Love & Loyalty
No compromise
(Part7)
On
way back, Mary & Hashim used stairs and reached 50th floor. They
did not get interacted with any one in way except a man in security uniform in
corridor of their floor. He also just walked away on seeing their entry in
room. Hashim went straight to bed &
pushed the bag under it and covered it with sheet. Within seconds Mary held his
arm with force & pulled him out of room. It was a change in plan about
which Hashim was not aware. He first hesitated but then followed her towards
stairs.
They
went down further three floors and then used elevator to reach 12th
floor. On reaching Mary quickly opened door of a room with master key and then
locked door from inside. Hashim sat on chair while Mary went in wash room.
Hashim sat in silence thinking about future possibilities of exit. He could not
understand the logic behind sitting in that room instead of leaving the hotel.
He was about to switch on LED screen but
stopped because of a knock-on door. He was hesitant but, in the meantime, Mary
came out a quickly went near the door. She waited there till the second knock
in same style and then opened the door. Hashim was just astonished to see
another lady in room who resembled Mary in all respects. Within seconds the two
ladies changed their positions rapidly which made difficult for Hashim to keep
an eye on Mary. The height, figures, dress and facial features of two ladies
were just same. Hashim was trying to understand the situation and feel the
difference between two ladies but within moments one of the two left room
without saying any words.
Hashim
doubted that the lady staying in room had slightly different hair style. It
meant that original Mary had left the room. The lady placed a small cold drink
can and a packed sandwich on table. She after some minutes, saw at her wrist
watch and signaled him to wait till her return She then. left without uttering
a single word. It was another confirmation that Mary was the first to leave
room.
Hashim
closely watched her leaving and then switched on d LED. He ensured to mute the
sound. While watching breaking news on Bob William’s death, he ate sandwich
with small sips of cold drink. His worries increased with passage of time. He
had once again different thoughts & questions in mind without any answer.
As per instructions of Julie that after firing he had to leave hotel within
minutes and had to ensure his security, but he was still sitting in hotel. He
cursed himself for once again trusting & relying on Mary but she had
cleverly escaped alone. He found himself helpless and could not decide whether
to unmask himself & take risk of leaving room or wait there for any new
happening. He had wasted the initial important minutes. Search operation of
buildings in that area was on as per the visuals on LED and he suspected his
arrest any moment.
At
around 3pm his thoughts were disturbed by the sound of some boots in corridor.
The sound of boots increased and then suddenly finished. He felt that the
persons with boots had stopped in front of his door. He got tense. He on
numerous occasions in his career had been face to face with enemy but had never
had such feeling. As expected, someone knocked at door. He quietly went near
door and tried to listen but there was complete silence. He had gone through
tough trainings in Pak Army but at that time his heart beat was very fast.
Hashim tried to see through small eye piece in door but the man outside had
most probably had covered it by hand or something else. There was a second
knock with slightly more force.
He could not find any option except to open
the door. To uniformed officers entered room with a thrust. One man asked” What
is your name?” The first question
stunned Hashim as he was not ready for that.
He softly said “Marshall” but kept quiet on demand of identity. After a
short silence, one of the officers
turned back and said “Madam; suspicious.” Hashim was first astonished to
see Mary standing behind and then stunned to hear her words “Arrest.” Those
were unbelievable moments for Hashim on being handcuffed.
He
was gently pushed towards elevator and brought down to ground floor where
another three tall young men in same uniform also guarded him.
Hashim
could not see Mary any more. The officers without wasting any time quickly
pushed him inside high roof van which stood just outside main glass door of
hotel. Driver immediately droves away on closing of doors.
Despite being not mistreated, he felt
disgraceful and insulted. Hashim sat on back seat in center with two officers
on sides. Hashim was once again unaware of the future but was very worried
about the investigations ahead. He was sure of facing heavy physical &
mental torture. He had recently seen another face of Mary’s personality who had
ensured his arrest after using him. Apart from his own future, Hashim was
worried about Romana that how she would face the tension. He continuously sat
with head down trying to regain confidence and courage. He had tried his best
to save himself & his country from humiliation but had been treated like a
tissue paper. He started thinking of some sue side instead of trials but could
not find any way.
It
was a long drive of more than an hour that suddenly van stopped with a jerk. He
moved his head up and could not find anything. It was a very big open ground. He thought that
van had gone out of order. The officer sitting on his right side opened the
door and stepped down. The other officer and driver remained in van.
(To Be continued)
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