Success on high moral grounds
(part 1)
Kashmala came out of a deep sleep and was frightened to see unknown environment around her. She looked around with wide open eyes, tried to rub her eyes but realized and found her hands tied up with single bed on which she lay.
She tried to shout but could only release a low bleak sound from mouth. She found herself helpless. She was tightly tied up on an ordinary bed in a medium size room without any window except two wooden doors on different walls. A tube light spread some light in room and a ceiling fan made the room somewhat airy. She also saw ordinary chair, a small dusty table and a small cupboard in addition to the uncomfortable bed on which she lay. An unknown young boy wearing a light color shirt and dark blue jeans sat there working on a laptop. Two thick books could be seen on table.
Kashmala tried to recall past hours and for that had to think deeply. Slowly was able to regain memory and the happenings in last hours came before her eyes.
She recalled that in morning at around 7.30am, she along driver and security staff had left her big farm house in morning for Kinnard college for women. Asper her daily routine her car was driven by chacha driver &accompanied by three security guards. They followed her in an open jeep driven by another driver. She was not allowed to go out of home without driver & security staff. Her father Shamshad Khan had strictly instructed sitting of one security person in her car which she never liked & obeyed.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-yellow-jacket-holding-books-3762800/
She further recalled that it was very hot at noon when she came out of college with her friends. After a little chat near main gate, she had walked towards her shinning black Honda with dark colored windows. She as usual told all security persons to follow her in their open jeep. Her car had just covered few meters on main road that they heard a loud noise outside around car. She also felt a jerk in the car and on her surprise Chacha driver immediately on seeing something in rear mirror stopped car and went out. She had got worried and tried to see outside from closed windows. Nothing was visible to her because of smoke & rush of people all around. Everyone was running towards back of their car. On looking from behind mirror, it seemed to her that jeep having her security staff had either met severe accident or had been blown off. She was puzzled and thought of calling house staff manager but suddenly driver side car front door opened and someone sat on seat in a hurry and started driving car.
After few seconds, she noticed that the man on driving seat was unknown and strange. She could not recall anything further except that the car was driven out of crowd in a very professional way. She tried hard but could not get answers of various questions in her mind that where she was, How and why she was there? Since how much time she had been there?”
She came out of her thoughts and again looked around the room. She got horrified on seeing a revolver on table and a rifle in one corner of room. It was now clear to her that she had been kidnapped. Kashmala quickly looked at her dress. She still was wearing college uniform and was in good condition. She was relieved as no one had touched her. Her hand bag was also on her side.
She again closely watched young boy who still was concentrating on laptop and looked least concerned about presence of a young beautiful girl near him. She tried to raise voice and get his attention but managed only a very weak sound because of a thick fabric on her lips and her dried throat. The young boy got up and stared at her for few moments without any expressions on his face. It looked to him as if Kashmala was trying to say some words on which he unwrapped her mouth. Kashmala did not waste any moment and started shouting and cried for help in loud voice despite dried mouth and throat. The boy was a bit surprised and thus told her first in low voice to keep quiet. He then repeated those words in loud voice and finally slapped her with full force.
Tears flowed from her colored eyes because of pain. She could not rub her face as her hands were tied. It was first time that she had experienced harsh behavior so wept and cried. The boy got angry and almost shouted in loud voice warning her of the consequences if she did not lower her voice. It frightened her and she started weeping in low voice.
He turned to pour water in glass for her and then untied her hands enabling her to sit and drink. The water was at room temperature so she just took small sips to wet her mouth and throat. He while standing near her bed asked her name in a strict voice. She first kept on weeping and then spoke in a very low voice “Kashmala Khan.” He at once said “daughter of Shamshad Khan. A big land grabber of city. Is it?” After some moments he asked about type of business of her father. She kept quiet as she had no knowledge of that. She had never felt of knowing that as she had all facilities of life and enjoyed a luxurious life.
She at once shouted “If you need money then why don’t let me talk to my father. He will send you whatever you need.”
