"Dil ko sambhal rakha hai, khauf ke andheron mein,
Subah aayegi, aur shayad, umeed bhi"

~ Author ~

Mumbai, India

Kabir sat at his desk, staring blankly at the scattered papers in front of him. His mind wasn't in the office today; it was back at the dinner table from the previous night, replaying every word, every tense pause, and every frustrated look exchanged with Meher. The fight had been a storm of pent-up emotions, a clash of wills and fears, and he hadn't been able to sleep much after she walked away, her resolve as firm as ever. Now, an unsettling restlessness simmered within him, growing stronger by the minute.

He rubbed his temples, trying to focus on the files in front of him, but the words were just a blur. Somewhere in his mind, he heard Meher's defiant voice echo, her stubborn stance on the sting operation ringing like an alarm. He knew her well enough to realize that once she decided on something, there was no stopping her. But that didn't make it any easier to accept, especially when he couldn't shake the feeling that she was putting herself in harm's way.

The knock on his door made him look up abruptly. His secretary, Aanchal, entered, holding a stack of additional files, her usual efficient smile replaced by a hint of hesitation. She placed the files on his desk with a brief update on his day's schedule.

"Sir, these are the extra documents you asked for last week on the AV Media and Glide Infotech partnership, along with your schedule for the day." She glanced at him, eyebrows raised. "Are you all right, sir? You seem a bit distracted."

Kabir forced a polite smile, trying to mask his inner turmoil. "Just a long day. Thanks for these." He glanced at the files briefly before looking back up at her, realizing he hadn't absorbed a single word she'd said.

Aanchal nodded but didn't press further, quietly stepping out of the office. The moment the door closed, Kabir let out a deep breath, clenching and unclenching his fists. He knew he needed to get a grip on himself, to focus on his work and push his concerns aside. But every thought, every instinct pulled him back to Meher and the sting operation that he feared had spiralled beyond control.

Just as he reached for his phone, it began to ring. He glanced at the screen. Ashna Mistry. The name sent a jolt through him, tightening the unease he'd felt all morning. He swiped to answer, his voice tense.

"Officer Mistry," he said, his tone guarded. "Any updates?" Even though he acted like he would not care, every fibre in his bone rebelled against that feeling.

The call was just an added worry on his already tense mind.

There was a pause on the other end, and when Officer Mistry finally spoke, her voice was filled with an urgency that only heightened his anxiety.

"Kabir, I'm contacting you because I wanted you to know that the situation with Meher has become complicated. She's been trapped inside the brothel since this morning, and we haven't received any communication from her in the last hour. We suspect her camera and speaker might have been compromised."

His heart dropped the moment she said that. Meher was in danger.

What he feared the most, the reason why he fought with Meher turned out to be true. He closed his eyes and let her words sink in, as it was too much for him to handle. At that moment, he hated Officer Mistry to put Meher in such grave danger.

Kabir's jaw clenched, and he forced himself to keep his tone steady. "You mean to say that you've lost her signal entirely? You sent her in there without a fail-safe, and now she's cut off?"

There was a moment of silence from Officer Mistry's end as if she was bracing for his reaction. "Kabir, I understand this is difficult to hear. But we had planned every detail with Meher and thought we'd covered all our bases. But one thing you should also know is that there's always risk in a sting operation, and she was prepared for it. We're already making arrangements to retrieve her, but I thought you should know."

His fist clenched, knuckles whitening as he fought to control the frustration bubbling up within him. It was taking everything he had not to lash out. "Where is this place?" he asked finally, his tone steely. He didn't need Officer Mistry's explanations or reassurances; he needed action.

"Kabir, I assure you, we're doing everything—"

"Where. Is. It." His voice was low, dangerous. Every nerve in his body screamed for answers, for the location where Meher was being held. He could already feel his legs moving as if the need to act outweighed every other instinct.

There was a pause on the line. He heard Officer Mistry sigh before finally relenting. "The address is in Bandra, near the west side. We'll send you the exact location."

"Send it now." Without waiting for a reply, he ended the call, stuffing his phone into his pocket and grabbing his keys. His mind was already forming a plan, assembling every possible resource he had to ensure Meher's safety.

As he stepped out of his office, the weather mirrored the turbulence inside him. The air had turned cold and biting, and a faint drizzle blurred the cityscape outside the glass panels. The sky was an ominous shade of grey, with storm clouds gathering in the distance, ready to unleash their fury. Kabir barely registered the chill in the air as he made his way to his car, his focus singular and unyielding. All he could see was Meher, alone and trapped, her only connection to the outside world severed.

The drive was a blur of impatience and barely contained frustration. Every red light felt like an eternity, every other car a hurdle keeping him from reaching her. His thoughts spiralled between fear and anger. He cursed himself for letting her go, for not insisting harder that she stay away from such a dangerous operation. He knew she was brave, knew she was driven, but he also knew the stakes they were dealing with now were higher than she could have anticipated.

As he neared the location Officer Mistry had sent him, his phone buzzed again. He picked it up, barely glancing at the screen.

