The police officer said,

“This was reported stolen, a few days back. Did you steal it?”

“What? No!” Asad replied getting shocked.

“This is the FIR. Here, you can see it,” the officer told him while showing the report.

“Oh, my God!” Asad uttered getting more than just astonished.

“What do you have to say for this now?”

“Honestly sir, I really don’t know I got this as a gift.”

“When?”

“Yesterday. I mean last night.”

“Who gave this to you?”

“There’s this girl. I don’t think that she is a thief. I can give you her address.”

“Who do you think gave her this car?”

“What do you mean?” Asad got confused. “I’m sorry but I don’t think that I understood.”

“From where she might have arranged this car?”

“Honestly, I don’t know about all this. But I can take you to her. She should be able to answer all these questions.”

“Who is this girl by the way? What is her name?”

“Kiran. Her name is Kiran.”

“Alright, let’s go then. But in the meantime, keep in mind that you are under arrest.”

“Under arrest? What for?” Asad asked getting panicked. “Look, I have not stolen this. Please, I have nothing to do with it.”

“Calm down. Just prove this to us and you are free.”

“There was a party last night. There were several guests invited. At least, 10 witnesses can testify that it was given as a gift to me.”

“Okay.”

“Honestly! Please trust me.”

“Come with us now. We’re going to her house. You’re taking us there.”

“Sure.”

Asad left with them in their vehicle.

************

Meanwhile, at Aaraiz’ house, he wore his clothes and he said to himself,

It is of no use. If I will die like this, I won’t be remembered. I’ll do what I have to do.

He had a glass of water and then he said,

I’m going to get her attention. I am going to make her think that it wasn’t really easy letting go off me. I will make her remember me for the rest of her life.

He went towards the fridge to find something to eat. While opening it, he wondered,

I have to commit suicide. But in a way that she will regret it. She will have to regret this for rejecting my love.

As he looked at the knife inside the fridge, he thought of using it as an instrument for killing himself.

How about I use this? He wondered.

He took it out and held it tightly in his hand.

No! He answered himself. I need something that is quick and painless.

As he thought for a while, something came in his mind,

A gun? Yeah, a gun would be good.

But then he realised that it wasn’t easy arranging it. So, he said loudly,

How can I arrange a gun? Where will I find one?

As he was getting mixed thoughts, he got angry and he threw the knife away and said,

Oh, my God! What am I going to do?

He held his head in frustration and said,

Living is not easy, but dying is even more difficult.

He sat on the ground and said,

Look, it doesn’t matter how I die. What matters is that I must die in front of her.

He felt the knife on his hand and then said,

My memories should haunt Kiran for the rest of her life. They must scare her to death.

Meanwhile outside Kiran’s apartment, the two cops and Asad knocked the door. They waited and as there was no response, they knocked once again.

“Is this the right house?” one of the police officers asked.

“Yes, I hope that it is.”

“You hope it is?”

“I mean I’m sure this is the right house.”

Asad knocked the door again.

There was still no response. They all were waiting until Asad asked them,

“Do you want me to call her?”

“You’re asking this now?” one of the officers angrily asked.

“What?”

“Call her. You should have called her before even bringing us here. Idiot!”

Asad who was getting fed up now made a phone call. After few rings, Kiran answered the call,

“Hello?”

“Kiran, where are you?”

“Hello? I can’t here you,” Kiran said drowsily as she had just woken up.

“Kiran! This is Asad. I’m outside your house. Come outside immediately.”

“I’m not at home,” she responded.

“What?”

“I’ll call you later. I’m sleeping.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“What is wrong with you?” Kiran asked angrily. “Why are you talking like this?”

“This car that you bought me…”

The call got disconnected. Asad shouted,

“Hello? Are you there?”

Asad realised the call had disconnected.

“What happened?” one of the police officers’ asked him.

************

Few days later, Aaraiz was at some arms shop. He asked the shopkeeper,

“How much for the hand gun?”

“I will show you everything sir, but first I need to see your license.”

“I don’t have one. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t have a license. But we can make an arrangement.”

The shopkeeper chuckled and said,

“Please sir, if you are thinking of making such deal then please just leave.”

“Listen to me; no one knows what’s going on here. Nobody will find out. Just tell me how much you need.”

“Sorry sir, please leave.”

Aaraiz took out a huge bundle of cash from his pocket and then said,

“Hear me out first.”

The shopkeeper saw that he was holding ten thousand rupees.

“These are just for bribe,” Aaraiz said. “The actual payment of the weapon, I will pay completely.”

“Completely?” the shopkeeper asked getting a bit interested.

“Yes, completely. No discount. No bargain.”

“Oh… But wait, what is the guarantee of my safety?”

“You mean you won’t be in trouble, how that will happen?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t be in trouble. I give you my word. Nothing will happen to you. This gun will disappear.”

“Alright, I can do one thing. I will give you the gun. But you will have to arrange the bullets on your own.”

“No, it’s not enough.”

“Look, it’s not easy for me either. My job is at stake here.”

“Just arrange two or three bullets for me.”

“Okay, I can arrange two.”

“Fine, two’s enough.”

