He chuckled.
Then reached out toward her shoulder.
The moment his hand entered her space—
Maya moved.
One instant she was on the sofa.
The next—She was behind him.
Fahan felt a hand near his neck as his body instinctively froze.
The speed alone was enough to shock him.
But what stunned him even more was her expression.
Her eyes were open, dangerously alert.
A faint edge of Killing Intent leaked through her gaze.
Not directed at Fahan himself—
But the reflexive response to an unknown threat.
The fever had dulled her control.
Normally she concealed every instinct perfectly. Now, cracks were showing.
The room seemed to freeze.
Even through the livestream, viewers noticed the difference immediately.
Then she blinked, " Mr.Fahan."
The tension vanished instantly.
She stepped back, "Sorry."
Fahan stood there silently for several seconds, " What....Just happened?"
Maya looked away, " Nothing. "
Fahan stared,
"You thought I was attacking you?"
For a moment nobody spoke.
Then from the dining room—
Fahim stood up so quickly his chair nearly slid backward, " What the — "
The livestream exploded.
"SHE TELEPORTED."
"NOPE."
"I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT WAS HUMAN SPEED."
"FAHAN JUST EXPERIENCED A JUMPSCARE."
"I LOOKED DOWN FOR ONE SECOND AND SHE WAS BEHIND HIM."
"THE FEVER IS MAKING HER INSTINCTS WORSE."
"CAN EVERYONE PLEASE STOP TOUCHING MAYA TODAY?"
Meanwhile, Fahan was still processing events. He rubbed his face,
"I've been home for less than a minute.
Why am I already confused?"
The livestream chat exploded so fast that individual messages were almost impossible to read.
Viewers who had just recovered from the earlier incident with Fahim suddenly found themselves watching another startling reflexive reaction.
Comments poured in endlessly:
"NOT AGAIN."
"WHY IS EVERYONE TRYING TO TOUCH MAYA TODAY?"
"I LEARNED MY LESSON AFTER THE FAHIM INCIDENT."
"FAHAN SURVIVED."
"CONGRATULATIONS FAHAN."
"YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE MAYA EXPERIENCE."
"THE WAY SHE APPEARED BEHIND HIM—"
"I BLINKED."
"SHE MOVED."
"I'M STILL PROCESSING IT."
"CAN SOMEBODY PUT A WARNING SIGN ON HER?"
"⚠ DO NOT APPROACH WHILE FEVERISH."
"FAHIM: DON'T BOTHER HER.
EVERYONE ELSE: LET'S BOTHER HER."
A clip of the moment was already spreading online.
People replayed it repeatedly,
"Look at Fahan's face."
"He looks like his soul left his body."
"Imagine coming home from school and immediately getting countered."
"Poor Fahan."
"He didn't even do anything."
Some viewers focused on Maya's expression.
"Did anyone see her eyes?"
"They looked different for a second."
"It is very creepy."
"That's what scared me."
"The movement was shocking."
"The eyes were worse."
Others immediately became concerned.
"She's running a 104+ fever."
"She shouldn't even be awake this much."
"Can someone PLEASE make her rest?"
"At this point the fever is scared of her."
A medical student commented:
"Every time she gets startled, her body reacts before her brain consciously identifies the person."
"That's a very unusual level of conditioned reflex."
The comment quickly gained attention.
Meanwhile, the jokes continued.
"Today's livestream genre changed from martial arts to family survival."
"Rule #1 of the mansion:
Announce your presence before approaching Maya."
"Rule #2: See Rule #1."
The replies were endless:
"FREE OF CHARGE."
"COMPLIMENTARY EXPERIENCE."
"0/10 WOULD NOT REPEAT."
—
The front door opened.
Rahi stepped inside, carrying a folder beneath one arm.
The moment he entered the living room, he sensed something was off.
Fahim was sitting with his arms crossed.
Fahan looked like he was still recovering from a minor heart attack.
Maya was quietly sitting on the sofa and the atmosphere felt strangely tense.
He stopped.
His eyes moved from Fahim to Fahan.
Then back again, "...What happened?"
Nobody answered immediately.
