Chapter 180 : "I serve the nation"

 "What happens if I tell Ibrahim?"

Faisal held her gaze unflinchingly, "If that's what you choose to do, Ava. Then by all means, go for it."

A dark crease formed between her eyes, "You're not scared? Don't you ever worry about what Ibrahim will do if he finds out? He doesn't take kindly to betrayal."

"I serve the nation. In this line of work, I've come to terms with the reality that my life could end at any moment. When you dedicate your life to a cause greater than yourself, the concept of self-preservation takes on a different meaning. Every day I step into the unknown, fully aware of the dangers. It's not that I'm fearless; it's that I've made peace with the risks long ago. Ibrahim is just another threat in a world full of them."

This wasn't the answer she'd been hoping for. She'd clung to the hope that Faisal would provide a way out. But his unwavering dedication to his duty shattered that hope.

"What will MSIB do with Ibrahim? Will they arrest him?"

"I cannot disclose that information. There's an ongoing operation, and revealing details would jeopardize it." Faisal paused, "But I can assure you, Ibrahim's safety is not a priority right now. He will face the consequences of his actions."

Her confusion deepened. "What do you mean? And you've been with Ibrahim for years. You know everything he does. So why didn't you do anything till now? Why didn't MSIB do anything?"

"It's not as simple as you think. He is a key player in an ongoing operation. We need him. We've been waiting for the right moment to strike, and Ibrahim is the key that will unlock everything. Once the mission is complete, then...well....."

"So you're saying MSIG sent you to spy on Ibrahim for this operation, without him knowing?" 

Faisal nodded in response. 

Ohhh... It was a cold, calculated plan. So Ibrahim was being used. And when the game was over, when his purpose had been served, what then? Would he be eliminated? 

There was a fundamental difference between the police and intelligence agencies. The police operated within a strict legal framework, bound by evidence and due process. They needed concrete proof to arrest someone. But intelligence agencies had a different mandate. They were authorized to operate in the shadows, collecting information, disrupting threats, and sometimes, taking drastic measures to safeguard national security. They didn't need the same level of evidence as the police. If they had enough information from reliable sources, they could act with impunity. And in the world of espionage, disappearance was a common fate for those who overstepped their boundaries. If the situation demanded, they could even eliminate a threat, leaving no trace behind.

The sound of a car screeching to a halt outside shattered the tense silence in the room. Faisal murmured, "Maybe Ibrahim's back."

Ava, lost in her own thoughts, didn't register Faisal's words. She didn't notice when Faisal quietly slipped out, nor did she hear the door open again when Ibrahim entered, a bag clutched in his hand. 

It wasn't until Ibrahim was standing directly in front of her that she snapped back to reality. She looked up, and her breath caught in her throat. Ibrahim's imposing figure loomed over her. She flinched, "Why are you here?" 

The suddenness of his appearance sent a jolt of adrenaline through her. He studied her as if trying to read her thoughts through her eyes, "What are you thinking about so deeply?"

She took a step back, putting as much distance between them as the small room allowed. "Just go away."

Ignoring her defiant words, Ibrahim placed the bag he was carrying onto the bed. As he unzipped it, a cascade of colorful dresses spilled out. Ava's eyebrows shot up in surprise. He had gone shopping for her? And at this early hour? Had he threatened the shop owner into opening early?

"Change into this," Ibrahim said, holding up a soft-looking dress. "Your knee must be swollen by now." 

"I don't take orders from you. If you don't leave this room, I will." 

His eyes narrowed. He clutched the dress in hand and moved stepped forward. And she instinctively backed away, but her retreat was cut short by the chair behind her. With a startled gasp, she stumbled backward and landed with a thud on the seat.

Ibrahim leaned forward.... his body eclipsing the sunlight streaming through the window. His hands gripped the armrests of the chair with a force that made the wooden frame creak. She felt a cold dread seep into her bones as she watched him inch closer. The intense gaze pinned her to the spot. 

"I'm trying to control myself here. Don't push me. You don't know how bad I can be, Ava. You don't want to see the monster I can become."

"Monster," she spat out, "How much worse can you get? Last night.... Was that not monstrous enough for you?" 

Her words were a attempt to break through the wall of control he had erected around himself, to remind him of the monster he had become. But Ibrahim was in a world of his own, a delusional realm where his desires reigned supreme.

A smirk played on Ibrahim's lips. He reached out, his thumb brushing against her lips, "Tell me what you want, and it's yours. I'll give you everything—more than you could ever ask for. Just say it, and I'll make sure you never go without. Your wish is my command."

