|| T H I R D • P E R S O N ||

Zeeshan sat on the last step of the staircase, staring blankly at the floor with blood dripping from his hand on the ground beside his feet. Since he had thrown her out of the house, he had been sitting like this. That USB and his phone were beside him and the whole house was shrouded in darkness, even his outline couldn't be seen in it.

It wasn't until the front door opened that he lifted his head with hope in his eyes, like a person who was looking for the last straw to save his life. His bloodshot eyes glued to the door, breath held and his heart hung mid air.

A silhouette was seen as the light from outside projected on that person. The next moment lights were turned on, making him squint his eyes to adjust against the brightness. Soon that blurry silhouette became clear and in front of him, his mother stood.

His mother paused in her steps and her smile turned into confusion as she took in his condition. Meanwhile, his heart fell and the little light that sparked in his eyes extinguished.

"Zeeshan..." His mother whispered in disbelief as she noticed the blood and his wounded then quickly rushed towards him.

"I think both kids went to sleep early today," His father said, entering the house.

His mother didn't hear what his father said as her whole attention was on Zeeshan's hand. She held his hand and inspected it with her trembling hand. There were bells ringing in her ears like something really bad happened in these few hours.

"Where- where is Shanze?" She asked him in fear.

"Oh Allah! Your hand! What have you done? Why haven't you bandaged it? And Shanze? Where is she?" She asked him again, breathlessly in shock when he didn't answer.

She turned her head and said to her confused husband, "And why are you standing there? Find the medical kit for your son."

His father quickly went and found the medical kit and handed it to his mother. She treated his hand but he couldn't feel any pain from his hand, like it was numbed.

"Zeeshan, where is Shanze?" His father asked him this time and shook him.

He raised his eyes and looked into his father's eyes.

"I kicked her out," He answered in a lifeless whisper.

Without thinking anything his father raised his hand and slapped him. The sound of slap echoed in all the corners of the house in the silence of night.

"How can you slap your grown son like this!" His mother stood between them and exclaimed at her husband.

"Grown up son! Can you listen to what he said!" His father shouted angrily and glared at them.

"No he must be joking. Wait, let me call her. It must be their prank. Shanze? Shanze? Shan–"

His mother patted her husband's chest to calm herself down and looked up upstairs towards their bedroom and called Shanze.

"She will not come. I–"

There was another sound of slap echoed in the corners of the house. This time it was by his mother who looked at him in disbelief like she couldn't believe her son.

"Stop with this nonsense and call her," She yelled at him and held his collar, with tears brimming in her eyes and her voice shivering.

His parents couldn't believe that he was the same son they were so proud of, who insisted on marrying Shanze, for whom they asked for Shanze's hand with so much love.

"I'm not lying, mo–"

"Don't call me your mom. Bring Shanze in front of me this instant otherwise forget about calling me your mother," She warned him and stepped back, making it clear.

"I'll call my brother to check if she is there..," His father took his phone out and quickly dialed Shanze's father's number.

Zeeshan kept his eyes down on the floor but his ears were actively listening as his father was casually talking to Shanze's father.

"Yes. Yes. I'll bring my family this weekend. Sorry to disturb you again. I'll call the kids to check if they have received their mother's parcel," His father made excuses then ended the call.

With heavy eyes, his father looked at him and unable to control the anger, he stomped towards Zeeshan, pulled him by his collar and threw him out of the front door. Then turned around to take his phone from the staircase and threw it at him along with keys.

"Don't come home without her. God forbid if something happens to her, I will never forgive you," With this his father closed the door and leaned against it.

"I thought he forgot all about that incident, Begum, and was marrying Shanze because he likes her.. but no, he did this all for that revenge. Tell me, Begum, where did I fail? Where did I fail as a father and.. brother?" His father cried, thinking of Shanze's father.

"How will I face my brother? How will I inform him that my son kicked his dear daughter out at this time of night?" He beat his head in anger and helplessness.

Outside the house, Zeeshan got in his car and drove away in the darkness of night. He clenched the steering wheel tightly, forgetting his wounded hand and pain coming from it.

Halfway, his phone began to ring, and it was from a senior officer. His heart slowed down as he pulled the car on the side of the road.

"Mr. Zeeshan, Mazhar has run away. You need to be on alert. We have sealed all his properties..."

