I'm terrible," I whispered. Then, a thought crossed my mind: "Should I complain to the police about this stalker? Yesterday, he sent a box to my home address, and today it went to my school. What should I do?" I held my head in frustration just then; there was a knock on my door.

I quickly gathered all the feathers and put them back in the box. As I was doing this, a small note fell out. I put everything in the box, placed it in my bag, and paused to look at the note I was holding. I called out to whoever was knocking, "Come in."

It was my sister. She said, "Ammi is asking for tea." I nodded and replied, "I'm coming." Once she left the room, I quickly locked the door and opened the note. It had bold letters that read, "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT ME?"

In frustration, I tore the note and threw it in the trash, exclaiming, "Come in front of me once, and I swear I'll kill you." Then I took a deep breath and said to myself, "Take a chill pill, Zoha."

Author pov

"Arsh, we have to go back to Mumbai," Arav said as soon as he entered the room. Arsh, who was lost in thought, noticed Arav on the other side of the room and walked over to his chair with heavy steps. He placed one hand on the table and looked toward Arav, asking, "Is it necessary to go?"

Hearing Arsh's question, Arav chuckled and replied, "Bro, you said you didn't want to come to Lucknow, and now you're worried about going back to Mumbai."

Seeing Aarav laugh, Arsh responded with a grumpy look, "There's nothing to it."

Arav remarked, "I sense something else."

In a heavy voice, Arsh retorted, "Shut up. When are we leaving for Mumbai?"

Just as Arav was about to answer, Arsh's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, answered the call, but disconnected it immediately after.

Aarav then continued, "We'll return the day after tomorrow."

Arsh replied affirmatively, and Arav left the room. Afterward, Arsh opened his phone's gallery and, looking at a picture, said,

"Adat hain, lat hain ya khumari hain

Roz teri tasveer dekhne ki bimari hain"

As he touched her picture on his phone with his thumb, he smiled and said, "Amore, the wait is over. I'm going to make you mine." Just then, he received a call on another phone and added, "Meet me sharp at 8:00 p.m."

_____________________

When Zoha stepped out of her room, she noticed someone sitting in the lounge area. She greeted them with "Assalamualaikum."

The lady turned toward her and replied, "Walekum Assalam."

Then, looking at Zahra, Zoha's mother asked, "She is your elder daughter, isn't she?" Zahra nodded happily and confirmed, "Yes, she is my elder daughter, Zoha."

The lady invited Zoha to sit with her, saying, "Come here, baccha, mere paas betho."

They chatted, but Zoha responded to her questions in very few words;

It takes her time to get comfortable with new faces.

The lady then said to Zoha, "I am your mother's best friend. We used to study together until university, but then I got married and moved to Mumbai, and she also disappeared after her marriage." When she spoke the last sentence, she looked at Zahra, who felt a hint of sadness upon hearing those words.

Zahra replied, "I thought a lot about getting in touch with you but couldn't."

Zoha listened to their conversation, unsure of how to respond.

The lady continued, "I talked so much and introduced myself, but I didn't tell you my name." With a smile, she said, "I am Rabia."

Taking Zoha's hand in hers, she said, "Zahra, I want to ask you something."

Zahra looked at Rabia in confusion and asked, "What?"

At that moment, as Rabia held Zoha's hand, Zoha felt something strange. Rabia then said, "I am asking for your daughter Zoha for my son."

Zoha instinctively moved back, pulling her hand away from Rabia's grasp and looking at Zahra. At first, Zahra was shocked, but gradually she began to understand the situation and smiled.

Zoha, meanwhile, didn't comprehend what was happening, so she got up and left.

Seeing Zoha walk away, Zahra felt a surge of anger but quickly composed herself, smiling at Rabia.

"She is a little shy," Zahra explained.

Rabia laughed and said, "She is adorable."

Rabia then added, "Zahra, I will wait for your answer."

Zahra nodded but didn't say anything, prompting Rabia to continue, "I know you are in a difficult situation. But believe me, I will treat Zoha like my own daughter. I have high hopes for you."

As tears welled up in her eyes, Rabia began to mumble to Zahra, "Zoha is perfect for my son. She is made for him."

.....

Zoha rushed back to her room, went straight to the balcony, and started taking deep breaths. After a few minutes, she felt more relaxed.

"One problem after another. Will Allah ever grant me a peaceful day?" she thought.

A voice in her heart then asked, "When will you stop running away from marriage?"

Another voice chimed in, "Are you doing this for the one you loved?"

Zoha placed her hand on her heart and responded, "No, not at all, not for him."

"Then it is better to marry someone else than to stay single," the voice said.

Zoha replied, "Will everything be fine if I get married?" To which the voice answered, "I don't know what it will be like, but there will be no more interference in your life."

Zoha asked, "How?"

The voice replied, "By getting married, you will become someone else's property, someone else's dignity. Someone else will have rights over you that he still has, even after causing you pain."

Zoha continued, "Will he stop traumatizing me if I get married? Will he stop haunting my dreams?"

The voice from her heart replied, "To free yourself from him, you will have to give away all the rights that destiny has written for you. Whoever is meant to be with you, regardless of distance, is your companion. You will be his, and he will be yours.

This is what's called the red string of destiny."

_________________________

"Now it's time to play." a chilling voice reverberated through the lavishly decorated room. Seated on a royal chair, he wore a devilish grin that betrayed his ruthless nature. The flickering candlelight cast shadows across his face, enhancing the sinister energy that filled the air.

"Everything is ready, boss," a loyal accomplice reported, his tone filled with anticipation. Just then, a captivating woman emerged from the shadows, placing a delicate hand on the man's shoulder. Her voice was smooth yet confident as she remarked, "I have a feeling this will be easier than we think."

With a smug chuckle, he replied, "Nothing is impossible for me." Rising from his grand chair, he strode across the room, his eyes locking onto a breathtaking portrait hanging on the wall. In the painting, a beautiful girl, symbolic of freedom and grace, gazed back at him.

As he traced the contours of the picture with his fingers, he murmured, "Once I have you, I'll fulfill every fantasy I've ever dared to dream." He carefully tilted the frame, freeing its painted lips from the confines of the canvas. A triumphant gleam sparkled in his eyes as he declared, "The wait is finally over."