Zeeshan's POV
Searching for Bilqish day and night, worrying endlessly about her, had taken a toll on all of us. But the worst part was watching Ifra slowly lose herself in that worry.
She barely slept now. Barely ate. Her smile had faded into something forced and fragile.
And I hated seeing her like this. Yet, I had no right to console her. No right to promise her that everything would be fine.
Because I was one of the reasons it wasn't. So I somehow convinced her to come to the hospital for a check-up. She had been feeling weak for days, and I couldn't ignore it anymore.
That is how we ended up here.
Ifra was inside with the doctor, getting her blood tests done and undergoing routine check-ups, while I sat outside in the waiting area, pretending to scroll through my phone. Pretending to be calm. But inside, my heart was restless.
After almost twenty minutes, the door finally opened, and she came out with a small bandage on her arm.
"All done," she said softly.
I nodded. "Let's go."
We started walking towards the exit, ready to head back home, when sudden noise stopped us.
Voices.
Footsteps.
Guards.
A stretcher was being rushed inside. I looked up instinctively and then my world froze. A girl was being taken in.
Pale. Unconscious.
Surrounded by men in black.
Was that...
Bilqish?
My breath hitched. No... It could not be.
But it was... It was her.
We found her.
After all these months.
My heart started racing. I had to inform him.
Immediately.
"Ifra, let's go," I said urgently, tightening my hold on her wrist.
She frowned. "Wait. Let me at least see that poor girl."
"No," I said quickly. "Don't."
She tried to pull away. "Why not?"
"Don't you see those men?" I pointed subtly towards the security surrounding her. "Do you think they will let you pass through them?"
She followed my gaze and hesitated. Fortunately, she understood.
Without arguing further, she walked with me towards the parking area.
We reached my car.
"Go and sit," I told her. "I need to make a call."
She nodded and got inside. I dialled the number with trembling fingers.
The call connected.
"I found her," I said without wasting time.
"Her?" His voice sharpened. "Really?"
"Yes, sir."
"Come. We need to talk in detail."
"On my way."
I ended the call.
I got into the driver's seat and drove towards Ifra's house.
The entire ride, she kept looking outside the window, lost in her thoughts.
And I kept thinking about Bilqish.
About what would happen next.
About how complicated everything had become.
When we reached her house, I parked the car.
"Are you coming inside?" she asked, looking at me with those beautiful eyes of hers.
Hopeful.
Soft.
Trusting.
No man could ever say no to that look.
"Yes," I nodded.
I got down and followed her inside. Mrs. Raees opened the door. She greeted us warmly and took Ifra with her to discuss the doctor's report.
And I walked towards his study. Towards the man who had changed my life. The man who gave me shelter when I had nothing. Who supported me when I was lost. The man I owed everything to.
Mr. Raees.
I knocked. "Come in," came his muffled voice. I entered and sat across from his desk. Then I told him everything.
About the hospital. About Bilqish. About the security details. About the man who had brought her.
He listened in silence.
Until he didn't.
"Are you sure?" he thundered suddenly. "Because I have already lost my daughter once because of you. And now she is in the hands of the most dangerous person I know."
My chest tightened.
"You couldn't do the one job you were hired for," he continued harshly. "And now she is exactly where I never wanted her to be."
"I'm sorry, sir," I said quietly. "I failed. But now we know where she is. We can make a plan. We can bring her back safely."
He stared at me coldly.
"You better," he said. "Or you will lose the dream you are holding onto."
I looked up, confused.
"What do you mean, sir?" But he simply waved his hand. "Leave."
Dismissed.
I stood up and walked out and closed the door behind me and then I froze.
She was standing there.
Ifra.
Right outside. My heart dropped. She heard it. She heard everything.
This couldn't be happening. Not now. Not like this.
"Ifra..." I whispered. "Did you come to talk to your father?"
She looked at me. Her eyes were calm. Too calm.
"Yes," she replied. "But I found something more interesting to talk to you about."
My throat went dry.
"Will you tell me what that conversation was about?" she asked. "You found Bilqish. You knew the girl in the hospital was her. And you stopped me from meeting her."
She stepped closer.
Accusing. Hurt. Angry.
"Why?" she demanded. I took a step towards her. She stepped back.
"Look, I can explain," I said desperately.
"How?" she laughed bitterly. "How are you going to explain what I just heard?"
Her voice cracked.
"I want to hear you say it," she continued. "You became our friend only because my dad hired you, right?" My silence was answer enough.
"You were never real with me," she whispered. "It was all fake."
Every word felt like a knife.
