Episode 9
Returning late at night, Atish, exhausted, stepped into his room. His mind went numb at the sight before him — clothes, books, and other things were scattered all over the place. His anger flared up instantly.
Meher tried to straighten the bed with her injured hand, but the pain made her face turn pale. She looked at Atish, who was approaching her with a hardened expression.
In one swift motion, he grabbed Meher's arm and pushed her hard against the door.
Atish's deep brown eyes were blazing with fury.
"Why don't you just leave, Meher? Leave my life! What are you waiting for? What do you even want?"
Meher's eyes welled up with tears. She opened her mouth to say something, but Atish shook her roughly again.
"Don't even take my name. Not a single word. Understand?"
Her breath caught when Atish pressed his warm, rough hand against her lips. She froze for a moment, forgetting how to breathe. There wasn't even a drop of softness in Atish's voice.
Meher tried to push his hand away with her injured one. The soft, warm feeling of her blood reached Atish's fingers. He instantly pulled his hand back as if he had been burned.
Meher's teary eyes stared at his face.
Atish took a deep breath, shoved her aside, and dropped onto the bed, burying his head in his hands.
Meher stood there for a moment, wiping the tears from her eyes and swallowing her pain. Without making a sound, she opened the door and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
☆☆☆
The silence of the night had blanketed everything.
A cold wind, carrying the mournful scent of an impending rain, blew across the empty streets.
Meher kept walking, aimless, with nowhere to go. Everything seemed blurry through her tear-filled eyes.
Sometimes her steps quickened, sometimes they slowed down.
Far from the city lights, a strange loneliness crushed her heart like a heavy stone.
Meanwhile, Atish was still sitting in his room, his head buried in his hands.
Only Meher's silent eyes echoed in his mind.
He had spoken to her so cruelly, looked at her with such hatred.
The thought ignited a strange, burning restlessness inside him.
Unconsciously, he glanced at his hand — Meher's blood was still there. His heart dropped heavily.
What was this?
Suddenly, a flash of lightning split the sky, and within a second, the entire city was plunged into darkness.
The power went out everywhere, and heavy raindrops began to fall.
Atish abruptly lifted his head.
"Meher?"
He called out with all his strength, but the wind carried his voice away.
He slammed the door open and, without thinking, ran outside.
The rain was pouring now; his clothes were drenched, but he didn't care.
All he wanted was Meher.
His heart was in turmoil.
He searched the streets, the alleys, every corner — but there was no sign of her.
"Meher..."
His voice got lost in the sound of the rain.
His restlessness kept growing; his feet moved faster on their own, pushing him further into the darkness that seemed to walk alongside him.
☆☆☆
Atish wandered anxiously through the rain, having searched every place, called Meher's name at every turn, but no reply had come. His heart was seized by a strange panic, as if something terrible was about to happen.
Suddenly, a loud explosion shook the ground. The sky lit up in a blaze of red for a moment.
Atish jerked his head up — his heartbeat stopped for a second.
Right before his eyes, not too far away, a gasoline station was engulfed in flames, the fire roaring upward.
"Hell no!"
The words escaped his lips, and without thinking, he sprinted toward it.
The raindrops couldn't extinguish the fire; instead, the wind seemed to fuel it even more.
Atish rushed toward the gasoline station, his heart pounding wildly.
The heavy rain lashed against his face, but his eyes searched for only one thing.
"Meher!"
He shouted with all his might, but there was no answer.
He frantically looked around every corner, every small space — but Meher was nowhere to be seen.
His heart raced even faster.
Had she even come here?
Or had something terrible...?
Just then, his eyes caught a shadow in the distance.
He froze for a moment, drawing in a sharp breath, then cautiously took a step forward... and another...
Suddenly, he started running.
Beyond the shadow — there she was — Meher.
Standing still, staring at the raging fire with empty eyes, as if the world around her had ceased to exist.
Her tears mingled with the rain.
Her clothes were drenched, but she didn't move, frozen by fear and shock, like a lifeless statue.
"Atish!"
A faint sound escaped her lips, but before she could say anything more, Atish had reached her.
He grabbed her hand with urgency.
The moment he felt the warm, wet blood between her fingers, he went still.
His heart crumbled in an instant.
"Meher," he whispered hoarsely, and then tightened his grip around her hand, as if terrified he might lose her.
Blood was still seeping from her injury, mixing with the rainwater flowing on the road.
A tear slipped down Atish's cheek — a tear born from grief, anger, helplessness — all bursting out at once.
