As Ali entered the dining room carrying his breakfast tray, he stopped short.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrUiCFKeM2
His father was already there.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86lgZFHfo8
Two large leather suitcases stood neatly beside the wall.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJMPutw3KH
A travel coat had been draped over one of them, while a pair of shoes rested near the entrance.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcQsrPjki6
So... he had arrived sometime after midnight.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxfrGjzxE4
Ali smiled faintly to himself. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hRq0K4hiF
Nothing had changed. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYQzHqodcq
Iftikhar Siddiqui had never announced his arrivals. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMxG1VC6Qb
Nor his departures.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHK0A5DzEo
For as long as Ali could remember, his father would vanish for years into one ambitious overseas project after another, only to return home without warning—as though he had merely stepped out the previous evening.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANnI16Gf3W
Years earlier, his real estate business had expanded across the Gulf. Since then, Port City had become less of a permanent residence and more of a place he returned to once every three or four years.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6okIpjfmm
Even when he did come back, meetings and site visits across the Republic kept him away for most of the day. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGJNMfHReA
He built homes for thousands of families... yet his own family had quietly learned to share him with his work.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyTwDLmSaJ
Iftikhar Siddiqui sat at the head of the dining table, calmly sipping tea, his breakfast laid out neatly before him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cK1cURUS2
In this bungalow, sounds carried with an intimacy one never found in the luxurious villas and high-rise towers Iftikhar built overseas—the muted clink of utensils from the adjoining kitchen, the distant horns of passing vehicles beyond the boundary wall.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPkPE9i9BR
"Assalam-o-Alaikum, Papa," Ali said, pulling out a chair. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRald8Za5IG
"I think we're meeting after a very long time."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkXaQ7Hvux
Iftikhar looked up. "Our working hours—and our lines of work—rarely align," he replied evenly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33FUXHjnX1
"Perhaps that's why."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0fuken95O
This was the man whose company had helped reshape parts of the Gulf skyline—a tycoon whose name carried immense weight in international real estate circles. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MlfbhBwVi
Yet here, seated across the breakfast table, he seemed less like an empire builder and more like a weary traveler, quietly searching for the right words to speak to his own son.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpDx54YIzh
“This cold feels sharper than usual for this city,” Iftikhar remarked, lifting his teacup.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3r7ZEuQ3zk
“Or perhaps it’s just age catching up with me...”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxT8xF3yhO
A weary smile touched his lips.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZn34O5xPI
Ali said nothing, eating quietly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3Xqy5z5lT
Iftikhar’s sea-green eyes—identical to Ali’s—studied his son with faint concern. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnA5t0oB0ig
“You and Amanah are both over thirty now.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtF4oqK0oH1
Ali stiffened almost imperceptibly. A subtle crease formed between his brows.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5U7oBVNqd
“Your mother doesn’t seem worried about your marriages at all,” Iftikhar added.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8ZKodoC0H
Ali spread a thin layer of butter across his toast, his gaze fixed on his plate.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtqyZ376v5
“I think, Papa, we’re still learning to stand on our own feet.” 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0A6xrY1Ei
He set the knife down.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusYOfouOJK
“Mama raised us to live with dignity.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBGAm2QHbL
“Dignity,” Iftikhar echoed softly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMbauvqwBF
“A good word.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPWriCzo2g
He paused to take a bite of his breakfast.As he chewed, he looked closely at his son—almost a direct mirror image of his own youth.
“And I appreciate that you’ve learned the dignity of work,” Iftikhar continued.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEfaa9LnUd
“But if I’m not mistaken, you’ve already made quite a name for yourself at your firm. How long have you been there now?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxdiZMyoGq
Ali peeled his boiled egg, his demeanor casual.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zTDMzhaot
“Since I completed my degrees.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ky3ijBCSO
“And Amanah?” Iftikhar asked, taking another bite. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzq0xTqud0
“As far as I remember, she never asked me for money. Three years back, she was teaching... is she still at that school?”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4JDqQBO0V
“Yes,” Ali replied, lifting his cup. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XGS5VlJRU
“She doesn’t like to spend money she hasn’t earned.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPDY2jguVv
Iftikhar exhaled sharply, dropping his knife and fork onto the porcelain plate with a clatter. He leaned forward slightly, his intense sea-green eyes locking onto Ali.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BUrZYiIlG
“You are all alike—your mother, your sister, and you.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTD7Nh7LZG
Ali sprinkled salt and pepper onto his egg, appearing far more invested in his breakfast than in the conversation.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tMTO1hxTP
“Hey, boy,” Iftikhar said, tapping the table firmly with his knuckles. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCIZ5xwtfb
“I am speaking to you.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKldfMofGd
Ali slowly lifted his gaze, meeting the identical pair of sea-green eyes opposite him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbDrVhAxZP
“All the property I accumulated, the business, the houses... sometimes it feels as though none of it matters to any of you.”16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnBKwnk2eY
Ali watched his father’s chest rise and fall with heavy breaths. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00vbYiOSCk
"You devoted yourself entirely to your work, Papa. And we respected that." Ali wetted his lips. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1dcOzanPE
"You rarely had time for us. Your name and reputation should be enough for you. For your children, happiness is work with purpose—not the property a father leaves behind."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV00nsYFAtZ
A deep furrow formed on Iftikhar’s brow. Finding himself momentarily short of words, he turned back to his plate to finish his breakfast.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmS2OwxlFiY
