MAHIRA
The kids had just gone to sleep after we came back from the wedding reception. Elena slept
after eating. I went to my room, the dress weighing me down and I was so glad I could finally
remove it.
'I've been waiting for you wifey.'
I ignored Thane and went to the dressup mirror. I tried to undo the knot on the lehenga choli but
it was too tight to remove by myself.
'Need help wifey?'
I felt his breath on my neck and looked at our reflections in the mirror. My phone rang before I
could ask him to undo the knot.
'Let me answer this call, I'll be back.'
Thane stood up right and went back to the bathroom.
'Hey Mahi. Did you miss me?'
'Uhm no. Who am I talking to?'
'It's me, Ariana. I'm back. How could you possibly forget me sweetheart? But then I'm back and I
have a surprise for you.'
She hung up right after saying that. I looked at the bathroom door which was closed hence I
assumed Thane was taking a shower.
Ariana is free. What surprise is she talking about? Whatever it is, it can't be good. My heart
began beating violently against my chest.
No. Maybe I'm overthinking. Maybe I'm just worked up way too much and I'm stressed. Yes.
That's it, I just need some sleep. I climbed on the bed still in the heavy lehenga and put a
blanket over my head and closed my eyes.
The next morning when I woke up I was no longer wearing the heavy bridal dress but a light silk
gown instead. My gown was folded neatly and set on my dressing table. Thane was still
sleeping when I came back from the shower. I looked through my closet and took a blue georgette saree, platform heels and a simple jewelry
set. I kissed Thane's forehead then went to the kitchen where Erica was already preparing
breakfast.
I hugged Erica from behind and kissed her cheek, ' morning Erica.'
Erica leaned into the embrace and squeezed my arm.
'Good morning Mahi.'
'What are you cooking today?'
I took three apples in the fridge and sat on the kitchen counter biting into the apple. Erica tells
me about a couple of dark romance books she read in my library. She exaggerated the depth of
her trauma from reading the types of books I read.
Horatio came to the kitchen and took a bottle of milk, drinking directly from the bottle.
'So much disrespect, I'm too nice to you guys, I should be more strict and rude.'
Horatio ignored me and emptied the contents of the bottle. He put the empty milk bottle in the
dustbin and went to Erica. He kissed her cheek then stood next to her arms crossed over his
chest.
'I didn't know you guys were dating.'
'Why would I tell you, you're not my friend, remember boss.'
'But I tell you everything.'
'You're also a very jealous person, imagine if you make a rule that says, no employee
relationship.'
'I take offense.'
I jumped off the counter and took my other two apples.
'If you hurt Erica I will cut off your balls, you hear me.'
Horatio spanked her ass, as though he was challenging me.
I'm going to check on my kids. Please dont resort to fucking on my kitchen table.'
I went to the boys room first. Angelo was there on his bed but Alex was nowhere. No one was
awake besides me and the servants so where could he be. Maybe he's with Elena or Kaashvi. I
checked both their rooms but he wasn't there, Elena wasn't in her room either.
Where are those two? Where could they be?
When I came back downstairs everyone was sitting at the dining table while Erica was setting
up the table.
'Where is Alex?'
'Pumpkin spice, relax . He must be somewhere around here, it's a huge house after all. If he is
not sleeping he must be in the garden.'
'shut the fuck up! I want to see Alex right now. Where is my son? I want to see him.'
Teressa, 'Mahi, that's no way to speak to your husband.'
Sofia, 'Why are you so angry? It's not like Alex went missing.'
Even if it's a big hour Alex would have come to see me first before going anywhere. Ariana is
free so what if…no. No, my son is alright. He's safe, maybe he is hiding somewhere. Or maybe
Elena took him to the park or something.
My phone rang. It was called from an unknown number. I went to the kitchen garden and
answered the call.
'Hello.'
'You must have realized that your precious son, Alex, is not home. Do you want to see him?' Ariana switched to video call.
'Look over there... your son is with me.'
'Wh....wh... what did you do to him? Why is his lip busted?'
Relax Mahi. I just slapped him and he fainted. He was annoying so I had to shut him up. He's
alright for now.'
'What do you mean for now? Listen Ariana, I'm willing to give you whatever you want, just leave
him alone.'
'Look here, Elena is here too.'
Ariana captured Elena in the video and started laughing before hanging up. I need to tell the
family about this. Mahira thought to herself.
A message came through from Ariana.
'Don't think about telling the police or your family about their kidnapping. If I get to know that you
tried to act smart, I won't hesitate to kill your precious little children.'
What should I do? What should I do? What should I do? Okay okay calm down. They will be
fine. Ariana wont hurt them, she just wants money or something. She won't hurt them.
