Zahran's past and redemption

"Allah fulfilled your wish. Finally, you got famous catching the Joker. Though it was a copy, you have become famous," Zahran remarked.

"If you truly were the Joker, I would have lost it completely," Raihan pouted.

Zahran laughed. "No, I was never the Joker. It's true when my father disowned me, and I had no money to live my rich lifestyle, unfortunately, I had involved myself in some criminal activities." Zahran sighed. "I deeply regret my actions. At that time, I was really blinded by the money."

Raihan placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We all make mistakes," he said. "But what made you leave that world of crime?"

"It was nasty. I realized that all that glitters is not gold. Money can never give you happiness. It can be a means for temporary pleasure. But it can never give you the contentment you need," Zahran paused. "I was already depressed. Even after living my life to the fullest, there was an emptiness in my heart. Nathan was my partner in crime, and he was murdered brutally. The police only found some pieces of his body. At that moment, I realized it was my turn. They were hunting me down like crazy. One evening, they got inside my house and almost killed me," he stopped.

"Then what happened? How did you survive?" Raihan inquired.

Zahran looked into the trees as if he were lost in that memory. He was lying on the cold floor, in his own pool of blood.

"Finish him off and discard his body," he heard. He couldn't see who said it. His vision was already blurry.

He heard two men approaching him, and he could hear the sound of a chainsaw. His heart sank.

As he faced the impending danger, thoughts raced through his mind. "Is this how I'm going to die?" he pondered. "Is this my end?" A sudden recollection surfaced from his childhood when his grandmother had shared wisdom about life after death.

"This life is nothing but a test. Death marks the beginning of a new life – the life of Barzakh (the grave). From there, the consequences unfold. If you do good deeds, your grave will be a comfortable abode. However, if you engage in wrongdoing, it will be a horrifying place. And this is just the beginning until the Day of Judgment," her words echoed in his mind.

A wave of fear gripped his heart. He questioned whether he had ever performed any good deeds. Struggling to recall, he found himself burdened with the weight of misdeeds throughout his life.

"Tears rolled down from his eyes. 'Can't I get a second chance? A chance to reform myself? Am I too late?'" he contemplated. "Oh Allah, You are My Lord. Indeed, I was amongst the wrongdoers. But, You are the Most Merciful of the Most Merciful. Give me another chance. Give me another chance to live, to reform myself. I repent from all my previous mistakes. And, I promise I will leave every sin I have committed. Oh, the Most Merciful, Shower Your Mercy Upon Me."

His prayer had been answered.

At that moment, the wailing sirens of police cars pierced the air.

"Oh no, who called the police?" one of them voiced concern.

"I don't know. Now what should we do?" someone hesitated.

"Leave him and run."

"But—"

"If we stay here any longer, we'll be caught."

Then, hurried footsteps echoed, eventually fading away.

After a few tense minutes, Zahran discerned another set of footsteps.

"See, it was that easy," a new voice remarked.

With four shadows emerging, one spoke softly, "They heard the siren and ran away. We should check on him to ensure he's okay."

"Is he injured?"

"It seems so."

"We need to help him," a shadow inspected him carefully, possibly checking for injuries. "I've secured the diamonds. Let's ensure he gets help."

"Call for medical assistance," the shadow near him insisted.

"Of course, that's the right thing to do."

"Just call for help," the one in charge said calmly.

"But... what about the diamonds?"

"They can wait. Human life is more precious," directed towards the responsible one.

"And you?"

"I support helping him."

"That's commendable," It was directed towards the supportive one.

"Now..." The hooded figure gently placed a card in Zahran's pocket, ensuring he would find it later. Leaning close to him, the figure whispered, "You are not alone. Help is on the way."

With that, the mysterious figure vanished into the night.

"What happened? Why did you become silent? Tell me. How did you survive?" Raihan asked, curious to know the details.

"Someone informed the police."

"Who?"

"I don't know," Zahran paused. "After that, I spent many days in the hospital. When my parents found out about me, they came and took me back. For days, I couldn't move. I kept lying in bed. At that time, I also learned about Islam and decided to practice my faith wholeheartedly," he confessed.

"Yes, when I saw the religious transformation in you, I was really happy," Raihan said, his eyes gleaming with happiness. "To tell you the truth, I had prayed to Allah that He gives you guidance. I wanted you with me in paradise," Raihan added.

Zahran smiled.

"When you came to Sylhet all of a sudden, I knew something had happened. You had changed so much. I asked you so many times, but you didn't tell me anything."

"I just didn't want to reveal my horrible actions to anyone."

