A life of secrets

chapter 17

The night was finally quiet.

Azfar had been taken into police custody. The warehouse was now sealed off, and the nightmare that had haunted Zulfishan for weeks had finally ended… or so it seemed.

Zulfishan sat on the steps outside the hospital, the cold breeze brushing against her wet hair. Her clothes still had stains from the warehouse dust. Her hands trembled — not from cold, but from the weight of what she had survived.

Aabi walked out of the emergency ward after getting Mawra’s medical report. He spotted Zulfishan alone and rushed to her.

“Zulfi… you shouldn’t be sitting out here. Come inside.”

She didn’t respond. Her eyes were fixed on the sky.

Aabi knelt beside her. “Talk to me…”

She finally spoke, her voice low, almost broken. “My father… he created that program. That mind-controlling curse… and he used me in it. My brain, my voice… why, Aabi? Why would he do that?”

Aabi held her hand gently. “He must have done it to protect something. Maybe he had no choice… or maybe he didn’t know how it would be misused.”

She looked at him, her eyes watery. “Azfar knew everything. He used you… he almost destroyed you. And I couldn’t stop him.”

Aabi clenched his jaw. “I remember… flashes of how he controlled my mind, gave me orders I didn’t understand. But seeing you… it always brought me back.”

Zulfishan slowly rested her head on his shoulder. For the first time in days, she allowed herself to lean on someone.

“I feel like I’ve lost myself,” she whispered. “Everything I knew… was a lie.”

“No,” he said firmly, holding her close. “You’re stronger than ever. You survived. You protected everyone.”

Inside the hospital, Mawra was resting while Salman stood near the window, silent.

Mrs. Hussain walked into the ward, holding a flask of tea. She had come as soon as she heard the news.

“Mawra beta, are you feeling okay now?” she asked softly, placing a blanket over her.

Mawra gave a weak nod. “Thank you… for being here.”

Mrs. Hussain sat beside her. “You’re like my daughter now. And Zulfishan too. I won’t let anyone harm either of you again.”

She looked at Salman with narrowed eyes. “You knew something, didn’t you?”

Salman sighed. “I did… and I was a coward. I helped build the program… I thought it was for research. I didn’t know Azfar would use it like this.”

Mrs. Hussain didn’t yell. She simply said, “Then fix what’s left.”

Back outside, Zulfishan finally stood up. “I want to see Mawra.”

Aabi nodded, supporting her as they walked inside.

The moment Zulfishan entered the room, Mawra’s eyes welled up. She sat up slowly and opened her arms.

Zulfishan rushed to her, embracing her tightly.

“I thought I’d lost you,” she sobbed.

“You didn’t,” Mawra said through tears. “You saved me. Like you always do.”

Salman stepped forward. “Zulfi…”

She turned toward him.

“I know sorry isn’t enough,” he said. “But I swear… I didn’t know the truth until it was too late. And when I did — I destroyed everything I could.”

Zulfishan looked at him long and hard. “You betrayed me. You watched me suffer. But… you also saved us. So for now — I’ll stay silent.”

Salman lowered his gaze. “Fair enough.”

Mrs. Hussain came forward and gently touched Zulfishan’s head. “Beta, your father was a good man. Maybe he got trapped in something dark… but his intentions can still be saved through you.”

Zulfishan blinked back tears. “But how? Everything’s ruined.”

“No,” she smiled. “You are alive. Your sister is alive. You still have time to write your own future.”

Later that night, Aabi drove Zulfishan and Mawra back home. Their stepmother greeted them at the door, her face pale.

She tried to hug Zulfishan, but Zulfishan stepped back.

“You knew everything… didn’t you?” she asked coldly.

Her stepmother didn’t deny it. “I was scared. Azfar threatened me. I didn’t want to lose you girls… but I didn’t stop him either.”

Zulfishan stared at her, rage boiling under her skin. “You don’t get to act like a mother now.”

Mawra held her sister’s hand tightly, her own anger matching Zulfishan’s.

“From now on,” Zulfishan said, “we protect each other. We don’t need you.”

Their stepmother’s eyes filled with tears, but they turned away and walked inside.

Aabi stayed behind, watching them from the doorway.

Mrs. Hussain called him later that night.

“Aabi, … now that all this is behind us, I want to talk to you about something.”

“Yes, Mom?”

“I think it’s time you settled down. Find someone strong. Someone who understands your heart.”

Aabi paused. “I already have someone, mom".

Mrs. Hussain smiled through the phone. “Then don’t waste time.”

Aabi hung up and looked at Zulfishan, sitting quietly in the living room, staring into nothing.

She was broken. Hurt. Scarred.

But still breathing.

Still fighting.

And he… he had never loved her more.

