Saleem was utterly awestruck at what had happened. He had never imagined something so bizarre to take place, yet this made him realize how beautifully this universe has been choreographed. The events that took place happened with such synchronization that he could not comprehend them to be the result of anything other than the planning of the Almighty.

"Take one step towards Him, and He'll take many towards you," The Imam used to say, and how correctly so.

He had, for a few beautiful moments, forgot how sore his legs had become. His stomach was rumbling now as odd inanimate figures appeared in front of his eyes; He truly was hallucinating. He did not know how long he would be able to hold before passing out.

Saleem looked towards the heavens as a tear drop rolled down his skin and fell to his feet. The kurta that he wore was drenched with his perspiration. The door to the underground cellar crashed open as Aqib descended the stairs down to him with perplexed expressions cast over his face.

"How...? Where did you hide? Did he see you?" He walked towards him as rest of the Khans followed, all looking at Saleem with alienated expressions.

Saleem did not know how to answer. Would they believe him if he did?

"Nothing holds up, but the truth." Imam's voice echoed in his head. He did not specifically remember him to ever say that, yet it sounded like something that he would.

"The Inspector... he was, actually he is my friend. I had lived with him through my teenage years."

The crowd in front of Saleem did not look the least bit amused.

"I did not know that he was in charge, but being tied with these ropes gave me no choice but to stand here and hope for the best. I believed in God and He helped me." Saleem gave it his best shot. His legs were shaking under his weight while his hair irritatingly tickled his forehead.

Aqib stared at Saleem with contempt. He still was unaware of the reason Saleem had come back. Why would he? This should have been the last place to hide if he had escaped from prison.

"I do not know what I am to you; a traitor, a murderer maybe. You would be right to kill me and I am grateful that you haven't. I came here in peace. I came here to right what I had did wrong and only if you give me a chance... I'd most certainly love to help you, to at least make up for what-"

"YOU CAN'T MAKE UP FOR A DEATH." Aqib's voice roared through the cellar. His eyes had a predator-like glint.

Saleem lowered his head, making his hair cover his eyes as if showing them would be a breach of respect.

"I can't, Aqib. But I'm trying. I hope that's worth something." Saleem stated as he looked back up into Aqib's eyes which he saw were moist.

He must have loved her a lot.

Saleem noticed for the first time how the two brothers beside Aqib looked alike. They could even be twins; the same build, same face cut, just slightly different eyes. Or maybe he was hallucinating again.

"Inspector Khalid is willing to help me escape, but I am not leaving until you forgive me. And for that I'm willing to do anything." Saleem's legs were now visibly shaking under the weight of what he had just said. The two brothers looked at him with what he perceived to be commiseration.

"Living a life of sins does not mean that one can't turn back to what he ought to be from the start." Saleem pleaded.

Aqib's chest was heaving with the effort to breathe. His face looked like a storm of emotions; soft and harsh at the same time. His nostrils were flared as they did when he was in wrath while his forehead creased to depict his sorrow. He could not fathom another reason for Saleem's presence in this house other than what he was maintaining from the minute he had opened his eyes in this cellar. But somehow, he could not bring himself to think so, maybe because he did not want that. Men believe what they want to believe, not what they ought to.

He turned around as every pair of eyes in the cellar followed him.

"Aqib!" Even speaking took a lot out of Saleem. "Why didn't you just hand me over to the Police." Aqib stopped in his tracks and turned around.

"Because I wanted to make you pay for what you did, myself."

Saleem pondered upon how conveniently Aqib had stated this in the past tense while the rest followed Aqib as he ascended the stairs, laying furtive glances back at the prisoner who was visibly shaking now.

A few minutes later, the twins came down with a plate of cooked lady finger and steaming bread. They untied Saleem and helped him sit down against the wall. That meal was the best one Saleem had ever had, for it was in a state of satisfaction. He was inching towards his goal. God was with him.

The Imam's smile stood steadfast as Detective Shaam entered the mosque. He took off his shoes to maintain the sanctity of the place that he was entering and then strolled over the bamboo mat towards the Imam who turned towards him, sitting cross legged with his resolute and warm smile.

"To what do I owe the pleasure, Mr. Shaam?" The Imam obliged. Shaam was immediately impressed by the man sitting in front of him in an impeccable white Shalwar Kameez. He could see that this wasn't going to be easy at all.

"Well, usually I surprise people by knowing their names when they do not know who I am. But it turns out this is the other way rounds." Shaam maintained his cocky expressions.

The Imam chuckled. "I know everyone who enters and leaves this prison, Mr. Shaam. I think of it as my duty."

"With all due respect, Imam, I do not deem this as an appropriate place for an investigation. So why don't we head over to-"

"With all due respect, Shaam, why not here? I mean, God is everywhere. What is it that God won't see within the confines of your office that He would over here?"

Shaam was stunned. He was supposed to dominate this investigation not the Imam.

"Besides, make yourself comfortable. Can I interest you in a cup of tea with rusk or biscuits? I find you as a tea person. But we could also have a cup of Kashmiri green tea which I as an individual find as a more wintery option. But well, It's a free world."

Shaam tried to recompose himself.

"I hate to break it to you but we are not here for a party! A murderer just escaped this prison and you and I have the responsibility to put him behind bars where he belongs for the safety of everyone that he interacts with." Shaam retaliated.

"Mr. Shaam, I am here to cooperate." The daunting smile on Imam's face was getting under Shaam's skin now. He procured a picture from his breast pocket and handed it over to the Imam. The Imam held it in his worn out and bruised hands and assessed the picture. A jumble of letters with a two days old date was scribbled on a cement wall.

"Looks like the inside of a cell." He remarked.

"The inside of Saleem's cell, to be exact. Do these letters, B H W S A G L H R mean anything to you?"

"Looks like gibberish to me." He handed the polaroid back to Saleem who was now visibly frustrated.

"I have been informed that Saleem was here late at the night of his escape."

"He might be. This is a funny place, the prison if you ask me. I have seen many alleged killers pray more in a month than the average Pakistani does in his life. When you enter through that daunting metallic entrance gate of the prison, something strikes you. It's a different life inside."

Shaam stood up and peered over at the minbar in the far corner. The mosque looked pretty simple and unimpressive. Besides the minbar, there was only a metallic cupboard standing against the wall.

"I know you helped him, Imam." Shaam spoke blatantly. But his tone did not seem to affect the Imam for he did not even glance away.

"And how are you so sure?" The Imam countered gracefully.

"Because a prisoner can't learn to disable the electricity of the whole prison without inside help." His gaze sliced through the Imam but he remained resolute.

"God knows best, Shaam." 

"Thank you for your time." Shaam mumbled before leaving. He knew he had no proof of this obvious yet cheeky theory.

- Don't forget to comment and vote. Your support is what keeps me going. :) 

Happy Independence day to all Pakistanis and Indians!

Tentative date for next update: 16th August, 2017.