You are MINE!

Shareefabad, it is a suburban area of the main city. Once it was a place where Shareef (decent) people lived before Land Mafia started their business here. Police were helpless against them because they were backed by some strong politicians. Those days were one of the most horrible days that people of Shareefabad had ever seen...but soon Allah has shown his mercy upon us and the Land Mafia was annihilated by a gang named Black Eagles. Most of the member of this gang was from our town except its leader Moosa Khan.

According to rumours one day he suddenly showed and killed two important members of Mafia. Then slowly he formed a proper gang and within a month this gang killed all Mafia people one by one. After getting rid by land Mafia we thought this was over but that wasn't the case. Black Eagles took control of the whole town and make it their territory.

Now Shareefabad is ruled by a gang or to be more precise by Moosa Khan.

Mahnoor's POV:

"Attention, all final year students!"

The auditorium that was buzzing with voices suddenly came to a silent still. The authoritative voice emanating from the speaker continued.

"Please form a straight row on the right side of the stage. As for the rest of the students, please leave the auditorium."

A split-second silence prevailed when the announcement ended, Kanwal hugged me tightly.

"Mano, " Kanwal gasped, her voice frantic, "I don't want to stay. . . I don't want to go. . . Please take me with you. Please, please, please." Like every other final year student, her eyes were wide with panic, clutching on to their friends for dear life. My heart sank as I realize, I could do nothing but to pray for her.

I am a year younger then Kanwal and also her junior academically. Our families are very close. So, we have been friends for a very long time.

"Kanwal, relax." I tried to reassure her, barely holding on my composure. "Everything will be okay..... Have faith in Allah." I patted her cheek.

"I- I have Mano... but-"

"Hurry up Kanwal, they are almost here and you, Mahnoor, go outside now." A professor yelled at us from near the stage.

"Mano. . ."

My heart clenched painfully when she called out my nickname, pleading silently. Looking helplessly at each other, we both start walking towards our destinations. When I was about to exit, a familiar male voice echoed in the auditorium.

"Everyone can leave except for Nida Abdullah and Kanwal ...... Mehmood."

My steps came to a halt upon hearing my best friend's name. I turned my head to see the source of the voice and my eyes widened when I saw a familiar man approaching Kanwal.

"Ahad...!" I breathed out.

He walked towards Kanwal with a victorious smile on his face and Kanwal's face paled at the sight of him. I tried to go back to her but before I could do anything, a crowd of final year girls rushed past me, pushing me out of the door. After a long struggle against the crowd, I was finally able to reach the auditorium door again only to end up cursing under my breath on finding it locked from the inside. Frustrated, I decided to wait outside.

Of all the things the Black Eagle had done in this town, when it comes to the worse this takes the crown as far as I am concerned... I appreciate that because of them, education has become equal and compulsory for everyone. Even the kids of lower-class families are now able to attain good. They opened up schools for such kids, where education is free. But unfortunately, this is not the only thing that they do.

After the takeover of Black Eagle, they made it a custom to choose two to five students on every convocation ceremony of graduation. If the chosen students are boys, they are forced to join the gang or they will be banished from the city, without leaving any traces. All such students never came back. Only half of their salaries were sent home along with a letter saying they are alright.

However, if the girls were selected, they are forced to go along with the career that is chosen for her, or they are married to the gang members instead. I am now afraid for Kanwal. She will definitely be forced to marry Ahad. He was her fiancé before her parents broke off the engagement on him joining the gang.

I waited for almost an hour but Kanwal never came out, neither did the other girl. I ran towards the professors to ask about their whereabouts and I was told that both of the girls are gone with them long ago. At that moment, I felt like killing every professor for not feeling even a little shame for telling me this. I took out my phone and inform Kanwal's sister about it. Then, I called Bhai (Big brother) to pick me up from college. I won't be able to attend other classes now. My mind is total chaos.

~*~

"Ami (Mother), please take me with you. I want to see Kanwal." I practically begged her.

"We will send you there tomorrow. There is a possibility that all the top leaders of Black Eagle will be there." My mother reasoned.

