Chapter 9 Chasing the Shadows
Professor’s cabin
Amir: Good morning, Ramnath.
Ramnath: Morning...
Amir: You sound off. What’s bothering you?
Ramnath: Nothing...
Amir: Still thinking about Shaqib, aren’t you?
Ramnath: (hesitant) It’s not just his death... It’s how it happened. Brutal. Senseless.
Amir: (calmly, but firm) Ramnath, there are moments in life when unimaginable steps must be taken. Painful, yes—but necessary.
Ramnath: Necessary? He was one of us, Amir. One of us!
Amir: (looking directly at him) When the choice is between loyalty to a person and commitment to a greater cause, you don’t hesitate. You look ahead—to the bigger picture. Always.
Ramnath: (visibly conflicted) If you say so... then remind me, Amir. Remind me why we’re doing this. Let’s revisit our purpose.
Amir: (rising, his voice resolute and unwavering)
"Crush the old to build the new. Land to the peasants, power to the proletariat! No compromise, no chains—revolution is the only solution! Purify the system, cleanse the roots, for from the ashes of tyranny, the people shall rise!"
Ramnath: (nodding slowly, trying to steady himself) And Shaqib?
Amir: (cold, final) He was a branch infected by decay. Sacrifices will pave the road to revolution, Ramnath. Remember that.
(A heavy silence hangs in the room, the weight of Amir’s words settling like a storm on the horizon...)
Ramnath: So, tell me, Amir… tomorrow, if I become a roadblock, what will you do?
Amir: (pauses, his eyes narrowing, voice steady as a blade) Revolution is the prime goal, Ramnath. No roadblock is permanent.
Ramnath: (taken aback) You’d sacrifice me?
Amir: (calm but chilling) It’s not personal. It’s the price of progress. When the cause is greater than the individual, nothing… and no one… is untouchable.
Ramnath: (quietly, almost to himself) I see.
(The room falls silent, the air thick with unspoken tension, as the truth of Amir’s resolve settles into Ramnath like a cold wind.)
Amir drank the water as Ramnath quietly slipped out of the room, his movements deliberate but rushed. He paused outside the door, breathing heavily, his mind spinning. Then, gathering his courage, he stormed back into the room.
To his shock, Amir was slumped in his chair, motionless.
Ramnath: (a grin spreading across his face, his voice filled with venom) I knew it, you bastard. You wanted to kill me? Before you could get to me, I got to you. Now it’s my turn. My time to lead. The cartel is mine!
(He looked down at Amir, his voice a mocking whisper as if speaking to a ghost.)
“Two more minutes, Amir… and you’ll be nothing but a name they’ll forget.”
Ramnath checked his watch, counting the seconds, a sinister smile on his face. He waited patiently, letting the illusion of victory sink in. After exactly two minutes, he crouched next to Amir and reached for his pulse, expecting silence.
Ramnath: (confused) What?
Before he could process, Amir’s hand shot up like a viper, grabbing Ramnath by the neck. In a blur, Amir’s other fist crashed into his jaw, sending him sprawling to the floor.
Amir: (cold, composed, and deadly, towering over Ramnath) Did you really think it would be this easy, Ramnath? You? Lead the cartel? I have spent forty years climbing this ladder—earning trust, solidifying power.
(Amir leaned closer, his eyes burning with an unsettling calm.)
“You think you can shake an empire with a pinch of poison? I saw you tamper with the water the moment I began explaining our mission. Your greed drips from you like sweat. And here’s the kicker—your confession? It’s all recorded.”
Ramnath’s eyes widened in sheer terror. He scrambled to his feet, staggering toward the door.
Ramnath: (panicked, desperate) No… no, Amir…
Amir watched in silence as Ramnath bolted from the room, fear driving his every step. The hallway echoed with his heavy footsteps. Ramnath ran for his life. He took his car and convinced the police station was his sanctuary, his only salvation.
As Ramnath stumbled onto the road, a vehicle screeched to a halt in front of him. It was the same man from earlier that morning—the one whose eyes had held too much mystery.