He stared at her with angry eyes and slapped her again and immediately tied her hands. Kashmala abused him on it. There was silence in room for next some minutes until young boy saw time on watch and got up to pick her handbag. Kashmala saw him with furious eyes and abused him. He kept quiet, took only her cell phone from handbag and threw bag again on bed. The cell phone was on silent mode and had various missed calls. He noticed many calls from “Papa Jani” which meant that her parents were worried and were searching her. A peculiar smile came on his face. He took a deep breath before calling that particular number from her cell.
The phone was attended on very first ring. A worried voice was easily heard as young boy had switched on mic. The man on other side said “Where are you, my baby?” Kashmala at once shouted and cried “Papa save me.” The young boy kept quiet for some time and enjoyed the conversation between father and daughter. Then he suddenly slapped her twice with full force. She was hurt and her both cheeks got red. Her cries were very painful. He shouted to keep quiet and warned her of dire consequences. Then he got attentive towards phone and said “oh; Mr. Shamshad Khan your baby is today with me. I have waited a lot for this day. Now it is your turn to hear to hear cries. You have a good experience of raping young girls. So, these would not be new for you.” he paused for some time and with a cunning smile on face heard cries of young beautiful girl. Kashmala got frightened and shouted for help & mercy. The young boy slapped Kashmala many times and there were her loud voices all around. she wept & cried loudly while her parents on phone shouted, abused him & offered huge money. The young boy spoke on phone in a loud voice “Don’t waste my time. Let me enjoy. You now think and plan that how much you can give to save your baby.” With these words, he powered off mobile phone set. He then sat on chair staring at roof hearing cries of Kashmala for several minutes.
She then cried for water. The young boy got up and helped her in taking sips. The girl was badly swatting and was about to faint. He then asked her in a low voice about desire of going to bath room. On getting no response from her he opened the leg ropes also & pointed towards a door in room. The bath also had no window except an exhaust fan near roof. Kashmala was disappointed on it. The boy remained alert with revolver in his hand till she returned and sat on bed. He again tied her and left the room. He ensured to switch off lights and lock the door from outside.
It was pitch dark & very hot in room. Kashmala lay there in uncomfortable rather unbearable conditions. She thought a lot but could not assess the intentions & objective of young man. Apart from badly slapping on her face he had neither touched her nor abused her. Suddenly she felt sound of someone stepping towards door and her heart beat fastened. After few minutes’ door was unlocked and lights were switched on. The same young man entered in with two shopping bags and a water cooler. He stood there for some minutes & stared at Kashmala. It was very hot & humid in room. He then went outside and left door open which brought some relief. It was dark outside so nothing was visible.
He returned after some minutes while dragging a room cooler and placed it in door. He carefully tilted its direction towards her before switching it on. Room temperature considerably dropped. He then untied her and gave her cold water to drink & gave a box having sandwiches & fries along small bottle of cold drink. He then sat quietly on chair to enjoy his part of food which he had brought. It was complete silence in room until Kashmala broke silence to enquire time. Young boy replied after few moments “11.15pm.” The reply was short and in an angry tone that Kashmala did not dare to aske anything else but new thoughts started coming in her mind about night ahead and possible intentions of boy.
After reading his book for some time, the young boy then changed his clothes and laid a single mattress on floor for himself. He thought for a while and then asked, “Do you want to change clothes?” Kashmala kept quiet although she was feeling uneasy in college uniform. She had always taken care of her uniform and dress clothes. Young boy took a lady’s suit from cupboard and told her to change for night. Kashmala had never worn some other’s clothes but it was not the time to say any words. He then again tied her on bed and ensured to keep tube light switched on. It was all strange for Kashmala. She was a bit relieved but still worried about future.
