Episode 10
"Hurry up, I'm starving to death!"
Momina pushed the café's glass door open as she spoke.
"Why is food always the only thing on your mind?"
Aimal rolled her eyes.
"I mean, don't you think this is a serious issue? My stomach is empty and you're insulting me."
Momina replied dramatically. The two of them were there to make good use of the five lakh rupees they had recently received.
"I'm not insulting you, I'm just giving you a reality check."
She stifled a laugh and walked toward the counter.
"Forget the reality check and tell me—should we order garlic bread, pasta, or both?"
Momina said cheerfully. Aimal paused to think, then turned toward her.
"Both? Do you think your stomach is like a little shopping bag that can fit everything?"
Momina shook her head.
"Just wait and see. I'll eat everything and order dessert too."
Aimal burst out laughing.
"Then I'll have to end this friendship, Momina. I absolutely can't afford a fat best friend."
"What kind of logic is that?"
Momina said, shocked.
"It's a good thing—eat less, move more."
Aimal teased as she headed toward her favorite seat near the glass door.
"I'm not talking to you anymore."
Momina pouted.
"Fine, then the treat is canceled."
Aimal replied casually.
"I was only mad for 10 minutes!"
Momina sat upright again. The two of them were joking and laughing when a waiter approached.
"Ma'am, you always order the same thing, right? Should I bring it again today?"
Aimal froze for a second. How did he know? Then, playing it cool, she simply nodded. But suddenly, a name echoed in her mind. Had he really remembered all my little preferences this whole time?
Across the café, on a corner table, Rafi was sipping his coffee. His friend was sitting with him, and they were speaking in low voices. But his eyes—his gaze—was fixed exactly where Aimal was sitting.
"By the way, did you reply to Ali?"
Aimal looked at Momina, confused.
"Ali who?"
She didn't know any Ali.
"The one who messaged you after college."
Momina gave her a teasing wink.
In that very second, Aimal saw Rafi's grip tighten around his coffee mug. He sat up straighter—no visible reaction, but his fingers were clenched around the cup as if something inside him had ignited.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you? Momina, behave!"
Aimal gave her a stern look.
"Me? Not at all. I was just making conversation."
She blinked innocently.
"Liar. You know he's sitting right here."
Aimal smacked her hand.
"Ow! Why'd you hit me?"
Momina yelped, then smiled slyly.
"Alright, tell me—did you reply to Ali or not?"
"Are you talking too much, or are you intentionally trying to get someone's reaction?"
Aimal narrowed her eyes.
"I swear on God, I'm just thinking about your future!"
Momina said dramatically.
"Will you shut up, or should I cancel your garlic bread?"
Aimal grabbed her hand firmly.
"You're emotionally damaging me!"
Momina said with mock shock.
"And you're mentally torturing me!"
As serious as the words seemed, there was an equally serious gaze fixed on them. Aimal glanced nervously at Rafi, whose grip on the coffee mug kept tightening. Then he stood up, went to the counter, placed a slip quietly, and walked out of the café. Curiously, Momina picked up the slip.
"Oh no, what's this?"
Aimal's heart skipped a beat as soon as she saw it.
"Your words might be jokes to you, but not everything is a joke."
She went numb.
☆☆☆
She paced restlessly in her room, her mind racing. Finally, reaching a conclusion, she steadied herself and walked straight to Atish, who was in his gym.
"Wow! Atish Zayan, should I thank you for your kindness or laugh at myself?"
Mehr said sharply as she approached. Atish paused but said nothing.
"You think your so-called kindness will make me feel indebted? You think I'll become weak like you?"
She moved closer in anger. Atish picked up a water bottle and took a sip.
That made Mehr even more furious.
"I hate men like you, Atish. Men who only do what they want—who ruin lives at will and then act like they've done a favor."
She shouted. Still, no reaction. She stormed toward him and pushed him. He didn't even flinch. Instead, she staggered a bit herself. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she held them back.
Today, she wanted Atish to lash out—to yell, to strike, to throw her out like before. But Atish stood there, ruining every attempt of hers.
"What happened? No anger today? Why won't you raise your hand? Is your pride so cheap that you're willing to lose to a woman?"
Mehr had made up her mind—not today. She wouldn't back down.
Atish finally stopped. He took off his gloves and came to stand directly in front of her.
Mehr held her breath. Was he really going to hit her?
"Why? Do you want me to hit you?"
Atish said in a deep, calm voice. Mehr paused. Atish looked her in the eyes.
"Only two kinds of men hit women: those who are worthless... and those who are helpless. I am neither."
