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I ringed the bell on my table to call Zareen. She came in response to the ring without any delay .

"Zareen thank you for retrieving the documents from the lab . "

"No worries ma'am . Please let me know if anything needed . " Her polite tone was so innocent and pure that I could hardly ask her to do more for me . After referring through the documents I realised there wasn't anything I could find. It clearly depicted the cause of death due to consumption of poison . I could barely doubt it . The law requires evidence . Evidence . It's what I lacked , it's what I wanted in order to break the shackles binding this case . 

"Zareen , could you somehow manage to fix an appointment with Ibrahim for me ? You know the one who worked at Uncle's house . "

"Yes.  I shall do it ma'am . What time would you prefer ?"

" whenever he is available . I mean as soon as possible . Any slot is fine with me if I have appointments with my other subjects please postpone them "

"As you wish ma'am " Zareen left my cabin as I scanned through the documents.  Indeed there was nothing . I had to prepare for an appointment with a lady named Falak.  Her details were unknown I had to meet her regarding a case of disappearance . I walked through the hallway and entered the interrogation chamber . She was young . I could notice from her looks . Her Hijab was of recent trends . She sat entangling her fingers together lost in thoughts . As soon as she heard the door creak open she stood up .

"Assalamualaikum! I assume you are Miss Falak ?"

"Waalaikumassalam.  Yes that would me"

"Please have a seat . " I sat on my chair as Falak sat before me . The interrogation chamber was very gloomy . Honestly I never liked sitting in that room for more than 29 minutes . I asked Asif to add a couple of windows into the room and he did . Thankfully it was more lit and ventilated than before but the gloomy atmosphere never seems to fade away since the  moment I step in I kinda recall my conversations with my subjects , convicts , suspects and other such people . Dozens of stories , dozens of tales some true some fake ! In any case it was about this young fair looking lady with a pointed nose . Her worried face kind of diminished the beauty of her  face . Wrinkled forehead . Fidgeting fingers . I had to make sure she was comfortable in a room like this one .

"Nice to meet you Falak. I'm sorry we weren't able to have a proper conversation over phone . "

"It's alright . I understand you are quite busy yourself . I'm grateful you fixed an appointment with me . "

"No worries . Well then let's hear from you again . Your story was all in bits and pieces I could not connect it all together . So... "

"Yes. Actually I'm not originally from this place . I'm from a separate state . However 6 months ago me and my husband moved in here since he got transfered from his workplace . We had been trying hard to make ourselves familiar to the place and surroundings but then it's been more than a month my husband seemed to have disappeared . I can't find him anywhere . I checked back at home, with relatives and with his friends they seem to have no idea where he is . He never told anything of that sort . I just want to know where he is . "

"Hmm.. So when did you actually begin to find him ?"

"Well ... I thought He left without saying for work purposes or emergencies . I tried to contact him but his number was out of service  . I figured there was something wrong . I thought I would approach the police but my friend told me about you . So that's how I approached you . "

"Hmm... I see. So you say it's been more than  a month . You have no clue as to where he is . Do you happen to know anyone who had a grudge on your husband or was jealous of something ? Someone who wasn't on good terms with him "

"Well ... No . There is no one I can think of . Saad spoke of his time at work very less . In fact we never used to discuss anything about his work or colleagues .
He used to be very tired when he returned home so we never once had a proper conversation . I'm sorry I don't know anyone whom I can suspect . "

"Alright . Makes sense . Do you have children ? "

"I have a son . He is 14 months old. "

"Who are you living with right now ? "

"My mother and my elder cousin is here to support me for a while . "

"I need the address of your husband's workplace . Also all of his friends contact ."

"Yes . " She noted down everything in the piece of paper I gave her .

"Do not worry . I'll find your husband . Let's pray to Almighty he is safe and sound all right ?"

"Please help me . Do anything you can "

"In Sha Allah.  I can't assure you but I'll do what I can . "

"Jazakallah Khair . I'll be leaving then ."

"Sure . I'll call you whenever I want to ask you something . " She nodded and left while I went through the details she had given me . Falak was inexperienced I can say that for sure . She was very innocent and unaware of a lot of things . I had to visit the company and investigate on Saad . A husband away from home . New to this city , contact not working . It seemed more like deliberate disappearance rather than a missing case. Zareen rang the bell and excused herself in .

"He is here .Shall I send him to you ma'am ?"

"Yes Sure . " Ibrahim walked in . He was dressed in plain white Salvar Kameez with delicate embroidery in his sleeves . He had a beard nor long but managed well .

