ENIGMA

Confrontation

Inaya’s room was dim, the only light coming from the small lamp on her bedside table. She was sitting on her bed, still trying to digest everything that had just happened—how she had lied to her mother, slipped away with Arnab, and the feeling of being caught in a lie that she could no longer escape.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her mother walked in, her steps heavy with a mixture of irritation and hurt. She didn’t say anything at first, but Inaya could feel the tension in the air, thick and suffocating.

"You need to talk to your brother," her mother said, her voice cold but controlled. She didn’t show the extent of her disappointment, but Inaya could sense it, the hurt in her mother’s eyes. She was used to her mother being soft, understanding, but this time… it was different.

Inaya looked up from her bed, her exhaustion clouding her judgment. "God, I’m so tired of being treated like this, Seriously, Mom? Why do I have to talk to him now?Why can’t anyone leave me the hell alone for once? Why can’t you just stop forcing everyone’s crap on me for once? I don’t care what he wants, and I don’t care what you want either!"

Inaya sighed, frustrated, but before she could respond, the sharp, commanding voice of Advik pierced through the silence.

"I don’t think that’s up to you. Sit up straight and talk to me now, Inaya. You don’t get to decide the time," his voice roared through the phone. "If you don’t, I’ll change my mind and fly back tonight."

Her blood ran cold as the anger in his voice sent a wave of dread through her. She immediately snapped up from her bed, her heart racing. Her mind scrambled, trying to come up with an excuse, but there was no avoiding this. Advik wasn’t going to let her hide anymore.

With trembling hands, she grabbed the phone in video call. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice shaking. She had no choice but to comply. She had been caught.

Advik’s voice was laced with frustration. "Why did you shout at Mom just now? Explain yourself."

Her throat tightened. "I—I didn’t mean to. I just…" Her words trailed off, and she could hear the dangerous edge in Advik’s tone.

"That doesn’t answer my question, Inaya,"He was trying to stay patient, but it was clear from his voice that his patience was running thin. "Inaya, I’m trying to be patient with you. I’m trying to talk this out like a rational adult. But don’t make me stop talking and start using my belt again. Because truthfully, that’s what you deserve right now."

She could feel herself shrink under his words. The memories of the fear she had felt when he had used that tone with her before flooded back, and she found herself sniffling out of fear. She tried to control her breathing, but it was no use.

Advik’s voice dropped, colder than before, "Do you want me to kill that boy? Or will you stop being a trouble for him and let him survive?"

Her blood turned to ice. He knew where she was. He knew everything. The fear gripped her chest as she thought about what Advik might do to Arnab if he found out. But there was a more pressing question—did he know about their intimacy? Did he know how far they had gone?

No. He couldn’t. It was impossible. She hadn’t told him anything about that. Yet, doubt gnawed at her, and her mind spiraled again.

She should have never done this. Should never have let herself get so caught up in the lies, the secrecy. But now, it was too late to turn back.

Inaya swallowed hard, trying to steady her voice. "I—I’ll stop," she whispered, barely able to make the words come out. "I’ll stop, I promise."

But Advik wasn’t satisfied with just that. He was relentless.