His eyes were firm, his voice full of pain. Without waiting for her reaction, he walked out.
Mehr's entire plan had fallen apart. And she just stood there—completely stunned.
☆☆☆
Atish started coming home late at night, and Meher was happy that at least she wouldn't have to see his irritated face before going to bed. She spent her day at her house, chatting with Amal, Momena, and Aini, but everyone noticed that she wasn't the same anymore. The one who used to tease them all the time was now quiet. Zaryab and Mashal hadn't returned yet; their trip had gotten a little longer. Tehmeena Khala would call every day, ask about her well-being, and only inquire about Atish, asking if he was bothering her or getting angry. Meher would stay silent, not knowing how to tell her that she was more disturbed by Atish's care than his anger. Tehmeena would change the topic, thinking there was no hope for Atish to change. She had stopped talking to him altogether. He would call, but she wouldn't pick up.
One night, as usual, when Meher returned home, the entire house was shrouded in silence. Outside, the clouds were lightly thundering, as if a storm was approaching. The lights were out, and Atish still hadn't arrived. For the first time, Meher felt scared of the darkness. Collecting herself, she entered the room, which was completely enveloped in darkness. She took out her phone to turn on the torch when a message tone sounded. She looked at the unknown number and opened the inbox. As soon as she read the message, her heart trembled.
"The echo of your slap is still in my ears. Are you ready?"
Her heart skipped a beat, and fear flashed in her eyes.
"Who... Who is this?"
She tried to think.
"Wait, someone must be messing with me."
She tried to ignore the message and succeeded, but one face kept appearing in her mind that could be linked to the message. But then, shaking her head, she dismissed it as her imagination. The next morning, Meher found a small envelope outside her room. Her hands trembled as she picked it up. Inside was a black piece of paper with a single line written on it:
"Fear smells, Meher, and I really like your scent."
She immediately threw the envelope away, but fear had already settled in her mind. Atish noticed that Meher had become more quiet than before. It bothered him, and her silence started to trouble him.
"Are you okay?"
At the dining table, Atish asked, but Meher didn't respond, as if she hadn't heard him.
"Meher, if there's a problem, tell me, I..."
"No problem."
She immediately got up and left, leaving Atish stunned. That night, she received another envelope, which contained a photograph. It was a picture of her standing in front of the room's window.
"What... What is happening? Someone must be watching me."
She threw the photo away. Her mind was racing; the tension was at its peak. Staggering, she leaned against the door and sat down. The room was drenched in deep darkness, and tears fell quickly from her eyes. Her thoughts were tormenting her. Every word Atish had ever said to her echoed in her ears. Was it all Atish? Was he behind this? Had he teamed up with the guy she slapped? Was that why he had been coming home late, so she wouldn't accuse him, and he could leave the house without her suspecting him? Was this all just a drama he had been playing out for days? Her heart broke with rage. Trembling, she turned on her phone and pressed the voice recording button on WhatsApp.
"Atish told me that he would make my life hell, and that was true."
Her voice cracked as she continued.
"He hated me, and I never thought he could hate me this much. I never asked him why he hated me so much. What did I do to deserve this hatred? Atish's behavior made me think he had really changed, but today he shattered that illusion too."
Tears were falling rapidly as she spoke, her sobs echoing in the dark room, but she kept speaking.
"When Mashal told me, 'You love Atish too,' I never imagined that Atish loved me. But now I understand that what he did in the past few days was not love; it was a conspiracy. I had been hiding my love for him, and now all this is happening because of him."
She paused and took a deep breath.
"When I'm not around, he'll realize what I did for him — this pain, this sorrow, hurting myself, all because of him. After I leave, he'll understand how much I loved him."
She then sent the recording. Putting the phone aside, she lay down on the bed. The tears kept flowing. Suddenly, the window handle shook slightly. Meher's heart stopped. She slowly got up and checked the door lock. Everything seemed fine. But as she turned around, a cloth was quickly tied over her mouth. She tried to scream, but no sound came out. Someone grabbed her hands forcefully. Everything happened in just ten seconds. Her mind went blank, her breath became quick, and then slowly, her eyes closed, and she fainted.
☆☆☆
Atish sat silently, listening to Mashal's sobs. Tayeba Begum was crying uncontrollably, while Zaryab was pacing angrily, walking back and forth. Ubaid Bhai and Aman Raza Sahib sat right in front of them, their faces showing clear signs of worry. Aini stood silently in one corner, while Momina and Aimal were glued to the pillar, watching everyone. Nayab Phuphi was sitting with Tayeba Begum, consoling her. They searched for Mehr the entire night, but she couldn't be found. As the morning light spread, everyone's hopes shattered. Then, Ubaid Bhai suggested involving the police.