Zeeshan couldn't seem to hear what the officer was saying as his mind only focused on the first sentence. He felt like he couldn't breathe anymore, thinking of Shanze and he had just thrown his wife in the wolf's den.

Since Shanze wasn't at her parents' house then there was only one meaning that Mazhar took her away...

"Have you alerted the forces at Khyera Qabail?" Zeeshan asked the officer about the village, closing his eyes briefly.

Since Mazhar had strong connections to that village, he knew Mazhar would go there.

"We did. But you know that's a tribe where the police can't do anything. But don't worry, we have arranged check posts on the motorway at each toll station."

He hung up the call then punched the steering wheel. Just some hours ago, he had his whole world in his hands but now he just handed his own world to someone else. For what? Just for that revenge. Just to end this all.

"Please don't be with him.. please," He whispered as he dialed Shanze's number but it couldn't be reached.

Zeeshan was in the police station, making arrangements with police to go for the search operation at Khyera Qabail when he received a sudden call from Hasan.

"This isn't good. Mazhar belongs to the Karaz tribe, Rahim Khan's grandson. His only target is Shanze," There was tension in Hasan's voice as he informed Zeeshan.

This unexpected information made Zeeshan stunned. He had considered this fact but was unable to accept it. Now..

"He took her," A small lifeless whisper escaped through his lips that had a hint of like everything ended.

"...Whe-where are you?" Hasan asked him in disbelief.

"Police station."

The call ended and the senior officer approached Zeeshan.

"We will leave in an hour. Are you sure you want to go with us? It will be very dang–," The officer was trying to reason with him but cut off.

"He has my wife in his hands," Zeeshan stated, fisting his hands tightly.

The officer wanted to speak more but seeing the determination in Zeeshan's eyes, he couldn't bring himself.

On the other side of the city, at Hasan's house.

"Where are you going?" Mahira asked in a sleepy voice in confusion.

"I'll be back later and you go back to sleep again," Hasan told her hastily, picking his car keys, and rushed out of their bedroom.

She looked at the door silently and laid back on the bed, facing the ceiling. She clearly heard him saying Shanze's name. She laid like for a long time and prayed whatever she was thinking, none of that became true.

Unable to sleep, she got up and moved to the terrace, looking up at the starless sky. She put her hand on her chest, feeling achy and like something bad was going to happen. Something that should never happen.

• • •

Everyone was ready at the police station to leave for the village where the Khyera Qabail and Karaz tribe met. They were going to sit in their respective arranged cars when another black car stopped in front of them. The door opened and Hasan got out with a cold face and fury in his eyes.

Without thinking, he threw a punch at Zeeshan, "So this is how you are protecting her? How did you let him get a hand on her?"

"Mr. Hasan, this is the second time you are hitting someone in public. Be careful and there isn't any real proof yet that Mazhar has kidnapped Ms. Shanze," The police officer interrupted and pulled Hasan back.

Hasan glared at Zeeshan and pulled himself out of the police officer's hold, fisting his hands but controlling himself from throwing another punch.

"Is there still any need for proof and evidence when everyone present here knows the truth? This man kicked his wife out of the house at late hours of night and let that bastard hold her," There was clear evidence of hate in Hasan's voice for Zeeshan.

At this moment, Hasan hated himself for letting his best friend, his angel, marry this worthless man. He should have run her away before her wedding, to avoid this all.

This Police tried to mend the situation quickly and temporarily to leave for the village. Hasan also insisted on joining them and followed behind them in his own car.

Both men were having different kinds of emotions but their worry was the same, Shanze and her safety.

Hasan still couldn't believe his ears when he called at Zeeshan's home, how his Mamu, Zeeshan's father, told him the whole story. His heart was broken for his angel.

In the other car, Zeeshan wasn't feeling any less. All he had was thinking about how he threw her out of their home. How her eyes were looking at him with pain when he closed the door on her.

"I will never forgive myself if anything happens to you, Shanze. Please be safe," He whispered to himself, clenching the steering wheel.

It took two days for them to reach their village without any rest.

In half a day, two tribes stood against each other just like how they did years ago. A time before Shanze was about to be born. Last time it was the old generation with many traitors mixed, facing each other. This time it was the new generation with an only purpose to get Shanze.