Without a second thought, he pulled Meher into his arms, so fiercely, so desperately, that Meher felt her breath catch.
But she remained hollow — no emotion, no movement — just silence.
She kept gazing over Atish's shoulder at the burning flames behind them.
Atish felt as if he was holding a soulless body in his arms.
He slowly pulled away, cupping her soaked face in both his hands, staring at her trembling lips, her water-soaked lashes.
Then, softly, in the darkness, he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Are you okay?"
He asked, his voice trembling as if he didn't trust himself.
Meher gave a faint, numb nod.
Atish let out a deep breath, then gripped her hand tightly in his own, and without another word, started leading her back with him.
☆☆☆
The room was plunged in darkness, illuminated only by occasional flashes of lightning that momentarily lit up Atish's face, casting a strange, intense glow in his deep brown eyes.
The sound of the rain was still loud, pounding relentlessly against the windows.
Without a word, Atish lifted Meher's hand and began to wrap a bandage over her wound.
His touch was gentle, yet his face remained unreadable, devoid of any expression.
Silent tears continued to slip from Meher's lashes, her heart pounding — not from anger, but from fear.
What kind of man was he?
Just moments ago, he had yelled at her, told her to leave the house — and now?
Now he was tending to her, worried for her like this?
A strange wave of panic tightened around her chest.
In a sudden impulse, she yanked her hand away and stood up abruptly.
Atish glanced at her for a brief moment but said nothing.
Meher quickly opened the door and, crossing the dark lounge in hurried steps, moved toward the porch.
The moment her face was struck by the rain's icy drops, a strong, warm hand seized her arm.
Her heart leapt violently in her chest.
Atish pulled her closer — so close.
Meher struggled, trying to wrench her hand free.
"Atish, let me go!"
she cried out.
Atish drew in a deep breath.
His fingers loosened slightly around her wrist — but then tightened again, firm and unrelenting.
"No,"
he said simply.
Meher glared at him through furious tears.
"You have no right, Atish!"
she shouted.
He paused for a moment, as if the weight of her words struck him —
"Yet somehow, I feel like I have every right over you,"
his voice broke slightly, raw with emotion.
Meher shook her head sharply, but Atish stepped closer, bridging the little space left between them.
Now, only their breathing separated them.
"Meher..."
he whispered her name, as if trying to grasp something slipping through his fingers.
Her eyes were still wet, but now, alongside fear, there was another foreign emotion glimmering in them — something unspoken.
Gently, Atish raised his hand and brushed a tear away from her rain-soaked face.
Meher shut her eyes tightly, as if trying to escape her own heart.
And then — helplessly, inevitably — Atish's face drew even closer.
For a fleeting moment, the entire world went silent.
A moment that existed only between them —
a perfect, hidden, fragile moment made up of breath, of presence, of something deeper.
There was no confession of love,
no addition of complaints —
only a secret with closed eyes,
a secret only the rain knew.
☆☆☆
The room was dimly lit, with only a corner lamp casting a faint, warm glow that filled the space with an odd sense of heat and loneliness.
On the glass table in front, a cigarette smoldered slowly, its smoke curling lazily into the air.
Arees sat slouched in a leather chair, cracking his knuckles absently.
His face was calm, almost eerily so — but in his deep-set eyes, there was a strange, simmering boredom, like a fire that burns silently without giving off smoke.
In front of him, a man stood trembling, beads of sweat glistening on his forehead.
With a faint, almost mocking smile, Arees picked up the cigarette and spoke in a low, controlled voice:
"Look at me."
The man kept his gaze fixed on the ground.
Arees clicked his tongue in irritation, the sound sharp and dismissive, almost like summoning a disobedient dog.
"I said, look at me,"
he repeated.
The man, swallowing hard, lifted his frightened eyes toward him.
Arees took a slow breath, exhaling a thin stream of smoke directly into the man's face, and said,
"Tell me something... if a man is walking down a road and someone suddenly puts a hand around his neck, he feels it instantly, doesn't he?"
The man gave a slight, terrified nod.
Arees smiled — a smile meant not to comfort, but to make a prey feel the weight of his coming death.
"But if that hand creeps up slowly, so slowly that it goes unnoticed... by the time he realizes it, it's already too late."
He blew another puff of smoke towards the man's face.
"Revenge is just like that — it creeps inside you slowly.
First, it's just a restless itch.
Then, a thought.
And then..."
he paused,
"...just a decision."
