I wake up to the sound that feels like dripping water hitting on the stone below , before it scatters into a million tiny droplets. For a moment I wonder if I am near a waterfall, I try racking my brain, but it feels too heavy, nothing comes to me than blankness.

Although I am awake I don't see anything, late I realise my eyelids are pressed shut, caked in dirt and grime.

Why couldn't I remember where I was last? Just as the thought occurs, my head feels like being splintered into a million pieces.

This time, I tear open my eyelids, only to be blinded by the scorching rays of sun coming through a window at the top. I find myself lying on a bed near the wall along which a narrow stream of water trickles down the sides. My fingers slide on the sheet beneath me, it felt smooth and clean. My throat is perched, I wonder if it's drinkable.

I don't want to risk getting a bacterial infection, when I am abducted.

Abducted! Right, I remember the cloth being pressed to my mouth. Immediately, almost on reflex I check my wrists to find the beaded bracelet still there. He's here. The effect of the bracelet is almost calming. 

Now that I have a sense of peace, I look around and I am reminded of the day I was abducted from my camp. It feels like so many days ago, but it was merely a month and half ago.

I had been drugged and that explains the heavy feeling. My throat constricts when I realise this time there would be no Basheer. But, what I didn't understand is why had I been kidnapped again? Was I that great a doctor and my skills were that special?

That's one thing that has been bothering me since the first time I had been kidnapped. Basheer hadn't been my kidnapper, then why would someone bother bringing me here only to work at a hospital?

I didn't realise my skills were that amazing. Did Pakistan lack doctors so much, that they had to kidnap doctors from India? Although I hated Pakistan, I knew that couldn't be true. Dr. Najeeb, every medical student's Guru is a Pakistani. Oh, how I love that man!

Just then I hear footsteps, more so like one particular footstep. They are unequal, one step feels heavier than the other.

I push against my elbows, using it to support my body before resting against the wall. Its just the drugs, they are making me loose control over my own body. Anyway, something tells me I don't want this person to see lying on the bed like a helpless kitten.

Just then the door creaks and a man steps in, limping on one leg, shutting the door behind him. He draws a chair lying nearby, that I hadn't noticed had been present. Heck, I hadn't noticed anything until now. 

"I see the drugs have worn off." He states, without giving an introduction, not that I expected him to.

"Using choloroform is old-school, really old-school." I state, biting my tongue immediately. This man just gives me the wrong vibes and I can't seem to control the answer pouring out of my mouth.

"Now now, you are here so we can upgrade." He gives a crooked smile, pulling his leg up to rest his sheen on his other knee. "We wouldn't want our guest to stay in such a shabby place."

"Guest?"

"Yes, our very esteemed guest. Now before you grill me with questions, that already know of, let me ask you something."

"What would that be?" I feel like I am being assayed, my every move and breath is being counted. Though I am sitting on the bed, I feel I could fall anytime.

 "Do you remember H.N Das?" His eyes narrow as recognition flashes through my face. He has seen it, there's no use arguing it now.

"What about him?" I ask suddenly very cautious. I feel like being pushed into a well with my hands and feet bound.

"He died." He states, before leaning back in his chair.

"Dead. As in D.E.A.D" I numbly repeat as if trying to understand what that means before I croak out, "How?" How could he? 

"Remember the plane crash?"

I nod in a silent affirmation, already knowing what's to come. 

"Your professor had been working on a drug, a medical miracle. He had been conducting tests on it to see if the side-effects could be nullified. Obviously you know, you had been his favourite student after all. He wrote me a letter telling me he would be coming to meet me as he needed my help on financing.

Abdul Gaffar got a hint of it and wants it all for himself, so while trying to kidnap your professor, he died from a heart attack. They couldn't save him, and the drug died with him. So his men are coming for you because you are the last link to the drug.

I am sorry we had to kidnap you that way, but you know we are his men. We had to get you out of there and there was no time for it. You got the letter right?"