"I never meant to hurt you," I said softly. "I swear I didn't."
"Then why are you quiet now?" she snapped. "Say something!"
I opened my mouth.
"I..."
"Just say yes or no," she cut me off. "Is everything I heard true?"
I looked down. I couldn't meet her eyes.
"Yes," I admitted.
The word tasted like poison. She stared at me for a second. Then turned away.
And walked.
I rushed after her.
"Ifra, wait!"
She didn't. She didn't look back. She didn't stop. She left.
And I stood there.
Watching the girl I loved walk away from me.
Because of the truth.
✨
Author's POV
Ifra did not stop walking. Not when her eyes filled with tears. Not when her chest started aching.
Not when every memory with Zeeshan replayed in her mind like a cruel joke.
She walked straight to her room.
Closed the door and leaned against it.
Slowly, her legs gave up. She slid down and sat on the floor. Her hands trembled.
Her heart felt heavy.
So heavy that breathing became difficult.
Everything felt fake now.
Every smile. Every joke. Every promise.
"Was any of it real?" she whispered to herself. She hugged her knees. Buried her face in them and cried silently.
Like someone who had run out of energy to even break down properly.
After a while, she wiped her face and took a deep breath and stood up.
Crying would not bring Bilqish back. Blaming herself would not help either.
She had lost her best friend once. She was not going to lose her again. Not without trying. She was going to find her.
She walked out of her room and went straight to her father's study.
Mr. Raees was standing near the window, lost in thought.
"Abu," she called softly. He turned around. "Beta?"
"We need to find Bilqish," she said firmly. "Right now."
He studied her face.
Saw the pain. The determination.
"You heard everything," he said quietly.
She nodded.
"Yes."
"I wanted to tell you," he sighed. "But I was afraid you would hate me."
"I do," she admitted honestly. "A little."
Then she looked up.
"But I care more about Bilqish right now."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"That is my daughter," he murmured.
Just then, a hesitant knock sounded.
They both turned. Zeeshan stood there.
Eyes tired. Face pale. Regret written all over him.
"Can I come in?" he asked quietly.
Ifra looked away. But her father nodded.
He entered.
"I'm sorry," Zeeshan said immediately. "I never wanted to hurt you."
"If you didn't," Ifra replied coldly, "then why did you?"
He had no answer.
"Look," Mr. Raees interrupted, "this is not the time for arguments. We have her location. That is what matters."
Zeeshan straightened.
"You do?"
"Yes," Mr. Raees said. "From the hospital records and security cameras."
Zeeshan's eyes widened. "Where?"
"A private estate outside the city," he replied. "Highly guarded."
Zeeshan hesitated.
Then spoke. "That sounds like Ehtisham's territory."
Ifra froze.
"Ehtisham?" she repeated.
"The same man who brought her to the hospital," Zeeshan confirmed. "I recognised some of his men."
Her heart sank.
"That means she is in danger," she whispered.
"No," Zeeshan replied. "It means she is being protected."
Both of them looked at him.
"What?" Mr. Raees asked sharply.
"He does not keep people unless he has a reason," Zeeshan explained. "If she is there, he will not let anyone harm her."
"Does that include us?" Ifra asked bitterly.
"I do not know," he admitted. "But I know one thing. We have to try. She doesn't belong there and we have to get her back."
After a moment of silence, Mr. Raees nodded.
"Prepare the car."
The drive was tense. No one spoke much.
Ifra sat near the window her hands clenched and heart racing.
Zeeshan kept glancing at her. Wanting to say something but not knowing how.
After almost an hour, they reached a massive iron gate.
Tall walls.
Cameras.
Armed guards.
The villa stood inside like a fortress.
"This is it," Zeeshan whispered.
A guard approached their car.
"State your purpose."
"We are here to meet Bilqish," Mr. Raees replied calmly.
The guard frowned. "You cannot enter."
Ifra leaned forward.
"Please," she said desperately. "She is my best friend and we have been finding her for months. Please let us meet her."
The guard looked unsure.
Then he took out his phone. Checked something and froze.
He looked at Ifra again.
Carefully.
He compared her face with the picture on his phone.
Then nodded.
"You may enter."
All three of them stared at him.
"What?" Zeeshan asked.
"Our boss gave us her photograph," the guard replied. "He ordered us to let her in if she ever came looking for Bilqish."
Ifra's breath hitched.
"He... did?"
"Yes, miss! but only one of you can go inside"
The gate opened.
Slowly.
Mr. Raees went inside.
But none of them knew what awaited them beyond that door.
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