Outside the weather was the same as years before. Gloomy sky, wind breezing like an upcoming storm and thunder. The curtains moved due to gusts of wind coming from a small two-inch hole on the wall, making the curled figure present in the dark room shiver. There was faint breath coming from her and her eyelids trembled like they were struggling to open them.

With a gasp, she opened her eyes and sat with a jerk. She looked here and there in panic and felt aches all over her body. Tears brimming in her eyes when she found only darkness around her.

"Zee–Zeeshan," She took her husband's name from her quivering lips and tried to get up.

But due to weakness and not having any meal for the last two days, she felt dizzy and unable to stand up.

At the same moment, there was a sound of opening and bright light entering the small dark room. Someone descended the stairs and stood in front of her with a small lamp in hand.

"Just like a sacrificial animal who's about to be slaughtered," That person clicked his tongue and made a mocking comment.

Under the dim light of the lamp, the face became somewhat clear to her. There was a sneer on his lips and mocking in his eyes. He put the lamp aside then walked to the wall where a chain was attached to it. He pulled the chain and bound her neck with it like an animal. Her body was so weak that she couldn't struggle or resist his rough hold.

"Now that's how you treat a sacrificial animal. I don't know how they give a pest like you so much freedom when you are just a sacrifice of this village. For the peace of this village and between two tribes," He moved his hand behind her head and pulled her hair in a handful fist.

"Zeeshan will not leave you," She hissed at him in pain and warned him.

"Oh! I am scared of the man who kicked his wife out of the house! What can a coward like him do to me?" He mocked her, pulling her hair again.

With difficulty and weakness, she moved her hands to her neck at the chain collar and looked at him with hate.

"What they can't do, I'll do it. I'll slaughter you mercilessly. Butchers show mercy to animals but I won't. I will slash your neck first then skin you, making small pieces of your parts then throw them to the wild animals that live behind this mountain," His words sent shivers to her bone and made her hate him more.

"Your end won't be good, Mazhar," She told him in hatred.

"I'll wait for it..."

• • •

The research was ongoing but during this research there was so much bloodshed. Bullets fired from all sides at each other, making the hearts of every tremble.

"History is repeating again. 23 years ago they killed so many innocent people and they are doing i–"

The old man who had lived this twice was yelling in pain but was shot down.

"It is getting out of hand. We need to find Mazhar and Shanze first to stop this," Hasan said to Zeeshan, shooting down a man with his rifle.

"We need to follow plan B," The officer told them, signaling the remaining officers while backing down.

Half an hour later, the firing began again. Zeeshan, Hasan, and two officers went to the other side of the village towards the Karaz tribe. There were some men stationed there which they shot down then advanced further.

Zeeshan began to feel restless and quickly moved to the other side. He was feeling his feelings with a rifle in his hand, looking for any clue. There was a fire towards him, a bullet marginally passing from him and struck on the tree behind. He looked up and saw Mazhar standing on the roof with a rifle.

Zeeshan hid his body behind the tree and fired towards the roof at Mazhar. Zeeshan was protected by the tree but Mazhar was reflexive enough to lay on the roof and fire back.

"I never thought you really cared for your sacrificed wife. But it's too late for you to rescue her. She is already dead," Mazhar laughed at him.

Hearing this, Zeeshan came out from behind the tree and fired towards Mazhar crazily nonstop, hitting him on the spot. Half of the bullets hit Mazhar, making him fall from the rooftop on the back side.

He stood up limping and ran away. Zeeshan also ran to the back side of that house and tried to fire at him again but the bullets finished. He threw his rifle away and ran behind him.

Other than distant sounds of gunfire, there was a mad laugh of Mazhar echoing on the mountain.

"That sacrificial child is finally sacrificed, everyone. The promise is finally fulfilled. She drowned the name of our family, now I have drowned her. In her own blood," Mazhar laughed crazily while running away in a limping way.

In anger, Zeeshan tackled him to the ground and threw his fist at Mazhar. No one knew what Zeeshan was truly feeling inside. His heart was clenching and unclenching, unable to believe his Shanze was dead.

"Where is she?" He asked Mazhar in between throwing punches.

Mazhar, whose face was swollen and bloodied, just laughed then threw the sand in Zeeshan's eyes. Taking advantage of a minimal second, Mazhar pushed Zeeshan and ran away towards the cliff.

"She is dead!" Mazhar shouted like a madman and laughed hysterically.

