She had spent hours wandering through markets with sparkling eyes, returning with four beautiful tops, two elegant short dresses, three stylish shirts, and countless bottoms. Every new purchase made her happier than the last.
Behind her, however, walked Ayaan, burdened with every shopping bag she had collected. His arms were aching, his fingers had turned red from the weight, and the thin plastic handles were digging painfully into his fragile hands. Yet not once did he complain. He simply walked behind her, silently calculating how much money she had spent throughout the day.
He was starving too.
It was already afternoon, and almost every place Aarshi had stopped at served spicy food that he couldn't eat. By now, he had almost given up hope that either of the two girls would even remember that he hadn't eaten anything.
Soon, Aarshi stopped at another lively street-food stall where steaming bowls of spicy hotpot noodles were being served. The rich aroma instantly caught her attention.
"Come on, Momo! We have to try this!"
Without wasting another second, the two girls grabbed a table and ordered two bowls of extra-spicy hotpot noodles.
Ayaan stood a few feet away, watching them with an expression that clearly questioned their priorities.
It was already three in the afternoon.
His stomach growled in protest.
Fortunately, before placing the order, Aarshi quietly asked the cook to prepare one bowl of plain soup noodles.
When the food arrived, Aarshi clapped her hands excitedly, praising the chef with childlike happiness.
Ayaan simply stared at both of them, silently hoping someone would finally remember him.
Aarshi patted the empty seat beside her.
"Come... sit."
Ayaan carefully placed all the shopping bags aside and sank into the chair with a relieved sigh.
While Aarshi and Momo happily enjoyed their spicy noodles, Ayaan looked at them with growing annoyance.
Seriously...?
Just then, another bowl was placed in front of him.
Plain soup noodles.
Aarshi smiled and gestured for him to eat.
At first glance, the bowl looked incredibly plain. Ayaan had already convinced himself it wouldn't taste good.
Still, he took one reluctant bite.
His eyes widened.
Another bite.
Then another.
The simple-looking noodles were unbelievably delicious.
Within moments, all his disappointment disappeared. He completely forgot everything else and quietly continued eating with genuine satisfaction.
Aarshi and Momo exchanged amused smiles. Watching him enjoy the food made them unexpectedly happy.
A few minutes later, a waiter approached with water.
By then, Ayaan had already emptied his bowl, while the two girls were still halfway through theirs.
Without saying a word, Ayaan pointed toward his empty bowl.
The waiter smiled politely.
"Certainly, sir. I'll clear it right away."
Ayaan looked confused.
"No... I meant... bring me another one."
Silence.
Then—
Aarshi and Momo burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Ayaan immediately realized how awkward he had sounded and looked away in embarrassment.
But he couldn't help it.
The noodles were simply too good.
Momo stared at him in disbelief.
"This is the same boy who never finishes his meals..."
Yet today...
He had just ordered a second bowl.
---
After finishing their meal, they continued shopping until evening.
The final purchase of the day was a small bunny plush toy that Aarshi bought purely because it reminded her of Ayaan.
As the sun slowly disappeared beneath the horizon, they decided to spend the evening by the riverside.
Cool winds brushed against their faces while gentle waves shimmered under the fading orange sky.
They laughed.
They teased each other.
They splashed water.
For a few peaceful hours, the world felt wonderfully simple.
Time slipped away unnoticed.
Before they realized it, it was already nine at night.
Momo happily chased Aarshi around while playing a silly game of catch.
Suddenly—
Her phone rang.
Still smiling, she answered the call.
"...Hello?"
Within seconds...
Her smile vanished.
The color drained from her face as though she had just witnessed something horrifying.
Aarshi immediately looked at Ayaan.
Without speaking, her eyes asked,
"What happened?"
Ayaan shrugged slightly.
"No idea."
After ending the call, Momo walked back toward them.
"We need to leave."
"So soon?" Aarshi groaned dramatically. "I wanted to watch the sunrise here."
"Not today," Ayaan replied gently.
Aarshi smiled sadly.
"Maybe... some other time."
---
Momo drove the car while soft music played through the speakers.
Aarshi sat beside Ayaan, happily singing along and copying the dance moves from the song.
Even Ayaan found himself smiling.
Everything seemed normal...
Until Momo suddenly took an unfamiliar road.
"Where are we going?" Ayaan asked.
"I'm taking us home," she answered calmly, "but I have an important task at work first. It'll only take ten minutes."
He nodded without questioning her.
Soon, they stopped in front of a massive corporate building.
Momo stepped out.
"I'll be right back."
She disappeared inside and headed toward the fourteenth floor.
Meanwhile, Ayaan and Aarshi stayed in the car, enjoying the music.
But something didn't feel right.
The fear that had flashed across Momo's face earlier refused to leave Ayaan's mind.
---
Suddenly...
A phone rang inside the car.
Momo had accidentally—or perhaps intentionally—left her phone behind.
Ayaan answered.
Instead of Momo's mobile number, the call came from the office landline.
"Ayaan..." her voice whispered urgently. "Are you there?"
"I'm here. What happened?"
"Come outside... near the parking entrance."
"I'll be there in five minutes."
"And don't bring Aarshi."
Ayaan frowned.
"Why would I?"
"Just... come quickly."
The call ended.
---
Within two minutes, Ayaan reached the entrance.
No one was there.
Confused, he looked around.
