Maulana Feels Not So Guilty

In the musty silence of the library, the scent of old books and worn leather filled the air. Maulana sat beside Mr. V, surrounded by stacks of worn volumes, their pages yellowed with age. Mr. V held up a book, its cover worn but intriguing. "Look at this one, Maulana. 'Never Been a Bitch.' Interesting, isn't it?"

Maulana's gaze flicked to the book, his expression unreadable. "You said we were going to the lab?" His voice was low, a hint of tension underlying his words.

Mr. V chuckled, setting the book down. "We were, but f*ck the lab. It's no fun. Are you ever bored with your job, your daily routine? I'd jump into a library like this, surrounded by books and beautiful women. What else do you need to relax?"

Maulana's anger simmered just below the surface. "Maybe a guarantee that the police aren't after me... and those I murdered were criminals of some sort."

Mr. V's smile never wavered. "What? Do you feel bad now, sir? You can relax. Look at this."

He turned on his phone, revealing a news article with a photo of the two young men Maulana had killed. Maulana's eyes scanned the article, his face impassive, as he closed the book in his hand.

"'Thanks to Mr. Maulana! The murderers of my husband were finally found dead. I would like to thank him...' Bla bla bla... Two young psycho cannibal killers found dead. Used to operate through their laptops, their business was worth millions on the..."

"The dark web," Mr. V interjected, his voice smooth.

Maulana's gaze met Mr. V's, a spark of curiosity igniting in his eyes. Mr. V closed his book, tucked his phone away, and leaned back in his chair.

"Oh, thank God," he said, his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Maulana's eyes narrowed. "You really feel even bad after this, you.... tell me about your wife."

Mr. V's expression softened, a hint of admiration creeping into his voice. "Oh, she's a G, always has been. She's amazing, man. Even in the U.S., she didn't let the dupatta swipe off her head, not even by a hair on her head."

Maulana's eyes widened, a glimmer of unease in his voice. "Mr. V, is your wife going to chase me now?"

Mr. V's grin returned, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Sure she is, until she finds you and kills you."

Maulana's face paled. "The question is how... actually?"

Mr. V's response was a low, menacing chuckle. "Huh."