That alone was suspicious.
He narrowed his eyes, "Did anyone go near her?"
Fahim looked away, Fahan looked away.
"..."
Rahi closed his eyes, "Someone went near her."
Fahim sighed, "Yes."
"Who?"
"Both of us."
Rahi slowly placed a hand on his forehead.
The viewers immediately knew what was coming.
"Oh No."
"Rahi Already Understands."
"I Think, He Know About Something ."
Meanwhile, He took a deep breath.
Then asked calmly, "How was the experience?"
The room went silent.
Fahan stared at him, Fahim stared at him.
THE LOOK THEY GAVE RAHI COULD HAVE MELTED STEEL.
The livestream absolutely lost its mind.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
"HE ASKED THEM LIKE IT'S A THEME PARK."
"I'M CRYING."
"Rahi knows EXACTLY what happened."
"WHY DOES HE SOUND SO CASUAL?"
Meanwhile, Rahi looked between them,
"Hmm."
He nodded thoughtfully,
"Judging from your expressions.....
It seems the experience was memorable."
Fahan pointed at him, "MEMORABLE?"
"Yes."
Fahan looked ready to throw a cushion at him.
The comments exploded.
"FAHAN IS DONE."
"Rahi is enjoying this way too much."
"He's definitely laughing internally."
Fahim rubbed his forehead,
"Why are you not surprised?"
Rahi looked genuinely confused,
"Why would I be surprised?
I'm experienced."
The livestream chat instantly sided with him.
"HE HAS A POINT."
"I CAN'T ARGUE WITH THAT."
"FAIR QUESTION, EXPERIENCED????"
"HOW MANY TIMES HAS THIS HAPPENED?"
"RAHI PLEASE ELABORATE."
"WE NEED ANSWERS."
He walked toward Maya.
Unlike the others, he didn't immediately enter her personal space.
He stopped several feet away, "Maya."
"Hmm?"
"How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
Three people spoke simultaneously,
"NO YOU AREN'T."
The comment section became complete chaos.
"SHE SAID FINE."
"THE UNIVERSAL LIE."
"104 FEVER."
"'I'M FINE.'"
"CLASSIC."
Rahi sighed then pulled a chair over and sat down several feet away.
Fahan noticed, "...You're not going closer?"
"Of course not."
"Why?"
Rahi pointed toward the brothers,
"You two already conducted the experiment."
The Live room erupted.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA"
"'YOU TWO ALREADY CONDUCTED THE EXPERIMENT.'"
"BEST COMMENT OF THE DAY."
"MISSION ACCOMPLISHED."
Rahi leaned back in his chair, "Hmm."
He pinched the bridge of his nose.
Then looked directly at Maya.
His voice became calm, "Go to sleep."
No response.
"That was not a suggestion."
Still nothing.
The livestream chat exploded.
"Why Does That Sound Terrifying?"
"The Atmosphere Changed Instantly."
"Even I'm Sitting Up Straighter."
He sighed, then his voice became even more formal, "Obey.
Failure to comply will result in disciplinary measures."
The chat instantly exploded.
"DISCIPLINARY MEASURES?!"
"WHY DOES THAT SOUND SO MENACING?"
"SOMEONE HELP ME."
His voice dropped— no longer even familiar,
"It has reached the point where I have to override you."
A step closer.
"Noncompliance will result in immediate restriction of movement."
"Your access to the environment will be reduced to zero mobility.
If that is not sufficient, physical restraint will be applied until unconscious rest is achieved."
His gaze stayed fixed,
"Your authority over your own schedule has been temporarily revoked. "
Fahim nearly choked,
"Did he just revoke her authority over herself?"
Fahan whispered, "I think he did."
Most people expected Maya to ignore him.
Instead—
something in her expression changed.
Her gaze became strangely focused.
As though a familiar protocol had been activated somewhere in her mind.
Fahim noticed it first, his brows furrowed.
"...Maya?"
She didn't answer. Her gaze fixed on Rahi,
"Directive acknowledged."
Fahan looked between them, "...What?"
"What The Hell. "
Current condition :
" Current body temperature: estimated above one hundred and four degrees Fahrenheit.