I told my family I had somewhere important to go and left without eating breakfast.
Ariana isn't supposed to be out, not at least for 12 or 15 years or something, she's not supposed
to be out of prison. Who could have bailed her out?
I kept my head high as I walked to the elevator trying my best not to look shaken or disturbed. I
hoped no one would notice that I wasn't okay. I asked Rachel to ensure that absolutely no one,
not even someone from my family disturbs me in my office.
I closed my office door and ensured that no one would be let in.
Ariana has them. Ooh god arian has them. She has a problem with me. What does she need
them for? What could she possibly want?
If she just wants money, that's good, I can give her that but if she wants revenge what will I do?
What if she kills them? What if she uses them to get back at me? What will I do if she kills them?
How do I even find them without informing anyone?
God please protect them please, please, please. They have nothing to do with this, please
protect them.
How did she even get through all the security?
Aliya.
Aliya is definitely involved in this. God, I'm going to kill her. She better start praying because if
anything happens to them she'll be the first person I kill.
But, if they want to blackmail me, why did they take Alex and Elena instead of either both my
sons or one of them.
It's been three days, I have not gone home nor have I left my office. I was too scared of what
might happen if I went out. I had missed calls from my family but I didn't answer any of the calls.
Perhaps I was just a coward, cowering away from reality.
All I did was wait for Ariana's call, tried calling the previous number but I was blocked. I removed
the gown I was wearing and stepped into the bathtub of cold water I had prepared. I sat inside
then slowly slid my whole body in the water until my head was under water.
A hand pulled me out of the water before it could suffocate me but I swallowed some water
because of the sudden movement. I coughed violently, my chest burning from the water I swallowed. Didn't I activate the fingerprint
security system?
'What the fuck Mahira! We have been calling you and you are here trying to kill yourself.'
I looked at Thane, my teeth chattering against each other. My lips trembled and my skin had
goosebumps from the cold weather and water.
'I wasn't trying to kill myself, I was just taking a bubble bath.'
'For fuck sake Mahira, our son is missing for three day's now but all you can do is take a stupid
bubble bath.'
It's not like I'm not worried either.
'Alex is not missing, I sent him to America to meet cousin Rose.'
'Do I look stupid huh? I don't want to do anything out of anger Mahira. You know where my son
is. Tell me before I fuckin loose my mind.'
I flinched when he raised his voice but didn't say anything. I don't know anything. I don't know
where my baby is or how he is doing. My head felt a bit light and it was hard focusing on one
thing. I couldn't get myself to eat whilst my kids were out there probably being starved.
'I'm giving you a chance to tell me where the fuck my son is Mahi!'
He's only asking about Alex, does that mean Elena could be safe. No, that's far too delusional
even for me, I saw Elena she was with Ariana. Why isn't he asking about her then?
'Speak Mahi!'
I stepped back to get away from him but instead I tripped on my own feet and fell flat on my ass.
'I... Alex...he...I.'
'Mahi can you stop stuttering. Where is my son?'
Jyt my galeer played in the background and I was zoned out for a second before I realized that
it was my phone that was ringing. I stumbled to my feet and threw off the sheets on the bed
looking for my phone until I found it under my pillow. My hands trembled as I struggled to
answer the phone.
'Hello.'
I looked at Thane who was still looking at me annoyed with me.
'Don't speak. I'm sending you an address now. You must be here exactly at 3 pm, a second later
your dearest angels will pay for it.'
Ariana hung up. I ignored Thane and took a button up dress from my closet and wore it with a
pair of sneakers and a jacket.
'Where are you going?'
'I told you that Alex was with Rose, I'm going to fetch him.'
'Let me come with you.'
'No! Just stay here, I'll bring him to you.'
Should I tell Horatio? He's not family. Maybe I can bring him along, but if Ariana finds out she
will kill them. I checked the location and searched it on google, it was mostly just trees with only
one abandoned building in the area.
I sent a text message to Horatio that read
Meet me here asap, make sure no one sees you and dont tell anyone.
I drove to the location reflected on my screen that Horatio had called after seeing my message
and I told him everything, he promised I'd get the kids back safely and he'd be at the spot and
out of sight. I feel bad for hiding this from Thane but as soon as I get the kids everything will be okay. I
parked the car on the side of the road and locked it before going into the dense woods. I should
have worn pants, why the hell did i wear a dress when its fucking snowing outside.
The trees looked creepy, not really creepy but in my mind they began looking creepy because I
don't like being in such places alone. For instance take for example what happened in the movie
all girls weekend. Exactly. What if this was some blood thirsty forest that wanted human blood
and I was the sacrifice.