---

The morning sun peeked through the curtains, lighting up the silent house. Zulfishan sat at her father’s old desk — the same desk where he used to write late into the night when she was younger. The drawers were dusty now, untouched for months.

But today, something pulled her here.

Something told her — the truth wasn’t finished yet.

She slowly opened each drawer. Old files. Expired IDs. Receipts. Nothing unusual.

Until… she opened the bottom drawer.

A sealed brown envelope sat inside, with her name written in faded ink.

"Zulfishan Shah."

Her hands trembled as she opened it.

Inside was a USB drive.

And a letter — handwritten in her father’s familiar, neat writing.

> “If you are reading this, it means I’m gone. And you’ve discovered part of the truth. But my dear Zulfi, the project was never meant for harm. I was forced… Azfar took control of it in ways I never imagined. But the key to shutting it down — permanently — lies with you. You must find Project Echo. Use the voice code inside you. End this madness. And never trust the ones who smile too easily.”

Zulfishan’s breath caught.

She stared at the USB, heart pounding.

Project Echo?

Her father's real purpose?

“Zulfi?” Mawra entered, hair still messy from sleep. “You’re up early.”

Zulfishan quickly wiped her tears and hid the letter. “Couldn’t sleep.”

Mawra sat beside her. “You okay?”

“No,” Zulfi whispered. “But I think I found something.”

---

Later that afternoon, Zulfishan met Aabi at the university’s tech lab — a place where her father used to secretly test parts of his project. The lab was abandoned now, unused since Arsalan Shah's death.

Zulfishan inserted the USB into the old system.

A screen lit up, asking for a voice code.

She hesitated. “What do I say?”

Aabi gently touched her arm. “Try your full name. The way your father used to call you.”

Zulfishan took a deep breath. “Zulfishan Shah… daughter of Arsalan Shah".

Beep… Access granted.

The screen unlocked.

Lines of encrypted code began scrolling.

A hidden video popped up — it showed her father speaking in urgency.

> “If this reaches you, Zulfishan… know that Project Echo is voice-bound to you. You are the final shutdown key. Azfar only had half the access. I hid the rest in your voice pattern to protect you… and the world. If Azfar activates the program fully, people could lose their free will. You must stop it. You must finish what I couldn’t.”

Zulfishan’s eyes filled with tears again.

Aabi stood silently, then pulled her into his arms. “I’m so proud of you. He trusted you, Zulfi… and I do too.”

She clutched his shirt tightly. “Aabi, what if I fail? What if I become the reason someone else gets hurt?”

He cupped her face gently. “Then I’ll be your shield. I’ll stand between you and everything dark. Always.”

Her heart pounded. There was something in his voice… possessiveness, softness, and a promise.

She looked away shyly.

---

Meanwhile, Salman stood outside Arsalan Shah’s old office building, now locked and forgotten. A strange guilt followed him like a shadow. His choices had hurt Zulfishan — again and again.

But he had made a decision.

He called a contact.

“I want all files linked to Project Echo transferred to Zulfishan Shah’s name,” he said firmly. “I don’t care what Azfar ordered before. He’s gone now.”

Inside the house, the stepmother watched from the window.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She answered quietly.

A distorted voice spoke: “Don’t think this is over. The last code lies in the second phase — and someone else knows it too.”

She hung up, panic flashing in her eyes.

---

That night, Zulfishan sat in her room with Mawra. They both sipped warm tea, tired but a little peaceful after days of chaos.

“Mawra,” Zulfi asked softly, “Why didn’t you ever tell me you were part of the project?”

Mawra lowered her gaze. “I didn’t know the whole truth. I thought I was just working on data. Azfar never told me your voice was the key.”

Zulfishan nodded slowly. “We’ve both been used… by people who were supposed to protect us.”

Mawra reached out and took her hand. “But we’re stronger now. And we’re together.”

Just then, a gentle knock came at the door.

Aabi.

He stepped inside, slightly awkward. “Can I talk to Zulfishan for a moment?”

Mawra nodded and left with a teasing smirk.

Zulfishan stood up, unsure.

Aabi walked closer. “I just wanted to say… I know the timing is wrong. Everything is messy. But you’re not alone.”

She looked at him, confused. “Why are you saying this now?”

“Because,” he said, voice low and warm, “I almost lost you. And that changed everything for me.”

She stepped back slightly, flustered. “Aabi—”

He took her hand gently. “I won’t force anything. But just know… whatever comes next, I’ll be with you. As your friend, your shield… or more. Whatever you need.”

Zulfishan’s cheeks flushed slightly. But she didn’t pull her hand away.

For now, she didn’t have all the answers.

But she knew one thing — she was done being afraid.

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