Judgment impairment probability increased.
Risk assessment validated."
Fahan's jaw slowly dropped.
Fahim stared, "What is happening?"
The comments exploded.
"WAIT."
"WHAT?"
"WHY IS SHE TALKING LIKE THAT?"
"IS THIS A DIFFERENT PERSON?"
"WHY IS SHE SOUNDING LIKE A COMPUTER?"
"SHE'S REPORTING HER CONDITION."
"WHAT IS HAPPENING?"
"I FEEL LIKE I'M WATCHING A SYSTEM DIAGNOSTIC."
Rahi remained completely calm,
"Current operational capability?"
She answered immediately,
"Physical capability approximately sixty-three percent.
Decision-making reliability approximately forty-eight percent ."
She sat straighter,
"Authority override accepted.
Temporary suspension of independent scheduling approved.
Compliance rate: one hundred percent."
The entire livestream seemed to collectively stop breathing.
Rahi pinched the bridge of his nose.
He looked like this was somehow normal.
The chat became complete chaos.
"SHE WHAT?"
"SHE HANDED OVER AUTHORITY."
"RAHI ISN'T EVEN SURPRISED."
"THAT'S THE SCARIEST PART."
"WHY DOES HE LOOK USED TO THIS?"
"EXCUSE ME?"
Fahan looked completely stunned.
"Did she just..."
Fahim finished the sentence.
"...give someone authority over her decisions?"
Neither of them looked convinced.
Rahi remained silent for several moments.
Then he nodded once,
"Authority transfer acknowledged."
"Requesting further instructions."
Fahan looked horrified,
"She actually asked for instructions."
Rahi nodded, "Proceed to your room.
Sleep.
Minimum recovery period: six hours."
Maya immediately responded,
"Order received."
A pause.
"Thank you for the correction."
She stood and began walking toward the stairs.
The exchange sounded less like a conversation and more like two systems exchanging information.
Fahan whispered,"I'm scared."
Fahim nodded immediately, "Me too."
The chat exploded so hard that messages became unreadable.
"NO WAY."
"SHE ACTUALLY OBEYED."
"THIS IS THE MOST IMPOSSIBLE THING I'VE SEEN ALL DAY."
"RAHI USED THREE SENTENCES."
"WHAT IS THIS POWER?"
"WHO AUTHORIZED THIS MAN?"
The living room remained completely silent.
Then Fahan finally pointed at the staircase,
"...I don't even know what I just witnessed."
Fahim nodded slowly,
"As a doctor, neither do I."
He stared at Rahi.
"...How?"
Rahi looked genuinely confused.
"What do you mean, how?"
Fahan pointed toward her .
"She is currently aware that her judgment is compromised."
"So?"
"So she delegated authority."
The explanation somehow raised even more questions.
Fahim slowly turned toward Rahi,
"You tell her to sleep and suddenly she's following orders like she's part of the military."
The livestream exploded.
"FAHIM IS OFFENDED."
"DOCTOR STATUS REJECTED."
"RAHI SOMEHOW UNLOCKED ADMIN MODE."
"THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING TODAY."
"WE JUST WATCHED AUTHORITY TRANSFER HAPPEN IN REAL TIME."
"SHE FILED A BUG REPORT ON HERSELF."
"MAYA LITERALLY SAID HER DECISION MAKING WAS COMPROMISED."
"CRAZY "
[09:00 PM]
Six hours passed without interruption.
The mansion slowly settled into a quieter rhythm.
The livestream continued, but even the audience had become unusually restrained—
waiting, watching as if afraid that any sudden movement might restart the chaos from earlier.
At exactly after six hours—
Maya stirred.
Her breathing shifted first, subtle and controlled, her eyes opened.
Clearer than before, though still carrying the faint weight of lingering fever.
She blinked once, then slowly sat up.
The blanket slid off her shoulders.
Fahim, who had been waiting nearby, immediately straightened.
He stepped closer but kept a careful distance.
"How are you feeling?"
"Good."
The livestream chat instantly reacted.
"NO WAY SHE JUST SAID GOOD."
