Maryam's POV

I glance at my watch for the tenth time, waiting for Anaya to pick me up after my exam. But she's nowhere to be seen.

I try calling her, but her phone is unreachable.

I am happy as my exam went amazing.I am sure I will write mains this time.

Suddenly, a chilling notification pops up on my screen:

Stalker: Don't worry, Love. I'm here.

My blood freezes. I frantically scan the crowded area, but there are too many faces.

Panic sets in. What if he kidnaps me?

I try calling Anaya again, but she's still unreachable.

The stalker's next message makes my skin crawl:

Stalker: Anaya must be stuck in traffic. I'm here. Don't worry, I'll protect you.

My fingers tremble as I type a response:

Me: I need to be protected from You. Where are you? Let's meet.

The stalker's reply sends shivers down my spine:

Stalker: Nice idea, but not today. We'll meet soon. Love.

Just as I'm starting to lose hope, Anaya's car pulls up.

I sprint toward her, relief washing over me as I leap into the passenger seat.

"How was your exam?" Anaya asks, oblivious to my ordeal.

"Outstanding," I reply, trying to sound calm.

But my mind is racing. The stalker's messages still haunt me.

I text Alia and Rayan about my exam, feeling accomplished.

After stopping by the library, where Anaya picks up some books, I browse through the shelves, nostalgia washing over me. I long to dive into my favorite fiction novels, but I have to study for mains now.

We head home, and I freshen up, eager for dinner.

As we finish our meal, the doorbell rings.

My heart sinks. Another parcel, undoubtedly from him.

I open it, and my breath catches. Every book I touched at the library today lies before me.

I'm crying inside. How to get rid of him?

Anxiety grips me.

I grab my phone and message him:

Me: Are you serious? Stop bothering me. I'm giving you my last warning.

His response sends shivers down my spine:

Him: Did I make a mistake, Love?

I feel anger with in me.If he were in front of me I would kill him.I hate him,oh god I hate him so much.

................

"Faris, let's celebrate! Maryam cleared the prelims. We calculated her marks. Let's go somewhere," Anaya exclaims, beaming.

I force a smile. "No, Anaya, we can celebrate at home."

Anaya persists. "What, home? Let's go somewhere."

Faris chimes in. "Okay, fine, Anaya. Where should we go?"

Anaya turns to me. "Maryam, you liked that cafe a lot."

I furrow my brow, confused. "Which cafe?"

"The one you went to with Alia for brunch," Anaya clarifies.

I hesitate, thinking of the expenses. "Oh, that must be expensive."

Anaya's determination shines through. "Its okay.We'll go there."

I sigh, knowing Anaya's stubbornness.

............

We arrive at the cafe, and Anaya's eyes widen in awe, mirroring my own reaction the first time I visited.

"Wow, this place is stunning," she says.

We settle into a cozy table and order our breakfast. As we begin our meal, I glance up to see Alia walking in with a group of friends. They exude wealth, from designer clothes to luxurious accessories.

I do a double take. When did Alia return from her solo trip? We texted last night, but she didn't mention her arrival.

Alia's group occupies a large table nearby, and our eyes meet. But she deliberately ignores me, chatting and laughing with her friends. She even changes seats to avoid facing me.

A pang of confusion and hurt hits me. Why is she ignoring me?

Anaya notices Alia. "Maryam, is that Alia?" she asks.

I nod, my voice low. "Yeah."

"You should say 'hi' to her," Anaya suggests.

"How? It seems like she's ignoring me," I reply.

Anaya sips her drink. "Why would she ignore you? She's your friend. She must have not seen you. Message her."

I pull out my phone and text Alia:

Me: Hii Alia, how are you?

Alia's response arrives promptly:

Alia: I'm good. How are you?

I glance up, shocked. If Alia is eating without her phone, who's texting me?

"If it's not Alia, then who's been texting me for almost two months, pretending to be her?" I ask, my voice trembling.

Faris and Anaya exchange concerned glances.

"What do you mean?" Faris asks, leaning in.

I show them my phone, displaying the conversations.

"I think I know who this person is," Anaya says, fork in hand.

"Who?" I ask eagerly.

"Rayan," she replies.

I shake my head vehemently. "No, it's not him. He's a good person; he would never betray me like that."

I say in confusion," Is this all a prank on me."

I'm shocked, refusing to believe what is happening in my life.