Leaning forward slightly, he picked up the whiskey glass from the table.
"One slap... it was just one slap, wasn't it?"
he murmured, as if reliving every moment of the past.
"But if a single slap starts to haunt someone... it means the problem isn't the slap — the problem is the person whose hand dared to rise."
A strange glint flashed in his eyes, the veins beneath visible with a fierce intensity.
"A girl who thinks she can get away from me..."
his tone was slower, colder now.
"The impact wasn't just on my face.
It struck my very existence.
And I never let anything go that easily."
He set the whiskey glass back down and rose from his chair, slowly folding his sleeves up as if sealing an inner vow.
"Let the time come.
Everything has its time."
Adjusting the collar of his coat lightly, he leaned closer to the man and whispered,
"I only enjoy it when the prey starts getting examples from his own friends — the ones who aren't even alive anymore."
His voice was so chilling, so cold, that the man involuntarily took a step back.
Arees shot him a bored look, then smiled faintly again.
"She dragged my honor through the dirt,"
he said, bowing his head slightly as if taking a sacred oath.
"Now it's my turn."
He blew the final trail of cigarette smoke into the air and walked away, leaving behind a darkness deeper than words.
☆☆☆
Meher's eyes opened with the soft light, but her head felt heavy and her whole body felt broken, cold and lifeless. She tried to recognize her surroundings, but couldn't; there was only a strange warmth that she could feel. As soon as she tried to move, dizziness took over, and everything blurred. Atish, who had been asleep on the chair, opened his eyes immediately as he sensed the slightest movement. His eyes fell on Meher, and then he saw her eyes slowly closing.
"Meher..."
He called her softly, but there was no response.
"Meher!"
This time, there was worry in his voice. Atish quickly got up and went to her side. He placed his hand on her face; Meher's body was burning with fever.
"Shit!"
Atish's breaths quickened. Without wasting any time, he picked Meher up in his arms.
☆☆☆
A black SUV stopped at the college entrance. Two well-dressed men stepped out, followed by a confident and composed personality.
"Rafay Shah."
There was a certain coldness in his eyes, as if everything was under his control. His tailored suit, wristwatch, and the way he walked clearly indicated that he had come here for business, but there was another purpose. He walked with his team towards the administration block when his eyes fell on a familiar face.
"Emil!"
A slight smile appeared on his face, but he kept his expression neutral. The atmosphere in the college suddenly shifted. Emil, who had unknowingly looked at him, froze for a moment.
☆☆☆
The car was speeding towards the hospital. Atish was watching Meher in the mirror every second. Each of her breaths made his heart heavy, as if some unknown tension was building inside him. A flashback of Meher's frightened face, the cold night, and her lifeless hand kept repeating in his mind.
"I can't just endure this, Meher. You need to understand."
His own words were like a slap to his heart.
☆☆☆
The college auditorium hall was filled with students. A sleek black podium was set up on stage, where a presentation was ongoing. The students were excited about business strategies and networking opportunities. Rafay Shah, in his dark tailored suit with a composed demeanor, was on stage. There was a confident intensity in his eyes. But his entire focus was on one face.
"Emil."
Rafay began his speech, but his attention never left one person.
☆☆☆
As soon as Atish arrived at the hospital, he didn't wait for anyone and took Meher inside.
"Doctor, look at her quickly."
His voice echoed through the hospital's reception. Nurses and doctors quickly placed Meher on a stretcher and took her inside. Atish's hands slowly slipped from Meher's, and for the first time, he felt helpless.
☆☆☆
"Business is not just an idea; it's a mindset. You people who are sitting here will one day be the future of this country. Your network, the people around you, are your biggest asset. If you can't build your connectivity, no idea, no matter how strong, will succeed."
He was addressing everyone, but his gaze never left Emil for a second. Emil, who was a little hesitant and confused, couldn't stop herself from looking at him.
☆☆☆
Atish didn't know how much time had passed when the doctor finally came out.
"The patient is stable now, but there is significant weakness. Due to the cold and stress, her body reacted. She needs rest."
Atish merely nodded and without wasting any more time, went inside. Meher was weak but conscious. As soon as Atish entered, Meher slowly opened her eyes. Atish bit his lip, wanting to say something, but the words didn't come.
☆☆☆
"You should always connect yourself with people who can help in your growth. Sometimes, connections happen for no reason. Some people, without any intention, stay in your mind."
He smiled faintly, his gaze lingering on Emil. Emil understood the hidden meaning behind his words. In an instant, her face turned red, but she tried to control her expression.