"If you guys are going to involve useless police, then I'll find Mehr alone," Atish said angrily, though the guilt from his past behavior toward Mehr gnawed at him from within.
"My sister has gone missing from your house, Atish, and you're sitting here so calmly?" Zaryab shouted at him. Atish felt more hurt, but he couldn't speak.
"If anything happens to Mehr, I won't spare you," Zaryab threatened. He had been here since Fajr, as soon as he got the news of Mehr's disappearance.
"We need to think carefully and act quickly. You both stop fighting," Aini said, suddenly angry. Raza Sahib sat silently, his heart growing more restless for his daughter.
"Zaryab, son, go find my girl. I don't know where she's gone," Tayeba Begum called out to him through tears. Atish gave a silent look to everyone. He needed to find Mehr as quickly as possible. He had searched all night, never sitting calmly for even a second. Everyone seemed to think that she had left the house, but his heart couldn't accept that possibility.
"Why would she leave the house? She should've told us what happened," Nayab Phuphi said with a trembling voice. Atish noticed that Aini looked at him with disdain at her words. He grew worried, sensing something was wrong. Suddenly, Aini took out her phone and played something. The entire hall went silent for a moment, only the sound of one thing echoed—Mehr's voice.
Her sobs, her stifled crying. Atish stared at Aini in shock, his eyes wide. Everyone's faces showed disbelief, anger, and so much more. It felt like she was speaking just to torment Atish. He stood up slowly, his face darkened. The bewildered gazes of everyone around him felt like they were burning him. He saw Zaryab shouting at him, then Zaryab went to Aini, asking her something, and Aini was crying as she told Zaryab and the others something. Without looking at anyone, Atish quietly walked out.
Mehr's eyes slowly opened. Her head throbbed with pain, as if her whole body had been shattered. She tried to get up, but her hands and legs felt weak. In her ears, only one faint sound echoed—the sound of water dripping. She looked around. It was pitch dark, with only a lamp glowing in one corner. The walls around her looked old and dilapidated. The air here was restless, cold, and suffocating.
"Where... where am I?" she muttered, her lips trembling. Her throat was dry. She felt the ground with both hands; it was cold and stone-like. She couldn't understand where she was. She quickly tried to rise again, but then collapsed. The suffocating air made it difficult to breathe. There seemed to be no door in sight, only a heavy metal shutter or something similar that was locked. She tried to scream, but her throat was too dry. Tears began to well up in her eyes when a loud sound broke the silence.
Krrrrrrrrr...
It sounded like a metal door or shutter was moving. Mehr quickly inhaled sharply, and her heart knew someone was coming. Her feet instinctively moved backward. Taking advantage of the darkness, she pressed herself against the wall and held her breath. The sound of heavy footsteps grew closer. For a moment, everything went quiet. Then, suddenly, the light came on. After flickering three times, the dim yellowish light spread across the room. And then he entered.
Tall, with a muscular frame, his face held an eerie calm as if this was all just a game for him. He removed his glasses and placed them aside, then looked at Mehr with sharp eyes. Mehr's breath hitched. This was the same guy she had slapped, but what was he doing here? He took a step forward.
"You finally woke up," he said, his voice strange, as though everything was under his control. Mehr, panic-stricken, took another step back.
"Why... why did you bring me here?" her dry throat made her voice even raspier.
"You slapped me, remember?" A slight mockery appeared on the boy's lips. Mehr's heart stopped for a second. Was this all for revenge for that slap?
"If you think I'll be scared of you, you are terribly mistaken," Mehr gritted her teeth. The boy slightly tilted his head and then looked into her eyes.
"The time for fear hasn't even begun yet," his voice was so cold that a strange chill ran down Mehr's spine. This wasn't just revenge for one slap;
this was something else.
☆☆☆
The car stopped with a jolt. He sat in the car for a few moments, then got out slowly and sat on a bench. His deep brown eyes were teary. The road was deserted, completely deserted. The leaves of the trees were swaying lifelessly in the cold wind. He took out his phone from his pocket and stared at the screen for a while. His hands were shaking badly. After a few moments, he slowly dialed a number. On the other end of the phone, it was Tehmeena Begum. The ring went on, and then the call was received. A soft, concerned voice was heard.
"Atish, where are you, son? Have you heard anything about Meher? How is she? Any news?"
