She was still shocked by what had happened. Her mind was racing—
'He needs help… but not a hospital. Not now.'
Without a second thought, her fingers trembled as she dialed the only person she could trust—her cousin sister, Mehak. A doctor.
The car slowed to a stop in front of the dimly lit hotel. Mehak quickly opened her door and stepped out, her heart pounding at the sight waiting just outside. Atif followed closely, both of them moving with quiet urgency.
They hurried over to Noor, who was still seated on the ground, the mysterious man's head resting on her lap, his blood partially soaked into the scarf she'd carefully wrapped around his wound.
Atif gently touched Noor's shoulder, his voice soft but steady.
"Are you okay?"
Mehak's eyes searched Noor's face, looking for any sign of weakness or pain, but Noor's expression was calm, almost distant.
Noor gave a faint nod, but her eyes stayed fixed on the unconscious man.
Without another word, Atif carefully lifted the man's weight, and together they helped Noor rise. They placed him gently in the backseat of the car, adjusting his position so his head was cradled on Noor's lap. Noor climbed in after him, her fingers brushing his damp hair as if afraid to let go.
Mehak settled into the front passenger seat beside Atif, who adjusted the rearview mirror before starting the engine.
As the city lights blurred past, an uneasy silence filled the car. Mehak stole a glance at Noor, who stared out the window, lost in thought.
Atif broke the quiet, his tone low and reflective.
"You think he'll be okay?"
Mehak bit her lip, not wanting to sound too worried.
"I hope so. But I can't stop thinking about how Noor was with him… like she knew him."
Atif nodded slowly.
"She's been quiet since we got here. Doesn't seem like she's the type to reveal much easily."
Mehak sighed.
"Yeah. She's strong, but this must be hard. I just wish she'd tell us what's going on."
They both turned their gaze to Noor, who still hadn't spoken.
Atif leaned back in his seat, watching her closely.
"Noor… are you alright?"
Noor's voice was barely audible. "I'm fine."
"But do you know who did this to him?"
Mehak's question was soft, careful.
Noor shook her head slightly. "No. I just found him like this."
Neither Mehak nor Atif pushed further. They trusted Noor to tell them when she was ready.
The car hummed quietly as they drove on.
Suddenly, from the backseat, a faint whisper caught Noor's attention.
"...Abid…"
Her heart skipped.
She looked down at the man whose head rested in her lap. He was barely conscious, yet his lips moved with effort.
Abid?
The name felt unfamiliar and yet strangely significant.
Noor's mind raced. Who is Abid? Why does that name matter?
Then a quiet thought settled in her heart.
Three years… after three long years, I've found you.
I never imagined it would be like this.
As if sensing her thoughts, the man's hand twitched gently, curling around hers.
Then, the whisper came again—this time slower, clearer:
"…Noor…"
Her breath caught in her throat.
He knows my name.
But how?
---
They finally reached the hotel. Mehak stepped out, eyes sharp, quietly scanning the stillness around them. No one was watching.
The snowfall had thickened, blanketing the streets in cold white silence. Because of this, everyone was inside. The road lay empty—no one in sight. It wasn't the kind of night for wandering.
Yet they moved forward. Snowflakes drifted softly down, settling cold and silent on their shoulders as they made their way toward the hotel's shadowed side entrance.
Noor helped too, steadying the man—his hand gripping hers tightly, refusing to let go.
Mehak gave a silent signal. "Go inside."
Noor saw Atif struggling to balance the man. She whispered,
"Let me call Abbu. It'll be easier to carry him inside."
She moved to call, but stopped—his hand held hers fast, as if he wouldn't let go. Shock flickered in everyone's eyes. Why was he so attached to her? No one spoke.
Noor finally said, "We have to…"
Mehak nodded, "We have to carry him inside."
Noor stepped forward, helping Atif steady the man as Mehak led the way, eyes sharp, scanning every shadow. Snowflakes drifted softly around them, falling cold and silent.
Atif carefully lifted the man, and together they slipped inside, their footsteps swallowed by the dim, cold lobby—the only sound in the quiet night.