He knows about the letter?

"What about Ruksar?"

"She's one of them, she was trying to take you to Gaffar." My fists clench tightly against the bedsheet, while my ears feel hot. My professor is dead and Ruksar had been playing me all along.  

How should I react after realising how damned of a fool I am?

My head spins with all the new found information. So, I am safe here. But Ruksar? I trusted her for the first time. How could she?

"Where is she?" I ask through clenched teeth. 

"She is in a dungeon down. If you want to meet her, we will take you." No, thanks. I would rather not see her face. 

"So, I am going back to India?" I ask, changing the topic.

"Not yet. As I said your professor had been working on this drug and he wanted to meet me, he sent me a letter. That's how I got to know about you." He hands me a printed email." Here, read this,"

Dear Faruqi,

You, my dear friend know about my crisis. This is an urgent letter to tell you that, I am very close to develop the drug, only that I need the finances, since developing a drug is very costly and i can't proceed without it.

I also want you to know about my assistant Nehali Singh, a junior doctor of AFMC. She is a very bright girl, and with her help, I think I will be able to complete this project.

I hope you will write back soon, since I would be waiting.

Your old friend,

Dr H.N.Das.

So, that means Ruksar really was trying to take me to Gaffar. That Gaffar! First my father and now my professor! 

"How could she know about the letter as well?" I ask.

"Have you forgotten what she does in Basheer's house? She must have gotten a hold of it as you went out to the hospital."

Right, I had suspected that too.

My throat clogs with unshed tears, "What do I do?" I feel very helpless question as I ask this.

"You would be returning soon anyway, what about completing your professor's project? His last wish? I have the finances ready."

"But...but...how can I--" I am only a junior doctor with limited knowledge. How could I complete his project?

"No buts Nehali, I believe you can do it. This is the best way to seek revenge for his death. Anyway you don't need to improve the drug, only you need to form the drug just as it was, we have experts who will work on improving it. But, without the base we can't proceed. Do you understand?"

"So, I only need to make the base right?"

He nods in affirmative before changing the topic, "I am sorry but we don't have a nice accommodation for you here. Things are already tough for us, hope you understand. There's a table over there with a phone. Dial 1 and it will automatically connect you to me. Just call me if there's anything you need. Is that okay?"

"Yeah," I say feeling relieved. "Can I have a glass of water?"

"Uh sure." He says before standing up to pour me a glass of water and handing it over.

"Thank you" I croak before taking a sip. As cool liquid touches my throat, I am relieved as how good it feels. Much sweeter than honey, damn I am going to drink water, just water all my life!

"By the way, I had a mobile with me, where is it?"

His forehead crinkles before he answers, "Oh, I think it might have fallen down while bringing you here."

"Ohh, I see."

"I will leave you to rest then. Feel free to look around." He says before moving out and closing the door behind him.

Once he's out, I take a moment to celebrate I my safety. My throat constricts and my heart beats louder when I imagine, Basheer could be here too. But then wouldn't he be here to explain things himself? He must be busy.

I sigh, dropping off of sleep. The drug is making me drowsy, I better sleep it off.

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I have a NEWS for you all! I am so excited to share it with you all!!!

I have planned a new story, a historical fiction. I will start it shortly after I finish Cursed or Blessed. As you can guess it's nearing its end, and we almost have something around 10 or so chapters left.

I am planning on a historical fiction based in India in the British era, following the story of the Daughter of a Zamindar and a British Captain. Does that sound good? I just wrote the first chapter today and it came out pretty well. I wanted to hide this some more, but I guess I want to share my excitement. 

I will be sharing the blurb, the story name and the cover in the next update! 

Although it will highlight a lot of social issues faced by women in that period and the good and bad sides of British Empire in India, we are also going to enjoy the steaming chemistry between the leads. 😍

So, would you be interested in reading this historical fiction? Tell me in the comments. I caaaaaan't waaaait!!!!!