: The Secret House and the Captive**
He descended the stairs slowly and calmly, yet with the powerful, confident stride of a man who knows his worth. He reached the parlor and walked past the group standing there as if they didn't exist. Outside, he headed to his luxury car, ignored the emotions swelling in his chest, and drove off.
He stopped at **Amaira Restaurant**, where he briefly collected a takeout bag from an employee. He then drove for another twenty-five minutes to a modest, beautiful house. He entered using his own key. The house was dark; the heavy curtains were drawn. Using his phone light, he entered one of the rooms.
**Salwa** was sitting on the edge of the bed, her head tucked between her knees, her long hair covering her face. He stood at the door, arms folded, watching her. He turned on the lights—still wearing his nose mask and shades—and said coldly:
“You.”
She didn't look up, but he could hear her quiet sobbing. He placed the food on the bedside table. Salwa lifted her tear-swollen face, unable to believe he was leaving again. Her biggest fear was the dark; his punishment for her was turning off the power and taking her phone whenever he left, leaving her alone in the shadows.
Driven by hunger, she finally ate a little of the food, though it wasn't what she liked. She leaned against the wall, kicking her legs on the bed and crying out for her "Daddy." Aryan heard her from the parlor but ignored her, eventually leaving the house—though this time, he left the lights on.
### **Part 2: The Family Confrontation**
Aryan returned to his main house to find his uncles, **Ameenu** and **Muhammad**, and his cousin **Hamza** waiting for him. They were furious.
"Aryan!" Hamza called out, but Aryan ignored him.
Uncle Ameenu blocked his path. "Didn't you hear your elder brother calling you? Do you think you can treat us like this?" He shoved Aryan’s shoulder. Aryan’s eyes began to turn red with suppressed rage.
Uncle Muhammad joined in, shouting, “Who do you think you are? We called you repeatedly, and you ignored us. We came here, and you walked out without a word!”
Hamza sneered, “Dad, I told you he wouldn't say a word. His mother taught him this—to disrespect his elders. He’s just unrefined.”
At the mention of his mother (**Ummi**), Aryan’s demeanor shifted. Hamza pushed further: “Or should I say 'the mistress'? She's probably out there doing what she does best—failing at marriage and living a loose life. Maybe you're following her footsteps, hiding away in this house...”
Before Hamza could finish, Aryan lunged. He grabbed Hamza by the neck and slammed him against the wall, choking him with terrifying strength.
"Don't you dare," Aryan hissed, his voice shaking. “Stay within your limits.”
The uncles scrambled to pull Aryan off. Uncle Ameenu delivered a stinging slap to Aryan’s face.
"You are exactly like your mother, Asiya," Ameenu spat. “Listen well: you have **two months** to find a woman and get married, or we will choose one from the family for you. We won't let you ruin our reputation. If you don't fear us, you will certainly fear the call from your father, **UMAR**. You know what will happen when you face him.”
They left Aryan standing there, fuming.
### **Part 3: The Father’s Coldness**
The uncles went straight to **Dad (Umar)**, who was calmly drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. They complained bitterly about Aryan's behavior and how he nearly killed Hamza.
Umar didn't look at them. He stood up, folded his hands behind his back, and asked one simple question:
“Did you deliver my message?”
"Ameenu delivered it," Muhammad replied.
Umar walked away without another word, leaving them standing in their frustration.
### **Part 4: Aneela’s Persistence**
In his room, Aryan fell asleep in his clothes. A beautiful, stylish woman named **Aneela** entered. She sat on the bed and began stroking his hair. Aryan woke up, his head heavy from the day's stress.
"Hi, my love," she said with a wide smile.
Aryan didn't answer. He reached for his phone, but she grabbed it first. “I'm right here, why do you need a phone? Your wife is here to take care of everything.”
Aryan took the phone and headed for the shower. When she asked to join him, he snapped:
“Aneela! I am not in the mood. Leave me alone.”
She tidied his room and waited downstairs. When he came down, dressed in a white shirt and p-cap, she was struck again by his beauty, but he walked right past her to his car. When she tried to stop him, he just said her name with such a warning tone that she backed away.
### **Part 5: Salwa’s Plea**
Aryan returned to the small house where Salwa was kept. He found her playing with the empty food container.
"SALWA!" he called strictly.
She looked up at him with her innocent, round face and deep dimples.
"Eat your food," he commanded.
As he turned to leave, her voice trembled with desperation. “Yaya (Brother), please take me back to my mother. Have mercy on me. I’ll die here. I’m scared when you’re not here... please take me to my Daddy...”
She burst into tears. Aryan simply walked out and locked the door. Salwa collapsed against the wall, sobbing for her father. She had been trapped in that house for eight days.