Together, they moved inside—careful, quiet, hidden beneath the weight of the night.
The hotel room was dimly lit, with only the faint glow of the bedside lamp casting soft shadows on the pale walls.
Mehak worked carefully, her hands steady as she cleaned the deep gash on the man's forehead. Noor stood nearby, clutching her scarf tightly, her face a mixture of worry and quiet strength.
Her parents, Shahid and Sakina, sat close by, their faces lined with concern but filled with kindness.
Shahid finally broke the silence, his voice gentle but firm.
"Noor, you did the right thing bringing him here,"
he said softly.
"He needed help, and you didn't hesitate."
Sakina nodded, her eyes warm as she added,
"We're grateful you found him before it was too late. But tell us, is he dangerous? Do you know anything about him?"
Noor shook her head, voice steady but low.
"I don't know who he is. I only found him lying unconscious near the street. He needed help—I couldn't just leave him."
Mehak, sitting beside her Khala, leaned forward.
"Do you think he might be connected to something serious? Noor, you've been so quiet. We want to help, but we need to understand."
Noor met their eyes, the weight of unspoken truths pressing down on her.
"I wish I could tell you more,"
she whispered. "But right now, I don't have the answers."
Her father reached out and gently squeezed her hand.
"Whatever it is, we'll face it together. You're not alone."
Her mother smiled softly, her voice soothing.
"Just get some rest. Tomorrow is a new day."
The man, still unconscious on the bed, seemed fragile but safe under their watchful care.
Soon after, Mehak's friend who had helped earlier quietly gathered his things.
"I'll head home now," he said softly, casting a cautious glance at the injured man.
Everyone nodded in understanding, the night's tension slowly easing.
As the door closed behind him, the family settled in. Whispered prayers filled the room. The soft hum of the fan mingled with the quiet breathing of the sleeping man.
Noor finally sat down beside Mehak on the couch, exhaustion washing over her.
"We'll get through this," Mehak said, reaching out to squeeze Noor's hand.
Noor nodded, eyes heavy with fatigue.
---
INT. HOTEL ROOM --- MORNING
The first rays of sunlight spilled softly over the distant snow-capped peaks of Kashmir, shimmering like scattered diamonds across the valley. The crisp morning air carried a faint scent of pine and earth, while gentle snowflakes drifted lazily to the ground.
Noor stood by the window, a small cup of medicine in her hand. She had come to check on him, to give him the medicine Mehak had prepared—but Sadiq was still asleep, his breathing steady and deep.
She placed the cup down quietly and turned back toward the window, drawn to the breathtaking beauty outside. The snow blanketed the earth, trees bowed under the white weight, and the mountains stood proud and silent in the distance.
Her mind wandered away from the peaceful scene.
Everyone thinks we came here for a vacation, Noor thought, her eyes tracing the falling snow. My family came to relax, to enjoy the beauty of Kashmir, but I'm not here for that.
I came to uncover the mysteries that have haunted me for three years—secrets I chased through endless nights, searching for answers that seemed just out of reach.
As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, Sadiq's eyes suddenly fluttered open.
He looked toward her, his gaze sharp despite the lingering fog of pain.
Though her face was familiar, suspicion curled in his mind.
Is this really the same woman? he wondered. Or is this some trap laid for me?
He watched her silently, noticing how she wasn't simply captivated by the view. Her expression was distant, tangled in thoughts he could not reach.
Noor suddenly felt the weight of eyes upon her.
She was about to turn when a sudden loss of balance caught her off guard.
Just as she started to fall, strong hands grabbed her waist, pulling her steady.
A cold blade pressed sharply against her neck.
The vivid memories of last night fade slowly, the flashback slipping away as the sharp reality presses in. The silence around her grows heavier, the atmosphere thick with suspense and unspoken danger. She blinks, trying to steady herself, but the cold blade presses closer against her neck, pulling her back to the moment. His voice breaks through the silence, low and demanding,
"What are you thinking?"