully, God willing," Asad replied eagerly.
"Take this cloth, tear it into strips, and gag every one of them... so that when they regain consciousness, not a single peep escapes their mouths," Inspector Junaid smiled, pulling a large handkerchief from his pocket and handing it over. Asad systematically stuffed cloth into every captive's mouth.
"Sir! Th-They are stirring... they're waking up!" Asad suddenly cried out.
"Don't worry... they are bound securely, aren't they?"
"Yes, Sir! I checked thoroughly... their hands and feet are tied tight. Even once awake, they won't be able to budge an inch, God willing," Asad smiled.
"God willing," Inspector Junaid echoed. He began tapping along the curved walls of the hall, inspecting every seam. Standing before door number five, he scrutinized the frame with great precision. Suddenly, a broad smile spread across his face.
"What is it, Sir? Why are you smiling?" Asad asked, intrigued.
"Oh... so that is the trick!"
"Wh-Which trick, Sir...?"
"Hush, Asad... let me examine the other doorways first," he replied. He inspected each door in turn, excitement mounting within him. Returning to door number five, he located a circular button embedded in the masonry adjacent to the top hinge, painted precisely the color of the doorway, and pressed it. The moment it clicked, a twenty-four-inch LCD panel slid smoothly out of the wall above door number four. The display flickered to life, showing split feeds of the corridor and the chamber beyond—clear evidence of closed-circuit surveillance cameras. One by one, he deployed LCD screens above all six doorways. Then he cast an amused glance back at the Boss, whose eyes bulged in utter disbelief. Picking up the Boss’s oversized throne, Junaid dragged it into the exact center of the hall and took a seat with effortless poise.
"Incredible! Now that is remarkable, Sir... you've done wonders!"
Inspector Junaid looked smilingly at the Boss and his captured lackeys. They exchanged panicked glances.
"What do you have to say now...?" Inspector Junaid locked eyes with the Boss.
The Boss couldn't utter a sound, his mouth tightly stuffed with cloth, but the raw dread swimming in his eyes betrayed his inner turmoil.
Junaid focused on the screen above door number five. Chhoti Sarkar was still lying sprawled on the floor, exactly where they had left him before returning to the hall.
"These people are nothing but theatrical frauds... none of their gears turn straight," Inspector Junaid remarked, shifting his attention to the second screen. Khan Rehman was standing in a narrow corridor—an exact duplicate of the alley behind door number five, terminating at a small chamber.
"Wait... this identical layout again...?" Junaid gasped. He scanned all the screens in rapid succession, and his heart skipped a beat. Every single monitor revealed identical alleys ending in identical small rooms... Door number one also led into an alley, but instead of ending in a room, it appeared to curve sharply to the left further down.
"What kind of madness is this...?" Unease crept over him. He fixed his gaze on Khan Rehman, who was moving toward the far chamber while carefully inspecting the passage walls. Khan Rehman pushed open the door and stepped inside. The sight within made him recoil in shock: standing in the center with legs apart was a dwarf sporting a massive mustache.
"He looks identical to Chhoti Sarkar!" burst from Junaid's lips. "Khan Rehman! You must subdue him first before you can search that room!"
No reply came from Khan Rehman. On screen, his lips moved as if speaking, but not a single sound reached the hall. Junaid glanced back toward the Boss, who swiftly averted his gaze. A realization struck Junaid.
"Why can't I hear Khan Rehman's voice?" he pondered. Then a knowing smile broke out across his face; he deduced the mechanism at play. Rising from the chair, he began examining its frame. Sure enough, his fingers brushed against a small toggle concealed along the armrest. He flipped it immediately, and Khan Rehman's voice echoed through the hall's audio system.
"Bullseye!" Asad yelled. The sudden outburst startled not only their allies, but every single Chhoti Sarkar stationed in each chamber. It was an uncanny sight: identical mustachioed dwarfs stationed across five separate rooms! The dwarf in chamber number five had also sat bolt upright, eyeing the walls with growing alarm.
"Khan Rehman... Ikram... Muhammad Hussain Azad... Liaquat... can you hear my voice?" Inspector Junaid called out.
"Yes... we hear you loud and clear!" they answered in unison. Then Khan Rehman stammered:
"B-But Junaid..."
"The good news is, I've secured complete control here. I can see each of you and speak to all of you simultaneously."
"Oh, magnificent! That's brilliant!" Khan Rehman cheered.
"Khan Rehman! A perplexed Chhoti Sarkar is standing right in front of you, and identical replicas are confronting the rest of the team in the other chambers..." Inspector Junaid informed him.
"What do you mean, Junaid? A Chhoti Sarkar in every room? How can that be? How can one person exist in multiple places at once?"
