The Mystery Files - Chapter 15: Two Roads

The morning of December 31st arrived with an important meeting on the executive floor.

The executive conference hall was almost full.

Mr. Haider stood at the head of the long conference table.

His gaze travelled slowly across the room.

"This evening," he began, "is the annual dinner at Dilraaz Manor."

He paused.

"Most of you have attended it for years."

His eyes shifted towards the executives from Construction, Human Resources, Finance and Public Relations.

"You already know what is expected of you."

Then his gaze moved towards the IT wing.

Ali.

Omer.

Sajjad.

"But for some of you..."

"...especially those who were recently promoted to executive positions..."

"...this will only be your second annual dinner."

Ali and Omer exchanged a brief glance.

Mr. Haider continued.

"Last year..."

"...I deliberately ignored a few faces."

A faint smile appeared on his lips.

"They looked as though they had been dragged to the dinner at gunpoint."

A few executives struggled to suppress their smiles.

Ali and Omer instinctively lowered their eyes.

Mr. Haider adjusted his gold cuff links.

"This year..."

"...I expect every executive to look pleased to be there."

"Whether you truly enjoy such gatherings..."

"...is your personal matter."

"But no guest should be able to tell."

His gaze swept across the room.

"You will meet dignitaries, luminaries, members of the media... and perhaps a few celebrities."

"They are our guests."

"They must leave believing they were welcomed."

Sajjad nodded enthusiastically after every sentence.

Mr. Haider noticed.

A faint smile crossed his face.

"These gatherings are not merely dinners."

"They teach an executive how to deal with people."

"How to make others feel valued."

"How to listen."

"How to disagree without giving offence."

"And sometimes..."

"...how not to let your face..."

"...or your eyes..."

"...reveal what you're thinking."

His gaze settled on Ali for a brief moment.

He looked towards the Director of Public Relations.

"Would you disagree with that, Ms. Maryam?"

The elegantly dressed woman smiled.

"Never, sir."

"Public relations is exactly that."

Mr. Haider gave a slight nod.

"Good."

"Then perhaps next year..."

"...some executives from other divisions should spend time working alongside the PR Department."

"They may discover that technical excellence alone is not enough."

As he said those words...

His eyes rested on Omer for a moment.

Omer quietly looked elsewhere.

Mr. Haider continued.

"Why is this year's annual dinner important?"

He allowed the question to linger.

"Any guesses?"

Sajjad's hand shot into the air.

"Yes, Mr. Sajjad."

Sajjad stood.

"Sir... it is an honour to speak before you today."

One of Mr. Haider's eyebrows rose.

"If your intention is to deliver a speech..."

"...I'll have someone bring you a rostrum."

Several executives lowered their eyes.

Sajjad remained undeterred.

"But if your intention is to answer my question..."

"...you may simply come to the point."

"Yes, sir."

Sajjad cleared his throat.

"To the best of my knowledge..."

He gave a respectful bow.

"...this year's annual dinner has been chosen to officially announce the launch of the HT Corridor."

Mr. Haider regarded him for a moment.

"An unnecessarily long route..."

"...to arrive at a perfectly correct answer."

Even Sajjad smiled.

Mr. Haider continued.

"The annual dinner is no longer merely a year-end gathering."

"It is also the public introduction of the HT Corridor."

"Naturally..."

"...there will be questions."

His eyes settled on Ali and Omer.

"I expect my Information Technology executives to answer them."

"There is no need to look towards me before responding."

"I trust your judgment."

"Use your discretion."

"Answer what ought to be answered..."

"...and leave the rest unsaid."

His gaze shifted towards the Construction Division before briefly resting on Sajjad.

"As for the HT Corridor..."

"...its vision..."

"...its progress..."

"...and matters concerning its execution..."

"...leave those discussions to me."

A faint smile appeared.

"The media may keep their microphones pointed towards their Chief Executive."

He resumed.

"Our Corporate Communications and Media Monitoring divisions will brief all of you before the event."

