I was reading with my legs curled up in the large spacious lounge.

A few days had passed since the letter incident and things were improving between me and Aahil. The incision on his chest was healing significantly and both of us openly showed affection whenever possible. I was thoroughly enjoying marital bliss.

Aahil never ceased to amaze me with his care and concern. Everything was going fine Alhamdulillah. No threats were passed and I was totally at peace.

"Here. I need your help to sort it out," Aahil said dumping the wooden boxes.

Keenly, I discarded my book and looked intently at the boxes. "What do they contain?" I asked trying to control my curiosity.

"All these files contain information on the drugs which are designed and produced by our company and some files are related to new inventions and discoveries too."

"Most of the drugs are already successfully launched in the market. I want you to help me search through these files so that we might be sure that your dad did not hide the most important file in between these, hoping it would only go into right hands."

"But why would he hide them here?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders and bit his bottom lip with worry. "It's just my assumption as the storeroom containing old files is located exactly opposite to your father's personal laboratory and the camera footage shows that he entered the storeroom for a few seconds on the particular night of his death."

I nodded my head in understanding.

Zealously, we searched through every file. There were hundreds of them with useful information regarding new drugs which were cheap and could cure as effectively as the costlier ones.

Some of the research caught my interest and I began reading some of them.

"Could you work more efficiently and stop wasting your time?" he inquired pointedly fixing me a look that defied authority.

I stopped reading and began searching. After searching tirelessly for about one hour we gave up.

I got up rubbing my leg to ease the pins and needles that had come from kneeling too long.

"Tired?" His smile was a cynical movement of lips.

I nodded my head.

"I had to show you something else too," He said holding up a folded pink sheet of paper.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows.

"I don't think that you'll be able to take it," He said grimly.

"You can tell me. I'm stronger than my appearance may suggest."

He threw back his head and laughed. "Don't I know that? Even though you look as fragile as the glass you could be a real tigress at times..ummm..Do you need me to spell out the specific times." He gave an amused smile. "I'm planning on consulting a doctor for these bites." He pointed his lean finger to his neck.

"Aahil," I glared at him and he laughed harder. "I'm not going to help you," I turned my back towards him.

He wrapped his hands around my waist and urged me up against him and it had every cell in my skin leaping.

He kissed me passionately as I shuddered in his arms compulsively and my heart raced so hard that I clung and clutched to him to stay upright. "The tigress has surfaced, hasn't she?" He gave me one of his most mesmerizing smile and I couldn't help but return it.

When he let go I grimly focused in appalled fascination on the grimy set of fingerprints which now marred his white shirt, sweeping up from his waist, glancing across his broad chest in an obviously lingering caress and then indenting clearly across his wide shoulders where I had clung for dear life.

I looked at my hands and realised that they were dirty. I gazed and some of the old wooden boxes and saw the layer of dust on them and shook my head for being so careless.

"You need to change your dress," I mumbled shaking.

"I shall wear it with pride," Aahil confided with disconcerting amusement, "There doesn't seem to be many places you overlooked," He winked and gave a huge grin, displaying his deep set of dimples.

"Please, change it," I muttered in a heartful plea, I did not wish for it to be exhibited for all to see.

"Calm down, Sweetheart. I'll change it." He left giving a quick peck on my cheeks.

I held up the sheet of paper which Aahil had discarded on the table before he walked upstairs. After extracting it from its place, I gently opened it.

Mr Abdullah Hussain,

I have been getting a series of life-threatening notes and calls from unknown sources and they expect me to hand over my research to them.

But, I would prefer death over betrayal and wouldn't mind dying if it would save innocent lives.

I worked very hard on this project which was promised to be handed over to the defence department of the country and I would never ever sell it to someone who could bring about destruction to my homeland.

I wish that I knew the man behind all this, but unfortunately, I don't have any idea regarding the person who is trying to gain information.

I have hidden my research in a safe place and I'm positive that my daughter, Aleena, will lead you to it.

Your sincere employee,
Ayaan Aboobaker.

Aahil raised an unsteady hand and brushed the tears streaking down my cheeks. He had returned looking fresh and elegant in his black suit and white shirt.

"I am sorry," he grimaced. A dark rise of blood banished his pallor.

I stood rigid with shock, all-natural vitality leaving my pale skin as I finally took into account what I had just read. It was a sordid picture and the one for which I did not have any means to dispel.

"How am I supposed to lead you?" I questioned feeling helpless and out of proportion.

"I think we need to go to your house and check your room."

I stared at him for a few seconds, blinking several times and then began hyperventilating.

"What's wrong?" Aahil enquired, shaking me gently.

"Uncle Haroon has already gone through my room."

"When?" He asked surprised.

