It's December 23rd. Ayesha uses a spare key to unlock the door. She steps in with her luggage followed by Daksh, Jyugal, Darshan, Naushad, Mehjabeen(Naushad's wife), Asif, Aahna, Adaa, and Inaya. They take off their footwear and drop their luggage in the foyer before making their way to the living room.

Ayesha gasps seeing the living room. There is confetti, glass bottles, popcorn, candy wrappers, and open takeout boxes of food laying around. It looks like a hurricane went through it. Daksh moves forward and trips. He looks down to see a coat jacket carelessly thrown on the floor.

Daksh: These two legit took the have fun seriously!

Ayesha: Sure did!

Naushad chuckles seeing Murat and Jaimi's sleeping position. Jaimi is lying on the sofa on her stomach. A pillow is set on her head as she cuddles the edge of the sofa. Murat is half laying on the ground with a pillow under his head. One hand under his head and the other on his stomach. His legs are in the air resting on the sofa's armrest. One of them falls on Jaimi's feet.

Jaimi: Uh... go away, Murat!

She pushes his legs away using her feet and they fall on the side table. He whines in pain while she looks at peace in her sleep. He sits up and stretches a bit. He looks at the clock to see it close to 10'o clock. He yawns and shakes his head. He taps Jaimi's feet.

Murat: Jay, get up! It's ten already.

Jaimi: Let me sleep! I have nowhere to be today.

Murat: Yes we do! We have to go shopping for the Christmas thing.

Jaimi: You go by yourself.

Murat: Seriously Jay get up or I'm gonna throw you in that frozen river behind the house.

She smacks her lips before being pulled up into a sitting position by Murat, who is completely oblivious of the other bodies standing in the room. He is standing in front of her blocking her vision. She rubs her eyes and yawns before holding her hands out like a little child. He grasps her upper arm and pulls her up on her feet. He puts his phone and wallet in his pockets as he turns to leave.

Jaimi: Where are you going?

Murat: Home!

Jaimi chuckles.

Jaimi: Nah! You're going to help me clean, first.

Murat makes a face before muttering an okay. He turns around to pick up a few things when their eyes fall on the group. Jaimi pushes Murat aside gently, earning a glare from him to which she simply shrugs her shoulder. Darshan scans her from top to bottom. He sees that Jaimi's hair is pulled back into a messy bun on top of her head. She's wearing a silk tank top and shorts.

Jaimi: What're you guys doing here?

Ayesha: Daksh and I were going to surprise you two by coming here today, but rather we got surprised by seeing how much fun we were left out of. The others joined in as well.

Daksh moves closer to the two and sniffs them.

Murat: What the heck are you doing?

Daksh: Making sure you two aren't high on anything!

Jaimi: I don't remember either of us going to clubs on the weekends and picking up strangers!

Daksh: Aye, you didn't have to say it like that!

Ayesha: Technically, that was the nicest way someone has put it out, so you should be thankful!

Murat: I'm hella surprised that no girl has turned up at your door with a child or you haven't been infected with any of those STDs.

Asif: Surprisingly not yet!

Daksh: Hahaha!

Jaimi looks at Asif. She sees Aahna sleeping in his arms. Her face displays a stoic expression in a matter of seconds. Mehjabeen gently pushed Naushad aside and goes to Jaimi. They hug each other.

Mehjabeen: I'm so happy to see you! It's been way too long.

Jaimi: Surely has been.

Mehjabeen: How are you feeling now? Naushad just told me last week or else I would've come to meet you earlier at the hospital.

Jaimi: No worries! It wasn't that much.

Ayesha: When will it be that much? When you die?

Jaimi: Hahaha.

Ayesha: Both of you get up here and help me clean because I'm not about to clean the mess you two made.

Jaimi and Murat help clean up the living room and its surroundings. Daksh leaves with Murat for Murat's house saying they'll be back for breakfast.

Ayesha: Who's staying where Jay?

Jaimi: There are three vacant rooms on the second floor and there's one on the third floor. Aashu, yours is on the third floor on the opposite end of the hall from mine.

They nod.

Jaimi: Freshen up then we'll have breakfast.

