beyond the vows

chapter 6

The warm glow of the living room lamps bathed the space in a soft golden hue as Musfira curled up on the couch beside her father. The faint aroma of chai lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp scent of the cool night breeze slipping through the slightly open window.

Ahmad Ali Agha, a man of quiet strength and wisdom, sat with a serene expression, his reading glasses resting on the bridge of his nose as he flipped through the pages of an old book. Despite his age, there was a certain timeless grace about him—a man whose presence exuded calmness, a silent protector who had built his world around his daughter.

Musfira absentmindedly tapped her fingers against her teacup, glancing at her father with a fond smile.

“Abu,” she began, tilting her head slightly. “Do you ever wonder how different life would have been if Ammi was still here?”

Ahmad Ali’s hand stilled over the book. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his features before he sighed, removing his glasses and placing them on the table. He turned toward his daughter, his deep brown eyes filled with warmth.

“Every single day, beta,” he admitted, his voice laced with a quiet longing. “She would have loved watching you grow into the strong woman you are today.”

Musfira’s smile faltered for a moment before she quickly masked it. She reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “I miss her too, Abu. But I’m grateful to have you.”

A small, tender silence settled between them, the kind that didn’t need words to be understood.

Breaking the quiet, Musfira cleared her throat, forcing a lighthearted tone. “Speaking of changes… can you believe I had to deal with a client yesterday who thought it was appropriate to mix business with cheap flirting?”

Ahmad Ali’s brows furrowed. “Who?”

She shrugged. “Just some old businessman named Aamir Qureshi. He was being… inappropriate.”

Ahmad Ali’s expression darkened slightly, his protective instincts flaring. “Did he do anything?”

“No, no,” Musfira reassured him. “Just made a few comments that I didn’t appreciate.” She rolled her eyes. “I shut him down quickly. But honestly, men like that are everywhere.”

Her father sighed, shaking his head. “It’s a cruel world, beta. Some men think power gives them the right to act without consequence.”

Musfira leaned back against the couch, nodding in agreement. “Thankfully, people like that eventually face karma.”

Just as she finished speaking, the television in front of them flickered to a breaking news segment. The bold red banner at the bottom of the screen flashed:

BREAKING NEWS: BUSINESS TYCOON AAMIR QURESHI FOUND DEAD IN MYSTERIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES

Musfira’s breath hitched. Her grip on the teacup tightened.

Ahmad Ali immediately reached for the remote, turning up the volume as the news anchor’s voice filled the room.

“Renowned businessman Aamir Qureshi was found dead early this morning in a forest outside the city. Sources indicate that his body was discovered under gruesome circumstances, though authorities have yet to disclose further details. Initial reports suggest foul play, and an investigation is currently underway…”

Musfira’s fingers trembled slightly against the ceramic of her cup. Dead? Aamir Qureshi was dead?

Her mind raced back to yesterday—to his lingering stares, his unsettling words. She had brushed him off, but now… now he was gone?

A chill crawled up her spine.

Ahmad Ali clicked his tongue in disapproval. “Another example of how dangerous this world is.” He exhaled deeply, shaking his head. “Whoever did this must have had a deep grudge against him.”

Musfira nodded numbly, but her thoughts were spiraling.

Who could have killed him?

Her stomach twisted with an unexplainable feeling—one that settled deep in her bones like an omen.