"Kabir, we're on our way to you now," Officer Mistry's voice came through. "Just wait for us to regroup before you enter the area. We have undercover officers positioned around the place, so stay in your car until I arrive."

He gritted his teeth, his hand tightening around the wheel. "You can't ask me to wait right now. I am almost there and I am going in."

"Listen to me, Kabir. Charging in won't help Meher, and you know that. We have a plan in place, and if you follow it, you'll be able to help her."

He took a deep breath, hating how right she was but knowing that any rash action on his part could worsen the situation. "Fine," he said, barely managing to contain his frustration. "But I'm not sitting here doing nothing. The moment you're here, we go in."

The seconds felt endless as he parked his car in a secluded corner, his gaze fixed on the brothel in the distance. From outside it looked worn-down and abandoned, a place where darkness lingered, and people like Meher could disappear without a trace. The faint lights illuminating parts of the brothel only added to the eerie atmosphere, casting shadows that seemed to pulse with secrets and silence.

As the rain began to fall heavier, Kabir stayed in his car, his eyes never leaving the entrance. Every part of him ached with the need to act, to find her and pull her out of this nightmare. He tried to remind himself of Meher's strength, her resolve, the fire that burned within her that had led her to take on this operation. But as strong as she was, she was still vulnerable, and she was still alone in a place that showed no mercy.

A police car finally pulled up next to him, and Officer Mistry stepped out, looking determined and composed despite the rain soaking her coat.

"Kabir," she said as she approached him, her voice firm. "I need you to trust us to handle this carefully. We'll move in shortly."

He met her gaze, his expression hard, unyielding. "We don't have time to be careful, Officer. Meher is in there, without any means of communication, and you know what kind of place this is."

Officer Mistry nodded, understanding his desperation. "I do. That's why we're here. She's in there because she believed in something. If we're going to do this, we do it right. For her."

Kabir's jaw tightened, but he forced himself to nod. He took a deep, steadying breath, his gaze returning to the brothel. All he could do now was wait, and pray that he'd be able to bring Meher back safely.

*   *   *

In the darkness of the room, Meher's breathing was shallow, her pulse thundering in her ears as her mind raced to find an escape. Every creak, every distant sound in the brothel seemed amplified in the stillness, and as footsteps echoed down the hallway, approaching her door, she knew she had mere seconds to prepare.

Blindly reaching around the small, barren room, her fingers found the edge of something hard and blunt— a makeshift weapon. She clutched it tightly, her mind steeling with a determination that fought against the creeping fear. She wasn't about to go down without a fight.

The footsteps stopped, the door creaked open, and without a second thought, Meher lunged forward, swinging her weapon with a scream of defiance. But her arm was caught mid-swing, and she heard a voice— soft, pleading, cut through the air.

"Wait! Don't! I'm not here to harm you!" The girl's grip on Meher's arm was firm yet gentle, her voice laced with desperation.

Meher froze, the fog of panic lifting as she took in the figure in front of her: a girl about her age, dishevelled, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of fear and empathy. Meher slowly lowered her makeshift weapon, breathing heavily as she tried to gather her wits.

"Who— who are you?" Meher whispered, still tense but allowing her grip to relax.

The girl released Meher's arm and took a step back, giving her space. "My name is Pari. I— I've been trapped here for months, just like you." Her voice cracked, revealing the hopelessness that lined her words. "Please, believe me, I don't want any trouble. I just want to get out of here."

Meher's eyes narrowed with suspicion. It was hard to trust anyone here, and she knew that the brothel's overseers would go to any length to keep their captives compliant. Yet something about Pari's ragged appearance, the desperation in her voice, softened Meher's stance. She could see that this girl was just as much a prisoner of this place as she was.

"Five months," Pari continued, as though sensing Meher's hesitation. "That's how long I've been here. I was brought in under the guise of a job, but I never got a chance to leave. And once you're here—" Her voice trailed off, leaving an unspoken weight hanging between them.

Meher exhaled, her suspicions fading. She knew she didn't have much of a choice if she wanted to survive and complete her mission. And if Pari's story was true, this could be her chance to uncover something substantial.

"All right, Pari," Meher said finally, her voice steadying. "I believe you. But I need your help."

Pari nodded, a spark of hope lighting her eyes. "Anything. If it helps us escape, I'll do whatever it takes."

"I need information," Meher whispered, her eyes darting to the door to make sure they weren't overheard. "The woman in charge here— Kavitha. I need to know if there are any files or anything that could expose what's happening in this place. Do you know where I might find something like that?"

Pari's eyes clouded as she thought, her gaze turning inward as if sifting through painful memories. "Kavitha," she recalled, "She has a room upstairs where she keeps her documents. I haven't been inside, but I've seen her entering it a few times. She's very protective of it and locks it every time she leaves. The other girls say that's where she keeps everything— records, photos, documents."

"What kind of photos?"

Pari hesitated, she contemplated if she should tell her not.