"AFTER EVERYTHING TODAY??"
"SHE RECOVERS LIKE A SYSTEM REBOOT."
Fahan, standing a few steps away held a glass of water.
He hesitated as if silently calculating the survival probability of approaching.
Rahi noticed immediately.
His expression didn't change.
With extreme caution—
Fahan moved forward.
One step.
Then another.
The distance between him and the bed remained oddly large as if he was approaching a live wire instead of his sister.
He finally placed the glass on the bedside table— from nearly three meters away.
Then instantly stepped back again.
A beat of silence.
Then— the livestream exploded.
"HE DIDN'T EVEN GO CLOSE."
"THREE METERS MINIMUM SAFE ZONE."
"HE PLACED IT LIKE HE WAS DISARMING A BOMB."
"THIS MAN IS TRAUMATIZED."
Fahim looked at him,
"...You could have walked closer."
Fahan immediately replied: "I chose peace."
Rahi finally spoke, "Good decision."
Maya glanced at the glass.
Then, reached for it and drank calmly.
Fahim exhaled slowly, "Any headache?"
"No."
"Good."
The livestream chat softened.
"Fahan is still at max distance though."
"I can't believe the three-meter rule is real."
Fahan crossed his arms from afar,
"I will maintain this distance until further notice."
Fahim muttered: "That might be wise."
[ 09:26 PM ]
Maya sat on the lower sofa, sketchbook open on her lap, pencil moving slowly,
Scratch.... Scratch... Scratch.
Fahim was nearby, still half in doctor mode, occasionally glancing over.
Rahi sat a little apart, watching without intervening.
Fahan had finally relaxed enough to stop sitting like furniture.
The front door opened, Faha stepped in.
Energetic.
Almost glowing with satisfaction.
He dropped his bag and walked in like someone returning from victory.
"I told you," he said immediately.
Grinning at Fahim,"My drama is a hit.
People are going crazy for it."
Fahim blinked once, "...Unfortunately, yes."
A few quiet laughs moved through the room.
Even Rahi gave a small, unreadable look that might have been approval.
Faha looked pleased with himself,
"See? I knew it would work."
He walked toward the living room and scanned the seating area.
Spotted Maya on the sofa and without thinking, moved toward the empty space right beside her.
Fahan and Fahim reacted at the exact same time, "Don't sit there—"
The words overlapped.
Silence.
Faha froze mid-step.
Then physically jolted backward like he had stepped on something alive,
"What—what??"
He looked between them.
Both Fahim and Fahan were staring at him with the same expression.
Something closer to experience.
The livestream chat completely lost control.
"HAHAHA. "
"HAHAHA. "
For several seconds, nobody even paid attention to what Faha was saying anymore.
They were too busy replaying what had just happened.
Faha had simply been about to sit down.
And yet—
Fahim and Fahan had reacted faster than most people reacted to an emergency alarm.
The clip was already being replayed.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Faha: moves toward sofa.
Fahim and Fahan simultaneously:
"DON'T SIT THERE!"
The timing was so perfect it looked rehearsed.
Comments flooded the screen.
"THEY DIDN'T EVEN THINK."
"THAT WAS PURE INSTINCT."
"I HAVE NEVER SEEN TWO PEOPLE AGREE SO FAST."
Another viewer wrote:
"Earlier today they both tried approaching Maya. They learned valuable lessons.
Now they're protecting others."
A comment rapidly climbed toward the top.
"Trauma creates teamwork."
The replies appeared instantly.
"I'M CRYING."
"THIS IS THE FUNNIEST COMMENT TODAY."
"THEY ACHIEVED SYNCHRONIZATION THROUGH FEAR."
Meanwhile—
Faha was still looking confused,
"Seriously."
He pointed toward Maya, "She's drawing.
That's all she's doing."
Fahan immediately answered,
"That's exactly what we thought."
Then the chat exploded again.
"HE SAID IT."
"HE ACTUALLY SAID IT."
"THAT'S EXACTLY HOW EVERY HORROR MOVIE STARTS."
Fahim nodded, "Yes."
Faha stared,
"...What happened while I was gone?"