Focus Mahi, all I have to do is get the kids and get out of here. If I'm this scared then imagine
how scared the kids are.
'Finally, I had already decided that I'd kill them.'
My heart leaped out of my chest and I tripped on my foot. Ariana rolled her eyes at me visibly
looking unimpressed.
She was still as beautiful as I remember her but her choice in clothing and hair styling had
drastically changed.
Her hair was cut to shoulder length, the front hair strands dyed a shade of turquoise blue while
the rest of her hair was dyed black.
She wore a navy blue jean with black boots and a black ankle length jacket plus a blue silk
blouse, one thing for sure not only is she beautiful but she's got taste as well.
'Are you mute?'
She clapped her hands and Aliya emerged from the trees with Elena and Alex. Their hands
were tied behind their backs and they had clothes stuffed in their mouths. Elena had a bruise on
her forehead and a cut on her arm. Alex looked unharmed except for the cut on his lips that I
had seen last time which wasn't visible now.
'You brats are annoying honestly but I had to figure out what to do to you, that's why I didn't call
you these past 3 days, let's get this over with shall we.'
'You didn't even have the heart to keep them warm. The least you could have done was kidnap
them with a blanket Aliya.'
Ariana put on leather gloves and took a gun from inside her pocket.
'So, where do I start? Let's start with what I'm going to do. Only one of you will come out of here
alive so, as the generous soul I am, Mahi you can decide who between the two will leave alive,
you happen to be the replacement for one of them so at least I'm giving you a chance to save
one child.'
'What do you mean only one, you can kill me, leave the children out of this please.'
'I cannot do that baby girl. Choose or else I will choose for you.'
I stood up, dusting the snow off my clothes then I looked back at Ariana who was holding the
gun next to Alex's head. After this is over I'm going to take gun glasses, just so I know how to
use a gun because knife skills wont be enough to outwit a gun and im not some actress from an
action movie and even if I was this is real life so one mistake and I might as well kiss them
goodbye.
'Don't you dare step forward. One mistake and your precious angels will meet their creator.'
'Aliya, Ariana please. Your issues are with me please leave Elena and my son out of this.'
'You should have thought about that when you married Thane.'
'Ariana, you can't do this to me. I'll give you anything, absolutely anything please Ariana.'
'Will you give me your son Angelo in exchange for these two lab rats.' 'I will give you whatever amount of money you need please.'
Horatio please be quick, I hope you have a plan.
'Choose or else I will decide for you myself.'
Ariana's finger hung so close to the trigger on the gun and I stepped forward just one step
forward and she directed the gun to me and shot my arm.
'I told you to fuckin stay back.'
Another gunshot fired from elsewhere and Ariana was shot on the arm. She dropped the gun
and pressed the wound on her arm, cursing repeatedly.
Aliya let go of the kids and leaped for the gun. Horatio emerged from the tree's gun in hand.
'Step away from the kids or the next bullet will wind up in your head.'
Ariana got up and ran towards the trees, that split second of distraction was enough for Aliya to
shoot Elena before disappearing into the trees.
Despite the pain on my arm and the blood oozing out I ran to where Elena had fallen and knelt
down beside her pulling her close to my chest after untying the rope on her wrists.
'Elena, baby, stay with me, stay with me please. HORATIO!'
I removed the coat I was wearing even though it was bloody and wrapped it around Elena's
freezing body.
'They got away ma'am.'
'Forget that, please untie Alex and get him to the car before he freezes to death, I will come with
Elena and drive us to the hospital okay.'
Horatio gave Alex his jacket and carried him in his arms and led the way. I carried Elena in my
arms, the weight of her body hurting my wound.
'It's okay baby, it's okay. Stay with me.'
Soon we got to the car and I sat with Elena in the backseat while Alex sat in the front seat with
Horatio. I scrambled for my phone until I found it and sent a message to Thane telling him to
meet us at the hospital.
At the hospital.
'Elena's injuries are critical.'
'She will be fine though right. You have to do everything you can.'
Elena's stretcher was rushed into the OT and a nurse brought a form for me to sign in order for
them to start operating on her.
'Elena needs a kidney transplant.'
'So what are you waiting for, go and operate on her, take my kidney, take my blood whatever
you need but keep her alive.'
'Madam, you've already lost a lot of blood, we can find another donor.'
'We can't waste time horatio. My blood type is AB plus so I'm sure it will work.'
The nurses led me to a separate room and cleaned my wound before inserting the blood transfusion needle then they administered anesthesia.
I hope you will be okay Elena, please, you have to live for me. I let the darkness envelope me in its cold embrace.