Raah-e-ishq

CHAPTER 5

ZIMAL'S POV :

I stood there, paralyzed by indecision, my mind a whirlwind of uncertainty. Should I turn around or remain still? Should I speak or stay silent? The only thing I knew for certain was that I had made a grave mistake. A low, chilling whisper brushed against the nape of my neck, "Jitni seedhi nazar aati ho, utni ho nahi."

I exhaled slowly, recognizing the voice wasn't Shah Jee's but Zaviyar's. Relief and fear mingled in my chest. "Jin pairo pe aayi ho unhi pe waapis palto, or bhulna mat ke mein peeche hi hoon," he continued, his tone brooking no argument. I nodded slightly, feeling the cold metal of the gun lift from my neck as I turned around.

My footsteps were soft on the worn carpet, the chill of the air seeping into my bones. I walked back toward the corridor, aware of Zaviyar's imposing presence behind me. The dim light cast long shadows, and I could only see his hands and the gleaming barrel of the gun. How did he know I was here? It wasn't like I was committing a crime; I was just exploring the haveli. My thoughts spiraled, colliding with one another in a frantic dance.

As we neared the mehmaan khaana, Zaviyar's hand shot out, pulling me back. I gasped, my heart leaping into my throat as I looked up at him in shock. His grip on my wrist was unyielding, his eyes dark and inscrutable in the low light. He started leading me towards the back of the haveli, each step echoing in the silent corridor.

"Leave me right now," I demanded, my voice trembling. Where was he taking me? The urge to scream bubbled up inside me, but I quickly suppressed it. That would only make things worse.

We stopped in front of an old, heavy door at the end of the corridor. He reached out with his free hand, unlocking it with a practiced ease. "What the hell are you doing?" I hissed, panic rising. He didn't answer, instead kicking the door open with a force that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Leave my hand," I tried to yank my wrist free, but his grip only tightened. He shoved me inside, and before I could react, the door slammed shut behind me with a deafening thud. I heard the lock click, once, twice, three times, sealing me inside. His footsteps faded, leaving me in the oppressive silence of the room.

My anger flared, a burning heat in my chest. Who did these people think they were? I looked around, trying to make sense of my surroundings. The room was sparsely furnished, with a king-size bed dominating the space. A few drawers were scattered around, their surfaces dusty and worn. The window was locked, allowing only thin slivers of sunlight to penetrate the gloom.

I kicked the door in frustration, the dull thud reverberating through the room. The walls seemed to close in around me, amplifying the silence and my growing rage. What was I supposed to do now?

*****

AUTHOR'S POV:

The first light of dawn crept into the room, the sun's rays casting a golden glow on the two figures sprawled out on the bed, completely oblivious to the world. The air was still, and the soft hum of early morning sounds barely reached the room. Faisal stirred, his hand fumbling in the semi-darkness as he tried to grab the duvet from Rohan, but something made him stop. He blinked, his sleep-fogged brain slowly registering a shadowy figure sitting on the sofa.

For a moment, he thought he was dreaming, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim light, the figure became clearer. Zaviyar sat there, one leg casually draped over the other, his presence almost surreal in the early morning haze. Faisal's breath caught in his throat, and he stared for a good two minutes, the realization dawning slowly.

He sat up abruptly, the bed creaking beneath him, and squinted at Zaviyar, who looked back at him with a calm, steady gaze. Faisal's voice came out in a stutter, his mind still struggling to catch up. "Aa... aap?"