"The unexpected turns of life"

### Chapter 23 : The Reckoning

### Chapter 23 : The Reckoning

Monday, August 5, 2024
9:00 AM

Ahmed and Ayesha awoke to a sense of cautious optimism. The tabloid's retraction and public apology had begun to mend their reputation, and Ayesha's acceptance into the writing program was a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. However, the message from the unknown number still lingered in the back of Ayesha's mind.

"Aaj tumhe kuch bhi stress nahi lena," Ahmed said firmly as they sat down for breakfast. (Today you shouldn't stress about anything.)

Ayesha smiled weakly. "Main koshish karungi," she replied. (I'll try.)

As Ahmed left for work, Ayesha decided to tackle the mysterious message head-on. She called Meera, hoping for some clarity.

"Meera, mujhe tumse kuch zaroori baat karni hai," Ayesha began. (Meera, I need to talk to you about something important.)

"Kya hua, Ayesha?" Meera asked, concern evident in her voice. (What happened, Ayesha?)

Ayesha hesitated before explaining the message and photo. "Mujhe kisi ne Zain ke saath ek purani tasveer bheji hai, aur ek message likha hai: 'The past never stays buried.'" (Someone sent me an old photo with Zain and a message saying: 'The past never stays buried.')

Meera's gasp was audible. "Yeh bohot serious hai. Tumhe Ahmed ko bata dena chahiye." (This is very serious. You should tell Ahmed.)

Ayesha agreed, deciding to talk to Ahmed later that evening. She spent the rest of the day trying to distract herself with writing, but her mind kept drifting back to the message.

Monday, August 5, 2024
7:00 PM

When Ahmed returned home, Ayesha took a deep breath and showed him the message. His face darkened as he read it.

"Yeh kisne bheja hoga?" Ahmed mused, his brow furrowed. (Who could have sent this?)

"Main nahi jaanti, lekin yeh mujhe bohot dara raha hai," Ayesha admitted. (I don't know, but it's scaring me a lot.)

Ahmed immediately called his security team and instructed them to trace the number. He also informed his legal team to be on standby. The stakes were too high to take any chances.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024
10:00 AM

The next morning, Ahmed's security team reported back with some unsettling news. The number was untraceable, likely a burner phone. However, they had managed to gather some intelligence suggesting that Faizan and Zain were collaborating.

"Zain aur Faizan dono milke tumhare khilaf kuch plan kar rahe hain," Ahmed told Ayesha, his voice grim. (Zain and Faizan are planning something against you together.)

Ayesha's eyes widened. "Lekin kyun? Main toh unke raste se hat gayi thi." (But why? I had stepped out of their way.)

Ahmed sighed. "Shayad woh tumhe punish karna chahte hain for moving on." (Maybe they want to punish you for moving on.)

Determined to protect their peace, Ahmed and Ayesha decided to confront Zain directly. Ahmed arranged a meeting with Zain through a mutual acquaintance, making sure it was in a public place.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024
3:00 PM

The café was bustling with activity when Ahmed and Ayesha arrived. Zain was already seated, looking surprisingly composed. As they sat down, Zain's eyes flickered with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

"Aap log mujhe milne aaye?" Zain said with a smirk. (You two came to meet me?)

Ahmed didn't waste time. "Tumne Ayesha ko jo message bheja, uska matlab kya hai?" (What did you mean by the message you sent Ayesha?)