Blood And Betrayal

Danish approached Mehwish, his expression serious. "I need to talk to you," he said.

Mehwish raised an eyebrow. "About what?"

"Not here," he replied. "Come with me to the garden."

Before she could protest, Danish took her hand and led her toward the garden adjacent to the house. The night air was cool, the faint scent of blooming flowers lingering in the air. Mehwish pulled her hand back as they stopped beneath the dim glow of a street lamp.

"Why did you bring me here?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Danish smirked slightly. "Why the hurry? You'll find out soon enough. I've invited someone here."

Mehwish frowned. "Who?"

"Sonali."

A strange feeling crept into Mehwish's chest. "Sonali?" she echoed, confusion evident in her voice.

Danish nodded. "You don't know her. There was a time when I had an accident—got hit on the head. Everyone around was busy filming instead of helping me. Everyone… except her. She saved my life. She's a doctor."

Mehwish's heart skipped a beat. "Where did this accident happen?"

"Near the hospital," Danish replied nonchalantly.

A realization dawned upon Mehwish. Could he be talking about her? Wanting to confirm, she asked cautiously, "When Sonali saved you… did you see her face?"

Danish shook his head. "No, everything was a blur back then. But later, I met her at a party."

Mehwish's suspicions were confirmed—Danish was talking about her. I was the one who saved his life… and he doesn't even know it.

Danish studied her face, then tilted his head. "Where are you lost?"

Something snapped inside Mehwish. Her eyes darkened with anger as she crossed her arms. "Why did you call me here, Danish? You should just stay with her."

Danish smirked inwardly. This was exactly the reaction he wanted. He had mentioned Sonali only to make Mehwish jealous, to push her into revealing what she truly felt for him.

Would she finally confess?

Just then, Sonali arrived for real.

Danish's eyes widened in surprise. I never actually called her… then how is she here?

Mehwish, already feeling the sting of jealousy, felt her heart tighten at the sight of Sonali standing before them. Without another word, she turned away, her anger bubbling over, and stormed off into the night.

Sonali walked up to Danish with a casual smile. "I'm here," she said.

Danish, still puzzled, asked, "How did you get here?"

"You gave me your card, remember?" she replied with a smirk. "Did you forget already?"

Danish hesitated. "Do you need something important? If not, we can meet some other day."

Sonali's smile didn't waver. "It's very important."

Danish sighed, checking the time. "Alright, tell me quickly. I have somewhere to be."

Sonali took a step closer, her eyes dark and unreadable. "You're such a fool, Danish."

Danish frowned. "What?"

Before he could react, Sonali pulled out a knife from her pocket and, in a swift motion, plunged it into his stomach.

A sharp, searing pain ripped through him as he staggered backward, gasping. "W-What did you do?" he choked out. "Why did you save my life back then… if you were going to kill me now?"

Sonali tilted her head, an eerie glint in her eyes. "What can I say?" she whispered. "Madness works in mysterious ways."

Sonali crouched beside Danish, watching his pain with a twisted smile. Leaning in, she whispered, "I was never the one who saved your life."

Danish's breath hitched. His already clouded vision blurred further as shock settled in. It wasn't her? Then… His mind reeled, racing to put the pieces together.

"The one who saved you," Sonali continued, tilting her head toward where Mehwish had disappeared, "was the girl who just left."

Danish's body tensed with realization, but his strength was fading fast. Sonali smirked. "Not that it matters now. You can't do anything anymore."

Just then, footsteps echoed in the garden. Mehwish, again come to danish with anger

. The sight before her stole the breath from her lungs—Danish lay on the ground, his shirt soaked in crimson, blood seeping through his fingers.

"No!" she cried, rushing to his side, tears spilling down her cheeks. She knelt beside him, hands trembling as she touched his face. "Danish! What… what happened? Who did this to you?"

Danish coughed, his grip on reality loosening. "The day… you saved my life…" His voice was weak, but he forced himself to speak.

"Shh, don't talk," Mehwish sobbed. "We need to get you to a doctor—"

Danish shook his head. "Let me say it…" He took a shuddering breath. "Mehwish… I love you." His bloodstained fingers brushed against her hand. "I always have… Do you… love me too?"

Tears streamed down Mehwish's face as she cupped his cheek, her heart breaking. "I love you too, Danish. More than anything… I always have."

Just as she whispered those words, a dark shadow loomed behind her.

Before she could react, Sonali lunged—her knife slicing through the air.

A sharp pain ripped through Mehwish's body as the blade pierced her back. Her breath hitched, her world spinning as her blood joined Danish's on the cold ground.

Mehwish's scream tore through the night, echoing through the silent air.

Hearing her cry, Rahil rushed downstairs. Panic gripped his chest as he stepped into the garden, only to be met with a horrifying sight—Danish and Mehwish, lying on the ground, drenched in blood.

"No… no, no!" Rahil ran toward them, his heart pounding. He dropped to his knees beside Mehwish, his hands shaking as he touched her cold, bloodstained face.

Mehwish's eyelids fluttered open. Her voice was barely a whisper. "Rahil…"

"I'm here," he choked out. "Stay with me! I'll take you to the hospital."

Mehwish weakly shook her head. "No… go to Rania… save her…"

Rahil's brows furrowed. "What? What are you talking about? We need to—"

"Promise me…" Mehwish gasped, her grip on his hand loosening. "Save Rania…"

And with those final words, her breath stilled.

Rahil froze. "Mehwish?" His voice cracked. "No… no, you can't—" But she was already gone.

Tears blurred his vision as he let out a heart-wrenching cry. But amidst his grief, confusion gnawed at him. Why did she tell me to save Rania?

Wiping his tears, he quickly took out his phone and traced Rania's last known location. His blood ran cold when the tracker showed a dense forest on the outskirts of the city. What the hell is she doing there?

Without wasting a second, he jumped into his car and sped toward the jungle.

For two agonizing hours, Rahil ran through the thick trees, his legs aching, his breath ragged. Just as exhaustion began to set in, he spotted something in the distance—an old, abandoned house, its walls covered in vines and decay.

Heart pounding, he pushed open the creaking door and stepped inside. The air was thick with dust and something more sinister.

And then he saw her.

Rania.

She was tied to a chair, her eyes wide with fear as she looked up at him. "Rahil!" she gasped.

Rahil rushed forward, untying the ropes with trembling hands. "It's okay, I'm here! Let's get out of here!"

As soon as the last knot came loose, he grabbed her hand and pulled her up. "Come on, we need to—"

But before he could finish, a sharp, searing pain exploded in his stomach.

Rahil gasped, stumbling back as he looked down. A knife was buried deep in his abdomen. And the hand holding it… was Rania's.

His eyes widened in disbelief. "Rania…?"

She stared at him, a strange, unreadable expression on her face. And then, she smiled.