Ramnath: (gasping, pleading) Hey, hey! Save me! I made a mistake, I—
Before he could finish, four gunshots cracked through the air. Each bullet slammed into Ramnath’s chest, cutting his words short. He collapsed to the ground, lifeless. The street fell silent again, except for the faint hum of the vehicle engine.
Moments later, Amir arrived at the scene. He stepped out of the shadows, calm as ever, his face illuminated by the headlights. The suspicious man turned toward Amir, lowering his weapon.
Suspicious Man: “Congratulations, sir.”
Amir: (correcting him with a cold smile) “No. Not ‘sir’… it’s Comrade.”
(The man nodded with respect, and Amir’s smile widened ever so slightly. He surveyed the scene—the body of Ramnath lying still, the street once again under his control. The gears of revolution were turning. It was his time to rule.)
Amir’s House
Shabad sat frozen in his chair, the weight of the revelation crashing over him like a tidal wave. His hands trembled as he clutched the edges of the diary, his chest heaving with uneven breaths.
The words echoed in his mind—“Amir is not my father…”
Memories began flooding back, each scene playing like an old film reel—every sacrifice, every moment of care, every stern lecture and quiet act of support that Amir had given him.
Shabad (whispering to himself): “No father… yet he raised me. Like his own.”
His throat tightened, tears threatening to spill, but he held them back. Instead, he forced himself to remember—Amir teaching him to ride a bicycle, Amir staying up late during his exams, Amir shielding him from bullies when he was just a boy. The man who he thought was his father wasn’t bound by blood, but by an unspoken duty.
Shabad slumped against the chair, his voice a broken whisper.
Shabad (to himself): “The debt is too heavy… How can I repay this? Even if Amir is the devil… even if his hands are stained in blood… how can I go against him?”
He shut his eyes tightly as if trying to shut out the storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. But the truth was inescapable. Amir had shaped his entire life. The man Shabad was today, every strength he possessed, was carved out of Amir’s sacrifices.
Shabad (looking up, his voice steady but full of pain): “He is a devil to the world, but to me… he is a god. The god who gave me everything when I had nothing. And a debt like this…” (he swallowed hard) “…can never be repaid.”
Shabad rose from his chair, his legs unsteady as though the ground beneath him had shifted. His world had changed, but his resolve hardened.
Shabad (clenching his fists): “I owe him everything. I cannot turn against him… I will not turn against him.”
The silence in the room felt deafening. For the first time, Shabad saw Amir not just as a father figure, but as a complex shadow—a man who gave life, even while he walked in darkness
He returned to the diary and read further.
The Diary:
We reached the border at dusk. The place looked like a forgotten relic of time—an abandoned village, lifeless except for a handful of wandering souls who seemed more like shadows than people. The wind howled through broken huts, carrying the weight of stories no one would tell.
In one of the sturdier huts, we decided to stay. It was small, bare, and felt more like a bunker than a home. Dust clung to everything, and the only sound was the faint cry of baby Shabad, his voice muffled by the cold air.
Mahira (brushing dust off her jacket): “We’ll stay here for a few hours. I’ve already sent word to the other side. We wait for their signal.”
The exhaustion hung heavy in the room. Shazia sat in a corner, rocking Shabad gently, trying to soothe him. Amir leaned against the wall, his eyes fixed on Mahira, unreadable.
Amir (quietly): “I still wonder…”
Mahira glanced at him, uninterested at first.
Mahira: “You used to wonder about a lot of things.”
Amir (firmly): “I still wonder how you were there, always protecting me. And yet… when it mattered the most, you left me. You let me suffer. You walked away.”
Mahira froze for a moment, her face suddenly serious, as though his words struck a nerve.
Amir (pressing): “Why did you leave me, Mahira?”
She didn’t meet his eyes, her voice low, measured.
Mahira: “Don’t judge me for that. I was afraid.”
Amir (bitterly): “Afraid of what? Death?”
Mahira: “Yes. Death. Like anyone else would be.”
Amir pushed himself off the wall, taking a step closer, his voice sharp, accusing.
Amir: “Then why did you come back? You could’ve run. You’re a fighter. A survivor. No one would’ve stopped you.”
Mahira (a beat, then softly): “I don’t know.”
Amir (sarcastic): “You know. You just don’t want to say it. You came back because you were greedy, Mahira.”