"Assalamualaikum. "

"Waalaikumassalam Ibrahim . I had been waiting for you . Um.. I'm Sure you are aware why I called you here ."

"Yes I was informed. " He sat on the chair and looked at me with such brilliant confidence . I was amazed .

"Right so I wanted to ask you a few questions if you don't mind me answering "

"I would be pleased to be of any help . "

"How long have you been working at Mr Hamza's house ?"

"Not long . I just joined my work a year back . More like 13 months . "

"Do you know the person who worked as a butler before you took his place ?"

"No . I didn't knew him at all . "

"Have you seen or met him in person ? His name was Ali if I'm not wrong"

"Yes . You are correct . He was Ali . I had just met him once that was the day he handed over everything to me and left the main house ."

"Do you happen to know why he left ? He actually worked for a decade . What was his purpose of leaving the mansion all of a sudden ?"

"It wasn't sudden . During that time his father expired . He said there were a lot of conflicts regarding the properties and estates he had bought on his name . It was in his native place , I don't remember the name of the place but yeah this was what he told me and Master . He said he had to shift to his native hometown and be present for the equal sharing of properties and stuff . So he moved . Moreover he was the only one expected of care of his old mother."

"I see. In other words Ali moved to his native place to take care of his mother along with his family . He did not mention of returning back here again ?"

"No . He never said that . In fact he was sure to not return back since he had no private possessions or a home which he took of his money . So it was more than likely that he would settle I'm his native town . "

"Makes sense . Alright ... Where were you when the tragic incident of Mr. Hamza committing suicide took place ?"

"I was running an errand for my friend . He wanted  me to bring him a pack of cigarettes.  So that day I wasn't at the mansion . I mean during that period . "

"A friend ? How close you are to him ? "

"He is a very close friend . I know him from almost 13 years . We initially worked together in a NGO . I went to bring him cigarettes so you must know the intensity of our relationship. "

"I agree . You have got a point there . In any case can you rate me the events of that particular day ? I mean your whereabouts , things you did , talks you had with your master , everything that happened . I want you to tell me about every hour of that particular day . "

"It would be difficult to recall but I'll try to think . Ahhh ... My day always begins with my dawn prayer and then I sleep for sometime till 7 normally . Then .. I start dusting the furniture and clean the fireplace which almost takes me an hour to complete . Master Wakes up at 9 so the time from 8 to 9  I help the cook in preparing breakfast . Master ate chapati with cooked lentils . The gardener arrived by that time and we finish eating together . The cleaning almost takes 3 hours then we headed to prepare lunch . While we were busy with chores I saw master write something . Perhaps it was the letter the police found in his drawer. He then read the newspaper . After sometime he toured around the gardens . He loved to take care of his plants.  I was busy with other chores and I served him some tea . I think it was 4pm and we had a chat over his business affairs . He was looking for someone who could manage in his place . He wanted to take a nap so he went and I went to a convenience store. I met my friend and when I returned back I cannot explain what I felt . It was almost impossible for me to believe . I couldn't come back to my senses for almost a week . He was more like a father who looked after me well. I'm sorry ... I really can't bring myself to speak anymore " His eyes began tearing up with tears rolling down his face .

"I understand it must have been very difficult for you . Your friend .... Can I interrogate him ? Where can I find him ?"

"Uh.mm .. Actually He is not in town . More like I don't know where he is . He just went somewhere without informing . "

"What do you mean he went somewhere? "

"I don't know ... He never spoke a word . I can't reach him on phone or at his house . At times he looked worried but he was someone who would deal his problems effectively . I'm sure he must have his own reasons but still as a friend  I'm just concerned ."

"Well you sound quite satisfied I mean you look rather calm . Do you honestly believe in him that much and you long for his return ?"

"Yes . I'm sure he will be back . "

"Alright Ibrahim . I'm grateful for your time today . I'll definitely contact you if I succeed in getting any clues . "

"You are welcome . I'll be more than glad to help you anytime . "

"I appreciate it . By the way can you tell me the name of your friend?"

"Sure . Saad Abdul Aziz. "  I widened my eyes in surprise and my eyes darted towards the file with the documents I received from Zareen. 

      Case 102  Saad Abdul Aziz it read .

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Salaam my dear lovely readers . Unravel is going on a completely different level don't you agree ? Plus it's a story I turn to after I publish A thing Beyond Forever so most of the times updates are late but I'm sure you guys will enjoy this story . Until then.........

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