"He isn't one person... they are identical duplicates! It's as if someone ran off four photocopies of the same dwarf," Inspector Junaid chuckled.
"Why four? Why not five...?" Khan Rehman asked.
"Because beyond door number one lies an alley that bends rather than ending in a room," Inspector Junaid explained.
"Good grief..." Stunned gasps echoed through the transmission.
"Neutralize these pint-sized clowns and search the premises as planned... But wait, try interrogating them first. If they cooperate, fine; if not, knock them flat out," Inspector Junaid ordered, his tone turning icy cold.
"Understood!" came Ikram's voice. Inspector Junaid glanced at chamber number five. The dwarf stood in confusion, nervously scratching his head. Then his voice filtered through the feed:
"Inspector Junaid! How did you pull all this off...? Where are the Boss and his men?"
"They are all bound and trussed up... helpless like trapped mice," Junaid laughed.
"Oh, no... this is catastrophic... what happens now?"
"Whatever God decrees shall happen, for nothing occurs without His will."
"So... that means the game is finished?"
"You could say that..." Junaid smiled. "However, here is an offer: disclose your Boss's master plan, and we'll grant you a chance to run free."
The dwarf sank into contemplative silence.
"Take your time to think... and once you reach a decision, let me know," Inspector Junaid said, simultaneously motioning Asad to enter door number five. Catching the cue instantly, Asad hurried into the fifth doorway. Inspector Junaid watched on the monitor as Asad crept along the corridor with seasoned vigilance. Shifting his gaze to Khan Rehman, Ikram, Muhammad Hussain Azad, and Liaquat, Junaid grinned broadly. All four had lunged at their respective dwarfs, swiftly pummeling them into unconsciousness.
"You've knocked out every dwarf... splendid work, my lions!"
Meanwhile, Asad reached the entrance of chamber five and loomed over Chhoti Sarkar. The dwarf jumped in surprise.
"So, what have you decided...?"
"I... I..." the dwarf stammered, having overheard Junaid's ultimatum through the speaker. "Fine... I am willing to cooperate." At last, he surrendered.
"Got him!" Asad shouted triumphantly.
"I heard that! Go ahead, start talking..." Inspector Junaid's voice resonated.
"Not just yet... I want to see my Boss and comrades with my own eyes first. Only then will I speak," Chhoti Sarkar smirked.
"Are you trying to play some kind of trick...?" Asad questioned sharply.
"I'm in no position to play tricks... I merely want one look at the Boss," the dwarf insisted.
"Very well... Asad, bring him to me."
"Bringing him over right away, Sir."
Pushing the dwarf ahead of him, Asad marched back toward the hall.
"What is your status, Ikram?" Inspector Junaid inquired over the comms.
"Nothing yet, Sir... no secret routes or clues uncovered so far. I am inspecting every square inch..." Ikram reported.
"Khan Rehman... anything on your end?"
"You can see for yourself, Junaid... I'm merely groping around in the dark," Khan Rehman grimaced.
"Don't worry... keep at it."
"Muhammad Hussain Azad... Liaquat... I see you haven't turned up anything either. Never mind... do not lose heart," Junaid encouraged them.
Just then, Asad escorted Chhoti Sarkar into the hall. The dwarf’s eyes widened in dismay at the sight of his comrades: all tied up, squirming fruitlessly against their bonds.
"Boss! Is our game really over? Have we truly conceded defeat?" the dwarf asked the bound Boss. The Boss shook his head vigorously in denial.
"Wait... so you haven't surrendered, Boss...?"
The Boss shook his head firmly once again.
"Aha!" A spark returned to the dwarf's face. He turned back to Junaid: "My apologies, Inspector! I refuse to cooperate... besides, I know nothing of the Boss's broader plan."
"Is that so? Then explain the purpose of these identical alleys and chambers."
"Sorry, I have no idea. My only assignment was to sit inside that room."
"Fair enough... you have made your choice. You will receive the exact same treatment as the others," Inspector Junaid declared coldly.
"Do your worst..."
"Asad, tie him up alongside the rest and shove a gag into his mouth," Junaid ordered.
Asad bound Chhoti Sarkar securely without meeting any resistance.
"Khan Rehman! Do you think we will discover anything useful?"
"Hard to say, Junaid... except that in my corridor and room, there isn't a single item of use. I have checked every nook and cranny," Khan Rehman stated with finality.
"In that case, regroup back here."
"On my way," Khan Rehman answered, and Junaid watched him step out of the room on screen.
"The rest of you, return to the hall as well."
All of them reassembled in the central room. Inspector Junaid caught sight of the Boss, who appeared to be silently relishing their fruitless search.
