Aariz's pov:

Damn, that ego of mine. It has cost me so much, and now, Noor... Noor has been hurt by it more than I care to admit. But honestly, at this point, I don't care about it. I've had enough of it. If it means sacrificing my pride for her, then I'll do it without a second thought.

"Mr Raihan? We're here." the driver informs me.

I nod silently, appreciating his words. I open the car door and step out onto the driveway. As I make my way to the mansion, I feel the familiar tension in the air. It's not just any ordinary day—something feels off, and it's weighing on everyone.

I go inside the mansion to see everyone there. Well not everyone. All my brothers and all their lovers. Except of Aliyah bhabi.

"Kya ho raha hai?" I ask confused. (what is happening?)

"Aariz. Have you seen Aliyah in the past hour or two?" Noor said while running up to me.  Her eyes are wide with worry, and she looks frantic, almost panicked.

I shake my head, equally baffled. "No. Why?"

"She disappeared. Like no one saw her! What do we do oh gosh I'm so worried." Karya says in a hurry.

"Don't worry, we'll find a way." Aryan tried to comfort her.

Ahaan bhaia speaks, his voice firm, cutting through the chaos. "We don't have time to find a way. What we need to find is Fahad Rashid." His words hang heavy in the air, and I can see the worry etched on his face. The tension spikes as we all turn to him, not fully understanding what he means.

Azaan bhaia quickly jumps in, his voice laced with frustration. "I called the Rashid residence. Apparently, he's on a business trip. But something doesn't feel right." His frown deepens, and he looks like he's about to make a move.

"Business trip my foot," Ahaan bhaia spits out, his tone sharp. "Aryan, you need to look through every document you can find. Whatever we have, whether it's evidence, assumptions, or anything that could lead us to him. If needed, Aliyah could be the witness later." His gaze sweeps the room, taking in each of us as he speaks. "Everyone, find her. Find Aliyah. And Aariz, contact Dad. Get him to call his officer friend. Have them mobilize the patrols to look for Fahad Rashid. And if anyone finds him, they'll be rewarded—anything they want."

With one last glance around the room, Ahaan bhaia hurries out.

"And where are you going?" Karya's voice rises again, but this time with an edge of frustration.

"To find Aliyah." Ahaan bhaia said before slamming the door behind him.

I pull out my phone and text Dad, following Ahaan bhaia's instructions. Aryan immediately starts dialing his assistant, trying to get more information

Noor slouches into the couch, her posture slumped, clearly exhausted from the stress. Her eyes are filled with worry, and I can see the concern written all over her face. "Oh God," she whispers, more to herself than anyone else. "I really hope she's okay. She can't be in trouble. She just can't be."

I sit down next to her, my hand automatically reaching out to caress her hair. "Don't worry, darling," I murmur. "I'm sure she's fine."

Author's pov:

Ahaan's grip on the steering wheel tightens as he floors the accelerator, the engine roaring beneath him. His eyes dart from side to side, scanning every street, every corner, as he drives at full speed through the city. The streets blur by in a rush of lights and shadows, but Ahaan's mind is laser-focused, determined to find Aliyah. He pulls into every shop, café, and restaurant he passes, jumping out of the car and frantically asking anyone who might know where she is. The stress lines on his face are deepening with each passing second, but he doesn't care. He won't stop until he finds her.

Every person he calls is told the same thing—if they find Fahad Rashid or Aliyah, they will be rewarded, anything they desire. The words feel hollow in his mouth, but he keeps saying them, hoping that somewhere, someone has seen her, hoping that someone can give him the clue he desperately needs.

With time running out and the city's noise blurring into the background, Ahaan heads straight for Aliyah's parents' house. His hands shake slightly as he approaches the front door, but he forces himself to stay calm. He rings the bell, the sound echoing in the tense silence. The door opens a moment later, revealing Zarif Rahman.

"Oh, Mr. Ahaan Raihan! What a pleasure to see you," Zarif says with a forced politeness that makes Ahaan's blood boil. "What brings you here?"

Without warning, Ahaan grabs him by the collar, his anger boiling over. The usual calm, composed demeanour he prided himself on is nowhere to be found. His voice is full of raw fury as he growls, "Do you know where Aliyah is?

Zarif stumbles back in shock, trying to push Ahaan's hand off, but Ahaan's grip only tightens. His eyes are dark with rage as he pulls him closer. "Tell me where she is!" Ahaan demands, his voice rising.