"Shameless," she slapped his hand away, "I won't tolerate your filthy hands on me. Expect me to fall into your trap again and again? Where do you get the audacity?"

Ibrahim let out a deep, weary sigh. He was the one who had broken her trust, the one who had built the walls of her pain brick by brick. Now, standing amidst the wreckage, he felt no anger, only the crushing weight of regret and a sorrow that gnawed at his very soul, "I'm not going to deny what you've heard from Usama. Those things are .... true. But they're not the whole story. There are two sides to every coin. You've only seen one and have no idea about the other side."

He paused. How could he explain the complexities of his world, the moral dilemmas he faced, without sounding like a self-pitying victim? He had hoped for a chance at redemption, but her words made it clear how deep his betrayals ran.

Her eyes narrowed, and she pushed Ibrahim with both hands, forcing him to take a step back. He backed off, giving her the space she demanded. She stood from the chair, 

"Oh, really? You want to rewrite history now? You burned those innocent people alive, Ibrahim. You killed your own father. And don't even get me started on the scholarship. You stole my future! But it's not your fault, is it? It's the circumstances, the poor, innocent Ibrahim who was forced to do these terrible things. Am I right? You're such a good actor, you know."

"Do you know what that evening was like for me when I found out about all of this? Prof. Syed kept laying out all the facts, and I was sitting there, denying everything in my mind. I kept telling myself, No, my Ibrahim couldn't have done such things. He wouldn't sink this low. No, no, no... I kept repeating it over and over in my head. But the evidence was staring right at me. I spent countless nights questioning everything, doubting my own sanity. How could the man I loved, the man who held me in his arms, whispering promises of forever, be the same man who orchestrated these horrors?"

She grabbed the collar of his t-shirt, shaking him slightly. "Why? Why did you do all this, Ibrahim? What did I do to deserve this? What would have happened if I had gone to England to complete my degree? Tell me...." 

"I loved you with all my heart," she whispered, "I trusted you with my everything. I let you touch me, believing you were the one. And what did I get in return? Betrayal. You took away my future, my dreams. I was so blind, so stupid to trust you. How could you be so cruel?.... I didn't say anything when you forced me to marry you. I only had one condition: no physical relationship between us. But you made me forget about that promise by blinding me with your love. Didn't you feel any guilt,? Didn't you feel bad for me when you took my virginity right after wishing me luck for the scholarship? And the next morning, when I was crying on your shoulder because my name wasn't on the scholarship list, didn't you feel any remorse? I can't believe I cried in front of you, the very man who took away all my opportunities. What a fool I've been. You monster! How could you do this to me?"

SILENCE....

He remained SILENT. 

Finally he whispered, "I'm sorry, baby girl. I'm so sorry." 

He repeated the words over and over, as if saying them enough times could somehow erase the pain he had caused.

Her body trembled with the force of her sobs, and she collapsed against him, her legs unable to support her any longer. It was as if all the strength had been drained from her, leaving her weak and vulnerable. Ibrahim instinctively wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. Even in this moment of betrayal, he was her only support.

She wept without restraint, her tears drenching his t-shirt as her body trembled with every heart-wrenching sob. Her breaths were uneven, ragged, as if each one carried the weight of the emotions she had buried deep inside. It was as if a wall had crumbled, releasing a flood of pent-up anguish, fury, and sorrow that had been clawing at her soul, desperate to break free.

"I never wanted anything bad to happen to you," she murmured through her tears. "Because you hurt me more than anyone else ever has, but you also loved me better than anyone ever did. But why....?"

Ibrahim couldn't make out the last words she said, her voice fading as exhaustion overtook her. He felt her body grow heavier in his arms as she started to close her eyes, on the verge of fainting. 

"Ava? Baby girl?" He tapped her cheeks a bit more firmly, "Come on, baby girl, open your eyes. Don't do this to me."

But her eyes remained closed, and she didn't respond. She had fainted. 

 "Samir!" he shouted, "Bring water, now! Fast ..." 

....

You wound my heart and make it yours. Why do I crave this pain? You frighten me yet you pull me in. I'm lost in the chaos of love's twisted game. I yearn for the touch that shatters me. Your name is darkness yet it feels like home. You whisper lies but they hold me tight. In your shadows I find a strange light. It terrifies me but you feel so right. You betray me and leave me torn. Still my soul craves your embrace. This love is wild and reckless and it keeps coming back to life. In the night you confess your sins. My heart bleeds but it stays true. I'm haunted by you yet I bless this love. It's broken but it's mine. It's yours. It's us....