The Rogue Agent

The sound of Rubina Khan's voice echoed in Pathan's ears as he crossed the threshold of the grand embassy hall. The events of the night still weighed heavily on him-the close encounter with Tiger, the tension of the chase through the cold streets of Minsk, and most of all, the emotional standoff that had left him questioning everything he thought he knew about his former friend.

But there was no time to dwell on those thoughts now. He had a mission to complete, and that mission was to protect Rubina Khan at all costs. The ISI agent had become a key target in Tiger's deadly game, and Pathan knew that time was running out to uncover why she was so important to his plans.

As Pathan approached Rubina's office, the heavy oak door opened, revealing the woman herself. Rubina Khan was as striking as she was formidable. Her sharp eyes, framed by a delicate face, gave nothing away as she greeted Pathan with a curt nod. She was dressed impeccably, her appearance polished and professional, but there was an underlying tension in her demeanor, a wariness that spoke of a woman who had learned to trust no one.

"Pathan," Rubina said, her voice cool and measured. "I understand you've gone to great lengths to speak with me. I hope it's worth my time."

Pathan nodded, his expression serious. "It is, Rubina. There's something you need to know, something that could save your life."

Rubina arched an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "I've heard a lot of things in my line of work, Pathan. What makes this any different?"

Without a word, Pathan handed her a file, one that contained everything they knew about Tiger's plans. Rubina took it, her eyes scanning the contents quickly. As she read, her expression changed, the confidence giving way to concern.

When she finally looked up, there was a new urgency in her eyes. "You're telling me that Tiger is here, in Minsk, and that he's planning to kill me?"

Pathan met her gaze evenly. "Yes. And if we don't act fast, he'll succeed."

Rubina's office was as meticulously organized as the woman herself, with papers neatly stacked and everything in its place. As they took seats across from each other, Pathan could feel the weight of the conversation ahead. He knew that Rubina was no stranger to danger, but the threat from Tiger was unlike anything she had faced before.

"We've been tracking Tiger for weeks," Pathan began, his tone urgent. "We've intercepted communications, uncovered his movements, and followed the trail here. But until now, we didn't know why he was targeting you."

Rubina listened intently, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the edge of the file. "And now you do?"

Pathan hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "It's not just about you, Rubina. It's about what you know-information that could destabilize the entire region if it fell into the wrong hands."

Rubina's eyes narrowed. "I've worked in intelligence for most of my life, Pathan. I know how to keep secrets."

"Sometimes, secrets have a way of catching up with you," Pathan replied, his voice softening. "Whatever it is that Tiger wants, he's willing to kill for it. We need to know what you're protecting, so we can help you."

For a moment, Rubina said nothing, her eyes locked on Pathan's. There was a brief flicker of hesitation in her gaze, a flash of something deeper that she quickly suppressed.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rubina finally said, her voice firm. "I'm just a diplomat, here on official business. If Tiger wants to kill me, it's likely because of my position in ISI, nothing more."

Pathan leaned forward, his eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. He had been in the game long enough to recognize when someone was holding back, and Rubina was definitely holding back.