chapter 9
1429 Words
Zulfishan hadn’t slept all night.
The picture Azfar left behind kept flashing in her mind. His note. His threat. His twisted connection to her father.
The only person she trusted now was Aabi.
She reached the office early and called him to meet her in the rooftop lounge — a quiet place where they could talk without fear of being heard.
Aabi arrived with a serious look on his face, but when he saw Zulfishan standing near the railing, pale and silent, his expression softened.
“You okay?” he asked gently.
She shook her head. “No. I feel like everything is falling apart.”
He walked closer and handed her a cup of warm coffee. “Tell me everything.”
She showed him the photo, the message, and her father’s diary. Aabi went quiet for a while as he read through each word carefully.
When he looked up, something changed in his eyes — concern, anger… and something deeper.
“He was in your house, Zulfi. He stood in your garden. That’s not just a threat — that’s personal. He’s trying to scare you into silence.”
“I won’t be silent,” she said firmly.
Aabi stepped forward and gently took her hand.
“You don’t have to fight this alone,” he said softly. “I’m here.”
Zulfishan looked up at him. “But why? Why are you always there for me, Aabi? I don’t even know much about you.”
Aabi didn’t let go of her hand.
“Maybe I don’t show it much,” he began, “but ever since I met you, something in me changed. I’ve worked with a lot of people, but no one has affected me like you do.”
Zulfishan’s heart skipped a beat.
“You always look so strong… so sure,” she whispered.
“I am,” he smiled faintly. “Except when it comes to you.”
The silence between them was filled with emotion.
Zulfishan didn’t pull her hand back. For the first time, she felt safe — not just protected, but understood.
Aabi walked her to the couch nearby. They sat down, facing each other.
“You need to open that file now,” he said, serious again. “Whatever is in it, we’ll face it together.”
She nodded.
With a deep breath, she took out her laptop and plugged in the USB.
As the folder opened, Aabi placed his hand on her shoulder.
A soft, quiet gesture — but one that made her heart tremble.
Inside the folder were dozens of hidden documents.
One caught her eye immediately: “The Zulfishan Project – Classified.”
She opened it.
A video file played.
Her father appeared on the screen — older, tired, but still composed.
“If you're seeing this, it means Azfar has returned.
He’s not just after money. He’s after a formula — something I created years ago.
A system that can hack into secure networks. I hid it inside a personal code, a code only Zulfishan can unlock.
Because I built it… around her voice.”
Zulfishan gasped.
“My voice?”
Aabi leaned in. “He hid the formula inside a biometric pattern — your voice is the password.”
Tears filled her eyes. “That’s why Azfar is after me. Not just because of my father, but because… I am the key.”
Aabi stood up and paced the room. “That means you’re in more danger than we thought. He won’t stop until he gets what he wants.”
“And what if I don’t give it to him?”
“Then he’ll try to take it… by force.”
Aabi walked back to her and placed both hands on her shoulders.
“Zulfi, I promise you. I won’t let that happen. Not as long as I’m alive.”
She looked into his eyes and saw something she hadn’t seen before — a fierce protectiveness, yes, but also something gentler…
Love?
She didn’t say anything. Just placed her hand over his and whispered:
“I trust you, Aabi.”
He smiled. “That’s all I need.”
Far below, hidden from sight, a man stood near the parking area — his face cold, his silver snake ring catching the sunlight.
He made a call.
“They opened the file.”
Then he whispered her name…
“Zulfishan.”
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It was a silent night, but Zulfishan's was not.
She sat on the rooftop of the office once more, the gentle breeze caressing her face. The words of her father in the video continued echoing in her mind — "Your voice is the key."
She could sense a storm brewing within her.
And at its center… was Aabi.
She sensed the door at her back opening.
It was him.
Aabi said nothing. He approached, wrapped his jacket lightly around her shoulders, and sat down beside her.
Zulfishan turned to him.
"You always know when I need you," she whispered.
He smiled. "It's not difficult. You're always trying to do everything yourself."
There was a silence again — but a gentle, calm one.
"I don't want to do it myself anymore," she confessed.
“You don’t have to,” Aabi said, reaching out and gently taking her hand. “I’m here. I’ll stay here.”
Zulfishan felt her heart race.
His touch wasn’t just comforting — it felt like safety. Like home.
Aabi leaned in, closer than ever before.
His voice dropped low. “Zulfi… I can’t hide this anymore. I care about you. Too much. And if anything happens to you, I won’t survive it.”
Zulfishan’s breath caught.
“I… I feel the same,” she whispered.
For a second, the danger, the files, the secrets — they all faded.
All she saw was him.
His eyes. His warmth. His truth.
And then — Aabi’s phone rang.
He quickly stood up and answered.
His expression changed.
Cold. Serious.
He ended the call and looked at her.
"I have to go," he said. "Azfar just showed up."
Zulfishan's eyes widened. "What? Where?"
"He's at the lower parking lot. Waiting. For me."
"For you?"
"Yes. Alone."
---
Within minutes, Aabi was walking through the dimly lit parking area.
A shadow stepped out from behind a pillar.
Azfar.
He hadn’t aged much — tall, confident, and deadly calm. The silver snake ring on his finger shone in the low light.
“I was wondering when we’d meet again,” Aabi said.
Azfar smirked. “You always liked playing hero.”
“And you always liked breaking people.”
Azfar laughed softly. “Still so dramatic.”
“What do you want?”
“I want the girl. The formula. The voice. The file.”
Aabi took a step nearer. "You'll receive nothing."
"Is that a threat?" Azfar c****d an eyebrow.
"It's a promise."
Azfar's expression turned steely. "Don't be an i***t, Aabi. I know you're in love with her. But she's not going to be safe with you. Or anyone."
Aabi didn't flinch. "She's safest with me."
Azfar stepped closer, his voice hushed now.
"She has no idea what her father built. What she's truly holding inside her. When she finds out… it'll break her."
"She's stronger than you think."
Azfar gave a cruel smile. "Then let's see how strong she is when I take everything from her. One by one."
---
Aabi clenched his fists, every muscle tense — but he didn't attack. Not yet.
"You'll regret it," he warned.
Azfar backed into the shadows. "We'll see."
And then he was gone.
---
---
Upstairs in the flat, Zulfishan waited, her chest tight with fear.
When Aabi came back, she ran to him.
"What happened? Are you okay?"
He nodded slowly. "He is trying to scare us. But I am not backing down."
She placed a hand on his chest, feeling the tension under his calm words.
“Aabi… promise me,” she said, her voice trembling. “If this gets worse, if something happens to me—”
“No.” He cut her off.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He cupped her face gently. “Nothing will happen to you. I won’t let it.”
For a moment, their eyes met — full of unspoken words.
And then, without the slightest warning, he leaned down and kissed her forehead — a soft, long, lingering kiss that said everything he hadn't yet thought out to say in words.
Zulfishan closed her eyes.
She was falling.
And this time, she wasn't afraid.
---
- Writer
