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Chapter 11 - "Echoes of a Hidden Face"

Qasim goes to Abdullah and says, "Sir, are you okay?"

Abdullah, in anger, gets up and feels pain.

So Qasim holds him and says, "Sir, slowly."

Qasim says, "Just tell me, have you identified the technique of that man with the ugly face?"

Qasim looks at Abdullah and stays silent for a while.

Abdullah asks again, "I asked you something. Have you recognized the technique? Whose it could be?"

Qasim takes a breath and says, "Sir, I do have doubts, but I can't tell you anything yet. I'll need full proof to know who he is."

Abdullah places his hand on his back and moves forward carefully to avoid pain. He says to Qasim:

"This mission is the most important thing to me. I'm getting old anyway. I need someone to take my place, someone I can trust.

If you complete this mission, I'll request His Majesty to give you my place.

Then you'll not only be rich but also one of the King's trusted men."

Abdullah tries to tempt Qasim,

"Just think, if you get all this, your life will be full of peace.

You'll have wealth.

You can live your whole life with your sister in a palace.

Don't you want that?"

Abdullah tries to lure Qasim so that he can quickly uncover the truth about the Masked Man.

Qasim stays quiet and thinks:

"You're tempting me—very well.

But this wealth will stay here.

I have to die.

Every soul shall taste death—it's written in the Quran.

And I will chase wealth? Never.

Abdullah sir, I only want one thing from you…

your daughter's hand in marriage.

That would be the most valuable thing to me."

He's lost in his thoughts, and Abdullah says,

"So? What do you think? Can you complete the mission this week?"

Qasim nods and says,

"I will try my best to expose his truth as soon as possible.

Now please excuse me—I have to work on this mission."

Qasim calls Usman,

"Come here and take Abdullah sir to the healer."

Abdullah says,

"May Allah protect you. Go, Commander."

Qasim goes home and starts working on the mission.

"Am I missing something?

Something I saw but didn't notice?

What could it be?"

Then it hits him:

That ring he saw on the hand—that's the same type of ring mentioned in the book.

Qasim questions himself:

"Could it be?

And that technique—it's like Princess Nayab's, but it can't be her.

Maybe one of the attackers?

Alright, at least I have something to investigate."

"Great. Now I need to do one more thing.

I need to follow the Masked Man's path.

But how do I stay hidden?"

Then he goes to Abdul Rehman to find him.

He sees Abdul Rehman is sleeping and thinks,

"Maybe I came at the wrong time. I'll come in the evening."

An hour later, the call for Asr prayer is heard.

Qasim wakes up because he had fallen asleep while solving the mystery.

He quickly performs ablution at home and rushes to the mosque for prayer.

He arrives just as the prayer is starting.

After praying with the congregation, he makes a heartfelt dua:

"Oh Allah, I am just an ordinary man,

an ordinary Muslim,

who doesn't know if he's on the right path or not.

I only know that You can forgive me.

And humans make mistakes.

If I've made any mistake, please forgive me.

And if ever I start to fall into the trap of Shaitan,

please save me from him.

My life has always been unclear.

Since childhood, I've learned everything to take care of my sister and a friend like a brother.

But now, it feels like there's another person I have to care for.

When I look into her eyes,

it feels like I could do anything just to keep looking into them.

Her voice gives me motivation.

Her behavior with the poor—no one in Baghdad treats them like that.

Not even me.

Is this love?

Or is she the person I need in my life?

Allah, You have power over everything.

This ordinary servant of Yours asks that You write that person in my destiny."

Ameen. Summa Ameen

written By : Sabir Ali

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