Her head snapped up, eyes blazing.
Mahira: “Greedy? Don’t you dare say that! I had the money, Amir. I had everything I needed to disappear. If I was greedy, I would’ve left you to rot in that hell. Don’t accuse me of things you don’t understand.”
Amir (coldly): “Then who are you, Mahira? What do you stand for?”
She took a deep breath, her voice steady, but there was something raw underneath it.
Mahira: “I am a fighter. An independent mercenary. I fight for money. That’s who I am.”
Amir (mocking): “So there was no reason for you to come back. You could’ve disappeared into thin air, without looking back.”
Mahira (staring hard at him): “Certainly.”
Amir (leaning in, his voice almost a whisper): “Then why did you come back?”
Silence settled between them, thick and heavy, broken only by the distant sound of the wind rattling the door. Mahira’s gaze softened, her voice barely audible, like a confession she didn’t want to make.
Mahira: “Because I feel for you, Amir. Your mother’s gone. You have no one. I… I know what that feels like—to lose everyone, to be completely alone. It happened to me, and I couldn’t let it happen to you. I thought… it was my duty to save you.”
Amir stared at her, as if trying to read between the lines, searching for something more.
Amir (after a pause): “That’s all?”
Mahira (hesitating): “Yeah… that’s all.”
Amir’s gaze lingered on her for a moment longer before he turned away, nodding quietly.
Amir: “Hmm. Thanks.”
Mahira (softly): “Yeah.”
The room fell silent. Shabad’s crying had stopped, as if even the baby could feel the weight of the moment. Amir sat back down, his thoughts a whirlwind he couldn’t untangle.
And then, Mahira spoke.
Mahira (barely a whisper): “And I love you.”
Amir looked up sharply, his breath catching, but Mahira was already moving. Without another word, she turned and stepped outside.
Amir stepped outside
Amir (to Mahira, quietly): “So, this was the real reason. That was a good answer to my proposal, I guess.”
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Mahira’s lips as she emerged from the shadows, leaning against the doorframe.
Mahira (softly): “You don’t know how to propose seriously. You looked like a fool to me—so confused and nervous.”
Amir turned to face her, his expression calm but thoughtful.
Amir: “I’m not used to it. But I can rectify my mistake.”
He took a step forward, his movements deliberate, and slowly sank to one knee in front of her. With a steady gaze, he extended his hand toward Mahira.
Mahira looked down at him, her eyes filled with a mixture of surprise and something deeper. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions.
Amir (Gently) “With my soul, my heart and this wind as witness. I want to confess to you that i love you. Hold my hand if you are agree to spend your whole life with me. I promise you not to hurt you and support you till the last breath of my life”
After what felt like eternity, she smiled, her voice softer
Mahira (whispering): “I’ve already walked through the storms. I’ll stand with you, not as a mercenary, but as someone who believes in us, who believes in you.”
Amir squeezed her hand gently, the warmth of her acceptance wrapping around him like a promise fulfilled. Together, they stood in the stillness, their love emerging stronger from the shadows.
Mahira: “We will marry after reaching our destination. Right now, I am your guardian; later, I will be your wife.”
Amir: “Certainly...”
Shazia: “You look cute together. I will be happy there as your witness.”
Everyone laughed, including Baby Shabad.
Mahira: “It’s time to move tonight. We’ll cross the border.”
ALI’S OFFICE
Ali’s transistor crackled to life, a distorted voice cutting through the silence.
“Sir, we found them.”
Ali’s grip tightened around the steering wheel. His knuckles turned white as fury consumed him.
“Where?” he demanded, his voice cold and razor-sharp.
The voice trembled slightly before responding. “Sir, we found some dead bodies near the border. It seems like they’re trying to cross.”
The words hit Ali like a dagger. Dead bodies. His mind raced, visions of betrayal and defeat flashing before him.
His pulse pounded in his ears as he roared, “Turn all of them into ashes! They will not escape!”
With a vengeance burning in his chest, Ali slammed his foot down on the accelerator, the engine roaring beneath him. Dust and gravel flew behind as he raced towards the border, the night now alive with his fury.
As he neared the perimeter, he barked into his transmitter again. “Alert all border guards and rangers. Shoot on sight. No mercy.”
