Chapter Twenty-seven

In all chaos there is some order, and in every storm, a lighthouse.

Harris was both, the chaos and the lighthouse. "I am the unexpected," he would often joke, and while Zahid brushed off his words as some exaggerated self praise, Harris actually was the unexpected. 

There was way more to him than what met the eye. Though Zahid knew that Harris was much more than he showed, he could never have guessed what his friend was really capable of. 

Harris himself never knew it either. 

Yet, here he was, his head lowered and his hands clenched. The office was dark and highly luxurious, making him feel like he had walked into a completely different world. One that wasn't made for him. 

He subconsciously tapped his foot against the wooden floor, his gaze fixed on his hands and a faraway look in his eyes. The grand clock that hung on the wall seemed incredibly louder, and with each tick, Harris' fingers would twitch. 

After what seemed like hours, the door to the office finally opened. He momentarily squeezed his eyes shut, his heart dropping before he gathered up his strength and got to his feet, finally raising his head to meet the gaze of the man who had just entered. 

"Harris." There was something sickly in his voice, and Harris' fingers dug into his skin. "We finally get to meet."  

When Faaris extended his hand for a handshake, it took Harris all of his courage to comply. Faaris' grip was firm, and he smiled a bit too sweetly.

"You said you have something else for me?" 

Harris inhaled sharply, reaching for something in his pocket. 