Fahan looked toward Maya,
"Experience happened."
The chat practically broke.
"EXPERIENCE."
"NOT AN EXPLANATION."
"A WARNING."
Even Rahi looked like he was trying not to laugh.
One viewer wrote:
"This family now has workplace safety regulations."
Another replied:
"Rule #1: Announce yourself."
"Rule #2: Maintain safe distance."
"Rule #3: Listen to Rule #1."
The likes skyrocketed.
Faha finally folded his arms,
"You're both overreacting."
That statement immediately caused Fahim and Fahan to look at him.
The same look, the exact same look.
The chat erupted.
"OH NO."
"HE SAID THE FORBIDDEN WORDS."
"OVERREACTING."
Fahan slowly pointed at himself,
"She nearly gave me a heart attack."
Then pointed at Fahim,
"She temporarily disabled his arm."
Fahim nodded,
"Medically speaking, that was a very educational experience."
The audience was finished.
People were openly typing that their stomachs hurt from laughing.
Faha blinked, " But Why not?"
Fahim exhaled through his nose.
Rahi didn't even look up from his seat.
Fahan, still recovering from earlier incidents, "Just… don't question it."
Faha looked even more confused now,
"But it's just a sofa—"
Fahim cut him off immediately,
"Not that one."
A beat of silence passed.
Faha slowly stepped back and chose a seat at a safer distance.
The livestream chat was in chaos again.
"HE RETREATED."
"WITHOUT ARGUMENT."
"HE SENSED SURVIVAL INSTINCTS."
"THEY TRAINED HIM IN ONE SECOND."
Faha finally sat down, still unsettled,
"Okay… someone explain later."
Rahi finally spoke, "Later is better."
Faha frowned, "...That sounds suspicious."
No one disagreed.
[10:05 PM ]
Night settled over the mansion like an old, familiar shawl— stitched with footsteps returning home.
The atmosphere felt unusually lively.
One by one, family members began returning home.
The front door opened.
The first to return was Fahad.
He stepped inside without ceremony, loosening his sleeves, already half-caught between exhaustion and habit.
His gaze moved instinctively through the house—checking, measuring.
Everything was… suspiciously stable.
He paused for a moment, then continued inside.
Farhan stretched his arms,
"Today went better than expected."
No one answered him .
That alone made him blink,
"…Why is everyone so quiet?"
Fahis murmured , "Nothing. "
Then, Mahim entered .
The moment he stepped inside, his eyes automatically searched the living room.
Finding Maya sitting on the sofa, sketchbook in hand.
Drawing.
A barely visible tension left his shoulders,
"Feeling better?"
"Yes."
"Good."
The livestream chat noticed immediately.
"HE CHECKED ON HER BEFORE TAKING OFF HIS COAT."
"DAD PRIORITIES."
"HE WAS DEFINITELY WORRIED."
A few minutes later— Mahi arrived.
She entered while reading something on her phone, then looked up.
The first thing she saw was Maya.
The second thing she saw was Fahim ,
"What was her temperature?"
The chat exploded.
"SHE DIDN'T EVEN SAY HELLO."
"MOTHER MODE ACTIVATED."
Fahim answered calmly, "It's lower now."
Mahi visibly relaxed, "Good."
Satisfied, she moved on.
The viewers melted.
"THAT WAS CUTE."
"SHE CHECKED AUTOMATICALLY."
Soon afterward—
The mansion gradually filled with voices.
Conversations.
Footsteps.
Everyone seemed to have heard about today's livestream.
Soon— Dinner is ready.
The enormous dining table filled quickly.
Family members taking their usual seats.
Conversations overlapping.
Plates being passed around.
The familiar sounds of a large family gathering.
Mahim sat at the head of the table.
Mahi beside him.
The others spread out around them.
Maya sat quietly.
Drawing had finally been replaced by eating.
The livestream was laughing so hard that comments flew past too quickly to read.
"SHE'S EATING."
"DOCTOR FAHIM WINS AGAIN."
"THE EVIDENCE IS OVERWHELMING."
"SHE HAS NO DEFENSE."