"No! Leave me!" Zarif gasps, his hands shaking as he attempts to free himself from Ahaan's iron grip. But Ahaan doesn't loosen his hold.

Before Zarif can say anything else, the sound of hurried footsteps comes from inside. Zarin Rahman steps into the hallway. Her sharp eyes flicker between her son and Ahaan. "Mr. Raihan, who do you think you are?" she demands coldly. "You can't just burst into my house and threaten my son like this. Leave immediately, or I'll call security!"

Ahaan's grip remains firm, but he doesn't back down. His chest heaves with rage, his eyes burning. "Not until you tell me where either Fahad or Aliyah is!" he snaps, his voice low but dangerous.

Zarin's expression remains cold and unyielding as she steps forward, her tone devoid of any empathy. "We have no relation to that girl. And I'm sure you know Fahad is on a business trip," she says, as though discussing a trivial matter. Her voice drips with indifference. "Now leave my son and get out before I call security."

Ahaan's jaw clenches, the insult stinging him. "Yes, and I'm happy you have no relation to her. You don't deserve to be a part of her family," he spits, his voice laced with disdain. He stares at Zarif, who looks utterly defeated but refuses to speak.

With one final, enraged glance, Ahaan releases Zarif, shoving him backward as he turns and storms out of the house. The door slams shut behind him, but Ahaan's resolve is only growing stronger. He doesn't care that he's been denied. He won't stop until he finds her.

The rain begins to fall as he continues his search, each drop hitting his face like a cold slap. But he doesn't care. The storm seems to mirror the turmoil inside him, but Ahaan pushes forward, the intensity of his mission overriding everything else. He drives through the streets, stopping only long enough to ask around—at dark alleyways, hidden backstreets, abandoned warehouses, and secluded storage rooms. He even approaches the most unlikely places, each location more desperate than the last.

His mind is consumed with the thought of Aliyah—her safety, her well-being. The world around him could fall apart, but none of it matters if he doesn't find her. His chest aches with the fear of what might have happened to her, but he keeps searching, keeps pushing himself farther into the unknown. He can't give up. Not now. Not ever.

Hours pass. The night grows darker. But Ahaan doesn't stop. He won't stop. Not until he finds her.

He starts driving towards the place he hates to even think about. The Rashids. Maybe he could find a clue. Anything to save her.

--

Fahad Rashid stepped off the boat, the cool breeze of the Australian coast whipping against his face as he adjusted the collar of his jacket. His assistant hurried toward him, holding out a hand, ready to take the heavy box from him. "Sir, please let me help with that. The box looks very heavy," the assistant said, his voice trembling slightly, unsure if he should press the issue.

Fahad's eyes narrowed as he gripped the box tighter, his jaw tightening. "It's fine. I can manage this," he replied coldly, brushing off the offer. "Take the luggage, and make sure everything is in order for the hotel."

"But sir the box looks very heavy and-" he stops when he sees Fahad glaring at him.

"Are you trying to disobey me?" Fahad asked.

"N-no sir." his assistant said shakily.

"Then take this to the hotel. I'll come after finishing some work,"

The assistant hesitated for a moment, glancing nervously at the box, but then bowed his head. "Y-yes, sir," he stammered, stepping back as Fahad began to walk away.

To the family's private estate, hidden away on this remote coastline, was exactly where he needed to be. There, no one would find him or the one person he had brought with him.

He reached the hidden vacation home—a place so far removed from the rest of the world that few even knew it existed. The secluded property was tucked between rocky cliffs and dense, overgrown trees, making it impossible to see from any distance.

Fahad made his way down into the basement, where a small, unassuming storage room lay hidden. The air was damp and musty, the only sound the faint echo of his footsteps as he carefully placed the box on the concrete floor. His hands were steady, his heart beating with anticipation.

Inside, Aliyah was unconscious, her fragile body curled up and bound tightly in layers of thick cloth. Her chest rose and fell with shallow breaths, unaware of her surroundings or the danger she was in. Fahad's eyes lingered on her for a moment, a twisted sense of satisfaction growing in his chest. She had been drugged again, and he could see the effect it had on her—her movements slow and her mind hazy, just as he had planned.

With a practiced hand, he carefully lifted her from the box, placing her onto an old wooden chair that was positioned in the corner of the small, dim room. The chair creaked under her weight, but it held firm. Fahad secured her arms and legs to the chair with two separate ropes—one around her wrists and another around the chair's arms. Then, he did the same to her legs, tying them tightly with unrelenting precision.

