Khaali Raaste

CHAPTER 5

 Whispers in the Dark

AYESHA'S POV

The next few days passed in a haze of confusion. Every time I glanced at my phone, I felt a rush of dread, wondering if Ahmed—or whoever was behind all this—would contact me again. I had hoped that after that disturbing phone call, things would go back to normal. But instead, the paranoia only grew stronger. I found myself glancing over my shoulder, suspicious of every stranger's gaze lingering a little too long.

I couldn't stop thinking about what Ahmed had said: "He doesn't want to hurt you, but others might."

What did that even mean? And why was he so cryptic? I didn't know who to trust anymore.

After yet another sleepless night, I finally decided I couldn't stay in the dark any longer. I needed answers. And I knew exactly where to start.

The next morning, I found myself at the university, waiting for Ahmed. I knew his schedule by heart now, even though we had barely spoken more than a handful of words face-to-face. It wasn't long before I spotted him, walking towards the cafeteria, his head bent low, a hoodie shielding his face.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped in front of him, blocking his path. His eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly masked it with indifference.

"We need to talk," I demanded, my voice sharper than I intended.

"Ayesha, now's not the time—" he began, trying to move past me.

I grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Make time. Now."

He glanced around, his expression cautious, before nodding. "Fine. Follow me."

I trailed behind him as we left the campus, my mind racing with questions. He led me to a quiet, secluded park a few blocks away. Once we reached an empty bench near the back, he finally spoke.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, sitting down.

"Everything," I replied, not bothering to hide the frustration in my voice. "Why are you watching me? Who are you working for, and what do they want with me?"

Ahmed ran a hand through his hair, exhaling deeply. "It's not that simple, Ayesha. If I tell you everything, you'll be in more danger than you already are."

I scoffed. "More danger? You just told me there are people out there who want to hurt me, and now you're saying you're protecting me? Who am I supposed to believe?"

He stared at me, his jaw tense. For a moment, I thought he wouldn't answer, but then his shoulders slumped, and he looked away. "I'm working for someone powerful. Someone who's been keeping an eye on you for a long time. He's not trying to hurt you, but his presence has attracted attention. People are looking for him, and by extension, you."

I crossed my arms, my patience wearing thin. "And who is this mysterious 'he'? Why does he care so much about me?"

Ahmed hesitated before responding, his voice barely above a whisper. "You remind him of someone. Someone he lost a long time ago."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. "Someone he lost? Who?"

"That's all I can tell you right now," he said, standing up. "Just stay safe, Ayesha. Don't trust anyone who tries to get close to you."

Before I could press him for more, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there with more questions than I'd started with.

THE SHADOWED FIGURE

That night, I couldn't stop replaying the conversation with Ahmed. The more I thought about it, the less sense it made. Who was this person that I reminded him of? And why would that make me a target?

I was so deep in thought that I didn't even notice the footsteps behind me as I made my way home.

It wasn't until I reached the front of my house that I felt it—that unsettling sensation of being watched. I stopped in my tracks, my pulse quickening as I glanced around. The street was quiet, but the feeling persisted. Someone was there, lurking in the shadows.

"Who's there?" I called out, my voice trembling despite my efforts to stay calm.

There was no answer, but I could sense movement—a faint rustle in the bushes nearby.

Heart pounding, I fumbled for my keys, my fingers shaking as I tried to unlock the door. Just as I slipped inside, I caught a glimpse of a figure standing at the edge of the driveway. It was too dark to make out their face, but I knew it wasn't Ahmed. This person was taller, broader, and their presence sent a wave of fear coursing through me.

I quickly locked the door behind me, my hands trembling as I reached for my phone. I didn't know who to call—Zara? The police? Or should I call Ahmed?

I decided to text Zara first. "Someone's watching me outside my house. I'm scared."

Her reply came almost instantly. "Stay inside. Don't open the door. I'm coming over."

I sank onto the floor, my back pressed against the door, my heart racing. Who was this new person? Was it one of the people Ahmed had warned me about?

Twenty minutes later, Zara arrived, her face etched with concern. She didn't waste any time, barging into the house and locking the door behind her.

"What happened?" she asked, her voice urgent.

I quickly filled her in on what had happened with Ahmed and the mysterious figure outside my house.

Zara's expression darkened as she listened. "Ayesha, this is getting out of hand. We need to do something. You can't keep living like this, always looking over your shoulder."

"I know," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "But what can I do? Ahmed keeps saying there's more to this, but he won't tell me who's behind it all."

Zara sighed, pacing the room. "Maybe it's time we find out for ourselves. If Ahmed won't give us answers, we'll have to get them another way."

I frowned, confused. "What do you mean?"

She stopped and looked at me, determination flashing in her eyes. "We follow him. We find out where he goes, who he talks to. Maybe then we'll get the answers we need."

I hesitated, unsure if I was ready for this. But deep down, I knew she was right. Waiting around for Ahmed to reveal the truth wasn't an option anymore.

"Alright," I agreed, my voice firm. "Let's do it."