Atish remained silent. His eyes were fixed on an unknown point, his breath was erratic, his body tired, his heart shattered. His mother's voice echoed in his ears, but he couldn't respond.
"Son, say something, are you alright? Meher..."
"I... I did this, I did this, Amma," Atish's weak, trembling voice emerged. Tehmeena Begum went completely silent.
"I didn't hate her, Amma. It was just my stubbornness, my ego. I thought I could stay away from her, but now that she's gone, she's everywhere. In every place, every breath, it's just her."
Atish's eyes welled up, but he couldn't cry. He had always learned to be strong, but today? Today, he was breaking, crushed under the weight of his own feelings.
"What have I done to her? When she was in front of me, I never cared for her, I made her fall again and again, broke her heart, made her believe in hate, and still... she didn't leave me. Only because she loved me."
He clenched his fingers into a fist. His lips were trembling slightly.
"And what do I know about love, Amma? Love gets weak, but what I'm feeling now... this isn't love. It's something beyond that."
A long silence followed. He kept trying to steady his breathing. Then he looked up at the sky as if addressing something invisible. Slowly, he lowered his head, closed his eyes, and when he spoke, his words were the deepest secrets of his heart.
"I didn't hate Meher, nor did I love her..."
He paused, took a deep breath in.
"Meher... was my passion, Atish Meher..."
Tehmeena Begum was left in silence, trying to process whether what Atish had just said was true. She saw that the call had ended. Atish slowly removed the phone from his ear, his hands trembling. Then he took a deep breath and walked towards the car. He had to find Meher, no matter what, as soon as possible.
☆☆☆
Meher's breath was like a furnace bellows, it was not just the revenge of a slap; it was something else, but what? Her mind was still trying to figure it out. Arees was still standing in front of her.
"What do you think..."
His sharp and cold voice echoed.
"That I came here to take revenge for a slap?"
Meher saw a strange smile on his face, as if he was enjoying trapping his prey.
"Whatever you're doing, it's wrong. If you think I'll be scared of you, you'll need to change your mind."
Meher mustered all her courage to say this. Arees took another step forward, now standing directly in front of her. He bent down slightly, his face just a few inches away from hers.
"You're the one who's scared, Meher..."
He said in a soft tone, a smile playing on his lips.
"I can see it in your eyes."
Meher tried to step back in panic but realized the wall was behind her. Arees smiled softly. The air in the bunker was thick, damp, and difficult to breathe. Arees took a small silver chain from his pocket; a pendant hung from it. Meher's eyes fixed on the pendant—it was hers.
"Your taste is good," Arees chuckled softly.
"I saw it one day and thought, one day, this would be mine."
Anger and fear filled Meher's veins at once.
"What do you want?"
She yelled. Arees took a step back and, without answering, pressed a button. A bright light flared up, so bright that Meher had to close her eyes. She slowly tried to open them, but the sight before her was even more disturbing—a large mirror was in front of her, but this wasn't just a mirror. It was a one-way mirror. Someone was behind it. Meher's heart began to race. Someone was watching her.
"You're not alone here, Meher."
Arees said softly. Meher looked at the mirror again, her eyes widened in fear.
"What is all this?" Her voice trembled.
"Just a little game, for you."
Arees pressed another button, and suddenly a shrill high-pitched sound echoed so loud that Meher's ears felt like they were about to burst. She covered her ears with both hands, but the sound only grew louder. Meher collapsed to the floor, her head tilting to one side. He was mentally torturing her.
"The sooner you give up, the better."
Arees said calmly. Meher's breath quickened. Her head was spinning. Arees wanted to break her spirit.
☆☆☆
The light raindrops were falling on the ground, but there was a fire burning inside Atish Zayan. In his hand was Meher's phone, and a message from that phone was echoing through his veins:
"Now taste what you did to me."
Atish's fingers tightened around the phone.
Arees, the same vile person whom Meher had slapped, wasted no time in ordering his man to trace the number. It took only ten minutes, and the location appeared—an abandoned site near the industrial area. In the dark alley, the boy was unlocking his car when suddenly a swift shadow loomed behind him. The next second, a strong hand was on his neck.
"Your breath is still going only as long as I want it to."
Atish's cold, ice-like voice echoed in his ears. The boy tried to speak, but Atish's grip tightened further.
"You think you'll be safe by helping Arees?"
Atish grabbed his collar with such force that his throat began to choke.
"Where is Meher?"
"Pl...Please...let me go."
The boy's breath became ragged, and Atish shoved him onto the car bonnet with a jolt.
"Where is Meher?"
With every word, his voice grew colder.
