She was in utter mess. Sitting on a chair with hands cuffed and tears pouring down on her cheeks, she was trying her best to look like an innocent- naive girl. In fact, she was far from that.

Despite her physical condition, her mind was processing this uncertainty, thinking about every possible situation of jumping out from this mess.

The only one she cared about was her sister. She didn't want her to suffer as she did.

Across the large table, sat Officer Asad Qureshi. His expressions showed no room for mercy.

"Miss Alina Imtiaz, I'm asking you last time, why did you kill Rasheed?"

"I- I didn't kill anyone! I'm being framed!" It was true. She was a liar, a thief and a con girl. But she never killed any soul. She had deceived many but never took someone's life. She was not that bad.

"We have your fingerprints as evidence. You showed that you work in a cafe but now you are claiming to run your boutique. You earlier said that your sister is blind when she isn't. Your house which seems small and ordinary from outside actually has expensive and modern interior designs. Not to mention how much jewelry, money and dresses we found there. Don't you think these things go right against you?!" Asad clenched his jaw, this girl was testing his patience.

'You didn't discover my secret underground parking, nor do you find any access to my fake business accounts and email IDs. Not to mention the cash in my hidden bank account and my credit cards are still out of your reach... Such a loser you are!' She thought sarcastically.

The girl was stuck in a serious problem but rather being afraid of it, she was mentally scoffing at Asad, planning to fly away as soon as possible. She wanted to find the person who was framing her for this murder. Internally, she was dreading the outcome. Because if the killer can steal her fingerprints then he was no joke.

"Are you associated with any gang? Were you behind Mrs. Farhan's murder?" Officer asked, this time more sternly.

Alina remained silent.

"I'm asking something!" He barked.

"I've every right to remain silent. I'm not going to answer any of your stupid questions. Contact my attorney for that!" She said.

"Very well. You are charged for committing a murder Miss Alina, see you in court!" He finally stood up.

"Did you find anything suspicious in her car?" Asad asked the other officer.

"No sir. There was nothing."

Alina smirked as she reminisced about the events of a few hours back...

As she took a turn her foot involuntarily moved towards the brakes and her car came to a halt. She stared at the sight of her house in shock. She could see cops and police patrols all over. Her mind went blank, unable to come up with any plan.

What the hell were they doing here!!

What should she do now?

Runaway?

No, she can never do that when she knew Maryam was in their custody.

'Think Alina! Think!' She rubbed her forehead furiously as if trying to wake her numb brain up.

'Okay... Let's try this.' She decided to contact Saira.

Dialing her number she put her phone on the dashboard after turning on speaker.

Meanwhile, Saira picked her call, she had managed to take off her grey lens with the help of a side mirror.

"Ugh! Alina, why are you calling me now? Missing me? But we just parted like half an hour ago?" Saira's voice echoed in the car.

"Shut up you dumb! We're stuck in a serious problem! I've warned you before but you paid no heed!" Alina scolded her while taking off her blonde wig. Her black hair cascaded down till her waist and she tied them in a messy ponytail.

"What happened now?"

"Police have invaded my house!"

"WHAT?" Saira yelled.

"Stop shouting and help me!" Alina wiped her nude lipstick and mascara with wet tissues.

"Where are you now?"

"I'm far but I can see my house from here. They've even blocked the whole street."

"Then what are you thinking? Get out of there!" Saira said in an oblivious tone.

"I can't Saira, Maryam is in there. And I never will leave her alone. I'm planning to face them."

"Seriously? You will do that? Means only for her you'll risk your life? I'm always right! Your family is your weakness. Thank God I don't have a family."

Alina rolled her eyes at Saira's words.

"Are you helping me or not?"

"Listen... We don't know the reason for their invasion at your house so I can't say anything before that. They must be having a warrant that's why they invade your house. But if they arrest you, don't tell them anything. They can use your word against you so be silent or try to dodge questions. Do not blow your cover, cling to it no matter what. I'll close all our email IDs and accounts. And do not worry, I'm arranging an attorney for defending your case. Okay?" Saira briefed her.

"Okay.."

"Alina if they'll arrest you then they'll lock you in jail, are you ready for that?" Saira asked.

"I have to be... I'm hanging up now."

"Be careful Alina... You know I'm always with you.." Saira was saying in an emotional tone but Alina cut in.

"Don't be awkward Saira. It doesn't suit you. Okay bye." She cut the call and put her phone in her purse. Saira never showed emotions before and now when she did Alina felt awkward.