Jaimi and Ayesha make their way to the 3rd floor along with Darshan and Jyugal, who will be sharing a room. Jaimi's room is on the right end of the hall while Ayesha's is on the left end. The boys' room is in the middle. Inaya finds herself a cozy room on the second floor. Naushad and Mehjabeen take the room on the left end. Asif, Adaa, and Aahna occupy the one on the right end. They freshen up and change into something comfortable.

They all gather at the breakfast table and breakfast counter bar in the kitchen. Murat and Daksh join them shortly after. Jaimi makes her way to the kitchen drawing attention as she walks in. She is in a maroon drawstring cropped hoodie and matching shorts. They all have breakfast while Jaimi sips her smoothie.

Murat: Jay, you still want to do the Christmas and New Year's party?

Jaimi: I mean everyone's here, so why not?

Murat: We can do Christmas here and New Year's at my place!

Jaimi: Good with me.

Murat: Let's go shopping!

Jaimi: Now?

Murat: Yeah.

Jaimi groans.

Jaimi: I'm tired!

Daksh: Doing what?

Daksh has a curious naughty tone. Jaimi raises her eyebrow at him as all the heads turn in her direction.

Jaimi: I had two flights then, he wanted to do the movie night so that.

Daksh frowns, causing Ayesha and Murat to chuckle.

Daksh: Boring! Girl, you're what 25?

Jaimi: 24!

Daksh: You still single pringle! All you do is run after criminals and fly planes. In your free time, you spend it all with family. Add some spice of boys to your life and maybe girls if your taste has changed.

Jaimi throws an apple at him which he catches.

Jaimi: I'm still into boys, but the last time I took a liking to one he turned out to be an Italian mafia boss. I just quit now!

Daksh: Crush? You can always bang them for a night like Shayna Bakshi! Maybe you can start a family if the protection didn't go through as planned.

He winks at her and she rolls her eyes.

Jaimi: Shayna Bakshi is dead, sweetheart! And, talking about family, you should be the one worrying because who knows how many little Daksh are running around after your numerous ons-es.

Daksh: Don't turn the table back to me and yes, I have been practicing celibacy for the last five months so be proud of it.

Murat: That's the longest since you found out about protection!

Jaimi and Murat high-five each other across the table.

Daksh: You two just need to get a life!

Ayesha: End this topic now! We are eating and there's a little child, so you three shut up.

Jaimi gets up and rinses her glass and places it on the dish rack. Murat and her leave shortly after. They return in the evening with at least 20 bags in their hands and a tall Christmas tree about eight feet in height.

Jaimi: I'm going to bed!

She reaches the second floor.

Jaimi: Murat?

Murat: Yeah?

Jaimi: Pick up the blue accounts file from my room on your way out. It's on the side table.

Murat: K!

Jaimi leaves the door cracked open and climbs onto the bed. Sleep takes over her in a matter of a few minutes. Murat picks up the file after dinner and tucks her in properly. He adjusts her room temperature before leaving. The others head to bed as well.

Jaimi wakes up around 3 in the morning. She strolls to the ground floor. She grabs a water bottle from the refrigerator and goes to the balcony, but retreats inside as it's snowing with a storm. She goes to the office. She fishes out her glasses from one of the drawers and puts them on. She grabs a thick faux leather-covered book. She sits by the floor-to-ceiling glass windows looking over the snow-covered forest and the frozen river in her backyard. She opens the album book and puts it in her lap.

She brushes her fingers over the pictures as she turns pages. A soft smile makes its way on her face as she reminisces the old memories. A sharp pain jolts through her heart as her eyes stop on one picture. A tear escapes her eyes as she stares at the picture deeply. In the picture, Jaimi is hugging Asif and he is kissing her forehead with the perfect backdrop of Valley of Flowers National Park. There is a smile plastered on her face. She shuts the album and wipes the tear away hearing footsteps. She jolts up and makes her way to the offices. She puts her glasses and the album up before walking out. She is met by a hard figure. She looks up to see Darshan.

Jaimi: I'm sorry! I didn't see you coming.

Darshan opens his mouth to say something, but Jaimi is quick on her feet. He grabs a water bottle and retires to his room.

