chapter 10
1394 Words
Zulfishan had barely slept in days.
Her mind was full — Aabi’s closeness, Azfar’s threats, her father’s video, and the heavy truth that her own voice held the key to something dangerous.
But today, something else troubled her.
She had seen Mawra late last night in the office basement — whispering on the phone, looking over her shoulder, and slipping a small envelope into her handbag.
That wasn’t normal.
Zulfishan hadn’t said anything then, but her instincts told her something was wrong.
---
That morning, Zulfishan walked into the main office earlier than usual. She wanted answers. Her plan was simple — stay alert, observe, and trust no one.
Even though Mawra greeted her with her usual sweet smile, Zulfishan noticed her fingers were shaking as she poured coffee.
“You’re here early,” Zulfishan said.
"So are you," Mawra answered, smiling with a soft laugh.
Zulfishan smiled too, but didn't let her eyes drop.
---
Later in the afternoon, Zulfishan went to the records room — the room where all the employee files, access logs, and camera footage were kept. She employed the key Mehreen had previously provided her.
While she scrolled through last week's access logs, she noticed something unusual.
An unauthorized login.
At 2:38 AM.
From Mehreen's ID.
After Mehreen had already disappeared.
Zulfishan's heart fell.
She printed the log sheet and closed the cabinet once more.
Someone was impersonating Mehreen's identity.
And someone in the office was cooperating with them.
---
When she came back to her desk, she had a note left on her chair. No signature. No handwriting.
It said:
> "Don't trust the ones closest to you.".
Observe what they conceal.
She stood still.
---
Was that a threat?
Or a warning?
She folded the note hastily and kept it in her drawer.
---
Later in the night, she picked Aabi up from the café on the other side of the road.
She presented him with the printed log and the note.
He seemed restless. "This is not an inside job. This is being orchestrated."
Zulfishan inched closer. "I believe someone's manipulating Mawra."
Aabi raised an eyebrow. “You suspect her?”
“She’s been different lately. Nervous. Secretive. And she was at the office last night.”
Aabi frowned. “We need proof.”
“I’ll get it,” she said.
Aabi sighed and looked at her with concern. “Zulfi… this is getting more dangerous. Be careful.”
She looked into his eyes and whispered, “I’m not afraid. Not as long as you’re with me.”
He nodded, but his eyes never lost their concern.
---
---
That evening, Zulfishan trailed Mawra from the parking lot of the office.
She watched her meet a guy in a car — a black Honda with tinted windows. They spoke for one minute. Mawra gave him something — a silver pen drive — and departed in haste.
Zulfishan remained concealed behind the wall.
The man glanced up for a moment before driving away.
She could see his face.
Azfar.
Her blood froze.
---
She went back home, shaken.
Mawra was collaborating with Azfar?
Or was she being manipulated?
She couldn't sleep. Her hands were going over the scene again and again in her mind — the silver USB, the hasty meeting, Azfar's composed face.
And now Mehreen's a*******n made sense.
Someone within had assisted him.
Someone close.
---
The following morning, Zulfishan phoned Aabi and informed him of everything.
He remained quiet for quite a while on the phone.
"Keep your distance from Mawra for now," he said eventually. "We don't yet know whether she is doing this by choice or not, but one thing is certain — she is involved."
Zulfishan felt her heart shatter a little.
Mawra was her sister.
Her sole remaining family.
And now… perhaps her greatest betrayal.
---
Zulfishan left the office late that evening, her bag tightly pressed against her shoulder. The streets were half-empty, with streetlights flickering and shadows stretching across the road. She usually took a rickshaw or walked part of the way, but tonight, something felt different.
She glanced over her shoulder.
A man in a black hoodie was walking behind her — not too close, but not far either. She turned a corner quickly. He followed.
Her heartbeat quickened.
She pulled out her phone to call a rickshaw, but her hands trembled so badly she dropped it.
The man behind her picked up pace.
Just as he stepped closer — a voice shouted from across the street.
“Zulfi! Run this way!”
It was Aabi.
Without thinking, Zulfishan sprinted toward him.
The man lunged, grabbing her bag strap — but Aabi reached in time, yanked the attacker back, and threw a punch straight into his jaw.
The man stumbled, pulled out a small knife, and swung — missing Aabi by inches.
Aabi ducked and punched again, this time knocking the man to the ground.
Zulfishan gasped, frozen in fear. Her knees felt weak.
The man looked up, blood on his lip, and hissed, “You think you’re protecting her? He’s already watching.”
Then he fled into the alley, disappearing in seconds.
Aabi rushed to Zulfishan. “Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
She shook her head, still in shock. “I–I don’t know. I was walking like always… and then…”
Her voice broke. A tear slipped down.
Aabi gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “You’re safe now. I’ve got you.”
She looked at him. “Why were you there?”
“I’ve been watching over you since Azfar’s name came up again. I couldn’t risk it.”
Zulfishan stared into his eyes. “I’ve never been this scared before.”
He pulled her into a quiet embrace.
She let herself fall into it.
No words. Just his warmth. His breath steady. His hand protectively resting on her back.
She never realized how much she needed someone to hold her like this.
A moment later, footsteps approached fast.
“Zulfishan!”
She looked up — it was Salman.
He came running, breathing heavily. “I saw someone following you. I was trying to catch up.”
His eyes moved to Aabi, then back to her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded slowly.
Salman looked at the bruises on Aabi’s knuckles. “You fought him?”
Aabi replied calmly, “Yes. He was armed.”
Salman’s jaw clenched. “This is getting serious. You shouldn’t be walking alone.”
“I didn’t think I’d need protection just walking home,” Zulfishan said, voice heavy.
“You do now,” Aabi said, softly but firmly.
Zulfishan noticed the look between the two men — tense, complicated. Something unsaid passed between them.
“I think we all need to stop pretending this is normal,” she said.
Salman took a step closer. “I care about you, Zulfi. If anything happened—”
Aabi interrupted, “Let’s not make this about who cares more. Let’s focus on keeping her safe.”
Salman looked away, silent.
Later that night, Aabi walked Zulfishan all the way to her building. He didn’t speak much. He just stayed close.
Outside her door, she turned to him. “Thank you, Aabi.”
“For what?”
“For being there. Every time.”
He smiled faintly. “Always.”
She looked down. “I feel like everything around me is falling apart. But you… you make me feel steady.”
His expression changed — softer, warmer. “That’s because you’ve always been my center. You just didn’t know it yet.”
For a moment, silence wrapped around them again.
Then he stepped back, respectful, protective.
“Lock the door. Don’t open it unless it’s me or someone you trust.”
“I trust you,” she said quietly.
He nodded, and walked away.
Inside, Zulfishan sat on her bed, hands shaking slightly as she opened her diary.
“Today, someone tried to hurt me.
But someone else stopped them.
I don’t know who to fear more — the shadows outside or the ones hiding in plain sight.
Aabi’s arms felt like home.
Salman’s eyes felt like a question.
And I… don’t know the answer yet.”
She paused…
Then wrote:
“What if someone close to me… is leading them all to me?”
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- Writer