The clock slowly approached midnight.
For nearly an entire day, millions of people had watched Maya Sunayana's life unfold.
What had begun as simple curiosity had become something far more unexpected.
People had arrived hoping to see a talented fighter.
Instead, they had witnessed something much deeper.
A girl who trained with frightening discipline.
A girl who could cook like a professional chef.
A girl who spent hours drawing quietly, who treated a dangerous fever like a minor inconvenience.
And behind all of that—
A family that cared about her far more than they could hide.
The dinner eventually ended.
Plates were cleared away.
Conversations became quieter.
The mansion settled into the comfortable calm of late night .
Meanwhile—
The livestream timer continued counting down.
Only a few minutes remained.
The audience noticed immediately.
And the comment section exploded one final time.
"WAIT."
"NO."
"IT CAN'T BE OVER ALREADY."
"WHERE DID THE DAY GO?"
"I'VE BEEN WATCHING FOR TEN HOURS."
"IT FEELS LIKE TWO."
Thousands agreed.
"WE NEED DAY TWO."
"PLEASE."
"JUST ONE MORE DAY."
Another comment appeared.
"I came here to watch martial arts."
"I ended up emotionally attached to an entire family."
The replies flooded in.
"SAME."
"EXACTLY."
"I DIDN'T EXPECT THIS."
Across the mansion, nobody seemed particularly aware of the emotional crisis occurring online.
Maya is sitting quietly with her sketchbook.
Fahim is discussing something work-related.
Fahan and Faha were arguing about something insignificant.
Mahim is reading documents.
Mahi was listening while pretending not to listen.
A perfectly ordinary scene.
And somehow—
That ordinary scene became the thing viewers wanted to keep watching most.
Comments continued pouring in.
"I DON'T WANT TO LEAVE."
"WHY AM I SAD?"
"THIS IS RIDICULOUS."
"IT'S JUST A LIVESTREAM."
But it didn't feel like just a livestream anymore.
The countdown reached its final minute.
The chat became almost frantic.
"GOODNIGHT MAYA."
"TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF."
"PLEASE TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU HAVE A FEVER."
"LISTEN TO FAHIM."
"DON'T SCARE YOUR BROTHERS."
The messages flowed endlessly.
Some were funny.
Some were emotional.
Some were surprisingly heartfelt.
Finally—
The countdown reached zero.
The livestream director's voice appeared one last time.
"Thank you for spending the day with us."
"We hope you enjoyed witnessing a day in the life of Maya Sunayana."
"Good night, everyone."
The screen began fading to black.
The comment section moved faster than ever.
"GOODNIGHT."
"BYE EVERYONE."
"THIS WAS AMAZING."
"GOODNIGHT LITTLE ROSE."
And then— The screen went dark.
The livestream ended.
And across countless homes, phones, computers, and televisions, people sat staring at blank screens for a few extra seconds.
The mansion gradually grew quiet.
The laughter from dinner faded.
The conversations ended one by one.
Lights throughout the vast mansion began switching off.
Doors closed.
Footsteps disappeared into distant hallways.
Mahim finished reviewing the last of his documents and finally headed upstairs.
Mahi followed soon after, reminding everyone to sleep before leaving the dining room herself.
Fahad disappeared into his room after one final phone call.
Fahim spent several extra minutes making absolutely certain Maya's fever had continued to drop before finally allowing himself to rest.
Even then, he looked reluctant to leave.
Fahan stretched tiredly, "Today was exhausting."
Faha laughed,
"You weren't even the one with the fever."
"I nearly got strangled."
"That was your fault."
"Exactly."
The argument continued all the way down the hallway.
One by one— The lights went out.
Outside, the wind whispered through the trees.
[10:00 AM ]
The grand hall gleams beneath golden chandeliers.
Thousands of crystal fragments catch the morning light and scatter it across the polished marble floor like liquid gold.
Soft orchestral music drifts through the room.
The kind of music designed to fill silence without demanding attention.
Today is a celebration, A rare one.
One of Faha's dramas has become an extraordinary success.
The numbers are almost unbelievable.
Billions of views.
Countless discussions.
International attention.
