The Silence That Spoke

The Unraveling Threads

The streets of Chaandbagh were alive with whispers. Zarnab Safeer’s social media post had done its job—everyone knew why she was here. Some were intrigued, others outraged, but most just watched from the sidelines, waiting for a scandal to unfold.

Zarnab, however, had no time for their stares. She was sitting across from Faris, in a dimly lit café, stirring her untouched coffee.

"You’re actually serious about this, aren’t you?" Faris leaned back in his chair, watching her intently.

Zarnab exhaled. "I didn’t come all this way to quit now."

Faris smirked. "I admire your determination, but you do realize that digging into Saisha’s past won’t end well for you?"

Zarnab narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to scare me off?"

"Just making sure you know what you’re getting into," he said, taking a sip of his tea. "This town doesn’t forget easily, and neither does Ahil."

Zarnab’s fingers tightened around her cup. Ahil.

The man who had been accused but never charged. The man who had exiled himself, despite never being proven guilty.

And now, the entire town was watching their every move.

--

That evening, Zarnab sat in her rented apartment, her laptop open, files spread out across the table.

She had spent the last two days digging into Saisha Qadir’s life, but something wasn’t adding up.

Saisha was engaged to Ahil—arranged, not love—but she had been seeing someone else. A hidden relationship. Someone she had betrayed.

Zarnab scrolled through old social media posts, searching for a clue, when a new message popped up.

Mina Arif: Zarnab, I swear to God, you need to stop this before it’s too late.

Zarnab: I’m fine, Mina.

Mina: No, you’re not. I heard someone followed you today. A guy named Tariq said he saw someone near the café, watching you.

Zarnab frowned.

Someone was watching her?

Her heart pounded, but she pushed the fear aside. She had come here for answers, and she wasn’t leaving without them.