Opening the dashboard she found a small pile of papers and files. Her brows raised in confusion.

'Must be Saira's documents..' She thought and took them out.

Stuffing her wig, cap, documents, glasses, bluetooth devices and jacket in an oversize bag, she grabbed her purse and made her way outside.

Looking for any abandoned place to dump her belongings her eyes landed on an alley. She smiled and paced towards it.

It was indeed abandoned, with spilling trash cans, lots of plastic bags and piles of large size cartons. The smell of something rotting hit her nostrils and she immediately covered her nose. She felt nauseous but somehow made her way inside and finally dumped her things in the corner.

Memorizing where she had kept her things she made a mental note to retrieve them as soon as possible. She turned back and reached at her car.

"Let's face this!" She took a deep breath and roared the engine to life. Accelerating her car with full speed she stopped right in front of her doom.

"Miss Alina Imtiaz, stop your car. You are being arrested for the murder of the cafe's guard, Rasheed. We have a warrant to arrest you right away."

Cops immediately surrounded her car. Some of their guns raised in her direction like she was some sort of professional criminal.

Murder? So that was it!

They motioned her to come out and she obliged. Raising her hands in surrender her eyes flickered to her innocent sister. She was crying, looking scared.

Something broke in her stoned heart seeing streams of tears on her sister's cheeks. She couldn't protect her. She so badly wanted to hide her little girl in her embrace but she was helpless at this point. The cops didn't let her come near.

"Maryam, don't cry. It will be fine. Don't worry." She said, standing in front of her while the officer handcuffed her.

"Alina, why are they arresting you?" Maryam asked between sobs.

"They are mistaken. But you don't worry I'll be home in no time." She tried to sound convincing.

"And if I lost you? Like our parents?"

Alina didn't say anything. She felt her throat dry and tongue-tied up. How was she going to convince her sister that everything would be fine when she could sense that it wasn't? But of course, she had to say something. She didn't want to heighten her fears by her silence.

"It won't happen Maryam. Everything will be fine. Please take care of yourself when I'm away like you always do. Like a good girl you are.."

She said what she could and then police arrested Alina and took her to the police station, saying her sister will stay in an orphanage during her case sessions.

And from then these officers were eating her mind, trying to get any information from her but for their bad luck, she didn't spill anything useful...

"Take her in." Upon Asad's voice, Alina came out of her thoughts. One of the cops called a lady officer and she practically dragged her to the prisons.

As Alina caught the sight of the poor condition of the jail, she cringed. It was old, nasty, filthy, dirty and all bad. Some of the prisoners' heads snapped in her direction, giving her a skeptical look. Did she really have to stay here?

The lady officer locked her up in the women's side of prison and Alina sighed that she was alone. She wanted to be alone.

She took in the condition of prison. Dirty floor, a small broken couch in the center, unplastered walls with water dripping from the ceiling in the corner and weird smells. She hated it, no doubt.

Settling herself in a clear space she let her mind wander. Who was behind this mystery? And was she related to him? Why he framed her for the murder? How did he get her fingerprints? She was confused. She has to find answers before it's too late.

Time passed and night came with all its darkness and mystery. There was no proper source of light in the jail, and a single bulb wasn't helping at all to even recognize one's face. A cop on duty was sitting on a comfortable chair, snoring lightly. While the other was trying his best to keep himself awake by pacing like a pendulum.

Alina didn't move an inch from her spot. She didn't even bother to glance at the food someone brought. She had no appetite, nor had the urge to sleep.

After a moment unusual rustling sounds echoed in the prison. Then a sound like someone fell with a thud. It was low but audible. Someone unlocked the prison and Alina finally raised her head. The pendulum policeman was nowhere to be seen.

And someone was unlocking the prison in which she was.

There was a man.

Alina can't see his face or dress clearly because of darkness. She stood up in a defensive stance. Her body protested due to the change of position after a long time.

Who was he? Did he come to kill her?

She searched for something to defend herself. But the man had already stepped inside.

"Alina?"

She heard his voice, confirming her.

"Who are you?"

"Sshh... We can't risk anyone hearing us." He said. His voice wasn't too deep like a man but rather boyish.

"I've come here to save you. Come on now. Let's get you out.."

Alina's face contorted in confusion.

Escape?

♦♦♦♦♦♦

Hi everyone!

So how was the chapter?

Eid Mubarak to all the Muslims☺☺☺♥♥♥

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_A.M_