The room was dark, the only light coming from a faint crack in the wooden shutters over the windows. Fahad moved swiftly, taking a few planks of wood and blocking off the small gaps in the shutters. The darkness swallowed the room, leaving nothing but shadows.

He turned toward her one last time before leaving. The drug he had administered earlier would keep her sedated for hours, possibly longer, and he knew she would be unable to escape—no matter how hard she tried. It was part of the plan, and everything was unfolding as he had hoped. No one would come looking for her here. 

He locked the storage room from the outside, the sound of the key turning echoing in the otherwise silent space.

As Fahad ascended the stairs and left the basement, he knew there was nothing more to do. The room was small, dark and soundproof which would keep her trapped.

Exactly what he wants. 

Aryan's pov:

"Here you go." Karya hands me Aliyah's small statement which she wrote years ago about Fahad.

"Your assistant kept asking me questions about how I got you to let me take the file," she says while sitting opposite me.

Of course, he wanted to know. I never let anyone touch the files in my office. And only Ifran had them if it was really necessary. But Karya didn't know that.

"Is this all the proof you have on this?" Karya looks at the statement disappointedly. 

"Yes. I don't even know much either. Aliyah could be used as a witness later if we find her. Let's just hope we do real soon." I say after closing the file.

"Oh God. Is there no other leads?" she asks while getting frustrated.

"No. Ahaan bhai is still outside, looking for her." I reply while tapping my pen on the table.

"You seriously not giving my pen back? It was a gift from my grandmother!" she suddenly changes the topic.

"Nope, as I promised, I will not be giving it back to you unless I hate you. Which would not be possible. I mean, after we get together you'll have it anyway." I say with confidence.

"Huh what? I'm not getting together with you! I don't have time for such games." she said in annoyance.

"There's no need for games. I'm ready to marry you." my phone started ringing and I take it and answer it as the caller id read 'Ifran'. Talk about timing though.

"I sent you a location. I think it's Fahad Rashid's hideout. I'd check it out if I could. But I need to go." with that, he ended the call.

I check his text to see the location. It was pretty far and the route was impossible to reach with a car. Good thing Mum gifted me a bike two years ago. That'll come in handy.

"What happened?" Karya asks after I put my phone back in my pocket.

"I need to go somewhere. A place which is supposedly Fahad's hideout." I say while wearing my jacket.

"Okay, I am coming too." she stood up.

"Woah Sweetheart. I get that you are trying to help find your friend, but that place could be dangerous."

"I know it is dangerous, that is why I'm coming with you." she starts walking out before me. Wait, did I hear it right? Did she just say what I think she said?

Stupid Aryan, she doesn't care. No matter how much you do. Stop it.

I lead her to our parking where I start walking towards my bike. 

"Heck no. I'm not getting on a bike. Why don't we take the car?" Karya says while backing off.

Oh right. How could I forget? She was scared of bikes because of that accident in school.

"Karya. We can't go there with a car. The route is not suitable for it."

She was silent, like she was thinking what to do.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to. But trust me Karya. I would rather kill myself than hurt you." I say as softly as possible.

"Okay," she whispers.

I give Karya my helmet and wear Aariz's one. I'm sure he wouldn't even notice. He is too busy staring at Noor bhabi now that he finally realised his feelings.

I wear the helmet while Karya was struggling to put on hers. So I help her wear it.

I get on the bike and she gets on behind me. My heart starts beating faster as her body pressed close to mine. Maybe even she could hear it.

"You okay?" I try to make sure before I start.

"Yeah." she says in another whisper.

--

The place was pitch black. I take out my phone and turn on the flashlight before walking in further.

"This place is deserted. It's not helpful." Karya says while looking around the room.

"There are more rooms to check." I point to the stairs.

"Oh gosh. Do you think Aliyah could be here? Let's be quicker. I really don't want her to be stuck in a dark place." she said nervously as we start walking upstairs.

"Nothing here." Karya said looking at a room to the right of the hallway as I approached the room on the left.

"Nothing here too. Let's see if we can find any DNA. That could be evidence. Anyone's DNA including Fahad's." I say trying to examine the bars of the staircase properly.

When I notice a small glint of light from downstairs. 

I slowly start walking down as I signal Karya to stay quiet. The light starts coming closer, and then I see it.

Fire.

--

Thank you for reading <3