Next day after many hours he gave Kashmala some biscuits to eat but did not say anything. Kashmala had watched closely boy during past hours. It looked to him that young man was not a criminal nor a professional kidnapper but his objectives were unknown. She thought for few minutes and then n gathered courage to talk with him. “What is your name?” She asked in a very low voice keeping control on her anger &anxiety but did not get any response. She waited for few minutes and then repeated her question a bit louder. The boy kept quiet. She then lost temper and said in loud voice “Why don’t answer me. What is the purpose of keeping me here in tied position? How much money do you want? Tell me, I will talk with papa.” The young boy got angry and stepped forward to beat her again but then suddenly stopped. He shouted at her “Keep quiet. Do you think I have taken this illegal step for the sake of money?” She while crying requested not to beat her the young boy stood there for some minutes staring her with angry face and then sat on chair trying to read book. She then repeatedly asked and requested to untie ropes. She wept and tried to make him believe of her cooperation. The young boy kept on listening and then after some time his heart melted. He thought for few minutes of the possible situation he could have to face and then finally untied her.
Kashmala sat on bedside with painful body and cramps in legs. She wanted to stand but did not want to annoy young boy. He had just accepted her requests and had not beaten her and also opened ropes. She in a very polite voice asked his name. The boy kept quiet for few seconds and then replied “Rehan.” Kashmala felt confidence and sat on floor mattress with back support of wall. She felt much relaxed and then asked for something to eat. Rehan thought for a while and then went out. He before leaving kept her phone in his pocket and carefully locked the room door. Kashmala sat quietly and did not resist. On return, Rehan noticed the girl had washed face and was wearing another suit which had been taken from cupboard. She was looking fresh. Kashmala made her comfortable on mattress to enjoy food. Rehan kept quiet but closely watched her. He could understand that the girl was then less afraid of him and environment.
While eating, Kashmala suddenly broke silence and asked in a very soft voice, “Why I am here?” The polite voice astonished Rehan. After a pause, Kashmala again spoke, “Why you brought me here? For how long, I will have to stay here with you?” Rehan looked at her innocent face for few moments and then asked in rough voice “Why to tell you?” Kashmala after a silence said,” I am asking like a friend I have already promised not to dodge you.”
Rehan kept quiet for many minutes and then said, “You cannot understand the reasons behind your stay over here.” On her many requests, he collected his thoughts and finally said, “We enjoyed a happy life in our small house in a low-lying area near Model Town. Our resources were limited as my father worked as an Accountant in a private company whereas my mother helped him by stitching clothes at home. They both worked hard to get their both children educated and build that small house. Although it was a simple house but for us it was not less than a paradise.”
He paused and cleaned perspiration on nose with hand and then said “I still remember that disastrous cold evening which turned our whole life. I was student of 3rd year in engineering university while Hina was in FSc and was very intelligent. She wanted to become a doctor. We all were at home. There was a knock on the door. Hina left her kitchen work and went to see at the door. She called me that two men had come to meet male member of family. I went outside and saw two strong men with heavy moustaches s and a big car standing on road near market adjacent to our home. They told me that their boss Seth sahib had come to meet and so asked me to follow them. A fatty man sat on front seat of Pajero. He on seeing me slide down glass of car window and introduced himself as “Seth Shamshad Khan big landlord of city.” Kashmala looked at him with surprising eyes. She thought of some misunderstanding but kept quiet at that moment.
Rehan said, “He straight forwardly placed a packet of Three lac rupees on my hand against purchase of our home. He informed that they had purchased market near our home and wanted to build a big plaza over there. It was a shock for me as we had never thought on shifting to some other place and above all the amount was too small. I refused and returned the packet. His two fellows stood around me like gundas
.
They shouted & threatened me of dire consequences. One of them reminded me about smartness of my sister. He had seen her some minutes back. I lost temper and slapped him. His companion immediately pulled revolver either to harass or shoot. S Shamshad Khan immediately intervened and shouted from car to stop and wait for right time.”
Rehan stopped for a while and then said “Three days later on return from university, I was shocked to know that Hina younger sister had not reached home from college. We searched her everywhere and lodged a complaint in police station also but of no use. Four days later, I on reaching home found main wooden door in open condition. It was strange for me. On entering, I was shocked to see mother in dead condition. I was just trying to understand situation that police came to arrest me in doubt of mother’s killing. Next day in police station, I got news of my father’s death due to heart attack. Life had altogether changed.”
(To be continued)
