Chapter 9

Saad's pov :

I woke up with a headache, blinking my eyes a few times, I looked around. I couldn't recognise this place. It was dark all around except for the streak of light coming in from the small window above.

Suddenly realising what happened and how I ended up here, I tried to move my hands or stand up, but soon realised that I was tied down by ropes. My hands and feet were tied to a chair, making me groan in frustration.

Alayna was missing, I was worried sick for her and someone thought of kidnapping me? I mean, didn't people kidnap kids, and I was a whole grown up man! Why was I even here and what do they even want from me? All these questions were running in my mind as I struggled to free my hands or feets but all in vain. Someone really tied me down pretty well. I sighed.

"Is someone here? Help me!" I shouted as loudly as I could, struggling a bit more. I didn't realise that someone was there, observing me from the dark. Only when the heels clicked and a shadow appeared did I realise that someone was there all along. I couldn't see the face due to the darkness surrounding us but I was sure that it was a lady. Because surely, men didn't wear heels.

"Took you long enough to wake up from your beauty sleep, although it shouldn't have taken you this much time. Since I didn't spray too much chloroform." She spoke from the dark, her voice, cold.

"Who are you and what do you want from me?" I asked her angrily, trying to get up from the chair but failing miserably. My headache was getting worse.

"Ah ah ah! Don't struggle this much baby boy, you might hurt yourself." She moved around my chair. "And if we are talking about who I'm, then I'm your future mother-in-law." She added while coming in front of me. Now that she was in front of me, I could finally see her. I noticed a smirk on her face. She was wearing a plain white shirt and dark blue jeans while her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. She looked quite young herself, if I do say so myself.

But this wasn't the time to notice her or her outfit. What was she even talking about? Future mother-in-law? Was she alright? Wait, what if she was a psychopath? I mean, it was possible, right? Or no, wait, maybe someone was pranking me. This must be a joke. Yeah, someone was definitely playing a prank on me, I thought.

"I know this must be funny for you but please, I'm not in the mood for any prank. I seriously have some important work, please just let me go." I begged her in a helpless voice. Alayna. I wanted to find her. And this woman here was trying to prank me? This was just so ridiculous. Whoever had this idea, must be crazy for doing such a thing with a random guy.

She laughed, she actually laughed! Now I was sure if this wasn't a prank, then she was definitely a psychopath. Or maybe, she ran from some mental asylum. Ya Allah! Please help me. What was even happening here. Ya Allah please keep Alayna safe and let me out of here soon. Aameen. I prayed in my head, getting annoyed and irritated.

"Baby boy, this isn't any prank, I'm telling you the truth. Believe it or not, it won't change." She smiled.

"Ok ma'am, maybe you are right. But what do you want from me? Why have you even kidnapped me?" I inquired in annoyance while glaring at her. I couldn't believe I was agreeing with her.

"Oh nothing much baby boy, I just want you to get married to my daughter. And if you agree, I will leave you. As simple as that." She smirked, making me shocked. As I looked at her once again, I realised that she wasn't too old. Maybe in her late thirties. And she wanted me to marry her daughter? How old was her daughter, again? Was this some kind of child marriage? And what about her daughter's studies and dreams? Didn't she have any?

Ya Allah! What was even happening? Where was I stuck?

And was this woman serious right now? Like woah! She wanted me to just get married to some stranger who happened to be her daughter? I mean, even if she wanted someone to get married to her daughter, then she could have asked that man like a normal person. Why would she even kidnap someone for that? And no way was I getting married to some stranger. No, more specifically, some crazy woman's daughter.

"And what if I don't agree?" I questioned incredulously.

"Well then, you won't be able to find your beloved sister." She looked at me with a sinister smile and brought a chair from somewhere in the dark for herself to sit in front of me.

She knew about my sister. Which meant that she knew where she was. What if she kidnapped her too, just like me? No way! I couldn't let anything happen to her. She was my life, my responsibility. Mama and baba trusted me with her. I couldn't... Nothing could happen to her. I gulped, trying not to show fear on my face.

"So that means that you have kidnapped her too." I stated, anger replacing my fear.

"Ah, no no! I didn't. Why would I even do that? I don't have any reason to kidnap her. I just know where she is. And if you don't agree to my condition, then you might as well forget your sister." Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her legs leisurely and answered me.

"Where is she? Tell me now! I want her with me. She must be safe or I don't even know what I will do with you guys! I will file a complaint against you and whoever has my sister." I fumed while struggling to get my hands free. I could see my wrists getting red and the pain increasing, both in my hands and my head.

"Awwh don't struggle much baby boy, if you hurt yourself, then what will I answer my daughter? And you can take your sweet time to think about it. My condition, I mean. I'm waiting here for your response." She responded while leaning her head back with a smug look.

"But why me? Why do you want for me to get married to your daughter? Why not someone, anyone else?" I asked, exasperated. Desperately trying to find a way out of this or at least make sense of what was actually happening and why was this even happening.

"Because you are you, and not anyone else. Believe me, I have my reasons but I'm not going to disclose them to you. At least not now. Maybe sometime later in the future if I feel like it." She winked at me, making me more annoyed.

My anger had no bounds, if I could, I would have seriously killed this woman! But after taking a few deep breaths and trying to calm myself down, I contemplated whether I should agree or not. My first priority was my sister and I had to keep her safe. It didn't matter whatever happened to me. I would handle it. But Alayna, I want her safe and sound, with me. I could do anything for her. And about marrying this crazy woman's daughter, I didn't know. What if she turned out to be like her mom? Or even if she was not like her mom, what about her dreams and goals? I couldn't ruin my life and hers too. But I had no other choice. I might have to agree for my sister's sake. I could just hope that her daughter disagrees with this marriage.

Sighing, I glared daggers at her, my eyes burning in rage and concern for my sister. Irritation clear on my face.

"I will agree, but on one condition." I replied through gritted teeth.

"And may I know what is that condition, baby boy?" She inquired while leaning forward, seeming interested. A glint shining in her eyes.

"But first of all, stop calling me baby boy." I demanded through my clenched jaw. I was already irritated and annoyed and she was making me more agitated.

"Alright alright, I will try. No promises though." She replied, an amused glint shimmering in her eyes as though she was enjoying this.

"You will first have to take me to Alayna and then, only after I know for sure that she is alright, will I think about it." I proposed with a sigh.

"Alright. Thank God at least you will think about it! Even though I have a condition, I will let you know about it later on." Replying excitedly, she stood up like a happy kid. Was she bipolar or something?

I looked at her incredulously as she moved around the chair and went behind me. She did something and I felt the ropes loosen up. I was confused as to what she did but quickly moving my hands, I removed the ropes before doing the same from my feet. When I was done, I stood up, stretched myself and looked at that woman. She was beaming while staring at me.

"Should we proceed now?" She questioned eagerly. I couldn't believe her! She was seriously crazy. Just a few moments back, she was being cold and now, she was being way too friendly.

"Please lead the way." I faked a smile while gesturing with my hands. She laughed and started walking in front of me after handing me my bag. Shaking my head, I took my bag before following her. She took us out of the door and towards the stairs. I realised that we were in a basement. Or more specifically, a basement of someone's house because we directly entered a spacious living room.

Looking around the house, I examined it. It was simple yet looked elegantly colour coordinated. It was beautiful but it seemed too quiet. Like no one was home.

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