"Sex tapes." she answered. Meher closed her eyes as rage surged inside of her. "She films them and keeps them somewhere as a leverage over all the girls here, telling them that she would release these footage on all sorts of media and that their reputation will be tarnished." Pari smiles wearily. "As if we haven't tarnished our reputation already." she scoffed.

The pain in her words tugged the strings of Meher's heart. This was exactly what she needed. This information was crucial. "I will make sure to do something," Meher promised her. "Is there any way I can get to that room without being noticed?"

Pari hesitated, glancing around nervously. "I can try to help you. But if they catch us, we'll be in serious trouble. They're ruthless, and Kavitha doesn't tolerate disobedience."

"I understand," Meher said firmly. "But this is our chance to put an end to it all. We can't waste it."

Pari nodded, determination replacing her fear. "All right. There's a way I can sneak you out of this room, but we have to be quiet. I'll lead you to the hallway, and from there you'll need to make your way to the second floor on your own. I can't be seen with you; if they catch me helping, I'll never get out of here."

"Thank you, Pari," Meher whispered. She reached out, giving the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. "I promise you, if we make it through this, I'll make sure you're free."

Pari's eyes softened, and for a brief moment, a glimmer of hope returned to her worn-out face. She glanced down the hall and motioned for Meher to follow. Keeping her footsteps light, Meher slipped out behind her, heart pounding as she took in the dilapidated surroundings. The brothel was dimly lit, shadows casting eerie patterns on the walls, and every creak of the floorboards made her skin crawl.

As they reached the main corridor, Pari pointed up a narrow staircase. "The second room on the left," she whispered. "Be careful. If you hear footsteps, hide."

With a final nod, Meher began her ascent, keeping her back to the wall and her footsteps as light as possible. She could feel Pari's eyes on her back, willing her forward, but when Meher glanced over her shoulder, Pari had already disappeared back into the shadows.

At the top of the stairs, she scanned the dim hallway, her heart hammering in her chest. She could smell the heavy scent of stale perfume mixed with cigarette smoke, a sickly combination that clung to the walls. Her fingers brushed against the rough plaster as she edged towards the room Pari had mentioned.

Before reaching the door, she spotted a mobile phone left unattended on a table in the hallway. Glancing around, she seized it, grateful for anything that might help her gather information. She turned off the sound and tucked it into her pocket, careful to ensure it wouldn't attract attention.

As she neared Kavitha's office, the door at the end of the hallway creaked open slightly, a sliver of light spilling into the corridor. Meher's pulse quickened, and she pressed herself against the wall, holding her breath. Footsteps echoed from the room, heavy and unhurried, and she felt a bead of sweat trickle down her temple.

After a moment, the sound receded, and the door clicked shut. Letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, Meher continued forward, finally reaching the door. She held her breath, listening carefully. Silence.

Slowly, she turned the handle and slipped inside, closing the door behind her with barely a sound.

Inside, the room was small and cluttered, filled with stacks of papers, file folders, and an array of odd trinkets lining a dusty shelf. A dim light flickered from a single bulb hanging overhead, casting long shadows across the room. Meher quickly scanned the space, her eyes settling on a file cabinet by the desk.

She moved towards it, opening the drawers one by one, searching for anything that might hold evidence of Kavitha's operation. Her hands shook slightly as she sifted through papers, her instincts telling her that every second she spent here brought her closer to discovery.

Just as she found a folder marked "Contracts and dates," a shadow fell across the crack under the door. Meher froze, her fingers gripping the folder tightly. The footsteps outside were slow, and measured— someone was close.

She took out the phone she had stolen earlier and unlocked it, surprisingly and thankfully there was no password. Without thinking much into it, she blindly clicked pictures of each page. The footsteps got louder and she looked around, frantically searching for a place to hide. But the room offered little cover; the only option was a small space beneath the desk. Clicking the picture of the last page, she ducked down, folding herself into the cramped space and holding her breath, hoping the darkness would shield her.

The door creaked open, and Meher's heart raced as a pair of worn, polished shoes entered the room, accompanied by the overwhelming scent of stale tobacco. The figure moved further inside, shuffling papers and muttering under their breath. Meher closed her eyes, her palm pressed over her mouth, pressing herself further against the wall, praying she wouldn't be discovered.

Minutes passed, each one stretching longer than the last, until finally, the figure turned and left the room, closing the door behind them.

Once she was certain the coast was clear, Meher emerged from her hiding place, heart pounding. She knew she had to get out, but she also knew she couldn't leave without finding out more. Glancing around one last time, she slipped out of the office, clutching her stolen phone tightly.

But as she moved down the hallway, she heard footsteps approaching again, closer this time, and heavier. She ducked back into the shadows, her heart racing as she realized that she might be out of time.

A very tense situation, Meher and even Kabir are in. Both are trying to save someone. Will both of them succeed or will one of them fall into prey? Let me know your thoughts below.

Also, a very happy diwali everyone! How did you all celebrate diwali this year? And those who didn't, what did you guys do on your day off?

Please VOTE, SHARE and COMMENT. Comment a heart if you enjoyed reading the chapter.

With Love,

Akii.