As Ali entered the dining room carrying his breakfast tray, he stopped short.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwswd3zvIbd
His father was already there.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyZZwNFseU
Two large leather suitcases stood neatly beside the wall.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8LYrbMJ0o
A travel coat had been draped over one of them, while a pair of shoes rested near the entrance.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OacS7zD4c
So... he had arrived sometime after midnight.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VQv7xYUGI
Ali smiled faintly to himself. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHEyY4nt4j
Nothing had changed. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczw4pojfrV
Iftikhar Siddiqui had never announced his arrivals. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOPSUUDSGy
Nor his departures.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrKgv45DK7
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lzw3h7qSu
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAbzZ3DQAmW
Even when he did come back, meetings and site visits across the Republic kept him away for most of the day. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCScqyKhsfj
He built homes for thousands of families... yet his own family had quietly learned to share him with his work.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb1Un8Mgqj
Iftikhar Siddiqui sat at the head of the dining table, calmly sipping tea, his breakfast laid out neatly before him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JuRPlVHhx
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ03dyuvNWS
"Assalam-o-Alaikum, Papa," Ali said, pulling out a chair. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v7wkAUqzH
"I think we're meeting after a very long time."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VWIK5CZTu
Iftikhar looked up. "Our working hours—and our lines of work—rarely align," he replied evenly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8IGjbVJQh
"Perhaps that's why."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrhMw3Eit6
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. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0uwOewFSj
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8172WzUfTl
“This cold feels sharper than usual for this city,” Iftikhar remarked, lifting his teacup.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DAYGvM0f2
“Or perhaps it’s just age catching up with me...”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfZuch3qqJ
A weary smile touched his lips.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWtKCJKUvB
Ali said nothing, eating quietly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqoggRBnRK
Iftikhar’s sea-green eyes—identical to Ali’s—studied his son with faint concern. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT69SSqYyuu
“You and Amanah are both over thirty now.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPh7u6l5Gy
Ali stiffened almost imperceptibly. A subtle crease formed between his brows.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCoq0HQahj
“Your mother doesn’t seem worried about your marriages at all,” Iftikhar added.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckudCB1XRQ
Ali spread a thin layer of butter across his toast, his gaze fixed on his plate.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK9csQbBIu
“I think, Papa, we’re still learning to stand on our own feet.” 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMlmWXgeVi
He set the knife down.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLCLPo03md
“Mama raised us to live with dignity.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqm3Wu7nuok
“Dignity,” Iftikhar echoed softly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf0oMK12dq
“A good word.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfwfKn5vjQ
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zc1mQ7AWI
“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?”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV3xS45JTS
Ali peeled his boiled egg, his demeanor casual.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYC6wEwqWbJ
“Since I completed my degrees.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqhBxZUlAl
“And Amanah?” Iftikhar asked, taking another bite. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI42fe23fJT
“As far as I remember, she never asked me for money. Three years back, she was teaching... is she still at that school?”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnuZ3VXYbc
“Yes,” Ali replied, lifting his cup. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2vEVHWUqE
“She doesn’t like to spend money she hasn’t earned.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0r5ouN9tF
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cHp9K3WP0
“You are all alike—your mother, your sister, and you.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY10ZFGplCZ
Ali sprinkled salt and pepper onto his egg, appearing far more invested in his breakfast than in the conversation.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbnPUhQRNo
“Hey, boy,” Iftikhar said, tapping the table firmly with his knuckles. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdQgKljCdy
“I am speaking to you.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJyTTONkiG
Ali slowly lifted his gaze, meeting the identical pair of sea-green eyes opposite him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPRq2o7jC6
“All the property I accumulated, the business, the houses... sometimes it feels as though none of it matters to any of you.”7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVYwjYuePf
Ali watched his father’s chest rise and fall with heavy breaths. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wmFe9Rvx2
"You devoted yourself entirely to your work, Papa. And we respected that." Ali wetted his lips. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccwUwe8S0f
"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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1Lp5R0o8c
A deep furrow formed on Iftikhar’s brow. Finding himself momentarily short of words, he turned back to his plate to finish his breakfast.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIRUMJhpdP
Ali glanced at his watch.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctto2fFz48
"I have to leave, Papa." 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgrffRA20j
He wiped his hands, stood up, carefully pushed his chair back, and reached for his car keys hanging by the wall.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYceJJRGaw3
