"You walked into the lion's den, sweetheart," he whispered, stepping closer. "And lions don't let go so easily."
He looked down at her leg, at her trembling hands, and the fear in her eyes.
"A beautiful young girl like you," he chuckled, "shouldn't...
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I reached the hospital breathless, the kind of breathless where your chest burns and your legs feel like they're made of stone but you can't stop moving. Right at the entrance, I saw Ammijaan, Bhabijaan, and Sadafa. Ammijaan's eyes were swollen red, tears still rolling. The other two didn't look any better. My voice came out harsher than I intended when I asked, "What happened to Mishti?" Ammijaan's lips trembled before she spoke, "She... she fell from the stairs."
Sadafa's sobs cut through me. "Bhaijaan... there was so much blood."
Before I could respond, the doctor appeared, scanning the room for me. "Mr. Khan, I need to speak to you privately." I followed him aside, my hands already curling into fists. His next words froze my blood. "We're at a point where we can either save the mother or the child. We can't save both."
I swear my heartbeat went unstable. My throat tightened, my mind went blank for two whole seconds. Then I forced the words out, "Save the mother. Please... save the mother."
When I turned back, Ammijaan's face was a mix of shock and heartbreak. I couldn't meet her eyes. I went straight to the wall and punched it - again and again until my knuckles screamed. But it wasn't enough to kill the frustration. My vision blurred, and I realized I was crying.
When I was finally allowed to see Mishti, she was lying there like a broken doll, cannula under her nose, skin pale against the hospital sheets. She spotted me and instantly cried out my name. I went to her, pulling her into my arms gently but firmly, whispering for her to calm down. But her words were like knives. "It cannot happen, Sultan... someone... someone pushed me."
I froze, staring at her. "What?" But she kept crying, repeating it, and I just kept holding her, trying to hush her because she needed rest more than answers right now. She went limp suddenly - unconscious. I laid her down carefully, covering her up before stepping out.
My phone was already in my hand. "Ramzan," I said, my voice ice. "Get me the inside CCTV footage. Every angle near the stairs. Now."
What I saw was enough to make me see red.
I stormed straight to the convict's room. I didn't knock. I kicked the door open, and Jubaida Bua jumped in surprise. But my shock doubled hers - the room was filled with an altar, a black magic circle, Mishti's photo in the middle, strange items scattered around. The smell was foul, heavy. She smirked at me. "So you found out?"