I relayed to him the conversation I had with ayath the day before his fatal accident.

In one of those lightning-fast switches of mood that disturbed me, I found myself in the ace of throwing myself into his arms. The compulsion was so strong that I would have given into it had not Aahil abruptly withdrawn his hand and straightened again.

The brief flicker of anger in his eyes strained gaze was gone as fast as it had come.

He took a deep breath, "You did the right thing by asking Ayath to take away your books from your room. Don't worry over it, darling. Allah is with those who are on the right path."

A buzz of his phone made him walk away and indulge in serious conversation.

It was my chance to escape as I couldn't think straight around him.

As I approached the main gate of our house, two figures approached from the shadows and it looked like safwan and Isaac. They were engaged in a conversation with one of the security men.

I took brisk steps towards them but unfortunately and to my utter despair they entered the car as soon as Isaac made eye contact.

I retrieved my steps and ran to the living room, in a rush, to grab my handbag and car keys. I was in such haste that I was unable to locate my car keys and I groaned in frustration.

I hurried outside and walked towards the garage. Just then Usman appeared, "Mrs Hussain, Do you wish to go out?"

I did not know whether to ask him for help or not. In reference to the earlier trouble he had endured speaking to me, but I had no other way because I did not wish to confide this to Aahil, as it would only lead to increasing the doubt that Aahil harboured about Isaac.

I spotted Dilshad walking towards the main gate but he seemed to be lost in thought. If I delayed any further my escape wouldn't be permitted.

"Yes, I need a car," I said delighted that I could get away easily.

"I will get the driver." He said pointing towards guest quarters.

"Can you drive? Please." I begged as finding another driver would lead to losing track.

"Yes, It would be my pleasure." I laughed with positive delight.

Somehow, he was creepy. He wasn't as charming as I had felt the first day. But I had no intention of wasting my time by analysing him.

"I am an expert in driving," He said with a huge smile, as I opened the car door and took my seat.

But the fact was not immediately apparent the way the car lurched as it moved forward.

It went in terrifying speed on the highway and then the car thundered as it rode the endless mountain road with its perilous bends and truly terrifying drops.

I shrieked in horror!

"Can you drive slowly?" I gasped.

The car raced down the road for what felt like a hundred miles an hour.

I saw Usman clutch the wheels with full force.

"Slow down!" I shouted.

"I want you to be prepared for what I am going to confide," Usman breathed unsteadily.

I looked at him with pure terror.

"I can't seem to be able to apply the brakes," He groaned.

The car was dropping down dangerously into the outer edge of the road. I started screaming and surprisingly Usman was screaming even louder.

The car skated out of control from one side to the other...

Usman gave a great shriek of terror and jumped out of the car onto the road.

I was in such a state that it was some time before I undid my seatbelt and staggered out onto the road and threw up in the ditch.

I was shaking all over in reaction and was only dimly aware of what could have happened if I hadn't jumped out.

I stared in disbelief as the car simply rolled off the edge and went crashing down on the valley below. The steep incline helped the car to slide down with lightning speed.

I stood in shock as I saw a glimpse of the crushed car down the valley.

And then it exploded with a bang there were fireworks.

I felt faint.

If I had taken a minute more to jump out of the wretched car then I would have been there in that crushed car.

It was sometime before I regained my senses and to my disappointment, Usman was nowhere in sight.

Naked fear crept inside me.

I was standing on a deserted mountain road and my car had just exploded down the cliff and to add icing on the sugar, the driver of the car seemed to be missing.

I started to walk and finally, I managed to establish a small-rent house some miles down the road.

It had taken almost two hours to reach here and my heel snapped off my sandals when I went over a pothole.

An elderly plump looking women opened the door and looked uninterested in what I had to say.

But when I confided that I was Aahil Hussain's wife, a faint smile crept on her face and I was shown into the house with warm hospitality.

I washed my face and hands in a cold tap over the ancient corner sink and wondered how could I have been so crazily impulsive.

I tossed back a large glass of cold mineral water handed over to me by my bustling host. The liquid seemed to revive me.

I thanked her and accepted her offer to stay there until Aahil would come to pick me. Wasn't I a clever girl? But then all the stress had turned my mind into a puddle of jelly.

I got up from my place and walked towards where the women were standing at the farthest end of the corridor to ask her permission to use her cell phone. She had her back towards me and was immersed in conversation in hushed tones over the phone.

"Yes, you are right. Mrs Hussain is at my house."

Silence.

"What? But?"

Silence.

"Fine."

Silence.

"I agree to take the risk of handing her over to you, only if you promise me that my benefit will also be taken into consideration."

*******************

Do you have any idea what could happen further?

Could things get any worse?

Thank you for all the fascinating comments :)