YOU AND ME

Amina

The airport is buzzing with people rushing to their gates, but my mind is elsewhere. Zuri, Nina, Lila, and I just had the most incredible weekend. It was exactly what I needed — laughter, shopping, and a few too many cocktails. Now, as I’m standing in line at security, all I can think about is Ayush. I’m so ready to be home. To see him. To feel his arms around me.

Zuri nudges me, grinning. “You’re in another world, girl,” she says, tossing her hair back.

I smile, shaking my head. “I just miss Ayush. It’s been too long.” I glance down at my phone, ready to call him the second I’m out of the airport. “I’ll see you guys soon, okay? I can’t wait to tell you all about my first night back.”

“I’m sure Ayush has something special planned,” Nina teases, elbowing me lightly.

Lila just laughs. “You two are adorable. Can’t wait to see you together again.”

“Same,” I say, my heart skipping a beat at the thought. We say our goodbyes with promises to keep in touch, and I head to the gate, excitement swirling in my chest.

But when I turn on my phone as I’m heading toward the car, I notice something weird. I try to call Ayush, but the call doesn’t go through. I try again. Nothing. A pang of unease hits my stomach. I call his number a third time, this time with a little more force. Still, nothing. My fingers start to tremble.

When I reach home, I’m barely able to shake off the odd feeling. I step out of the car with all my luggage, calling out to the helpers. “Hello? Can someone help with my bags?”

No one answers. The silence is deafening. I frown, frustration clawing at me. I drag the bags into the house myself, the weight of them sinking into my shoulders. As I walk through the front door, the house feels colder, the air heavier, like something’s wrong.

And then I see it. My heart drops. Ayush, standing in the middle of the living room, his hands bound to the pillars on either side. His face is bruised and bloody, his eyes a mix of pain and helplessness. My breath catches in my throat.

I spin around, and my eyes land on the rest of the family. They’re all tied up too, ropes cutting into their skin, and Rohan and Raj — they’re bleeding, clearly having fought back. But there’s no fight left in them now.

And then I see him. Dev.

He stands there, grinning like the devil himself. He’s punching Ayush, over and over again, as if the man I love is nothing more than a ragdoll. I can’t breathe. My mind is in overdrive, and I want to scream, but my voice is stuck in my throat.

“Stop it!” I shout, running toward them. “Stop, you bastard!”

But before I can take a step closer, two men grab me from behind, their hands strong and merciless. I thrash, kicking and struggling, but they drag me away. “Let go of me! Let go!” I scream, trying to claw my way out of their grip.

“Shut up, bitch,” one of the men growls, slapping me hard across the face before dragging me into the nearest room. My vision swims, my skin tingling with the pain. I stumble into the room, barely keeping my footing.

The door slams shut behind me, and I’m left in total darkness. My body shakes with adrenaline and fury. I can’t hear anything from outside — just silence. But I know what’s happening. I know that Ayush, my family, they’re all suffering.

I fall to my knees, tears stinging my eyes as I cry out. “Ayush! I’m so sorry! I’ll get you out, I swear! I’ll help you, I promise!”

But there’s no answer. Only the echo of my own voice bouncing off the walls.