"I do." 

~~~ 

With Amal around, the house was suddenly lively again. Zahid found himself recovering quickly, owing both to Amal's care and simply having her by his side. 

At first, of course, Zahid was more concerned about how she had returned to Lahore, and he had not been at peace till Amal had told him the whole story- of how he hadn't been responding for hours, and when Amal had called him continuously, he had picked up only once, said, "I miss you," and then she had only heard his ragged breathing. 

By then, she knew that there was something wrong, and in an alignment of coincidences, Usman was leaving for Lahore that very day on some work related business and Amal had returned along with him. 

"Your brother is here?" Zahid had tried getting off the bed, but Amal gently pushed him back, telling him that Usman had helped her with the groceries, and had left for home. 

Eventually, everything was settled and Zahid could only thank Allah for giving him such a companion. His workloaded, dry life suddenly seemed to have been splashed with color- and while on the outside their exchanges were casual, they mirrored each other in the depths of what they felt. 

When it came to Amal looking after him, Zahid was a complete child. At a young age, he had left the comforts of his home for the sake of his studies and career. Although he was used to looking after himself whenever he got sick, Amal's care and attention was something he now craved for and rather enjoyed. 

When Amal would bring in the soup she made for him, Zahid's hands would suddenly go limp and he would feel far too weak to even pick up the spoon- grinning sheepishly when Amal would give in. If Amal was anywhere near, Zahid would suddenly start feeling cold and the two quilts would not suffice but Amal's embrace definitely did. 

Yet, when it came to his work- Zahid would claim to be completely fine, and healthy enough to walk around and discuss everything with Harris, moving around the room and opening one file after the other till Amal intervened and Zahid's,  "Oh, I'm fine now," would cause her to shake her head and force him to get back into bed. 

Amal was only a tad bit strict. She wanted Zahid to rest, but could not ignore the significance of his work and would thus end up helping him with it.

"I don't think you're well enough to go to court tomorrow," Amal said to Zahid a day before the hearing. The two sat on the living room couch a little after noon, Zahid sitting cross legged and peering over some files as he made notes and a general outline of how he would present his case. 

Amal had discovered on a detailed interrogation that Zahid had not been eating properly either while she was gone, claiming to have 'forgotten because of his work' but he now looked healthier, and his face was beginning to regain its color. Yet, the exhaustion was still visible in his eyes, his movements weary. 

"I am fine, habibti," Zahid repeated the same sentence, his gaze not leaving his work.  

Amal watched him for a bit, her brows drawn together. Looking at him giving this case every bit of energy and strenght that he had, and that too, so selflessly, touched her soul and she found herself praying for his success.

Her heart leading her actions, Amal reached for Zahid's hand. Her fingers intervined with his, and she could not help but notice how different their hands were. Her skin was soft and smooth, a hint of the protected life she had lived while his hands were harder- the roughness to his skin only a sign of all that he had struggled against- and yet... they fit so perfectly together.

Zahid raised his head to look at her. Their gazes clashed and Amal smiled sheepishly to which Zahid returned her smile, gave her hand a squeeze and turned back to his work, their fingers still locked.

They stayed like that for a while, the occasional turning of pages the only sound in the room as the muted television soundlessly flickered, Amal deep in her thoughts. 

An image flashed on the television screen, snapping Amal out of her stance and she suddenly straightened up, letting go of Zahid's hand to reach for the remote and turn up the volume. 

Zahid raised his head, his eyes darkening when they fell on the man on the television screen. He was seated comfortably, a smile on his face as he sipped his drink from time to time. 

Shahid Raza. 

"The court is gathering tomorrow for the appeal," the anchorman said, "We did not think you would agree to joining us just a day before your hearing-" 

"Kamraan," Raza cut him off, leaning forward on his seat, his hands clasped together. "Why must I lock myself and hide when I have nothing to fear? May it be today, or tomorrow. A court hearing or no court hearing- I am an innocent man, and I have faith in both my judiciary system and my Lord." 

The irony of his statement fell heavy. Zahid's hands clenched by his sides, his fingers digging into his skin. 

"Do you have absolutely no fear?" The anchorman asked, looking a bit surprised at Raza's confidence as well. "I mean- you've already been proved innocent once, and it would be harder to prove otherwise this time, but isn't it only natural to feel a bit nervous before such an important day?"  

Shahid Raza laughed. "Let me tell you something," sounding like he was joking around with a colleague, Raza put down his cup, "Before a hearing- only two people feel nervous and afraid. One, the man who is guilty, and second- the man who lacks faith," he leaned back again, shrugging, "And I am neither." 

The atmosphere grew tense, both Amal and Zahid staring at the screen, their heart beats escalating. 

"I am certain I know who would be nervous right now," Raza continued, sounding almost playful. He raised his head, his eyes meeting the camera and for a second, it seemed like he was staring right at them. "The plaintiff's side. They've made up a story, accusing me of something I have never done. We can only assume how nervous and fearful they must be right now." 

Something flashed across Zahid's eyes. His jaw locked and his knuckles turned white, but Zahid's gaze did not leave the screen. 

The anchorman praised Shahid Raza for his confidence and faith, seeking permission to show a few clips.  

The television screen showed, one after the other, people voicing their support for Shahid Raza- children at orphanages, poor men in the farming industry, widows and the lower class who Raza had spent largely on, till they could only sing his praises and curse at the people who had accused him of such hideous crimes. 

When the scene flickered back to the news office, the camera zoomed into Raza who was smiling. "See, Kaamran," he said, sounding touched, "When my people are supporting me so wholeheartedly, I do not have even an ounce of doubt that I will lose-" 

The screen turned black. Zahid turned to look at Amal who held the remote, her expression dark. "He is spouting nonsense. Nothing we need to see." 

Zahid, though, had an unreadable expression on his face and when he turned his gaze away, his eyes narrowing, Amal knew what Raza had been trying to do through his interview... and that he was succeeding. 

"Zahid-" 

"He seems so confident," Zahid muttered, the apprehension vivid in his voice, "How- Amal, I don't think I did this right. We only have one witness, and who knows- he might even have bribed the judge-" 

"Stop it," Amal cut him off, grabbing Zahid's shoulder. "This is what he was trying to do. Make you feel nervous, and fearful. You have nothing to fear, Zahid." 

Something shifted in Zahid's expression. He looked into Amal's eyes, searching for the confirmation that he lacked.

"What if we lose-" his voice was low, and Amal cut him off again. 

"Allah is with us, Zahid. Do not forget that. We won't lose, Insha'Allah, and didn't you say it yourself? That it is our struggle that counts." 

Zahid remained quiet for a bit but her words appeared to be having their effect. He seemed calmer now, and when Amal took hold of his hands, gently letting his fingers lose, Zahid realized that he had them clenched all this time. 

For a while, he was at loss for words, repeating Amal's words again and again in his head before he finally managed to balance himself. 

"Everything will work out, Insha'Allah, " he muttered, more to himself, but Amal nodded. 

"Insha'Allah," she whispered, for while the two of them only had their faith to grip onto with all of the strength they had-  their nervousness was justified. 

Shahid Raza appeared far too confident, and they feared that there were solid reasons behind it. 

~~~ 

Sometimes, miracles happen. 

Everything seems to be on one path, and then, quite suddenly, out of nowhere- there comes a storm that stirs everything to the other side. 

Allah works in mysterious ways. He has power over everything, and when He wills, anything can happen. 

