THE PRICE OF LOVE

Episode 8 :The Trap is Closing

At the same time, Ali Khan was sitting in the study room of his house writing in a diary:

"Day 15: First coffee with Saba complete. Reaction: Positive. She is starting to trust me. Next step: Interfere in her personal life. Offer to help her family."

But the pen stopped. He fell into thought.

Yesterday Saba's smile in the coffee shop... that innocence... that truth... all this was not part of the plan. He looked at his hands. These were the hands that were ready to spread destruction. But now...

His phone pulled him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Sami:

"How is the work going? Is she trapped?"

Ali Khan started writing a reply: "Yes, everything is fine. She..."

He stopped. Deleted the words. Wrote a new message: "I need time. The situation is complicated."

Sami replied immediately: "What happened? Are you starting to feel sorry for her? Remember, she insulted you."

Insulted. Yes. That day. That slap. That anger. That intention of revenge.

But then... the wetness in Saba's eyes when she talked about her father. Her hand when she held the coffee cup. The tremor in her voice when she said: "You are good."

Ali Khan threw the phone. He got up. Stood in front of the glass wall. Outside were the lights of the city. Millions of people. Millions of stories.

And his own story? Did he really want to become a cruel person? Would his name always be remembered as 'the one who took revenge'?

He covered his face with his hands. He couldn't recognize himself. Who was he? The Ali Khan who controlled everything? Or the Ali Khan who felt better in Saba's presence?

The truth was that Saba had given him something he never had: acceptance without conditions.

It was not that Saba was impressed by his money. Nor by his cars. Nor by his influence. She saw him. Only him. Ali Khan.

And this feeling... this feeling was new for him. Dangerous. Attractive.

There was a knock on the door. It was his mother.

"Son, the food is getting cold."

"I'm coming, mother."

Mother. A word he had been using since childhood. But today it had a new meaning. Because Saba also talked about her mother with the same love.

Ali Khan looked at his reflection in the mirror.

"Who are you?" he asked softly. "And what do you want to become?"

No answer came from the mirror. There was only a rich boy who was lost in his own existence.

And behind him, on the table lay that diary in which he had written the whole plan to destroy Saba. Every step. Every trick. Every tactic.

But now that diary looked like empty pages. Because the story of his heart was different from it.

So different that maybe he himself could not read it now.

Outside the company, Ali Khan was sitting in his car waiting for Saba. The evening lights were falling on his face, but there was the same old coldness in his eyes.

When Saba came out, he waved with a smile. "Here!"

"Sorry to make you wait," Saba said, sitting in the car.

"You are worth waiting for," Ali Khan said, with a sweetness in his voice that was no longer spontaneous.

The car started moving. "How is your father?" Ali Khan asked.

"Better. Because of your prayers," Saba said.

"Prayers..." Ali Khan smiled lightly. "Yes, I pray for you."

Lie. He never prayed. But Saba needed to hear this.

"You are really good, Ali Khan," Saba said, looking at him.

Ali Khan just smiled in reply. Good? You don't know yet how bad I am.

The restaurant was in the best area of the city. Everything was shiny, everything was expensive. Saba felt like a stranger in her simple clothes.

"Come here," Ali Khan pulled out her chair.

"Thank you," Saba said shyly.

During dinner Ali Khan kept his full attention on Saba. Every question, every talk, every smile. Calculated. Planned.

"You know," he said, swirling his juice glass "You have brought a revolution in my life."

Saba looked at him in surprise. "How?"

"You taught me that life is not only about money and power." Lie. He still believed that. "You taught me the meaning of love."

The word "love" hung in the air. Saba's face turned red.

"I..." she started to say.

"No, don't say anything," Ali Khan said softly. "Just... you are special."

Dinner was over. While going out, Ali Khan took off his coat and put it on Saba's shoulders. "It's cold."

"You will get cold," Saba said.

"I'm fine. You are more important." The answer was calculated.

Going back in the car both were quiet. There was something in the air. Something unsaid. Something to be felt but not expressed.

The car stopped outside the hostel. Saba took off the coat. "Thank you. Today's evening was very beautiful."

"Yes," Ali Khan said. "Because of you."

There was a pause. Then Ali Khan said softly: "Can I meet you tomorrow too?"

Saba nodded with a smile. "Yes."

"Good," he said. "Go to sleep. Good night."

Saba went inside. As soon as the door closed, all the softness disappeared from Ali Khan's face.

He picked up the phone. Called Sami.

"The work is done."

"In how much time?" Sami asked.

"One month. Maximum," Ali Khan's voice had no emotions. "She is mine now. It's just a matter of time."

"And then?"

"And then..." Ali Khan started the car engine. "And then I will show her everything that she gave me. Slap. Humiliation. Hatred."

"Are you sure you will be able to do this?" Sami asked. "You are starting to take interest in her."

"Interest?" Ali Khan laughed. "Yes, I have interest. In destroying her." He was lying to his own heart which was repeatedly going towards Saba!!!

Ended the call. Increased the car speed. He was driving alone in the darkness of the night. There was only one scene in his mind. Saba's face. Her innocent smile.

For a moment, just for a moment, something shook in his heart.

'Maybe...'

But he shook off that thought. No. This is weakness. I am not weak.

Reached home. His mother asked: "Where were you, son?"

"I was with a friend." Lie.

"It's good. You should spend time with friends."

Ali Khan came to his room. Stood in front of the mirror. Looked at his face. The same face. But now there was a mask on it. A mask that was becoming difficult to remove.

The night deepened. Ali Khan could not sleep. There were two voices in his mind.

One: 'You will destroy her. This is your purpose.'

The second: 'But she is innocent. She trusts you.'

The first voice suppressed the second. As always.

Morning came. Ali Khan picked up his phone. Messaged Saba:

"Good morning. Hope you had a good sleep. Yesterday was very nice with you."

Reply came: "Good morning. Yes, mine too. Thank you."

A smile played on Ali Khan's lips. Now you are in my trap. And the trap is slowly closing.

And he knew that when this trap closes completely, Saba will have no way to get out.