"To be missing is to become a question mark in the story of life, an unresolved mystery that lingers in the hearts of those who seek answers."

~ Unknown

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The next day arrived with a heaviness that stayed in the air, mirroring the weight on Ali's shoulders of finding Amira and knowing more about her past. The events of the previous night had left him disturbed, sleep-deprived, and consumed by the search for Amira. The morning routine continued mechanically, but Ali's absence during breakfast didn't go unnoticed. His family exchanged concerned glances, hesitant to breach the subject that had cast a shadow over their lives. They did not want to ask him what happened or why he was looking worried. They somewhere thought it was because of work. They did not expect Amira to be the reason.

As the family dispersed for their respective daily commitments, Ayesha, observant of all, approached Ali, just before he was about to head out again. She could sense the turmoil in his eyes and the unspoken words that hung in the air. With a gentle touch on his shoulder, she silently conveyed her support, prompting Ali to share the burden that weighed on him.

"What is keeping you disturbed today?" Ayesha's comforting and concerned voice helped him relax a bit from all the concern he had. The quiet ambiance of their surroundings offered an even more safe space for Ali to open up about the discoveries of the previous night. His words flowed, a mix of frustration, confusion, and an underlying determination to uncover the truth about Amira.

"Mom, I couldn't sleep all night. I went to Noah uncle's place, and it's like they're indifferent to her disappearance. Her mother dismissed it like it's a routine thing for Amira to vanish. And her brothers... they showed no concern whatsoever. They dismissed any talk about her. I even went to her room, and there are faded bloodstains on the wall. Something is not right, mom. I can't shake off this feeling that there's more to Amira's life than we know."

Ayesha listened attentively, her expression reflecting a mix of concern and empathy. She understood the gravity of the situation and the emotional toll it was taking on Ali.

"Mom, do you actually think she ran off from responsibilities and will come back, as she did a long time back?" He continued to share his confusion with her.

"I don't know. We did not know her enough but if they said it and are so relaxed, then it probably is the same. Maybe she will come back after a few days," Ayesha answered, being really thoughtful about all she had heard.

"But mom, why would she take 4 months to be overburdened by responsibilities?"

"Maybe because she was just starting her university?!" Ayesha pointed out.

"But she could have talked once. With bhai at least. Mom, I really think she was going because of divorce. In the middle, something may have happened."

"Ali, you're making yourself mad about her absence! I am getting worried about you."

"Mom, you see him in front of yourself and are worried about him. Imagine what all Amira may be going through. And we do not even know, if Amira hasn't even taken a step with all she was put through," Zain said, disturbing their conversation. Ayesha knew what she was saying to Ali wass to only calm him. Things can be more severe.

"We need to get to the bottom of this. Amira is a sister to me, and I can't let her vanish without a trace. I'll help you in any way I can. Let's gather more information, talk to people who might know something, and figure out where she could be. We can't let her be forgotten or dismissed like this and even worse, expect her to be back on her own," Zain tried to show his support to Ali in the best way he could.

"I tried all, bhai. There is no hint about her. I tried to talk to all of them, except Noah uncle. But I don't think he knows anything. He was even heartless towards her education."

"What do you mean careless about her education?" Ayesha asked him curiously.

"The only reason Amira did not study is because she has no money. And I was a witness to Noah uncle denying her even a loan in the name of studies fees. He certainly knows nothing about her," Ali stated after remembering that day.

"Do you think their carelessness is only for Amira or in general for any of their known ones?" Zain questioned no one in particular. He just mentioned his concern after being a witness to the whole talk.

"Let's try it out. If they are not worried, we have to find Amira. But if they are, then it means that she is the problem! Including papa and Samad bhai," Ali was enthusiastic about his idea and fielded a new plan.

"I am with you in whatever would give you peace, Ali!" Zain agreed with her. Ali nodded, grateful for Ayesha and Zain's support. The weight on his shoulders felt a little lighter with his mother and brother by his side. Determination flickered in his eyes as they exchanged a silent vow to unravel the mystery surrounding Amira's disappearance. Little did they know that this shared mission would not only test their bonds but also unveil the hidden layers of a story that was far from ordinary.

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The night descended, cloaking the surroundings in a shroud of darkness. Amira's family arrived at Ali's home, a regular gathering which was nothing new to any of them. However, Ali was absent. First, nothing unusual, except that he had returned home on time in recent days, exhausted by work and burdened with the weight of unanswered questions.