A night before the court hearing, when the nervousness had gripped Zahid and Amal, but they continued to whisper uplifting words to each other... when the whole country seemed to be gripped in this sudden excitement and dinner discussions were mainly about Raza and the hearing... when the majority of people believed that there was absolutely no doubt that Raza would win- a miracle occured. 

It was almost ten. Zahid was putting away the last of his files- realizing now that there was nothing more he could do except pray and gather his courage, when his phone rang.

"Assalam-"

"Turn on the T.V!" Harris cut him off.

"Assalamualaikum, Harris. You really are losing the habit of saying your salaams-" 

"Zahid! Turn on the darned T.V!" 

As Harris cut the call, Zahid blinked, lowering his phone and staring at the screen. What's up with him? 

He moved towards the living room, where Amal knelt on the floor, pouring the cat food into Eddie's bowl. 

She looked up at him questioningly when Zahid grabbed the T.V remote and he shrugged. "Harris said something about turning it on-" 

The television screen flickered to life. It was already on a news channel and the words 'Breaking News' flashed on the screen.

"This video was put up only an hour ago and it already has twenty thousand views-" the news anchor was saying- the video he was talking about playing on the screen. 

The video was taken from a mobile- it wasn't exactly high quality, but showed clearly a man being pushed into a van. The darkness due to it being nighttime made it harder for the man's recognition...until whoever it was who was making the video moved closer. Zahid's eyes widened, and Amal let out a gasp. 

It was Syed Manzoor - the victim of the case. 

The camera then shifted slightly towards the man who sat on the passenger's seat, his face too- immediately recognizable. 

Faaris - Shahid Raza's secretary. 

The news channels continued to repeat this fourteen second video clip- showing side by side pictures of Shahid Raza alongside Faaris. 

That very video took the whole country by storm that night. Every news channel showed it repeatedly, major public figures getting up at night to discuss their views. On social media, everyone seemed to be sharing that same video and posts and comments about Shahid Raza actually being guilty were finally beginning to surface- drowning out the voices of the people who had been taught the lines they were to say in support. 

Amal could barely sit straight, fidgeting every now and then in the excitement that came with the news, whispers of Alhamdulillah echoing inside her heart. 

Zahid, though, was strangely silent. His gaze fixed on the screen, he could only watch- his expression unreadable, and if one were to describe it, they would ponder for a bit, trying to search the words, and would end up saying that it seemed like he was feeling too much and the multitude of emotions showed on his face in a way that made it seem almost expressionless. 

Zahid watched, till the new 'Breaking News' headline flashed on the screen two hours later. 

"Just a day before the high court was going to gather for the Shahid Raza case, the authorities have taken action. After the uproar caused by a video that was released on social media through an anonymous account- the Supreme Court has decided to intervene and the Shahid Raza case is now under the Suo Moto action-" 

That was all he needed to hear. Zahid finally got up, the emotions in his heart crashing over each other like waves. 

Allah works in mysterious ways. He tests you through hard times, and when you remain strong, gathering up the remnants of the strength and faith that you have left, praying for His help and reminding yourselves again and again that everything you are doing is for the sake of Allah alone- He listens. He listens to the prayers you utter in the stillness of the night when you are sure that the whole world is asleep. He listens, also, to the prayers that you don't utter, but your heart does. For Allah is All-hearing and when He listens to your prayers... He answers too.

After the battle he had fought, life had taught him this lesson, and now that things were in his favor, Zahid knew who to thank. So he went to pray his nawafil, and when the world went wild over this news, the man who should have been celebrating stood on his prayer mat and called out to his Rabb.

Because when the world makes you king for a day, you do not forget how you got there.

*SUO MOTO action: Suo Moto is a Latin word which literally means "on its own motion" an act of authority taken without formal prompting from another party. Meaning that a judge may take an action without a request made by the party to the court. *

Assalamualaikum

This chapter was written mostly at night, when I could not sleep and ended up thinking about my story till my heart was pounding wildly and the adrenaline rushed through my veins and I just had to get up and write it.

This is chapter twenty-seven, and we are now moving towards the ending of the story. There is so much yet to happen, and paradoxically, the end of the story is near as well.

Oh, and any ideas on who could have released that video? I absolutely love hearing your theories :)

From this point onwards, the story is going to get intense, and I hope you're prepared for it. If you liked this chapter, do consider leaving it a vote. Your support means the world to me.

Jazakillah!