ENIGMA

Engagement Day 2

LONG CHAPTER AHEAD ! AND IT HASN'T BEEN EDITED YET! 

Ruhani arrived back at her family home, her heart racing. As soon as she stepped inside, her parents went straight to their rooms to freshen up for the next set of rituals, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts. She made her way to her room, each step heavier than the last. The weight of the morning’s puja, the tension with Advik, and the looming reality of their upcoming engagement and registration felt suffocating.

Once inside her room, Ruhani closed the door behind her, locking it as if it could somehow block out the overwhelming pressure she was feeling. Her eyes darted around the room, a place that had always been her safe haven, but now it felt more like a cage. She walked over to the window, drawing back the curtains, and peered outside. Her gaze scanned the familiar streets, but in the back of her mind, a nagging fear surfaced.

He knows everything, she thought.

The night she had gone out with Ronit flashed in her memory. Advik had known about it. He had known every detail. His power, his reach—it terrified her. He was not just someone who controlled their immediate environment; it felt as if he controlled every move she made. He had probably already instructed his men to keep an eye on her house, just as he had before. He’s watching, she thought with dread.

Her fingers trembled as she picked up her phone, scrolling down to find Tiyasha’s number. Tiyasha was her closest friend, the only person she could confide in without fear of judgment. She quickly dialed her number, her hands shaking as she pressed the phone to her ear.

“Tiyasha?” Ruhani’s voice cracked as soon as her friend picked up.

“Ruhani? What’s wrong? You sound so tense,” Tiyasha’s voice, though calm, was laced with concern.

“I—I can’t do this anymore,” Ruhani blurted out, pacing her room as panic rose in her chest. “I need to get out. I can’t marry Advik, Tiyasha. I just can’t. I feel trapped. I don’t know what to do.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line before Tiyasha spoke again, her voice now filled with urgency. “Wait, what do you mean?Slow down. What’s going on?”

Ruhani took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the tears started welling up in her eyes. “It’s too much. He’s too much. He’s controlling everything, Tiyasha! He knows everything I do. The night I went out with Ronit, he knew about it. I’m scared. I feel like he has people watching me, like there’s no way I can escape him.”

Tiyasha’s voice softened, but there was a seriousness in her tone. “Ruhani, you need to calm down and think this through. Running away—where would you go? Do you think you’ll be safe if you just disappear?”

Ruhani pressed her hand to her forehead, tears now streaming down her face. “I don’t know, Tiyasha. I just know I can’t stay here. I don’t want to be with him. He’s making all these decisions for me, like I have no say in my own life. And today, he made it clear—after the registration, there’s no turning back. I’ll have no escape.”

There was silence for a moment as Tiyasha processed everything Ruhani had said. “Ruhani, listen to me,” she finally replied. “I understand how scared you are. But running away might make things worse. You need to be smart about this. If Advik has people watching you, trying to leave might just put you in more danger.”

Ruhani wiped her tears, her mind racing. “Then what am I supposed to do? I can’t just marry him, Tiyasha. I can’t live like this.”

“I get that,” Tiyasha said quietly. “But you need a plan. You can’t just act out of fear. If you’re really serious about getting out, we need to figure out a way that doesn’t put you in even more risk. But for now, try to stay calm. You can’t let him or anyone else know you’re thinking about leaving. Can you do that?”