"By the way, the police still couldn't trace who informed them that day," Raihan informed.

Suddenly, Zahran seemed lost in deep thought.

"What are you thinking?" Raihan asked.

"I'm thinking about who sent Robert the video that day," Zahran said.

"Yes, I completely forgot. If Robert didn't get the video, he would have definitely killed you," Raihan acknowledged. That day, Robert's men showed him a video where it was recorded how the Joker killed Lara. In that video, he confessed that he was the real Joker.

"Robert died thinking the copycat was the real Joker," Raihan added, then he narrowed his eyes at Zahran. "Now, I have a feeling that you are still hiding something, particularly regarding the Joker. Especially, I am curious to know why Robert thought that you were the Joker."

Zahran sighed.

"Actually, Nathan was an expert in making copies of antiques, paintings, even precious jewels. Somehow, Nathan got to learn about Robert's diamonds. He decided to steal them, copying the Joker's method so that the police would think the Joker stole them. Nathan would do everything. I never came in front of anyone. When Robert confronted Nathan thinking he was the Joker, Nathan clearly denied it. Even on the verge of his death, he was adamant that he was not the Joker. I guess that's why Robert suspected me as the Joker."

Zahran paused for a moment.

"And what about the Joker cards? Fatiha told Rebecca that you came into this neighborhood out of fear of the Joker."

"Yes, it was Lara who put the Joker cards. I guess to scare me."

"And the incident that took place in the villa, is that also related to the Joker somehow?"

"It is possible, but I can't tell, to be honest. Actually, the real Joker stole Robert's diamond from Nathan's house, but he forgot to take one of the precious jewels."

"Really? Does that mean the precious jewel is still in Nathan's house?"

"No. When I visited Nathan's house, I took the jewel and dropped it in front of a police station."

"Oh..."

"Yes, that's why I was afraid the Joker would come after me to take that jewel. When you told me Joker was dead, at first, I couldn't believe it, but to be honest, I was relieved for the time being. Yet, I felt like I was being watched. And that day when someone entered the villa and searched things up, I was really terrified. I thought it was the Joker."

"Why didn't you tell me then?"

"It was not needed."

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the tourist whose corpse you found near my villa?"

Raihan put slightly pressure on his mind, and instantly he recalled him.

"Yes, don't tell me. You killed him."

"No, I haven't killed him."

"Then?"

"That night, he had come to my villa and checked the entire place. Actually, he was Nathan's friend. I guess Nathan had told him about the diamonds."

"So, he went to your villa to search for the diamonds."

"Yes, I guess when he learned that Nathan died and I came to Bangladesh, he must have thought that I came with the diamonds."

"Hmm... but who killed him then?"

Zahran smiled at him and said, "You were right in your theory. The poor soul died at the hands of some local burglar."

"But one thing I still didn't get: why did the imposter Joker try to kill Fatiha?"

"I guess the imposter Joker also thought that I am the real Joker. Maybe he thought that by killing my wife, he would prove that he was superior to me."

"This makes sense." Raihan took a sip from his cup of tea. Both of them were sitting in the garden. At that moment, Daud entered with Khadija. Khadija went straight to the house where others were present. Mariam, with her daughter-in-law, had come. Rebeca, with her son, was also there. All of them were busy with Yahya, showering their love on the newborn. Seeing the men sitting in the garden, Daud also joined them.

"Assalamualaikum!!!" he greeted them.

They also greeted him back. Once again, Zahran thanked Daud for saving Fatiha's life.

"It's not a big deal. If you hadn't sent me the message, then I would have never got to know," Daud said.

Zahran frowned, "What message?"

"You had texted me that, reach your home as soon as possible. Fatiha might be in danger."

"But, I didn't send you any message. I didn't have any idea that the imposter was in my house."

"Really? But, I got the message from your number."

Raihan looked at both of them and then asked, "If you didn't send him the text, who did? Also, who informed the police? Also, who sent the video about the false imposter to Roberts' men? There are still so many questions unanswered."

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Six years later...

Zahran stood in front of the grave, the name written on it, Fatiha Ayat.

He sighed, raised his hand, and recited a dua, facing towards the Kaaba. After completing his supplication, he stepped away from the grave.

As he was about to leave, his phone rang, and a smile appeared on his lips. He gave the watchman some money and answered the call, saying, "Assalamualaikum, sweetheart, what happened? Are you feeling alright?" he asked with concern.

"I am fine. I just called you to know when will you come back?"

"Soon, sweetheart."

They talked for a bit, and Zahran ended the call.

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