Cold shivers ran down my spine at the mention of the Black Eagle.

"W-why will they be there?"

"I think you already know the answer."

"Don't tell me Ahad is asking to marry her?" Ami nodded.

I was suddenly overcome by anger, "How could he? That piece of garbag-."

"Behave, Mahnoor." Ami scolded.

"Sorry."

I was a little stunned by the news, it was just a thought came in my mind when I saw Ahad in college but didn't know that he hasn't moved on and still waiting for Kanwal. Still, how can he be so selfish? Ahad knew Kanwal and her parents are not willing to go through with the marriage. How can he just force her into this?

"Dinner is almost ready. Eat it with Hammad, he doesn't like to eat alone. Your Papa and I will be out late, okay?"

"Okay! Be safe both of you." I whispered, still deep in thought.

Ami patted my cheek and left. After coming to my room, I collapsed on the bed, thinking about Kanwal being married off to a killer. 'Ya, Allah! Have mercy.' I mumble and plunged my face into my pillow.

"Mano! Wake up." I heard Bhai's voice, from a distance.

"What?" I groaned.

"It's almost ten-thirty. Are we going to eat or not?" He said angrily. Bhai is one of those people that cannot cope well with hunger.

"Oh! Sorry, sorry." I quickly got up and ran towards the kitchen.

I heat up the food and ate with Bhai while watching Spirit the stallion of Cimarron. After it, I cleaned up the kitchen and went back to my room to study for an upcoming test.

Focus...focus.... focus...

"Argh! Go to hell!." I dropped my head on the pillow and my mind wandered back to the morning when I saw Ahad approaching Kanwal. Her unforgettable pale face swam before my eyes. I sighed and walked towards the window. Opening it, I glanced up at the moon. The full moon shone brightly against the dark sky and its radiance together with the light breeze felt refreshing. I looked at the clock, it was one in the morning. Papa and Ami have sure been late. I shifted my attention back to the moon again. That is when I heard the light piano chords playing somewhere. I focus a little more wondering if it was my imagination or if someone really was playing the piano.

Few moments later, the melody notes got a little higher confirming my suspicions that someone was indeed playing a piano. The melody sounded beautiful. It was long before I turned on my heels and ran straight towards the roof to listen to it clearly.

Mahnoor's POV:

I looked at her swelled red face and called out her name. She opened her eyes and ran to hug me from across the room.

"Mano, you came... I thought you would leave me like other friends." She said in between her sobs.

"Leave?.... why would I leave you?" I was unable to understand.

"Because of the same reason, everyone does... they don't want to be with a person who is soon to be the wife of Black Eagle's second command."

How pathetic!

"Forget about them. If they can't stand with a friend, they are not a friend at all." I patted her back and make her sit on the bed.

"Auntie said that you haven't eaten anything since last night?" I asked.

"I am not hungry."

"But I am...the first thing I do is run over here. I haven't eaten breakfast yet... Alina, bring us something to eat please." I said to her thirteen-year-old sister who is standing behind me looking at her sister worriedly. As soon as I told her, she dashed out of the room to bring food.

Both Alina and I manage to make her eat a little but her sobs never died down. After breakfast, we gave her medicine as she was complaining about a headache. I put her head on my lap and started stroking her hair.

"What should I do, Mano? I don't want to marry him... he is not the Ahad I loved... he wasn't as cruel as him... do something, Mano. Please do something... I can't marry a criminal... do something."

"Did he talk to you yesterday?"

"Yes!.... he clearly said in front of college staffers that he is my fiancé and we are getting married in two days."

"TWO DAYS?!" I shouted.

"That's ..... that's so soon, Kanwal."

"Ye-" before she was able to complete the sentence, Alina came in.

"Kanwal api... Ahad Bhai is here to see you." I felt Kanwal's body froze.

"Tell him that she has a fever and she is resting." I answered in her place.

"Now that's not very nice... you know you shouldn't teach a kid to lie."