Awards are already being predicted.
Social media is overflowing with praise.
Naturally—
The Sunayana family decides that such an achievement deserves recognition.
So the mansion's grand hall is transformed into a private celebration.
Long tables stretch across one side of the room.
Decorated with flowers and silver ornaments.
Fresh food is arranged with meticulous care.
Family members move throughout the hall.
Talking.
Congratulating Faha.
Faha stands near the center of the room.
A glass of juice in one hand.
Looking entirely too pleased with himself,
"I told everyone it would succeed."
Several people roll their eyes immediately.
Fahad folds his arms,
"You've said that fourteen times already."
"Because I was right."
"Fifteen."
The surrounding relatives laugh.
Faha points dramatically at him,
"You doubted me."
"I did."
"And now?"
Fahan takes a sip from his glass, "I still do."
The hall erupts with laughter.
Meanwhile—
Mahi is speaking with several relatives nearby.
Occasionally smiling at the conversations unfolding around her.
Mahim stands beside a group of military officers and family friends.
Across the hall—
Fahan is enthusiastically explaining statistics to anyone willing to listen.
Unfortunately for everyone nearby, many people make the mistake of listening.
"The growth curve is incredible."
Someone sighs,
"Please stop showing us graphs at a party."
"They're important graphs."
"No graph is important enough for this."
More laughter follows.
Near one of the large windows—
Rahi sits comfortably in an armchair.
Watching the room.
Unlike everyone else, he seems entirely content to let the celebration unfold without participating too much.
And Maya —
She sits on a sofa near the edge of the hall.
A sketchbook resting on her lap.
Pencil moving slowly across the page.
Scratch.... Scratch... Scratch.
The celebration swirls around her.
Several relatives attempt to include her in conversations.
"Maya, are you enjoying the party?"
She looks up, Then nods once.
"Yes."
For some reason, it makes everyone smile.
A little later—
One of the younger cousins peeks over her shoulder, "What are you drawing?"
The cousin's eyes widen, " Ohh.... That's amazing."
Several others immediately gather nearby.
Trying to see.
Within minutes, a small crowd has formed around the sofa.
The situation becomes mildly absurd.
Maya continues drawing peacefully.
While everyone else watches as though witnessing a live performance.
"How does she do that?"
"I don't know."
"The hands look real."
"They practically are."
Even Faha eventually notices, "Wait."
He walks over,
"Why does she have a larger audience than me at my own celebration?"
The room immediately bursts into laughter.
"Skill issue."
"Try drawing better."
"Become more interesting."
Faha places a hand dramatically over his heart, "I am being attacked."
"No."
Fahim speaks without looking up from his drink, "You are being evaluated."
That somehow earns even more laughter.
Even some of the older relatives are smiling now.
Not because the joke is particularly clever—
But because watching Faha lose a popularity contest to a girl quietly drawing in a corner is unexpectedly entertaining.
Faha points accusingly toward Maya,
"She's not even trying."
"She's winning accidentally, Natural talent."
"No," Fahan says, raising a finger,
"This is market domination."
A cushion immediately flies toward him,
"Stop turning everything into business."
The cushion hits his shoulder.
Fahan looks offended,"My analysis was correct."
"It wasn't necessary."
"Those are different things."
More laughter follows.
As the celebration continued, attention gradually shifted toward the towering collection of gifts gathered near the center of the hall.
Dozens upon dozens of boxes rested beneath the golden glow of the chandeliers.
Some were wrapped in elegant silk.
Some in embossed paper decorated with gold patterns.
Each package carried a name.
A gesture of affection.
Family members gathered around them with growing enthusiasm.
Boxes were passed from hand to hand.
Ribbons were untied, wrapping paper rustled softly.
Hands brushed across smooth silk and rich velvet.
Delicate ornaments emerged from protective packaging.
Rare books , luxury watches.
Handcrafted artwork, personal keepsakes.
One gift after another revealed itself, each greeted with smiles and occasional surprise.
Then— Fahish noticed something.
Nestled among the brightly colored gifts sat a small box wrapped in deep green silk.
Unlike the others, it seemed strangely understated.