Suddenly, an alert flashed across monitor number one: walking down the corridor were Hammood, Farooq, and Farhana! A young man was leading the way, with the three following closely behind.
"So your men finally brought my children after all." Inspector Junaid looked down at the Boss. The villain tried to speak, but the gag muffled any sound.
"Junaid... an idea just crossed my mind," Khan Rehman whispered suddenly.
"Wait! Khan Rehman, Professor... keep your eyes fixed on that monitor!"
They stared at the screen as the door slowly unlatched. Junaid glanced toward Khan Rehman and Professor Dawood; both were smiling knowingly as they positioned themselves beside the doorframe.
The moment the newcomers crossed the threshold and laid eyes on the heap of bound captives, they gasped in collective shock:
"What in the world...?!"
"Ikram! Muhammad Hussain Azad! Floor them!" Inspector Junaid roared. The two officers crashed into the newly arrived henchmen, wrestling them to the ground. Within moments, the captors were lying flat, gasping for breath. They were promptly tied up and tossed alongside the rest of the gang.
"Oh, Father! You are safe and sound!" Hammood rushed forward with a radiant smile and embraced him.
"We were so worried about you..." Farhana said.
"Look... over there! That's Kaka, Baaja, and Baba!" Farooq pointed out the trio among the captives. "Father! Those three caused us endless grief!"
"We gave them quite a bit of grief in return," Inspector Junaid smiled fondly.
As the entire sequence of events was relayed to Hammood, Farooq, and Farhana, their eyes widened with astonishment.
"Good heavens..." Farhana murmured.
"And who are...?" Inspector Junaid looked toward Gaami and Shaazi, pausing curiously.
"Father! They helped us tremendously... in fact, the only reason it took us so long to get here was because they stood as an impenetrable shield between us and the Boss's thugs," Hammood explained.
"We shall speak to them shortly... let us settle matters with these captives first," Inspector Junaid said, looking over the bound crew.
"What should we do with them? Should we finish them off...?"
"No, never... Wait, didn't Ghareeb Bhaiya knock you all out? How did you regain consciousness... walking all the way here on your own feet?"
"They revived us before bringing us here..."
"That means you know roughly how many hostiles are stationed outside," Khan Rehman observed.
"To some extent..." Farhana smiled.
"Sir, what is our next move?" Ikram asked.
"We need to hand these criminals over to the police... once they face standard police interrogation, they will sing like canaries," Junaid smiled.
"Which means we must exit this compound now," Professor Dawood noted.
"Indeed."
"But how...?"
"The same way the Boss's henchmen come and go," Junaid replied with confidence.
"B-But the Boss claimed we couldn't leave without his authorization... that door number one is programmed to bar our exit," Liaquat noted anxiously.
"Junaid, you're forgetting about the other five doors..." Khan Rehman cautioned.
"And the secret passage as well..." Professor Dawood added.
"I haven't forgotten anything. But our priority is getting out of here safely. Once we hand them over to custody, we can return to inspect the other doors and uncover the hidden passage. Come along..."
"Shall we really just walk out...?" Ikram sounded skeptical.
"Just follow me," Junaid smiled as he walked up to door number one. He carefully inspected the pattern on the floor tiles before him. A satisfied grin crossed his lips. Raising his foot in a sharp, disciplined stomp like a formal salute, he brought his boot heel down onto the floor. Door number one slid open silently.
"Bullseye!" Farooq cheered.
"Move out quickly!"
The moment the team cleared the threshold into the alley, the automated door began sliding shut behind them. Looking back, they caught a glimpse of the Boss and his lackeys turning pale with shock.
"Sir... how did you manage to unlock door number one?" Asad asked, amazed.
"Simply with a military salute... or rather, a firm strike of a boot heel on the pressure sensor."
"Brilliant..."
"Keep moving now, before any more guards arrive."
Stepping briskly yet cautiously down the corridor, the twelve of them advanced like a disciplined military squad closing in on enemy territory. Exiting the passage, they emerged into an open courtyard, bordered on the opposite side by yet another corridor. Checking their flanks, they traversed the courtyard and slipped into the next corridor.
"Father! At the end of this hallway is a room. Beyond that lies a veranda leading onto an expansive, landscaped lawn. To one side is a parking area. Two paths fork from the main gate: one heads toward the parking lot, and the other leads directly to that room," Farhana briefed them.
"Thank you, Farhana..." Farooq smiled.
"For what?" she asked, surprised.
"For such an impeccably detailed briefing."
"And Father, when we were brought in, we spotted only five sentries. All of them were armed with Kalashnikovs."