"Where is Ali?" Asif questioned while looking around.

"He hasn't gotten home yet. Probably kept up with work," Aabid replied.

"But he has been coming on time in recent days, I am a bit worried about him," Once Ayesha pointed this out, his absence sent small waves of worry through the familial gathering.

"He is probably just getting drunk again somewhere. You know him mom!" Samad, initially casual, assumed Ali might be drowning his thoughts in the solace of a drink. Yet, as the minutes stretched into an hour and Ali remained unreachable, a gnawing concern gripped Samad's heart. The once-familiar routine of Ali's post-nightfall activities now felt disrupted, leaving an unsettling void.

The family members exchanged anxious glances, their voices hushed as they wondered about Ali's whereabouts. Noah and Farah, Amira's parents, shared furtive glances, their concern mirroring that of Samad. They decided to check up on him.

"He hasn't been answering his phone. This is not like Ali," Samad voiced his unease, a hint of worry threading through his otherwise composed demeanor.

"He might be taking some time alone, you know how he is," Zain offered a tentative explanation, attempting to assuage the growing unease in the room.

"But he's never disappeared like this before. We need to find him," Abram asserted, the urgency in his tone reflecting the shared anxiety of the gathered families.

The living room, once a space filled with shared laughter and familial warmth, now echoed with the unease of unanswered questions. Samad, despite his initial assumption, couldn't shake off the growing worry about Ali's unexplained absence.

"I'll check the usual places he goes to. Maybe he just needed some space," Samad volunteered, his concern deepening as he headed towards the door, followed by others. Raiyyan and Haya came up to support them and find Ali.

As the boys ventured into the night, the worry in his heart mirrored the collective anxiety of those left behind. The search for Amira, once a singular pursuit, had evolved into a tangled web of mysteries, each thread leading to more unanswered questions.

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Diary Entry - [11.09.23]

Dear Diary,

Today unfolded with the vibrant hues of a new beginning. Amid the lecture halls and bustling campus life, I found myself forging a connection with a fellow student, Zeenat. Her infectious energy and shared enthusiasm for our studies made the day's challenges feel more manageable. In the flow of university life, I did not expect to meet a friend this soon. She asked me to become her friend but I am not aware why she would like to become my friend. I can't offer her anything in this friendship. Friends make plans, hang out. And I neither have time, nor money for this. I barely get time for studies and I am saving to move out from where I live. I am not even fun to be with. It's better if she isn't involved with me, rather than leaving me later, once I am befriended with her.

This always makes me remember my old friendships, which ended with pretty scars. Some claim me as an unfit friend, because I never had time to hang out after university. Other's left me once they witnessed, I work part time jobs. I don't remember how long my longest friendship lasted. That's why I keep my distance with Haya Bhabhi and Raiyyan Bhai as well. I don't want to have any bad blood with them. I like them and they are nice. But it was always with my old friends too. I always hoped to find a friend through my husband or someone in his family but that hope is crushed as well. I wonder if all this would have never happened, if my in-laws were not related to my family.

Back to my day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, an unexpected call made me terribly worried. Samad Bhai's voice on the other end of the line carried a weight that echoed through my being. Ali was missing. The revelation sent shockwaves through my world, intertwining our fates in ways I couldn't foresee. Bhai called me to ask if any encounter between him and me took place, which I obviously denied. He told me that Ali is unreachable and missing.

The worry etched in Samad Bhai's words mirrored the turmoil within me. Ali's pursuit of my past had thrust him into the labyrinth of mysteries, and now, he had become a mystery himself. The realization that he might have reached out to me, seeking answers or solace, left me grappling with a sense of helplessness. Bhai informed me that he was worried about something in recent days.. He wasn't even getting drunk and today he was missing suddenly. I hope he's safe and sound. I would rather prefer him hiding somewhere, rather than being hurt. But something tugs at my heart. What if he left because he was sick of me. What if I am the reason for his worry and his missing? All this eats me up everyday. I don't want to bear this. I can't bear it.

As I pen down these words, the ink on the pages seems to echo the tangled threads of fate that bind us all. Tomorrow holds the promise of clarity or deeper complexities. The pages of my diary stand as witnesses to the flow of life, where each line is a testament to the intricate dance between joy and worry.

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