☆☆☆
"If you were so eager to die, you should've told me. I would've buried you myself."
Atish said in a soft yet angry tone.
"If you had killed me earlier, maybe I wouldn't have to endure all this."
Meher replied coldly, not looking at him. Atish stepped forward, his eyes filled with anger and guilt.
"I wanted to kill you, I could've left you yesterday, but no, Meher. No matter how much you hurt yourself, I don't care about your attitude."
For the first time, Meher looked deep into his eyes but didn't say anything.
"Enough. No more."
Atish left the hospital, as if running from his own emotions. Meher's lips moved slightly as if she wanted to say something, but then she went silent. Atish, sitting in the car, gripped the steering wheel tightly and then closed his eyes.
"You don't care about me, Meher, but I do."
Those words echoed in his mind.
☆☆☆
The entire hall erupted in applause. Some were excited, some were taking notes, but Rafay's interest was solely focused on one spot. He glanced at his wristwatch, as if he wanted to confirm that he wasn't running out of time, but dedicating time to this one thing was worth it. Then he looked at Emil, his gaze intense.
"Why is he staring at me like that?"
With her heart racing, Emil whispered to herself. For Rafay, this wasn't just a business presentation. It was his way of indirectly telling Emil that she couldn't get out of his heart and mind.
☆☆☆
"I thought you would come to me after seeing me, but it looks like you're still stubborn."
Rafay walked up to her.
"And I thought you were only interested in business meetings, but it seems like you still have more free time."
Emil said in a slightly sarcastic tone, arms crossed.
"The important things require time, like you."
Rafay said with a smile, not taking his eyes off her.
"My example? Have I become part of your business strategy?"
Emil asked with the same smile. Rafay took a step closer.
"You're more dangerous than all my strategies. You leave an impact, even without planning."
Each word he spoke carried weight, and Emil took a small step back, but remained composed.
"If this is your way of impressing someone, I'll have to say that you need more practice, Mr. Shah."
Rafay chuckled lightly as if he enjoyed her words.
"And what if I need to learn from you?"
Emil raised an eyebrow.
"Then first, you should decide if you want to learn or just impose your will."
"I only want what is already mine."
He became serious, but his smile remained.
"If something feels like it's not yours, then?"
Emil challenged him.
"Then I'll find a way to remind it."
He stepped even closer. Emil's heart skipped a beat.
"The more you try to run away, the closer I'll get."
He said in a low voice. Emil, startled, started walking away, but Rafay grabbed her wrist.
"I don't like it when you ignore me."
With his other hand, he gently twirled a strand of her hair, speaking softly.
"Your eyes say you didn't like me coming here, but your heart says something else."
He stood in her way, blocking her path.
"You think if I'm here for just a presentation, you still don't know me?"
As Emil quickly passed, she heard Rafay's last sentence. A smile crossed her face, but she kept walking, as Mominah was waiting for her in the other section.
☆☆☆
Meher had returned home, but she was not speaking to Atish at all. Her attitude towards him had completely changed—cold and distant. Atish could feel the shift in her behavior, but he didn't have the courage to say anything. His eyes were filled with embarrassment, but his ego stopped him from apologizing. Every time he tried to approach her, Meher stepped back.
"Meher, why are you doing this to me?"
Atish said, his voice full of anger and restlessness.
"I'm just behaving the way you wanted me to."
She said in a cold tone.
"From a distance…"
And she walked away. Meher was having trouble sleeping. She felt restless. One night, she quietly came out into the garden. It was raining outside, and she felt completely alone. She stood silently, letting the rain soak her when Atish came searching for her.
"Meher, come inside, you'll get sick."
Atish said softly.
"I don't care, Atish. You didn't care before, so why do you care now?"
She shouted.
"It matters, Meher! It matters a lot."
His voice was still soft, and the embarrassment was clear in his eyes.
"Now why? Now why do you care so much about me when you used to scold me whenever you wanted, yell at me, act indifferent, and now? Now you're saying that you care?"
Her tears wouldn't stop. Atish's heart tightened. He wanted to approach her, but she quickly went inside. Meher thought Atish would turn back into the person he was before, but that didn't happen. He started taking care of her without saying anything. She refused to take medicine, but he forced her. Wherever she went, he was with her. She tried every time to tell him she didn't need him, but he completely ignored her words as if he didn't hear them. However, he listened to all her bitter and hurtful words as though love was stealing the pain from her words.
Continue....