They had a deal and Aaraiz finally purchased the gun.

************

Asad who was at his home with his friend was quiet and seemed angry. His friend asked him, “What are you thinking about?”

“Forget it.”

“Why won’t you tell me? You’re angry on Kiran right?”

“Yes, I am,” Asad raised his voice angrily. “Who is she? Who the hell she thinks she is? She gave me that stolen car and vanished.”

“Maybe she has not dumped you. Maybe she is busy somewhere.”

“Why is she not answering my calls? Why is she avoiding me like this? Look, I don’t care about her. If she wants to end this relationship, I’ll be more than happy to do it. But she must give me an explanation on this car issue.”

“Asad, calm down. Don’t worry, I’ll find her for you. But right now you must…”

“…Look, finding her is not easy,” Asad interrupted. “She is not answering my calls; she is not replying to my texts.”

“Have you tried a different number? Maybe she’ll answer that.”

“I did that yesterday. There was no response.”

“By the way, what happened to the car? Where is it right now?”

“The police have kept it. It’s in their custody and I want it to be that way.”

“Why?”

“Look, I don’t want to discuss about it. I never ever want to see that

car again.”

“You are losing your temper more than ever. That day, you outsmarted that thief; and today you are down because of a girl.”

“I just want to see her once. Once, I see her and give her a piece of my mind; I will never ever see her again.”

“Fine, just calm down for now. Let’s see what’s going to happen.”

Asad angrily hit the sofa on which he was seated.

************

Few days later, Aaraiz was at some street and was outside the house where he actually committed suicide. Someone passed by and Aaraiz said

to him,

“Excuse me?”

“Yes,” that stranger uttered.

“This house, it’s empty, right?”

“Yes, why are you asking?”

“For how long has this been empty?” Aaraiz asked.

“For more than ten years,

I guess. But every year it is opened once and a thorough cleaning is done.”

“I see.”

“Are you planning to purchase it?”

“No. I just want to spend few days here.

Whom can I talk to?”

“Spend few days? What do you mean by that?”

“I just want to live here as a tenant.”

“…Okay,” that stranger replied after a moment. “I’ll take you to the person in charge.”

Two hours later, Aaraiz was sitting inside the vacant house. The person with whom he made the deal was also in the room. He said to Aaraiz,

“For how long are you planning to stay here?”

“I might stay here for a week.

I will give you the entire rent in advance.”

“Look, I want you to know that if police catches you here, we will not be responsible. You insisted that is why I gave you.”

“I have understood that. There’s no need to repeat it.”

“Look, you must understand that this house has no official documents. We are not legally allowed to hand it over

to anyone.”

“You have been working in real estate for years, and yet you are so terrified.”

“I’m not afraid.…”

“…Sir please, we have talked enough. Let me be alone for a while. We’ll talk in the evening; I will come over to the office and hand you over the complete rent.”

************

Days later, Kiran was at her house. She checked her phone and saw that there were plenty of missed calls and text messages. She received a Whatsapp message from Aaraiz. She checked the message and she got shocked. It was a picture of a wound on chest sent by Aaraiz. It was captured by him.

Oh, my God! She uttered. What is he doing there? Is he out of his mind? What does he want?

Her phone turned off unexpectedly.

What the hell? She said angrily.

She then arranged its charging setup and impatiently tried to turn it on again.

Meanwhile, Asad was waiting outside the building where Kiran resided. He was inside his car and he was hoping that he would see her.

I’ve been informed that she is inside her home. I hope it is true. The moment she comes out, the moment I see her, I will do my best in giving her a piece of my mind. I will inject her with the poison of words.

As he looked up at the building, he assumed one of the houses as Kiran’s house and saw that the lights were on. He commented,

Just step outside and you’re going to taste the torment of humiliation.

Back inside Kiran’s apartment, her cell phone switched on and she read the text message from Aaraiz:

“I am leaving this world today. I am committing suicide once and for all. If you want to meet me, you can come and meet me for the last time. The address is stated below.”

Kiran who got annoyed said,

He is just trying to seek attention.

She stood up and while looking at herself in the mirror, she said,

I’ll go and stop him once. But then I’ll ask the police to keep an eye on him.

Few minutes later, a rented car was waiting downstairs. Kiran came and sat inside the vehicle immediately. Asad also got alert. He followed the car after turning on the engine.

Several minutes later, Kiran found the house and entered inside getting surprised that it wasn’t locked.

Aaraiz was sitting right in front of her on a sofa holding a hand gun.

“What are you doing here?” she asked getting closer.

“Will you be in a committed relationship with me?”

“Aaraiz stop, give me the gun…”

That moment, Asad entered inside the house gaining their attention.

Kiran looked back at Aaraiz and said,

“Give me the gun, don’t do something stupid.”

“I bought that necklace for you,” Aariaz spoke pointing towards it.

Kiran said to him,

“I will not give you any false hopes.”

Aaraiz reloaded the gun and aimed at his own forehead. Asad got terrified that he left the house.

“No, Aaraiz don’t!” Kiran yelled.

Aaraiz pressed the trigger.

to be continued...