ENIGMA

Is She Really Leaving?

As Vikram brought Inaya down the stairs, Mrs. Malhotra's eyes welled up in shock. Her daughter’s finger was in a plaster, and she looked weak, bruised, and drained of energy. It was clear that she had been through a lot.

Mrs. Malhotra’s breath caught in her throat. "Ini… Oh my God, what happened to you?"

She rushed forward, but Advik immediately intervened, his voice firm and commanding. "Ini, come over here," he called sharply. "Vikram, help her."

Vikram nodded and moved quickly, leading Inaya toward Advik, who had gestured for her to sit on the couch.

Inaya, slumped into the seat, her face pale, her eyes heavy with exhaustion. She looked up at Advik, who stood tall beside her, his expression stern.

"Sit down, Mom," Advik said, turning to Mrs. Malhotra, his tone softer but still with authority. He gestured for her to take a seat as well, a subtle but clear command that she obeyed without question.

Mrs. Malhotra hesitated for a moment, torn between her instincts to comfort her daughter and the forceful presence of Advik. She finally sat down, her gaze never leaving Inaya. "What happened to you, Ini?" she whispered, voice breaking.

Mr. Malhotra, unable to hide the disappointment in his voice, leaned forward and asked sternly, "Ini, why would you attempt something like that? Why would you run away?"

Inaya remained silent, her eyes cast down, unable to meet her father’s gaze. Her hands trembled slightly, and her breath hitched as tears began to form in her eyes. The weight of her actions seemed to press on her chest, and her lips quivered as she struggled to find the words.

"I'm... sorry," she whispered faintly, her voice barely audible, laced with regret.

Her apology seemed hollow, but it was all she could manage in that moment. The silence that followed felt suffocating, as if her parents were waiting for more of an explanation, but she couldn’t find it within herself to offer one. Her gaze remained fixed on the ground, the shame and fear evident on her face.

Advik, standing with his arms crossed, watched his sister closely. His expression remained unreadable, but his eyes, sharp and calculating, showed that he wasn’t moved by her apology just yet.

Advik’s voice was firm, cutting through the silence as he spoke to Ruhani, his tone unyielding. “Ruhi, go pack your essentials. And help Ini pack hers too.”

The tension in the room thickened as Mrs. Malhotra stood, her face crumpling in pain as she reached for Inaya. The girl, still fragile from the ordeal, winced as her mother’s embrace sent a jolt of discomfort through her bruised body.

Advik, his expression cold and detached, added, “She also has a bandage on her back.”

With teary eyes, Mrs. Malhotra’s hands shook as she reluctantly pulled away from her daughter. Her voice cracked as she spoke, “Vikram, take her back to her room.”

Vikram nodded silently, but his hesitation lingered in the air. His gaze shifted to Advik for confirmation. “Should I lock the room, sir?”

Before Advik could reply, Mrs. Malhotra’s voice cut through with unexpected sharpness. “Absolutely not. Now go.”

Vikram, clearly uncomfortable, led Inaya away, his footsteps echoing in the tense silence that followed. As they disappeared down the hallway, Mrs. Malhotra, still trembling, turned to her husband, her voice breaking with a mix of desperation and disbelief. “She won’t go. I can’t. Not like this…”

Mr. Malhotra, his face a mask of confusion and frustration, glanced at Advik before speaking, his voice tight with anger. “Did they rusticate her yet? Have they taken any action against her?”