ENIGMA

Hide and Seek

Inaya’s heart raced as she slipped out of the Malhotra mansion, her breath quickening with every step. She had made it past the imposing walls, but she knew Advik would be on high alert by now. The realization sent a chill down her spine—she had to be quick. There was no time to waste. With no phone in her possession, all she could think about was reaching Arnab. He would be waiting for her, and she couldn't afford to let him down.

As she hurried down the darkened street, the sounds of the mansion faded into the distance, replaced by the hum of the night. The guards patrolling the area would be searching for her soon, and the thought made her pulse quicken even more. She had to move fast; every second counted.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spotted a familiar figure standing in the shadows, his silhouette barely visible against the dim streetlight. It was Arnab. Relief washed over her as she sprinted toward him, throwing her arms around him in a desperate embrace.

“I made it!” she gasped, pulling back to look into his eyes. “But bhaiyya knows! The alarms in the mansion are probably ringing in his ears right now, and the guards are searching for me!”

Arnab’s eyes widened with urgency, but he quickly masked it with determination. “We need to get out of here. Follow me.”

He led her to his motorcycle, parked a short distance away. The engine roared to life as he revved it, and Inaya felt a rush of adrenaline coursing through her veins. She climbed on behind him, gripping his waist tightly as they sped off, the wind whipping past them.

“Take the small roads!” she urged, her voice barely audible over the roar of the engine. “We have to avoid the main streets and any familiar cars! If we run into any of the guards, it’ll be over.”

Arnab nodded, deftly maneuvering the bike onto a narrow side street. The familiar sights of their neighborhood blurred past, but she kept her gaze ahead, scanning for any signs of danger. Each turn they took felt like a step away from the looming threat behind her, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that they were still being hunted.

With every bump in the road, Inaya felt her heart pounding, a mix of fear and exhilaration driving her forward. This was her chance to break free, to escape the confines of her life, but the stakes were higher than ever. She just hoped they could make it out unscathed.

After what felt like an eternity of riding through the maze of Mumbai’s streets, they finally reached a small, unassuming house nestled in a quiet alley. Arnab parked the bike and dismounted, his heart still racing from the adrenaline of their escape. He turned to Inaya, who hesitated at the threshold, her eyes wide with fear.

“Ini, we’re safe here,” he urged, trying to reassure her as he pulled the door open.

“No! We can’t stay in Mumbai!” she exclaimed, her voice rising with panic. “Bhaiyya will kill both of us if he finds out! Please, Arnab, it’s high time we leave!”

Arnab’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Inaya, he won’t find us. We’ll just lay low for tonight and leave in the morning. It’s too late to go anywhere now.”

Inaya shook her head vigorously, her chest heaving as she fought to keep her composure. “No, you don’t understand! He will block every exit from the city. He’ll have the guards and police on alert! You have no idea how powerful he is!”

Arnab laughed nervously, trying to lighten the mood, but it only fueled Inaya’s desperation. “Come on, it’s not possible for him to do that. He can’t just pause the entire city!”

“Oh, it’s absolutely possible!” she cried out, tears brimming in her eyes. “He can pull strings and involve higher authorities at the snap of his fingers! If he suspects you’re involved, he won’t just come after me—he’ll put your family in danger too! You don’t know my brother like I do! You have to listen to me!”