The next morning comes quicker than expected. Jaimi and Darshan arrive in the kitchen at the same time. Jaimi makes her smoothie while Darshan joins the others for breakfast. Murat walks over to Jaimi.

Murat: You want to put up the tree today?

Jaimi: Yeah.

Murat: We have to go to a meeting afterward, so be ready.

Jaimi nods her head.

Daksh: What are you two whispering there in the corner?

Murat: Can't two people have some privacy?

Daksh: Ewww! Get a room, guys.

Jaimi rolls her eyes at him before glaring him down.

Daksh: Jay, don't look at me like that.

Jaimi: Like what?

Daksh: Like you want to eat me alive!

Jaimi: I thought about it before, but then I don't want any STDs from your dead body, so no.

Daksh: You mean chaps, but seriously get a room! No one wants to see that.

He flashes his innocent smile and shrugs. Ayesha presses her lips together to contain her laugh.

Murat: Jaimi and I have nothing of that sort, so stop making those idiotic statements.

They both take a seat and finish their meal. They help clean up and then, everyone is in the living room. The boys move the Christmas tree to its proper place while the girls grab the decorations. They decorate all of it.

Aahna: Angel, are we going to put gifts under the tree?

Jaimi: If you want to!

Murat: Jay, I have a gift for you.

She turns to see Murat standing in the foyer. She walks closer to him but stops as she hears a soft barking of a puppy. A grin forms on her face as she sees Miro running to her. She scoops him in her arms and he leaks her face. She giggles. She lets him down after a minute and he runs to Ayesha, then Darshan who picks him up as well.

Mehjabeen: Jaimi, I never knew you got a puppy!

Jaimi: It was my birthday gift from Murat!

Mehjabeen: Oh. He's adorable!

Jaimi nods her head in agreement.

Mehjabeen: We have to catch up on a lot of things.

Murat comes behind Jaimi.

Murat: Sorry Bhabhi, but I have to steal her away from you as we have to be somewhere.

Mehjabeen: You guys are some workaholic people!

Jaimi: Bye!

Murat says his goodbye as they stroll out of the house. Inaya notices that Darshan's eyes are trained on Jaimi whenever she is around, especially with Murat.

They spend the next hour chatting away. Darshan minimizes his interaction with Inaya as much as he can.

Naushad: We have to go out for some work, so we shall leave.

They nod their head. Mehjabeen and Adaa are clueless about what is going on.

Naushad: Agent Alpha, Spider, and Phoenix you guys tour around and do a safety check. Agent D, go to the mock drills that the army and air force are practicing today. The commander will be there and he will inform you about military stationing in the valley and here. Inaya, you go with the three girls as someone is needed to protect them from any unknown danger.

Inaya: But sir, I thought I would be going with Agent D as I'm assisting him.

Naushad: I'm sure he doesn't need any assistance now and the girls need to be protected.

Inaya: But?

Naushad: Everyone's dismissed.

They all leave the house and Ayesha locks it behind her. Mehjabeen, Adaa, Aahna, and Inaya are walking to the market as the weather is pleasant. Inaya looks bored.

Mehjabeen: I'm sorry for Naushad's tone there.

Inaya: No-no it's fine.

Mehjabeen: Cheer up! You don't have to work today. You can shop and every girl loves shopping.

A smile forms on Inaya's face. The three reach the market and start shopping for gifts. The four are pushed into a van on their way back to Jaimi's house. It was a deserted road.

Around 3 in the afternoon, Jaimi is driving back home when her phone rings. She sees it's a video call from an unknown number. She debates if she wants to answer or not, but her gut feeling tells her to do it so she does. She pulls over to the side of the road. She turns off her camera and sees Adaa, Mehjabeen, and Inaya tied to round cement pillars while Aahna is playing with some toys in a separate room with an armed man. The call ends.

She fishes out a Glock-17 Pistol from the glovebox. She loads it with the bullet magazine and tries to remember what she saw in the video. Her mind clicks and she drives toward her destination. She changes into a black t-shirt and pants along with ankle boots on her way. She wears a black face mask to cover her face and ties her hair back in a ponytail. She parks her car in a public place nearby before walking to her destination and putting on a burqa over her outfit.

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