We all jumped on hearing this masculine voice. Our head turned at the door and found Ahad standing there with a few shopping bags in his hand. Kanwal quickly sat up and grabbed her dupatta from the side to cover herself.

"Assalam o Alaikum ladies...... oh! And look who we have here... isn't it, our little tigress, Kanwal?" Everyone kept quiet. Kanwal was looking at her hands on her lap, while Alina and I are glaring at Ahad.

"You've become quite beautiful." He complimented, which annoyed me even more.

"What do you want, Ahad?"

"Oho! Since when did you start to disrespect your elders?" He smiled at me, then, put all of the shopping bags on the floor.

"I don't consider a criminal as my elder."

"Watch it, Tigress. You might regret it someday... anyways I brought your wedding dress, Kanwal... I want you to look beautiful tomorrow...for me." He gave a warm smile to Kanwal and left but she sat on her bed numb... the only movement was her dripping tears.

~*~

I spent my whole day with Kanwal. It pains me to watch her crying like this. But I can't do anything for her... nothing.

Damn it...

Oops! Sorry, Allah very sorry.

I facepalm myself for cursing. Cursing is bad... cursing is bad. I started to pace on the roof like a mad person. I feel frustrated about not being able to help Kanwal.

Damn you Black Eagles!

Uff! Sorry again...

I slumped on the floor, not bothering about my clothes getting dirty and start eating chips. I have this odd habit of eating when I am tense. After eating two large packs of chips, I feel much better. I looked around and start wondering why am I on the roof, sitting on the floor and ruining my clothes?

Quickly, I got up and start dusting my clothes, that's when I heard the piano.

Allah! It's the pianist from yesterday ...

Without thinking, I slump back to the floor again to enjoy the music.

Wait! This melody sounds familiar...

"Eternal Snow!" I mumble and close my eyes. I feel like letting go of everything and so I did. I match my breathing with the notes and as it gets high, warm energy builds up in me and flowed through my entire body like blood, making me at peace. I heard that melody several times but I never feel like this way before. People say that music is a language of unspoken feelings that spoke by chords and it differs from person to person. Maybe that's what I was experiencing.

"Enjoying the music, huh?" I got startled by Bhai's voice.

"Bhai, are you trying to kill me?" I said glaring at him but don't know since I didn't turn on the light.

"Don't worry! You won't die... evil doesn't end easily." He said sitting beside me.

"Here you go my Mano Billi (cat), your milk." He handed over a cup to me.

"Jazak Allah." I mumbled.

"Bhai, make a random guess... Where is this piano sound coming from?"

"There is no need for guessing ... it's coming from the house behind us."

"Huh...? That house has been abandoned for ages... I have never seen anyone there."

"Me neither.

"Then how do you know?"

"The sound is coming from the house... you can figure it out if you go close to it but I wonder who would be playing if no one is ever seen there... maybe a ghost?"

"Bhai, there is no such thing as ghosts... and by the way, why are you here? Do you want me to press your clothes again?"

"Na! I don't want to burn my other clothes. I was just ... worried, Ami told me about Kanwal. So, I thought you might need someone to talk to." He said in a serious tone.

"Thanks, Bhai... But even if I talk to you, I can't do anything except for sitting here and sulking."

"Hmmm."

"Bhai, wouldn't it be better if Black Eagles never came here in the first place?" I asked after a moment of silence.

"To be honest, I don't know... They are better than drug and land Mafias." He sighed.

"But you cannot justify their doings." I said abruptly.

"No, they shouldn't... force decision on others and use them as they please. It cannot be justified by any means." He sounds defeated and got up.

"Let's hope for the best... for your friend and for others... Allah knows better what is good for us... Anyways, I am going... You also come down soon. I don't want my only sister to be taken by our neighbouring pianist ghost." He took the cup from me and climbed down the stairs.

Allah, you know better... Please have mercy on my friend...

I quickly prayed in my heart and run down the stairs. Crazy or not, I am really afraid of ghosts.

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*Jazak Allah: May Allah reward you [with] goodness.

* Asalam o Alaikum (Peace be unto you) greetings among Muslims