"I... I can't tell you. If I do, Arees will kill me."
"And if you don't, I won't let you live either."
With another jerk, the boy's head slammed against the bonnet. His screams echoed out.
"Yes, I'll tell you. Stop, stop."
Blood started dripping from his nose.
"Arees has kept Meher at an old place near the industrial area, an abandoned military bunker... Please let me go."
Atish released his collar. The boy stumbled to the ground, clutching his throat. Atish leaned down, his deep brown eyes locked into the boy's pleading gaze.
"You have only one warning. Next time, don't even think about helping the wrong person."
He straightened up and ran his fingers through his hair.
"Meher."
That night, the police never heard about the victim's complaint because the one who hunted was not just any man... he was Atish Zayan.
☆☆☆
When Meher regained consciousness, everything was blurry. Waves of strange pain surged through her head as if someone had burned every part of her mind. She could hear her breath, loud and heavy. The cold, confined space of the bunker felt even more suffocating. Her hands were still tied, but the pain wasn't just physical; it was emotional too.
"You're awake?"
Suddenly, Arees's voice echoed. Meher slowly looked at him, hatred in her eyes. Arees stepped forward, lifting her chin with his hand, but Meher jerked her face away.
"You've got quite the attitude."
Arees smirked lightly, but there was no humor in it.
"I know what you're thinking. You're hoping Atish Zayan will find out about this and come looking for you, right?"
He said quietly. Meher's eyes widened slightly, a small flicker of hope rising within her. Arees saw this and took a step back, hands in his pockets.
"You're crazy if you think he'll find you."
Meher's heart stopped. Arees lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with contempt.
"He never considered you his, Meher."
Meher clenched her fingers into fists.
"Stop talking nonsense."
Arees chuckled softly, enjoying Meher's helplessness now.
"Look at your family. It didn't even take them a day to decide you'd run away from home."
Tears filled Meher's eyes.
"Atish won't come looking for you, Meher, because Atish doesn't care."
Her heart sank.
"He never wanted you, Meher. You never mattered to him."
Arees's smile deepened. Something flickered in Meher's eyes—pain or anger, he couldn't tell. Arees crouched down, and in a soft voice said:
"If Atish ever wanted to find you, he wouldn't be able to because you've been thrown into a darkness with no way out. Your story will end here, Meher."
Meher's heart shattered, and she felt like everything was truly over. Arees took a step back, gave her one last look, and opened the door, walking out. The sound of the door closing echoed through the bunker, followed by silence. Meher's body began to tremble. She wanted to scream, to shout, but her voice was gone. She screamed with all her might, but no sound came out. The bunker was engulfed in darkness, damp walls, a cold sense of isolation, and in the corner, Meher sat lifeless. Her head touched the ground, her eyes open but devoid of light. How long she had been screaming and begging for help, she couldn't even remember. Now, there was nothing but emptiness. She was completely broken.
Arees re-entered the bunker, unaffected. His face showed strange satisfaction.
"Meher, don't you understand?"
He sat in front of her, lifting her face with his hand.
"Your screams won't help you."
Meher looked at him vacantly, her eyes lifeless, like empty darkness.
"Wow, I never imagined the fearless Meher, the one who slapped me in the middle of the road, would one day become this helpless."
He said, enjoying her vulnerability. He pushed her face backward. Meher's head jolted to the side, but she didn't react. Her mind had stopped functioning.
"Answer me. You ruined my life, tarnished my honor. Why are you quiet now?"
He growled, yanking her hair harshly to throw her head back. Tears filled her eyes, but she wasn't crying. She couldn't scream anymore. She just let out a weak breath.
"Not even crying now? It's not fun anymore."
He stood up and started pacing, as if contemplating what to do next.
"Look, Meher, I don't feel any sympathy for your state. I'm enjoying it. You deserve this."
Then, suddenly, he crouched down again.
"You know, this is just the beginning for you."
A tear dropped from Meher's eye.
"Don't stay quiet, Meher. Say something!"
But Meher couldn't say anything. Her voice had left her. Her eyes were closed, her mind shut down. Only her body remained.
"Giving up so soon?"
He let go of her face roughly.
"I'm not enjoying this anymore."
He stood up, as though discarding something worthless.
"Alright, I'm leaving, but I'll definitely be back."
Arees flashed a terrifying smile, turned around, and left. Before he went, he slammed the bunker door shut.
Darkness, loneliness, and the lifeless Meher were left behind.
A few moments after he left, the last light in Meher's eyes flickered out, and she fell unconscious.
To be continue...