"You're still working at Raza's firm, aren't you?" Iftikhar asked, his voice entirely neutral.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ1AHfKCj8
Ali picked up his breakfast tray and turned toward the kitchen.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3YunugTmvL
"Yes, Papa. Haideron Tech—Mr. Haider’s firm."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIrS1JPNsj
Iftikhar swirled his teacup lazily, as if the titan's name carried little weight.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXGRDIEJXZ
"I saw Raza’s New Year’s reception on the news," he said lightly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzFlucqS1z
"He has risen far."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJhWsjLIaM
Ali stopped dead in his tracks. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwP3bXPbeS
The casual tone struck him like a physical blow. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0X4EVFbjLH
Mr. Haider—the Republic’s ultimate tech icon, a name spoken with absolute reverence—reduced to a mere passing remark.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPIUiFMqdN
He placed the tray back on the table and sat down again, forgetting his urgency.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYv0FdPYkX4
"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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1c3hmrWJi
Ali stared at his father, his sense of time evaporating. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0bLhl83Bf
Noting his son's sudden, intense focus, Iftikhar continued, happy to keep Ali at the table a little longer.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEY3LJ974M
"We lived in the exact same neighborhood."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN65l2X2cI
Ali froze.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlxKPXSVdk
"You knew him... personally? I mean... Mr. Haider?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4Kani4h8Y
"Yes," Iftikhar said.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQRwVZGhsw
"You call him Mr. Haider. I call him Raza... and so does your mother."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMWKVaPfBG
"What?" Ali gasped. "Mama too? But she never mentioned it to me!"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gf6rOt3Kq
Iftikhar, lost in his own train of thought, continued seamlessly. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmI0k0bxJoE
"Raza was Farooq’s brother."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfsy6eoW5bS
Ali’s eyes narrowed .7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseh66u8IiV
"Farooq?"7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUH6yN6YkP
Iftikhar sliced a piece of apple and slid it toward Ali. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QiDUn0Yel
His sea-green eyes grew distant, taking a sudden journey down memory lane.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAkVV04NjG
"Farooq... he was a friend once. Too close. Too dear."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrDnAjzhQz
Ali listened without daring to interrupt.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp8BbCYJMJ
"He was the dreamer," Iftikhar said softly.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6VdW5noin
"The rebel."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz2FtvbwAE
Ali nodded slowly, hanging on every word.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhSoOPJTCT1
"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."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9dJ40OoXw
Iftikhar leaned back, a nostalgic flicker igniting his gaze.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ihkbceuGp
"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..."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iUGhUR0BC
"And?" Ali nudged immediately.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24mVvRueKn
"Forget it," Iftikhar said, deliberately veering away from the third name.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESwqJIJAAp
The energy of forgotten years was suddenly evident in his posture, his voice, his eyes. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNUZJuok9h
To Ali, his father looked years younger, spirited and alive, wrapped in the vibrant memories of his youth.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMpJUAuR0j
"We were fueled by a confidence that bordered on sheer arrogance," Iftikhar chuckled, his eyes twinkling. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RyWdj3wMw
"For us, charm came easily. And when you’re the sons of high-ranking police officers, you believe the sky is your only limit."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqtWIAKJk9
A hollow laugh escaped him.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTHZoTjpEh
"But time twists people, Ali. Look at me now."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVFI8eDwoy
He gestured vaguely toward himself.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQU1j9iBgt
Ali remained completely silent.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIK6z8dYuSA
His heart pounded against his ribs as his mind desperately stitched his father’s words to what the CEO had claimed just days prior.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMXkSzAg0k
Side by side, the two descriptions stood like utterly conflicting witness statements.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYgDu3ZhIk
Mr. Haider had described himself to Omer and him as a carefree, rebellious, restless young man in his youth.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3ZFsHDQbh
Publicly, Raza Haider had always been portrayed as quiet, studious, and painfully reserved.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3eSzWVa4b4
Now, his own father—who had lived in the same neighborhood—was describing Raza in that exact same way: quiet, serious, bookish. 7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOu30QBG4aN
While the reckless, charm-fueled dreamer had been Farooq.
Ali's brow furrowed.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhSJ7MIwiL
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXhZWoDk4v
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.7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUbU9uk3ES
"Aren't you getting late for work?"
Ali blinked, as though returning from a distant place, and glanced down at his watch.
"Oh..."7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwC6T2Fp8S
A faint smile touched his lips.
"Yes, Papa."
7Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HpNhB14kk
and then Add to home screen.