Zeeshan got up again and wiped his eyes then ran after Mazhar again. But before he reached, Mazhar was already at the cliff. One wrong move and he would be down in the deep ditch.

"Where is she, Mazhar?" Zeeshan asked him, controlling himself from lashing out again.

"Can't you hear it once? She. Is. Dead," Mazhar repeated, tilting his head and giving a nonchalant shrug.

"Don't tell me she's dead because I know she won't be down without any fight. I'm asking for the last time where she is?" Zeeshan asked again, looking calm.

"Must be dead by now. Somewhere laying like a helpless and worthless, taking her last breath and waiting for death," Mazhar replied to him with a sinister smile.

There was an eagle passed above them with its loud sound, making Mazhar look at it for a second. Seeing him a little distracted, Zeeshan moved forward lightly and cautiously then when Mazhar noticed him with wide eyes, he grabbed Mazhar by the neck.

"I will kill you if something happens to her and your death will not be so easy as just your breath stop," Zeeshan clenched his neck, pulling him closer.

Only Zeeshan knew how he was feeling whenever Mazhar took Shanze's name with death in a single sentence.

"Why care so much when we both know you married her for revenge. Oh and she also knows now. Your revenge and her being a sacrifice," Mazhar told him slyly with a sneer, breathlessly then began to cough.

Mazhar's voice suddenly mixed with the great grandfather's voice and he used to tell Zeeshan the same thing.

There was a storm dancing in Zeeshan's eyes and he was ready to cut Mazhar's tongue first. By now Zeeshan knew that no information regarding Shanze would come out now through him. Seeing some wild animals down the cliff in the ditch, Zeeshan pushed him down towards the ditch but held neck.

"She is my wife. Not a fucking sacrifice. And she will remain my wife," Zeeshan said in a firm voice.

But it was unknown to whom he was telling this exactly. Mazhar? His great grandfather? Or himself?

"She is never a revenge for me. Her name is not a sacrifice but Shanze Zeeshan Khan and will stay like this. I will make sure of it till my last breath," He said firmly and without showing any emotions other than sudden calmness, he released his hand from Mazhar's neck.

Without any guilt, regret or any emotion, he watched Mazhar's panic as fell into a ditch, right in front of those wild animals.

He stayed there for two minutes and watched Mazhar's struggles and faint screams coming.

"You.." Hasan came and joined, standing beside and looking down.

"Do you have a bullet in it?" Zeeshan asked him, glancing at the rifle.

"Yeah."

Zeeshan took the rifle from him, closed one eye and pointed it towards the ditch and shot. The wild animals fell or ran away, leaving Mazhar laying there in his blood, half dead and half alive.

"Make sure to keep him alive," Zeeshan handed the rifle to Hasan then ran away to look for Shanze.

He looked for her everywhere, soon the police also joined him in the search operation. They searched each corner and each house but couldn't find her in the Karaz tribe. When half a day passed, Zeeshan began to panic and wanted to ask Mazhar but he was wounded and faint due to blood loss. Even by pouring cold water, they couldn't wake him.

Suddenly Zeeshan remembered what Shanze once told him before all this happened.

"The safest place is always the enemy's home, dear husband. Always remember this."

There was a realization and without any thought he ran towards his own tribe, Khyera Qabail. He jumped the border line and ran towards his ancestor home that had been locked. The front gate was locked but there was a secret passage he still remembered from his childhood.

He went inside from that secret passage and searched every corner of the house. When he couldn't find her there, he fell on his knees with tears sliding down his cheeks.

"Where are you, Janan?"

"Please don't leave me behind like this."

"Not without fulfilling your promise of 90 years with me."

"Please..."

Helpless tears fell from his eyes on the dirty ground and lost whispers escaped through his lips. There were so many things left unsaid in his heart that he hadn't told her. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her with words and actions.

In the same house, in a secret basement that had passage through the biggest master room.

There was smoke slowly spreading like deadly air, cutting off oxygen and air. The small hole in the dark room wasn't very helpful for ventilation. The deadly smoke was like consuming the remaining faint oxygen of her, making her dizzy.

"I am sorry.. mom, dad, Mahira and... Zeeshan..," A faint whisper escaped from her before she fell into complete darkness.

. . . . . . . . . .

The end?

Agr krdiya yaha toh sub se ageye mere hi dost honge galiyan dene mein😗

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PS, next chapter on big revelations.