Faris intervenes,"Let's not jump to conclusions. We need proof."

.................

Rayan stands before me, smiling. "I'm so proud of you," he says, referencing my exam. We're surrounded by the joyful chaos of the NGO playground.

"Rayan, I saw Alia today," I say, studying his reaction.

"Where?" A hint of apprehension crosses his face.

"Oyster Cafe." Rayan's expression turns serious.

"I waved at her, but she ignored me," I continue, searching his eyes. "Embarrassed of me in front of her rich friends."

Rayan looks away, avoiding my gaze. "No, Maryam, why would she be embarrassed?"

I press on. "Yes, Rayan, she was embarrassed. Should I call her and ask why she ignored me?"

I dial Alia's number, and Rayan's phone rings. Tears stream down my face as realization sets in. Regret flickers in Rayan's eyes.

"I was about to tell you," he says, taking a step towards me.

"Why?" I ask, my voice trembling."Why did you do that?

Rayan's silence is deafening. I feel betrayed, my trust shattered.

His eyes lock onto mine, filled with a mix of sadness and longing.

"I did it because I wanted to be close to you, Maryam," he says "I love you. This was the only way I could think of to get into your life, to be near you."

I remain silent, trying to process his confession.

"Maryam, say something," Rayan pleads, his voice laced with desperation.

I turn and walk away, leaving him standing alone. My heart feels broken, shattered, and hurt.

How could Rayan deceive me? I never suspected him capable of such betrayal.

As I start running, his desperate calls echo through the playground: "Maryam! Maryam, please!"

But I don't look back.

Tears blur my vision, and my breath comes in ragged gasps. I need to escape, to find solace.

Finally, I reach the safety of Anaya's car and lock myself inside.

The sound of my own sobbing fills the silence.

How could he?

My phone buzzes relentlessly with Rayan's calls until I reach home. His texts flood my inbox, pleading for forgiveness, but I ignore them.

Why did I trust him so blindly? I ask myself, anguish wracking my mind.

Anaya parks the car and approaches me. "Maryam, that's enough. Pick his call. He loves you; that's why he did this."

I spin around, frustration boiling over. "Wow, he loves me, so he has the right to betray me?"

Anaya's expression softens. "Maryam, listen-"

I rush into my room, slamming the door shut. Tears burst forth as I collapse onto my bed.

How could Rayan do this to me?

My sobs echo through the room, a painful release of shattered trust and betrayal.

I got a call from an unknown number,I pick up thinking it must be that stalker. I decide to find out who he is.

"Maryam, don't cut the call," Its Rayan,he pleads.

"Or what?" I challenge, anger simmering.

"Or I'll hack your phone and install a 'Rayan Appreciation App' that sends you daily reminders of how much I love you. Don't worry, it's malware-free... unless you consider love a virus."His tone soft and playful.

"You're a virus," I retort, ready to hang up.

"You're really angry, Maryam. You never talk like this," Rayan says with a chuckle.

"You hurt me, and I can't even get angry," I say, my voice trembling.

Rayan's tone shifts to seriousness. "You have every right to be angry but Please try to understand. I did all this because I love you. My intentions with you are pure. I want to marry you."

I force back tears. "There was a right way to do all this, Rayan, but you chose to break my trust. You have no idea how much I'm hurting right now. I believed in you."

Rayan's voice cracks. "I'm sorry, Maryam. Please don't cry. I hate seeing tears in your eyes."

The line falls silent for minutes.

"Maryam, are you still there?" Rayan asks.

"Rayan, I need time," I say, unable to process my feelings.

"Take your time, Maryam, but please stop crying. Or I'll hack your phone for real," he says jokingly, his voice low and pleading.

I remain silent.

"Maryam," Rayan says softly.

"I apologize again," he adds.

"Bye, Rayan," I say firmly and hang up.

..................

"Anaya, why are you pushing me to go to Suhana's birthday?" I ask, sipping my tea.

"Suhana wouldn't care if I didn't attend," I add.

Anaya sets her tea down. "It's not about Suhana's feelings, Maryam. With that creepy stalker out there, I won't leave you alone at home."

I frown, anxious thoughts swirling. "But I really don't want to go. What if I run into Rayan? It's been three days since his confession... I haven't spoken to him at all."

Anaya raises an eyebrow. "You've been avoiding him, haven't you?"

I nod, feeling uneasy." I dont know what to say to him."