The night echoed with his command, each word a promise of annihilation. The border had become a battlefield, and Ali was the storm.
At border
Mahira: We have to cover at least 2 kilometers without stopping. The border guards are on high alert, and the mechanism on the other side is already activated. If we don’t move fast, they’ll catch us before we even reach the destination. We have to make sure they lose our trail.
Amir: Okay, but how are we going to do that?
Mahira: Listen carefully. Shazia, you’ll go first. Move as quickly and quietly as you can. Stick to the path we’ve scouted. Avoid the main road; stick to the deserted area. Follow the markers we placed earlier—there’s no room for mistakes.
Amir: What about the guards?
Mahira: They’ll be patrolling in sections, but they won’t cover the entire perimeter at once. We’ll keep low and move in silence. Avoid any open areas or lights—use the darkness as much as you can. If you hear any movement, stay still. They’re trained to catch us quickly, but we’ve prepared for this.
Shazia: And if they spot me?
Mahira: If you see them, don’t engage. Keep running. We’ll create enough distance between us and them.
Shazia: Understood.
Mahira: Remember, once you cross the halfway mark, signal us with the flashlight. It’s the only way we’ll know you’re safe.
Shazia: I’ll do it.
Mahira: Good. Once you’re out of sight, Amir and I will follow in 10 minutes. We’ll break into two teams at different points, keeping the guards guessing. And remember They’ll follow after us. Stay focused, and we’ll meet on the other side. No matter what, don’t stop. Keep moving.
Shazia: I’ll do it.
Mahira: Go now. We’ll catch up soon. Good luck.
Shazia took a deep breath, clutching Shabad tightly as she disappeared into the darkness, moving swiftly.
Mahira and Amir waited silently, their eyes fixed on the darkness, listening intently. Mahira gripped her weapon tightly, ready to react if anyone tried to stop Shazia.
The night was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the rustling leaves and the occasional distant call of wildlife. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each passing second heavier with anticipation.
Suddenly, in the distance, a faint flash of light—a signal. It was Shazia, holding the flashlight steady. She was safe.
Mahira: (gripping the weapon tighter) She's safe.
Amir: (nodding) Let’s go.
They moved quickly toward the signal, their steps muffled by the soft earth. The tension in the air was thick—every sound amplified.
Ali reached the border station, his face dark with rage. The cold night air seemed to amplify his fury as he scanned the desolate landscape. The dim moonlight barely illuminated the worn, crumbling structures of the abandoned border station. His mind was consumed with one thought: "I'll burn them all."
Ali’s eyes locked onto Amir and Mahira in the distance. They had been careful, moving cautiously, but now they had been spotted. Ali snatched the sniper rifle from one of the guards, his grip tightening around the cold metal. His breath came in short, ragged bursts, each pulse of his heart echoing in his ears.
Ali: (muttering under his breath) "They won’t escape me."
Through the scope, he saw them—Mahira shielding Amir, both figures fleeing toward the crumbling remnants of the border. Ali’s finger tightened on the trigger, his aim steady as he tracked them.
Suddenly, Mahira’s sharp voice broke the night.
Mahira: "Amir, run... run for your life!"
In that instant, Mahira shoved Amir hard, sending him stumbling behind the wall for cover.
Ali’s finger squeezed the trigger, the shot echoing in the quiet darkness.
Amir stumbled to the ground, his vision blurred and his body trembling. As he lay there, struggling to comprehend what was happening, a group of masked figures emerged from the shadows. They had been waiting.
Without a word, one of them approached and roughly grabbed Amir by the collar. Another figure stepped forward, holding a small, vile-looking syringe. Without hesitation, they injected something into his arm.
Amir: (weakly) "What... what are you doing?"
The figures didn’t respond. They just stared at him with cold, unfeeling eyes, their faces hidden beneath dark masks. Within moments, Amir felt a burning sensation spreading through his veins, followed by a wave of dizziness that quickly overcame him.
His vision faded, the world around him dissolving into darkness.
Amir blinked as the dim light from a single bulb above him flickered, casting long shadows against the plain walls of the room. His head throbbed, and the confusion of waking in an unfamiliar place added to his disorientation. The bed beneath him felt surprisingly soft, but the walls closing in around him seemed to suffocate his thoughts.
