ENIGMA

CHAPTER 22

WORD COUNT :- 2900

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As Ruhani’s phone call with Ronit ended, she barely had time to collect her thoughts before her phone buzzed again. Seeing Advik’s name on the screen sent a shiver down her spine. She hesitated, her finger hovering over the answer button, but she knew she couldn’t avoid him. Taking a deep breath, she managed to pick up the call.

"H-Hello?" her voice was shaky, betraying her nerves.

There was a brief pause on the other end before Advik’s voice came through, cold and commanding. "Who were you talking with, Ruhani? Your phone was busy."

Ruhani felt a lump form in her throat. She couldn’t bring herself to answer immediately, and the silence stretched on, heavy and tense.

Advik’s voice cut through the quiet like a knife. "Sweetheart," he said, his tone deceptively gentle, "you’d better learn to answer my questions verbally. I would hate to have to teach you that lesson."

Ruhani swallowed hard, feeling her heart pound in her chest. "I-I was talking with... with a friend," she finally stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Advik didn’t respond immediately, but when he did, his tone was sharp. "From now on, your phone should be available after 9 PM. I will call you before bed whenever I’m free. Understood?"

Ruhani nodded instinctively before realizing he couldn’t see her. "Y-Yes, I understand," she replied quickly.

"Good," Advik responded, his tone softening just a fraction, though the underlying authority remained. "I don’t like being kept waiting, Ruhani. Make sure it doesn’t happen again."

Ruhani felt her breath hitch as she tried to steady herself. "It won’t happen again."

There was a brief silence before Advik spoke again, this time his voice almost teasing. "You’re learning, sweetheart. That’s good. We’ll get along just fine as long as you remember who’s in charge."

Ruhani’s grip on her phone tightened, and she forced herself to respond, "I’ll remember."

"That’s what I like to hear," Advik said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice. "Now, go to bed. I’ll talk to you tomorrow."

"Goodnight," Ruhani whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Goodnight," Advik replied, his tone cool and detached before he ended the call.

As the call ended, Ruhani sat frozen, her phone still clutched tightly in her hand. The reality of her situation was beginning to sink in. The conversation with Advik had only reinforced the stark contrast between her past with Ronit and the future that lay ahead with Advik. She felt trapped, caught between the person she was and the person she was being forced to become.

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The next morning, Ruhani woke up with a heavy heart, the previous night's conversations replaying in her mind. She tried to shake off the unease, reminding herself that today was supposed to be about preparing for her engagement—a day she had once dreamed of, but now felt like an impending doom.

As the clock struck 10 AM, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Advik: “Be ready by 11. I’m picking you up for the engagement shopping. Don’t be late.”

Ruhani quickly dressed in a simple, modest outfit. She wanted to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to herself. By the time 11 AM rolled around, she was ready and waiting nervously at the entrance of her home.

Advik arrived in a sleek, black car. The driver opened the door for her, and she slid into the passenger seat beside Advik. His presence immediately filled the car, making the air feel heavy.