ENIGMA

No Escape

In his own room, Advik paced, trying to collect himself. His hands shook with the anger he was suppressing, his breath uneven. The day had taken its toll on him—first dealing with Ruhani’s stubbornness, and now this. Inaya’s disobedience had pushed him to the edge. His engagement was the next day, a significant event that should have been a moment of joy, but instead, he was dealing with chaos. The weight of it all bore down on him, suffocating.

He closed his eyes and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. It wouldn’t help anyone if he lost control now. Not Inaya, not Ruhani, and certainly not himself. He needed to be calm. He couldn’t afford to lose it.

"Think, Advik," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. After several moments of deep breathing and focusing on calming the storm inside, he came to a decision. The punishment would have to be postponed. As much as he wanted to deliver it right then and there, he knew Inaya needed rest. The engagement tomorrow would demand an early start, and she had to be presentable. Punishment could wait until after.

Decision made, Advik stood and walked out of his room, his steps slow and measured as he approached Inaya’s door. He paused outside for a brief moment, collecting himself one last time before opening the door.

Inaya sat frozen on her bed, her face pale as she stared at the door, wide-eyed. When she saw him enter, her heart sank. She knew what was coming.

Advik’s eyes met hers, his expression unreadable. He stood there for a long moment, letting the silence stretch, the tension in the room thick. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and firm. "You will not receive your punishment tonight."

Inaya blinked, confusion mixing with her fear. She wasn’t expecting that.

Advik continued, his tone cold and detached. "I’ve decided it will be postponed until the day after tomorrow."

Her breath hitched. She felt no relief—only a longer wait for the inevitable. The reprieve was temporary, and the knowledge of what was coming lingered like a shadow over her.

Advik walked over to the couch and sat down, his gaze never leaving her. "You have to wake up early tomorrow," he said, his voice sharp. "The engagement is important, and you need to be rested. That doesn’t mean you’re off the hook. It just means you’ll be punished later."

Inaya nodded, her throat too tight to speak.

"Now," he said, leaning back in his seat and crossing his arms, "you will clean this room."

Inaya’s eyes darted around the room, which was cluttered with color pencils, puzzle pieces, clothes, books papers, her iPad, and various toys scattered everywhere. It looked like a storm had passed through, with no semblance of order. She quickly scrambled out of bed, her limbs shaky, and began picking up the scattered pencils, collecting the puzzle pieces from the floor, and putting away the iPad. She fumbled as she tried to sort through the mess, hurriedly stacking her books and tidying the disarray on her desk, all while fighting the panic rising in her chest.

Every toy, every item she touched seemed to remind her of how she had lost control, how far she had pushed her luck. Desperation drove her to work faster, but her trembling hands and tear-streaked face slowed her down. As she worked, she could feel Advik’s gaze on her, watching her every move, his silence louder than any reprimand.

Advik’s expression remained hard, his arms crossed as he stood in the corner of the room, surveying her actions. "Do you understand why this is happening, Inaya?" His voice cut through the tense atmosphere, stern and unwavering.

Inaya froze for a moment, her hands still gripping a stack of puzzle pieces. She swallowed hard, her mind racing. She nodded slowly, her voice barely a whisper. "Yes, Bhaiyya…"