The Shadows of Deception

The room was thick with tension.

Zarif sat on the floor, his forehead pressed against his knees, his entire body trembling. Zara stood firm, her heart racing as she watched the scene unfold. The accusations, the betrayals—everything was happening too fast.

Zara took a deep breath, her heart pounding as she faced the room full of accusing eyes. She had always been calm and composed, but today, she had to be more than that. Today, she had to fight for her husband.

Zara clenched her fists."If Zarif really committed this crime, then we should let the police investigate.Let's also get a medical examination done at the hospital," she stated boldly, her voice unwavering."If he's guilty, they'll prove it. If not, we'll know the truth."

The entire room fell silent for a moment before an uproar broke out. Miss Wahida gasped in horror. "You want to call the police on your own husband?"

"Yes." Zara's gaze didn't waver. "If he's guilty, then he should be punished. But if he's innocent, then this farce needs to end."

Huda's face paled for a moment before she let out a choked sob and turned to her mother, clutching the sheet tighter around her. "Everyone, look at her! She wants to humiliate me further! I've already suffered enough, and now she wants to put me through an investigation?How could you say that, Zara?"she wailed, playing the victim to perfection.

Her cries earned her sympathetic looks from the crowd, but Zara wasn't fooled. "You say you've suffered," Zara said, stepping closer, "Huda, if you're telling the truth, then you have nothing to fear. If what you claim is true, a DNA test will confirm it.If you truly want justice, a proper investigation will only prove you right," Zara pressed.

But Huda was not ready to take the risk.Huda's face paled."I won't go through this! I won't let them touch me again! I refuse to be interrogated like a criminal!" she cried.

"You're disgusting!" she spat. "You want me to go through that kind of test just because you can't accept the truth?"

Turning to her parents for support,"Please! Stop Zara from torturing me like this!"

"I want justice," Zara corrected. "For you, if you're telling the truth. And for Zarif, if he's innocent."

Naziba, Huda's mother, clutched her daughter, glaring at Zara. "You have no right to do this! She is already traumatized, and now you're trying to destroy her reputation too?There's no need for that," Miss Naziba said quickly. "Let's not turn this into a bigger scandal."

"There already is a scandal," Zara replied coldly. "And I'd rather have the truth come out than let an innocent man suffer."

Zara, however, refused to back down.

She pulled out her phone and dialed the police. The moment the call connected, Huda's cousin, the one who had been suspiciously quiet all this time, visibly flinched. He was sweating, his fingers twitching. Zara's sharp eyes didn't miss it.

"Police?" she spoke loudly, making sure everyone heard her. "Yes, I'd like to report a serious accusation—"

Before she could say more, Miss Naziba lunged forward and snatched the phone from her hand, hanging up the call. "You don't know what you're doing, girl!" she hissed. "This is family business. We'll handle it."

"No." Zara took a step closer, her voice dangerously calm. "You're trying to protect Huda. If she's innocent, let her prove it!"

Huda's father began making phone calls, contacting influential people to stop the police from coming. Wahida, devastated, was too lost in her own heartbreak to react.

The tension in the room was suffocating.

She watched the chaos around her, but something nagged at her—something felt off.

Meanwhile, from the corner of her eye, Zara noticed Huda's cousin glancing toward the hallway. He was about to leave. Her gut told her something was off. Without making a scene, she quietly followed him, making sure to keep a safe distance as he slipped into Huda's room.His hands were shaking as he reached for the door handle of Huda's room.

She stopped outside the door, pressing her ear against it,her breath steady, and what she heard made her blood run cold.

"Huda, I don't think this is going to work. The police—what if they actually come? What if they start an investigation?" the cousin whispered, his voice trembling.

"I told you not to panic," Huda whispered harshly.

"But the police—" The cousin's voice was shaking. "They'll find out about the drug. I—I didn't know she'd take it this far. I just thought it was to make him feel dizzy, not—"

"You idiot," Huda snapped. "Do you think my parents will let them touch me? They'll make sure this goes away.They won't find out anything if you just keep your mouth shut!"

"But what if they don't? What if Zara keeps pushing? What if they actually check—?"

"They won't. I won't let them."

Zara took out her phone and pressed 'Record,' her pulse thudding in her ears.

"You drugged him, dragged him into your room, and now you're trying to frame him. Huda, this isn't a game! If they check—"

"Shut up!" Huda hissed. "Nobody will check anything. I've played my part well. Everyone already believes me. I told you to bring the drug for a reason. Now stop panicking like a coward!"

Zara tightened her grip on her phone, her nails digging into her palm. This was the proof she needed. She had them now.

With a deep breath, she ended the recording.That was all she needed. The game was over.Now it's time for the final blow.