Anaya's expression softens. "You'll figure it out, Maryam. But you have to come with me to Suhana's party.She also invited you."

"Suhana specifically invited me?" I ask, surprised.

Anaya nods. "Yeah, she called me last night and said, 'Maryam needs to be at my birthday.'"

My suspicion grows. Why would Suhana suddenly want me there?

.....................

As we arrive, Suhana greets us warmly, her smile radiant. She surprises me with a hug, her eyes shining with genuine happiness.

"Thank you so much for coming, Maryam," she says, her voice sincere.

I'm taken aback by her unusual warmth. We're on the rooftop, surrounded by Anaya's relatives, all connected to Faris's family. Suhana's connection to Faris explains the gathering.

Anaya engages with the relatives, laughing and chatting. I slip away to a quiet corner, lost in thought.

As I gaze out at the city skyline, my mind wanders to Rayan. His charming smile, our effortless conversations, and the warmth we shared flood my memories. I recall his confession, the sincerity in his eyes, and the ache in my heart.

My thoughts swirl, a mix of longing and hurt. I'm unsure how to process my emotions.

Suddenly, I sense a presence nearby.
I turn, and my gaze meets a familiar face - the middle-aged woman with crimson lips and a luxurious demeanor. It's the same woman who judged me at the charity brunch in KINDNESS.

Her piercing gaze recognizes me, and a hint of disdain flickers across her face,"Its you,girl from the charity brunch at Kindness," she says,her tone venomous. "Didn't I say girls like you work in NGOs to hunt rich husbands? Well, sorry, I won't let my son be that husband."

I'm stunned, struggling to comprehend her accusations. "What are you saying, aunty?" I ask, confusion etched on my face.

Her expression twists in disgust. "Don't act dumb. How can you be so oblivious to who I am? I am Rayan's mother."

My mind reels as I process the revelation. The cruel woman from the charity brunch, the one who judged me so harshly, is Rayan's mother.

I think to myself,How can someone so bitter and manipulative be related to someone as kind and genuine as Rayan?

Her voice echoes through the room. "Don't you know your place? How dare you relate yourself to my son?"

The commotion draws a crowd, their curious gazes fixed on us. Suhana's mischievous smile catches my eye.

Anaya steps in, her voice firm. "What's happening?" she asks, touching my shoulder.

Rayan's mother scornful gaze shifts to Anaya. "You must be her sister, Anaya. I know about you too - Faris's wife. You sisters are all the same, bridging the gap of your poor status with pretty faces."

Anaya's eyes flash. "Excuse me, who are you to judge us? And how dare you yell at my sister?"

Her expression turns uglier. "I'm Rayan's mother, and I won't let girls like you tarnish our family's reputation."

Anaya stands firm, her phone held up. "Instead of blaming my sister for your family's reputation, you should talk to your son. Look, he's still calling me to ask about Maryam."

Her face reddens. "That's because this girl trapped him! She's after my son's money!"

I try to intervene, "Aunty, listen-"

"Don't 'aunty' me! You'll address me as Mrs. Ibrahim!"she yells."Stay away from Rayan! It's my warning. He's the son of Waqas Ibrahim, owner of Capital Tech, the biggest IT company in India. You don't even qualify to be his maid, don't dream about being his wife!"she adds.

My eyes well up with tears as the public humiliation becomes too much to bear. I break down, sobbing uncontrollably.

Anaya's expression remains steadfast. "Mrs. Ibrahim, we don't care about your wealth or expensive tastes. We're human beings, deserving equal respect in society. If you have a problem, stop your son. He's the one pursuing my sister."

The crowd seem divided, some embarrassed by Mrs. Ibrahim's behavior, others intrigued by the drama unfolding.

Suhana's smile grows wider, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

I want to runaway from this,this is enough humilaition for me to die.I feel like I cant breathe.

"Mom" I hear Rayan's voice.I lift my eyes and find him standing in front of me.our eyes meet and I cant control tears in my eyes.Its like a whole ocean in my eyes.

"Maryam," he says, concern etched on his face.

His mother intervenes, "What are you doing here?"

I turn to Anaya. "I want to go home."

Without waiting, I rush away, tears blurring my vision. I run, desperate to escape the humiliation.

Anaya follows, calling out, "Maryam, wait!"

Rayan's voice echoes behind me. "Maryam, stop! Please!"

But I don't look back. I keep running.