"They will guide you whenever necessary."

He then looked towards the women seated around the conference table.

"As for my lady executives..."

"...your attendance this evening is entirely optional."

"No explanation will be expected."

"If you choose to attend..."

"...it will be an honour."

Several of the female executives acknowledged him with appreciative smiles.

Omer quietly glanced towards Sajjad.

Sajjad straightened his shoulders...

...doing his level best to look fearless.

Omer wasn't convinced.

"A consent sheet will now be circulated."

"Kindly mark either 'Yes' or 'No'."

His gaze shifted towards the men.

"The gentlemen..."

"...I expect a 'Yes'."

A few restrained smiles appeared around the table.

"You will receive your invitation cards today."

"They bear my signature."

"The reporting time..."

"...the dress code..."

"...and all other instructions..."

"...are mentioned therein."

He looked around the conference hall.

"Any questions?"

"No, sir."

The reply came almost in unison.

"Good."

Mr. Haider adjusted one of his gold cuff links.

"The meeting is dismissed."

Chairs slid back.

Files were gathered.

The executives began making their way towards the door.

"Mr. Sajjad..."

Sajjad stopped immediately.

"Just a minute."

A quiet sense of pride spread across his face.

He gave Ali and Omer a subtle gesture to carry on without him.

Neither of them waited.

They stepped into the corridor.

Most of the executives moved towards the elevators at the far end.

Others lingered behind, exchanging a few quiet words before leaving.

Ali and Omer slowed their pace.

They waited until the corridor had almost emptied.

When silence finally settled over the executive floor, Omer casually steered Ali a few steps away from the CCTV cameras.

Then he spoke.

"What do you suppose the Boss is telling Sajjad?"

Ali shrugged.

"Perhaps reminding him not to discuss the relocation of the HT Corridor site..."

"...or the reasons behind it."

"Or perhaps," Omer said with a faint smile, "asking him to stop telling everyone how the Boss personally relocated an entire project because of his ghost story."

Ali smiled.

"Or maybe he wanted to excuse Sajjad from the New Year's gathering."

"The road to Dilraaz Manor isn't exactly known for putting nervous people at ease."

Omer shook his head.

"Sajjad would never miss an opportunity to build rapport."

"Especially with the Boss."

"And he knew he wouldn't be travelling alone."

Ali fell silent.

A thought seemed to settle into place.

"Omer..."

"The man who abandoned the previous HT Corridor site after hearing Sajjad's story about the old airport..."

"...has been travelling to and from Dilraaz Manor for years."

He looked at Omer.

"Doesn't that strike you as a little strange?"

Omer considered it.

"It does."

Ali nodded.

"Then perhaps you should take back something you said earlier."

"What?"

"You insisted the Boss would never have travelled through the Dead Zone."

"After all..."

"...it was he who named it the Dead Zone."

Omer thought for a moment.

"Fair enough."

"If he drives a lonely road with forests on either side every day......I suppose one lonely road wouldn't have stopped him."

They resumed walking.

After a few moments, Ali spoke again.

"Were you aware his full name is Raza Haider?"

"I thought everyone was."

Ali shook his head.

"I wasn't."

"And I doubt most people were."

"Until yesterday..."

"...he was simply 'Mr. Haider' to almost everyone."

The elevator arrived with a soft chime.

The doors slid open.

They stepped inside.

As the doors closed, Omer glanced sideways at Ali.

"You're thinking about something."

Ali remained silent.

"What is it?"

Ali's sea-green eyes remained fixed on the descending floor indicator.

"Mr. Raza Haider..."

"...reacts very differently to different places."

Omer frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Ali spoke thoughtfully.

"The road to Dilraaz Manor."

"The Dead Zone."

"Both are lonely."

"Both have earned an unsettling reputation."

"Yet..."

"...his reaction to each couldn't be more different."

He paused.

"I can't help wondering..."

"...what makes one place acceptable..."

"...and the other unacceptable."

The elevator continued its silent descent.

Neither of them spoke again.

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