Then—
A faint whisper floated through the silent night.
"Ayaan..."
He looked up.
Standing on the terrace of the building was Momo.
She quickly signaled him to stay quiet.
"What are you doing up there?" he mouthed.
"I'll explain later," she replied using only hand gestures.
The atmosphere had become terrifyingly silent.
Without another word, Momo quietly dropped a small pen drive from the terrace.
Ayaan caught it perfectly.
She immediately gestured again.
Leave.
Take Aarshi and go.
He frowned.
"Why?"
Her frightened eyes pleaded with him.
"Please... don't ask."
Only then did Ayaan truly understand.
The deep stress lines across Momo's forehead...
The constant nervous glances over her shoulder...
She was terrified.
Something was terribly wrong.
He slipped the pen drive into his pocket and hurried back toward the parking area.
The moment he entered—
His heartbeat froze.
Several rough-looking men were wandering between the parked cars, searching for someone.
Professional.
Dangerous.
Their expressions alone were enough to send chills down anyone's spine.
Ayaan instantly realized—
They were looking for Momo.
And if they found him...
Everything would be over.
He carefully hid behind the cars, silently watching their movements.
Every step had to be perfect.
Then—
A hand suddenly landed on his shoulder.
Ayaan nearly jumped out of his skin.
He spun around—
Only to find Aarshi standing there with a mischievous grin.
He glared at her and whispered angrily,
"Are you crazy? You almost gave me a heart attack!"
She giggled.
"You're such a coward."
Without replying, Ayaan grabbed her wrist and quietly led her through the maze of parked vehicles, carefully avoiding the suspicious men.
Once they reached outside the parking area, he finally whispered,
"Why were you walking around? What if they had caught you?"
Aarshi smiled innocently.
"They didn't. I even walked right in front of them."
"What?"
"You took forever to come back, so I came looking for you. Those men entered the parking lot afterward. I accidentally walked right past them..."
She shrugged.
"They couldn't see me properly because of my height. The cars hid me."
Ayaan sighed.
"You're short... the cars aren't unusually tall."
She laughed softly.
"But this time... being short saved me."
Holding Momo's phone tightly, they quietly slipped away from the building.
But Ayaan couldn't stop looking back.
His heart remained with Momo.
Suddenly—
Aarshi grabbed his hand.
"They're following us!"
One of the men had spotted them.
"Run!"
Without another thought, they sprinted into the darkness.
---
The empty road echoed beneath their hurried footsteps.
Cold night air burned their lungs as they ran for their lives.
Ayaan never let go of Aarshi's hand.
His grip was firm.
Protective.
Impossible to break.
After several minutes, Aarshi's breathing became uneven.
She slowed down, gasping desperately for air.
"Ayaan... please... stop."
He didn't want to.
Stopping meant danger.
But then she spoke between heavy breaths,
"We should call Momo... What if she's in trouble?"
Those words stopped Ayaan's heart.
Aarshi quickly handed him Momo's phone.
"Call her."
He dialed the most recent number.
No answer.
He tried again.
Still nothing.
For the first time that night...
Fear truly settled inside him.
The deserted road stretched endlessly ahead.
Not a single vehicle passed by.
Only silence.
Only darkness.
Aarshi's hands trembled.
Afraid that those men might appear at any moment, she instinctively reached for Ayaan's hand with her free one.
He looked at her.
Her eyes were already filled with tears.
In a trembling voice she whispered,
"Please... don't let go of my hand. I'm scared."
Ayaan gently rubbed her back, trying to calm her.
"I won't let go..."
He looked into her frightened eyes.
"...not until you're the one who wants to."
They searched desperately for a familiar road.
Neither of them knew where they were.
Ayaan had spent most of his childhood in boarding school and barely knew the city.
As for Aarshi...
She had absolutely no idea where they had ended up.
Their frightened eyes met.
For a long moment...
Neither of them blinked.
Neither of them spoke.
Fear filled both their hearts.
Words became unnecessary.
Their eyes said everything.
Then—
The phone rang.
An unsaved number flashed across the screen.
Ayaan answered immediately.
"Momo?"
The moment he heard her voice, the tightness in his chest eased.
Seeing the relief on his face, Aarshi instantly understood.
It was Momo.
"Where are you?" Ayaan asked.
"I'm... still inside the building."
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
She was hiding.
"I-I'm safe for now."
The crashing sounds echoing behind her suggested otherwise.
"You two need to leave immediately."
"I don't know the way home."
"Are you on the dark road nearby?"
"Yes."
"Keep running straight. You'll reach a crossroads. Turn right from there. The road will pass beside the forest. A little further ahead, you'll see Lily's residential colony. Go to her house. You'll be safe there."
She paused to catch her breath before continuing.
"If you keep running, you'll reach it in about twenty-five minutes."
"Don't stay on the road."
"Please... just go."
Her voice trembled with fear.
Violent crashes echoed around her.
Furniture breaking.
People shouting.
Something heavy hitting the floor.
Ayaan could hear every terrifying sound through the call.
"Are you okay?" he asked quietly.
There was a long silence.
"...I'm fine."
She clearly wasn't.
Her breathing was shaky.
She sounded terrified.
Then—
A deafening crash shattered the silence.
A massive glass window exploded somewhere near her.
The sound echoed violently through the phone.
The line went dead.
Momo had disconnected.