Chapter 9: Negotiation

Fayez gripped his pistol tightly. It was the only weapon he had — his last line of defense.

Footsteps echoed closer. He quickly crouched behind a concrete beam, steadying his breath. His knees bent, eyes scanning the darkness ahead.

"There are too many of them… This might really be my last day. But I've already died once — I don't have much to lose. And there's nowhere left to run."

Fayez closed his eyes for a second, steadying the rising panic. He felt a deep, gnawing regret. He had been given a second chance at life — and now, it looked like he wouldn't even survive a week.

Voices approached.

A soldier fired first. Instinctively, Fayez returned fire. Several shots rang out, echoing through the ruins, but none hit their mark. The distance was too great, the lighting poor.

Suddenly, a figure slipped into the corridor from behind.

Before he could react, pain exploded in his side. Fayez let out a scream of agony as he collapsed, blood spilling from the wound.

A soldier's voice rang out, confused."Are you one of us? Recently discharged? What are you doing here?"

"Step aside," another voice commanded, calm and commanding."I'll talk to him personally."

Captain Reyaz stepped forward, his face shadowed by the dim light. He looked down at Fayez with concern."Whatever you're trying to do, you need to stop the bleeding first."

"There's a medkit… in the house," Fayez gasped, clutching his side. "Help me get to it."

Reyaz nodded. "Siraj, carry him. Get him bandaged."

Siraj — the man Fayez had met during his discharge — came forward with a lopsided grin.

"Didn't take you long to find trouble again, huh?" he joked as he helped lift him.

Fayez didn't respond. His face said enough.

Once the bleeding was stopped and his wound tightly wrapped, Fayez found himself propped up in a chair, facing Captain Reyaz in a dimly lit room.

Reyaz's voice turned sharp."So? What are you doing here?"

"I just needed shelter. You don't expect me to sleep outside in winter, do you?" Fayez replied flatly.

"Don't try to joke your way out of this." Reyaz's tone hardened. "We got reports that a group of rajakars ambushed our men and took this house. Now we find you here… with a bunch of kids."

Fayez exhaled. Lying would only make things worse — and he wasn't a good liar to begin with. So, he told the truth. Everything.

When he finished, Reyaz's expression darkened.

"Those scumbags... They forced themselves on children?" he muttered, disgusted. "If our own comrades are raping civilians, what future do we even have?"

Bitterness filled the room.

"Captain's right," Fayez thought. "A pathetic future lies ahead. Even in the 21st century, nothing really changed. Only Allah knows when this nation will see peace."

Reyaz finally turned back to him.

"I don't know whether to call you a foolish hero or a cunning thief. You saved two girls… only to rob their fortune? You used to be a reckless idealist. Did your injury make you smarter — or just colder?"

Fayez met his eyes calmly."The post-war world isn't kind, Captain. If you're not clever, you won't survive. I didn't become worse — I adapted."

Reyaz narrowed his eyes."So, what's your plan? I can tell you have something brewing."

Fayez leaned forward.

"I'm going to start a security agency. I won't lie — I'm planning to seize abandoned factories and run them myself. And I want you to collaborate with me."

Reyaz didn't flinch, but his gaze sharpened."You think you can just buy me off? I won't let anyone exploit this country."

"You're too idealistic, Captain," Fayez said, voice steady. "It's been only two days since independence, and already soldiers are looting and killing. Even if you stop me from taking the factories, they'll end up in the hands of corrupt capitalists at throwaway prices. And nationalization? That's a Soviet fantasy, isn't it?"

He continued, pressing the point.

"If we take control and start manufacturing now, we can create jobs, supply goods, and help refugees who'll return soon. The whole country is broken, running on foreign aid. Taking these factories might be morally grey, but it's better than letting them rot."

Fayez wasn't lying. Historically, Bangabandhu's government had nationalized all major industries — but corruption and inefficiency ruined them. Most collapsed before they could rebuild. While leaders lived lavishly, the people starved.

Reyaz was silent. Thinking.

Then finally —"What exactly are you proposing?"

Fayez didn't hesitate.

"Your soldiers will be discharged soon. I want them in my agency. Also, there are trucks, equipment, and arms left behind by the Pak army — I need access to them. Sell them to me cheap."

He added one final offer."I'll unify the factories, the security service, and the logistics division into one firm. You'll get 3% equity. You'll need it, Captain — your family is still in Chittagong. And only Allah knows how they're doing."

He wasn't bluffing. Most arms would soon be taken by Indian forces. If they didn't act now, they'd lose the chance to build anything.

Reyaz looked at him, long and hard.

Then sighed… and extended his hand.

With a firm handshake, the first cornerstone of Fayez's future empire was laid — a moment historians would one day mark as the beginning of something far greater.

As Reyaz pulled away, he gave a wry smile.

"I still can't tell if you've really lost your memory… or if you're faking it all."

Fayez smiled faintly.

It wasn't a question he could answer honestly.