ENIGMA

CHAPTER 12

As Advik led Inaya and Ruhani into the hotel, he stopped briefly and instructed Ini sternly, "Behave yourselves." His tone left no room for argument as they entered the grand lobby. The hotel staff greeted them warmly, acknowledging Advik with nods of respect and offering Ruhani a courteous smile.

Inside the lift, Ruhani couldn't help but be impressed by the luxurious interior of the hotel. The sleek design, plush furnishings, and soft ambient lighting contrasted sharply with the chaotic events of the evening. She found herself momentarily lost in admiration as the lift ascended smoothly to their floor.

Upon reaching their suite, Advik gestured for Ruhani to choose one of the rooms, explaining that two were vacant. As Ruhani considered her options, she turned to Advik with a plea, "Please consider Inaya's behavior. It's common for someone her age to enjoy clubbing and have fun. Maybe you shouldn't react so harshly."

As Ruhani made her plea for Advik to reconsider, he maintained his composed demeanor but firmly instructed her, "Go to your room and close the door." His tone brooked no argument, and Ruhani, sensing the gravity of the situation, complied silently, retreating to one of the vacant rooms.

Advik turned his attention back to Inaya, who stood before him, tears still streaming down her face. He gestured to the nearby sofa and calmly requested a glass of lemon juice from the hotel staff. Once seated, he motioned for Inaya to join him, her demeanor a mix of apprehension and guilt.

"Inaya," Advik began in a measured tone, "pick up your phone and check your missed calls."

Inaya obeyed, fumbling slightly as she explained, "I missed them because of the loud noise."

Advik's expression hardened, his patience wearing thin. "Put the phone in front of me," he instructed firmly.

Inaya placed the phone on the coffee table between them, its screen displaying several missed calls and messages from him. Advik scanned through them silently, his jaw tightening as he noted the time stamps and the growing list of notifications that had gone unanswered.

He said finally, his voice tinged with disappointment, "do you understand why I was calling? I was worried about you."

Inaya nodded meekly, unable to meet her brother's gaze. She knew she had disappointed him, and the weight of that realization hung heavy in the air between them.

Advik continued, his tone softer but resolute, "Tonight could have ended very differently. You put yourself in a dangerous situation, Inaya."

Tears welled up in Inaya's eyes once more as she struggled to find the right words. "I... I just wanted to have fun," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Advik sighed heavily, his frustration mingling with concern. "Fun shouldn't come at the cost of your safety, Inaya," he emphasized. "You're young, and I understand you want to explore and enjoy yourself, but you have to be responsible. You have to think about the consequences of your actions."

Inaya nodded again, her shoulders slumping in shame. She knew Advik was right, even if she didn't want to admit it. The reality of her reckless behavior was starkly clear now, amplified by her brother's unwavering disappointment.

Advik took a quick glance at it and declared firmly, "Since you didn't pick up, clear it's no use to you right now. You're not getting it back."

Inaya's heart sank further upon hearing this, realizing the situation. The hotel staff promptly arrived with the lemon juice, and Advik accepted it, handing it over to Inaya with a stern instruction, "Drink it."

Reluctantly, Inaya obeyed, sipping the lemon juice as tears continued to stream down her cheeks. Advik sat opposite her on the sofa, his eyes closed in disappointment, clearly struggling with a mix of anger and concern for his sister's reckless behavior.

Inaya," he began, his voice laced with disappointment.
Inaya, now sobbing louder, pleaded desperately, "Bhaiya, please... I'm sorry. I won't do it again. Please forgive me."

Advik's expression remained resolute. "You have to bear the consequences of your actions," he reiterated, unmoved by her pleas for mercy.

His tone was strict and unwavering as he gave her instructions. "Go to your room, change your clothes, and sleep," he began, his voice firm and authoritative. "Put an alarm for 6:30 in the morning. I want you up early, bathed, and freshened up. I will meet you in your room by 7."

He leaned in closer, his eyes boring into hers with an intensity that made her shiver. "If you fail to stick to the timing, there will be consequences, and you will pay for that. Is that clear?" His voice was low and menacing, leaving no room for misinterpretation.

Inaya, feeling the weight of his words, nodded vigorously, her eyes wide with fear and remorse. "Yes, Bhaiya. I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Advik's expression remained stern, his jaw cq lenched. "I don't want to hear your apologies right now."

She nodded again, tears welling up in her eyes.

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Advik put himself under the duvet, trying to shake off the tension from the night. He closed his eyes, but his mind refused to quiet down. Flashbacks of the evening's events replayed in his head-the panic when he saw Inaya at the nightclub, the anger and disappointment he felt, her tearful apologies, and the stern instructions he gave her. He tossed and turned, the emotions swirling within him.

He tried to focus on his breathing, attempting to calm his racing heart. He knew he had been harsh, but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was necessary. Inaya had to understand the seriousness of her actions and the potential dangers she had put herself in.

Gradually, the exhaustion from the night's events began to take over. His thoughts became more disjointed, the flashbacks fading into the background as sleep slowly crept in. His body relaxed under the duvet, and his breathing steadied. Finally, Advik drifted off into a restless sleep, his mind still grappling with the weight of the responsibilities and emotions that came with being the protective elder brother.