Amir: Where am I?
His voice sounded hollow in the stillness.
He glanced around, searching for something familiar—anything that might offer a clue. The room was small, sterile, devoid of any personal touch. No windows. Just four blank walls. A closed door was the only exit.
Where is Mahira?
A soft knock at the door startled him, pulling Amir from his thoughts. He stiffened, his eyes darting to the door. The knock came again, this time more insistent.
The door creaked open, and a figure stepped inside. A man in a white coat. A doctor.
Doctor: "How are you feeling, Amir?"
Amir squinted, trying to focus on the unfamiliar face.
Amir: "Good. Where am I?"
The doctor gave a reassuring smile, though it felt more like a mask.
Doctor: "You’re at a safe house. Don’t worry."
Safe house. The words barely registered in Amir's mind. His thoughts were tangled in a web of panic and confusion.
He watched as two officers approached from behind the doctor, their expressions unreadable. One of them stepped forward.
Officer: "Hello, Amar."
Amir stiffened. "Amir is my name."
The officer nodded, his gaze steady.
Officer: "Sure. But we’d prefer to call you by your real name."
Amir didn’t respond. His jaw tightened as the name they seemed determined to use clawed at his identity.
Amir: "Forget about it. Where am I? And where’s Mahira and Shazia?"
The question hung in the air like a heavy weight.
The officer exchanged a glance with the doctor, and something in that moment passed between them—a silent acknowledgment of something Amir couldn’t quite comprehend.
Officer: "Shazia is in another room. With her child. Safe and sound."
Amir felt a strange mixture of relief and dread wash over him. Shazia was alive—somehow, that was a small comfort. But Mahira…
His breath hitched, his throat tightening as the officer’s hesitation grew palpable.
Amir: "Mahira?"
The officer faltered, his eyes shifting away for just a second too long.
Officer: "I… we’re still assessing the situation."
The words hung in the air, heavy and unresolved.
Amir stared at the officer, his mind reeling. The room seemed to shrink further, pressing against him. The silence became deafening.
Amir: "Tell me what happened to her. Please."
The officer didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he shifted uncomfortably, as though trying to find the right words.
Doctor: "Amir, it’s better if you rest. We’ll talk when you’re stronger."
Amir clenched his fists. The frustration, the fear—it boiled beneath his skin.
Amir: "Rest? I need answers!"
The door began to creak open once more.
The officer's face remained grim, his eyes dull with solemnity.
Officer: "I’m afraid to say this, but while protecting you during the run, she was shot by the border security. She took the bullet."
For a moment, everything inside Amir felt like it stopped. His mind replayed the images—the sound of Mahira’s voice, urging him to run. Her strength, her fierce determination. Now, that strength was gone, replaced by an unbearable void.
Amir: "No… no… that can’t be… not Mahira."
The words barely escaped his lips, a whisper of denial. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms, but he felt nothing. Only the weight of that truth pressed down on him.
Officer: "She didn’t want you to see her like that—on the ground. She protected you until the very end."
Amir didn’t respond. He couldn’t. The images of Mahira, alive and defiant, clashed with the unbearable truth.
She was supposed to protect us…
The memories came flooding—Mahira, fierce and unrelenting, standing by his side, guarding him through hell. She had always been his strength, his rock. Now, she was gone.
Amir recalled the memory
Mahira saying “We will marry after reaching our destination. Right now, I am your guardian; later, I will be your wife”
Amir staggered backward, collapsing onto the bed, his hands trembling. He pressed his head against his knees, trying to escape the truth, but it refused to let go.
Amir: " Why didn’t she let me—?"
His voice broke, consumed by a pain so deep it felt as though it would drown him.
Officer: "She chose you, Amir. She chose to protect you, no matter what the cost."
The room grew colder, emptier. His tears came silently, washing away the denial, leaving behind only the truth.
Amir: "I should’ve—"
His words trailed off. The guilt. The grief. The overwhelming sense of loss.
Amir: "I couldn’t save her."
The officer didn’t say anything more. There was nothing left to say. Only silence filled the void Mahira had left behind.
