The Bodyguard

Under a hazy sunset in Karachi, Zara stepped into her apartment, eyes lingering on the shadows that stretched across the empty living room. It had been two months since she received the chilling note slipped under her door, "We're watching you." Zara, an investigative journalist known for her daring reports on corruption, had ignored the warnings—until a rock crashed through her window last week.

Now, as she moved silently through her home, her heart pounded. She had taken precautions, changed her routes, and even rented a new apartment, but the threat felt more real every day. And tonight, there was another addition to her life: a bodyguard. She had refused at first, insisting she could handle herself, but her editor, an old friend, had insisted. So here she was, nervously awaiting the arrival of a stranger who would shadow her every move.

The doorbell rang, and Zara tensed before forcing herself to breathe. When she opened the door, she was surprised. The man standing there was tall and imposing, yet his presence radiated calmness. He looked around thirty, with piercing dark eyes and a rough exterior softened by a polite, almost gentle expression.

“Zara Rehman?” he asked, voice deep and steady.

“That’s me,” she replied, stepping aside to let him in.

He introduced himself as Aamir. His tone was respectful but professional, and he quickly scanned the room, checking windows and doors, assessing every potential vulnerability. It struck Zara that he seemed more like a ghost hunter than a bodyguard, slipping through each room in silence. She watched him, unable to shake a sense of disbelief that her life had come to this.

As the night wore on, Zara found herself talking, as if to chase away the quiet tension that filled the room. She told him about her work, the corrupt officials she had exposed, the threats she had brushed off in the past. Aamir listened without interruption, his face unreadable. When she was done, he looked at her, his gaze intense.

“Fear can be a powerful tool,” he said finally. “But it can also make you careless. Your work is dangerous. But you’re brave for doing it.”

They slipped into a steady routine in the days that followed. Aamir shadowed her silently, his watchful eyes always scanning their surroundings. Zara noticed the small, careful gestures—the way he’d subtly position himself between her and a crowd, or the way he’d keep a careful distance, never making her feel trapped or intruded upon.

Yet, Zara couldn’t shake her restlessness. She was used to independence, to facing danger on her own terms. Having Aamir around was both reassuring and frustrating. She found herself testing his limits, wandering off in crowded markets, or staying out late after meetings, curious to see how he’d react. He never faltered, remaining close but unyielding.

One afternoon, while they were walking through a bustling street, Zara noticed a figure lurking near a corner shop. A cold shiver ran down her spine as she realized it was one of the men she had exposed in her latest report. Panic flared, but before she could react, Aamir’s hand was on her shoulder, grounding her.

“Keep walking,” he murmured.

They turned a corner, blending into the crowd, but Zara’s heart pounded wildly. She had known, logically, that her reporting could attract attention, but seeing it in person was different. Aamir’s grip tightened, and in that moment, she felt an unexpected wave of safety.

Once they were back at her apartment, Aamir finally broke the silence. “You should lay low for a while, Zara. This isn’t just a job—it’s your life at stake.”

Zara bit her lip, her resolve faltering. “I know. But if I stop now…what was the point of all my work?”

Aamir nodded, his gaze serious. “Courage is choosing to face danger. But survival means knowing when to step back, even for just a moment.”

As the days passed, Zara began to see her work differently. Aamir’s words had struck something in her. It wasn’t a surrender, but a pause—a chance to regroup, to plan carefully. Together, they worked on building her security, keeping her sources hidden, protecting the stories she had yet to tell.

Over time, Zara found herself relying on Aamir not just as a protector, but as an anchor in the storm her life had become. He was always there, a steady presence in the shadows, reminding her that her bravery wasn’t diminished by caution. And, though the road ahead was uncertain, Zara knew she was no longer alone.