Ali glanced at his watch.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdssZEOIoQ
"I have to leave, Papa." 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnc1Eyu18F
He wiped his hands, stood up, carefully pushed his chair back, and reached for his car keys hanging by the wall.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rniOWnWMm
"You're still working at Raza's firm, aren't you?" Iftikhar asked, his voice entirely neutral.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEvQ7lMhLt
Ali picked up his breakfast tray and turned toward the kitchen.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBPjnY0IoQ
"Yes, Papa. Haideron Tech—Mr. Haider’s firm."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2xqrDlx7k
Iftikhar swirled his teacup lazily, as if the titan's name carried little weight.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuYn2v4n3V
"I saw Raza’s New Year’s reception on the news," he said lightly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVDx0p05pa
"He has risen far."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtPGq2KywJ
Ali stopped dead in his tracks. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0vpAI3Qy2
The casual tone struck him like a physical blow. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx16HuFlmf5
Mr. Haider—the Republic’s ultimate tech icon, a name spoken with absolute reverence—reduced to a mere passing remark.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yNPkf7Ihm
He placed the tray back on the table and sat down again, forgetting his urgency.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAhGFOjEq1
"In my time," Iftikhar continued, "Raza was just a serious, reserved, studious boy—too decent, too gentle. He spoke very little, always buried in books, yet somehow won the hearts of the neighbors without even trying."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtCTHegH3o
Ali stared at his father, his sense of time evaporating. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSOyidesIU
Noting his son's sudden, intense focus, Iftikhar continued, happy to keep Ali at the table a little longer.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJhglft4Gld
"We lived in the exact same neighborhood."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDZCtfeXap
Ali froze.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJUzh8rW2v
"You knew him... personally? I mean... Mr. Haider?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqc78GDYp5
"Yes," Iftikhar said.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmHkYXetlr
"You call him Mr. Haider. I call him Raza... and so does your mother."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqa4N2KBN4
"What?" Ali gasped. "Mama too? But she never mentioned it to me!"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3FFXkZ5ej
Iftikhar, lost in his own train of thought, continued seamlessly. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30detCMlBN
"Raza was Farooq’s brother."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSlmQnzlcy
Ali’s eyes narrowed .16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyauTSVz4S
"Farooq?"16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0V717eOPu
Iftikhar sliced a piece of apple and slid it toward Ali. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUI70h3LcI
His sea-green eyes grew distant, taking a sudden journey down memory lane.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKU0fgMbnm
"Farooq... he was a friend once. Too close. Too dear."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j0Tdi1YAB
Ali listened without daring to interrupt.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡszre5c8nmp
"He was the dreamer," Iftikhar said softly.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4iK2WuZjU
"The rebel."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUfS9n2XaK
Ali nodded slowly, hanging on every word.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKytgmkNdvN
"He became a civil engineer. Imagine... a civil engineer in the early eighties. That was massive back then. He used to say he would build empires."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfrHe1Qg9L
Iftikhar leaned back, a nostalgic flicker igniting his gaze.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzZxdWJXUq
"But to say he was the only dreamer and rebel would be an understatement. We were all rebels back then—all three of us. Farooq, me, and..."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1QvZ7VkoP
"And?" Ali nudged immediately.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBL3gLugNo
"Forget it," Iftikhar said, deliberately veering away from the third name.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMICMS1GhCU
The energy of forgotten years was suddenly evident in his posture, his voice, his eyes. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX03GiU5MG
To Ali, his father looked years younger, spirited and alive, wrapped in the vibrant memories of his youth.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mer5DgFbQ
"We were fueled by a confidence that bordered on sheer arrogance," Iftikhar chuckled, his eyes twinkling. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hyAJ8IOzF
"For us, charm came easily. And when you’re the sons of high-ranking police officers, you believe the sky is your only limit."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQMLJWZQ7h
A hollow laugh escaped him.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6M7IZyry5
"But time twists people, Ali. Look at me now."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio4ef5z1VZ
He gestured vaguely toward himself.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2Wz2UT5fV
Ali remained completely silent.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN73RBNPNVV
His heart pounded against his ribs as his mind desperately stitched his father’s words to what the CEO had claimed just days prior.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhSiMFRVST
Side by side, the two descriptions stood like utterly conflicting witness statements.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sShQ8jtbw
Mr. Haider had described himself to Omer and him as a carefree, rebellious, restless young man in his youth.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi5iN18vpO
Publicly, Raza Haider had always been portrayed as quiet, studious, and painfully reserved.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqC6XmMrkb
Now, his own father—who had lived in the same neighborhood—was describing Raza in that exact same way: quiet, serious, bookish. 16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vKrOEGN7g
While the reckless, charm-fueled dreamer had been Farooq.
Ali's brow furrowed.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1wy4Ssybv
Only days earlier at the firm, he had wondered whether Mr. Haider was confusing his own memories with someone else's.....or whether he had deliberately revealed a chapter of his past that the world was never meant to see.
But now......his father's account had only deepened the mystery.
Ali lowered his eyes.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDEBceWWfP
It was a puzzle wrapped inside another puzzle.
A firm rap on the dining table shattered the quiet.
"Boy..."
Iftikhar looked at him with mild amusement.16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFgi6nssia
"Aren't you getting late for work?"
Ali blinked, as though returning from a distant place, and glanced down at his watch.
"Oh..."16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh7kYQAaNdC
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Yes, Papa."
16Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHNbjXiIU7V
and then Add to home screen.