No decorative ribbon, no elaborate card.
He frowned slightly.
Something about it drew his attention.
Because it felt out of place.
Curiosity flickered across his face,
"What is this?"
A few nearby relatives glanced over,
"No idea."
"Open it."
Fahis picked up the box.
Immediately, he noticed something unusual.
The weight is not heavy.
Just... peculiar.
His fingers traced the sharp edges beneath the silk wrapping. A faint crease appeared between his brows.
Carefully, he peeled away the silk.
The green wrapping fell away.
Revealing a plain black container.
No sender's name.
Nothing.
He slowly opened it.
Click.
Inside rested a single object.
A BLACK MEMORY CHIP.
The conversations around the hall gradually faded.
One by one, people noticed the object.
Mahim's eyes narrowed.
Fahim stopped speaking mid-sentence.
Rahi's gaze lifted from across the room
Instantly.
A murmur rippled through the hall.
People leaned closer.
Eyes fixed on the tiny black memory chip resting in Fahish's hand.
Whispers emerged from every corner of the room.
"Wait... what?"
"A memory chip?"
"Who gives that as a gift?"
"Is it a video?"
"Maybe it's a movie trailer."
"No, then why not just send a link?"
"Good point."
"What if it's a message?"
"A message from who?"
"There's no sender's name."
Several relatives moved closer.
Trying to get a better look.
Someone frowned,
"Is there anything written on it?"
Fahish turned the chip over, "No."
The whispers continued.
"Then who sent it?"
"Was it delivered with the others?"
"It must have been."
Across the hall, Mahim's expression became noticeably more serious, his military instincts were already awake.
Curiosity had completely consumed the younger members of the family.
"Plug it in."
" Yes, plug it. "
"Let's see what's inside."
" Maybe it's something important."
"What if it's a surprise?"
"What kind of surprise arrives anonymously?"
Fahish slid the memory chip into the projector.
A low mechanical whir filled the hall.
Static appeared.
Then the image stabilized.
A child appeared, no older than four or five.
She sat alone on a metal chair.
Thick black hair framed a pale face.
Her clothes looked worn.
Her hands were clenched tightly against her chest as though she was trying to make herself smaller.
As though she was afraid of taking up too much space.
But it wasn't the appearance that caught everyone's attention, It was the eyes.
Unusually empty.
Faha leaned forward, his smile disappeared.
"Wait a moment."
He pointed at the screen,
"Hummmmmmmmmmmm .... Look at her.
Doesn't she look like Maya?"
Several people blinked, then looked again.
Fahad slowly narrowed his eyes,
"I think so too."
His voice had become quieter,
"The eyes look like Maya's just younger."
Several family members felt a chill run down their spine.
Fahan swallowed, "...That's creepy."
"I Also Think So. "
The entire hall stared at the projection.
After several long seconds, Fahad suddenly leaned forward,
"Wait, she doesn't look like Maya."
A heartbeat .
"She is Maya."
Every eye snapped back toward the projection, the child sat alone beneath the harsh lighting.
Fahan stared at the screen,
"But...What is she doing there?"
The image on the screen trembled slightly.
Then—
A shadow appeared, a man wearing a doctor's coat.
The white fabric should have looked reassuring, but it felt wrong.
The child immediately became more tense.
Several people in the hall exchanged uneasy glances,"Why is she reacting like that...?"
Nobody answered.
The man moved closer.
STRIKE.
She recoiled instinctively.
ANOTHER STRIKE.
THEN ANOTHER.
AND ANOTHER.
Each Sound Echoed Through The Speaker.
Each one shattered the carefully constructed air of the hall.
HE KICK HER IN THE STOMACH.
His Actions Were Relentless.
AGAIN AND AGAIN.
The child shrank back instinctively, but there was nowhere to go.
The cheerful atmosphere of the celebration vanished completely.
Mahi slowly raised a hand to her mouth.
Fahan stared at the screen in disbelief,
"What kind of person does that to a child...?"
His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Stop..., " Someone whispered.
"Stop it. "
"Stop it, please. "
"What is this?? "
"What the hell is this??? "