"Understood, but there could easily be more stationed around... we must stay sharp. And remember, don't move in a single clump—break into groups of four," Inspector Junaid commanded. Dividing into squads of four, they crept out of the courtyard and along the passage, their footsteps virtually noiseless.
They slipped into the far room without encountering a soul—a quietness that raised their suspicions. It was a spacious chamber featuring a massive window along the front wall and an adjoining door. The moment they stepped past the veranda and out onto the lawn, three hulking, giant-sized men suddenly blocked their path. Clutching Kalashnikov rifles, scowls etched across their menacing faces, they stood ready. The team froze, exchanged swift glances, and instantly dispersed across the lawn, surrounding the three guards from all angles. The sentries blinked in confusion at how quickly they had been encircled.
"Wait! You people were supposed to be tied up inside with the Boss... what are you doing out here?"
"We were... but not anymore. Now we are here, and we intend to go home," Farooq smiled cheekily.
"Where are the Boss and the rest of our men...?" the guards asked, bewildered.
"Resting comfortably inside the hall," Inspector Junaid smiled.
"Inside the hall? But how did you...?"
"No need to worry yourselves... we walked out right in front of them, and they raised no objections," Khan Rehman chuckled.
"That's impossible!"
"Well, we wouldn't know how it happened either..."
"So what are your intentions now?"
"We just told you... we are heading home," Hammood smiled.
"That isn't happening," the lead guard sneered.
"And why not, big brother?"
"Nobody walks out of here while the Achhay Brothers (Good Brothers) are on duty!" he barked with laughter.
"Good heavens... are you trying to intimidate us?" Farooq feigned terror.
"What can we do? Duty calls," the second guard growled.
"Fair enough! You perform your duty, and we will follow our own will," Hammood countered.
"And what might your will be?" the first brother mocked.
"To break out of here by any means necessary... and whoever dares step in our path will end up biting the dust," Farooq declared flatly.
"I am Achhay Bhai Number One, this is Number Two, and that is Number Three. We have never bitten the dust in our lives. On the contrary, crushing jaws happens to be our finest specialty."
"Good to know! We've memorized your numbers, and we'll be sure to remember that you three have never tasted defeat," Farooq laughed.
"You're laughing at us...?" Number One asked, taken aback.
"Why, is laughter prohibited here? If so, where is the warning sign?"
"What are you blathering about...?!" Number Two barked.
"Gentlemen, don't get distracted. Tell me straight: will you let us pass or not?" Inspector Junaid intervened.
"No!" Number One snapped harshly.
"Refuse us passage, and we'll slip right past you while you're left flailing at shadows," Farhana smiled daringly.
"Girl, don't even dream of it—"
Before Number One could finish his sentence, he suddenly ducked; Gaami had scooped a pebble from the lawn and flicked it straight at his face.
"What happened, brother...?" Numbers Two and Three gasped in distraction. That single moment was all the opening the team needed. Leaping forward like hawks, they slammed into the three sentries. As the giants crashed to the turf, Inspector Junaid and Khan Rehman piled on them instantly. Hammood, Farooq, and Farhana stepped back, having already stripped the Kalashnikovs from their hands. The tables were turned in seconds; the 'Good Brothers' lay knocked out cold on the grass.
"Father! Let's go... this is our best window to escape," Hammood urged.
"You're right, but all of us cannot leave together."
"Wh-Why...?"
"I'll explain later... Here is my decision: Shaazi, Muhammad Hussain Azad, and his two subordinates will leave right now to brief Inspector General Nisar Ahmed on the entire situation... he must be terribly worried," Junaid directed.
"Father! Why Shaazi...?"
"Because he stayed close to you throughout; some detail he noticed might prove invaluable to the Inspector General," Junaid explained with a smile.
"Understood..." Farhana nodded.
"Sound thinking, Junaid. Go on, get out of here before reinforcements arrive," Khan Rehman agreed.
"Right away, Sir... we're on our way," Muhammad Hussain Azad said. The four of them pushed open the side gate and slipped into the outside world.
"Farhana... can Gaami and Shaazi truly be trusted?"
"They have done nothing but assist us so far... In fact, they were the ones who shielded me from being abducted initially. They played a major role in foiling Kaka, Baaja, and Baba," Farhana affirmed.
"Shielded you from abduction? But you were brought here as captives, along with Hammood and Farooq... How did they protect you, then? I don't follow," Inspector Junaid asked, puzzled.
"Father, let me explain what actually happened..." Farhana began recounting the story.
"Very well... I understand now. But wait! You mentioned five guards were carrying Kalashnikovs. Here are three... where are the other two?"
"No idea..."
"We are right here!" a chilling voice suddenly boomed from above.
They looked up in dread... and froze in pure horror.
(To be continued...)
