Marked By Darkness

Chapter 66- Forsaken Promises

Ruhi's POV...

Tears blurred my vision as I sat with my head in my hands. My chest felt hollow, the ache of not knowing where my mother was, tearing through me. I could feel everyone's presence-Anshi, Esha, Neil, Sounak-each of them trying to comfort me, their voices gentle but seeming to drift far away.

Anshi placed a hand on my shoulder. "Ruhi, we're all here with you. We'll find her. I promise."

Neil added, "You're not alone in this. Please, try to rest and take care of yourself. It's been a long night."

Esha nodded, leaning down to meet my eyes. "Please try to calm down. We're all doing everything we can."

Their kindness only made me feel worse. I bit my lip, struggling to hold back a fresh wave of tears. I felt a presence near me-Ruhan. But I turned away, unwilling to look at him.

"Ruhi..." His voice was low, full of a sorrow I didn't want to acknowledge.

I shook my head. "Don't. I don't want to talk to you, Ruhan," I said sharply, my heart twisting. "You lied to me. You hid everything about who you really are, about your family."

Ruhan hesitated, the pain evident in his eyes, but he didn't press me. Instead, he stood quietly for a moment before turning away, his shoulders heavy with resignation. Without a word, he left, and I heard the faint click of the door closing behind him.

---

Ruhan's POV...

I walked back to my house, every step weighted down with the memory of Ruhi's tears, her anger. I couldn't blame her for how she felt, but that didn't make it any easier. Once home, I picked up my phone, my fingers hovering over Elijah's number.

When he answered, I didn't waste a second. "Elijah, I need your help. Ruhi's mother is missing, and I can't let Ruhi go through this alone. Can you help get the police involved?"

Elijah's response was immediate. "Of course. I'll make some calls right away. Don't worry, we'll find her."

Relieved, I closed my eyes, silently praying that we weren't too late.

---

In Evening...

Ruhi's POV...

The worry gnawed at me like a sickness. I couldn't just sit here and wait for them to bring me answers. My mom was still missing, and with every passing minute, my desperation grew. Ignoring the others' concerned looks, I headed toward the door, my mind set on finding her myself.

Just as I reached for the door handle, Sounak stepped in front of me, his expression calm yet unyielding. "Ruhi, please. You're not well. You need rest."

I shook my head, trying to move past him, but he gently took my shoulders, his gaze filled with concern. "Ruhi, please. Let us handle this."

Esha came forward, her tone gentle but firm. "Ruhi, Ruhan is trying to find her. He's doing everything he can. You need to trust him."

My chest tightened at the mention of Ruhan, anger and betrayal boiling inside me. I turned to Anshi, who was watching me intently. "Trust him? How am I supposed to trust him, Anshi? He and his family caused all this. Because of them, I lost Hina. And now I don't know where my mother is."

Anshi's expression hardened, her voice laced with frustration. "Enough, Ruhi. This isn't Ruhan's fault. The real danger was Hina-your evil sister. She's the one who haunted your mother, the one who wanted to harm you."

I felt a surge of anger rise within me. "Don't you dare talk about my sister like that!"

But Anshi didn't back down. Her voice grew sharper, her eyes blazing with conviction. "I will talk about her because someone needs to tell you the truth. Your sister-she was the one who targeted your mother. She was the one who was trying to hurt you. Ruhan had nothing to do with it. He lost his sister, his parents, everything he cared about, and still, he's fighting to keep you safe."

The weight of her words hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me momentarily speechless. I wanted to argue, but her words made me question everything. Was I blaming the wrong person?

Anshi took a step closer, her tone unwavering. "When everyone else gave up, Ruhan kept fighting for you. If you're here, standing alive in front of us, it's because of him."

Her words hung heavy in the air, the truth in them undeniable. I looked away, feeling a strange mix of anger, guilt, and confusion swirling inside me.

---

The Next Morning...

Anshi's POV...

Early the next morning, my phone rang. Ruhan's name flashed on the screen, and I picked up immediately, my heart pounding with hope. "Ruhan? Did you find her?"

I could almost hear him take a breath on the other end. "Yes... we found her," he replied, his voice subdued.

Relief washed over me, but it was cut short by the heavy pause in his words.

"She's... she's gone, Anshi," he continued, his tone filled with sadness. "They found her body outside the bungalow."

My heart sank, the joy and hope I'd felt disappearing in an instant. My hand trembled as I held the phone, unable to find words to respond.

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