Mehr nodded in agreement. They were both coming down the stairs when Areeba appeared from the front, carrying tea. Hakim paused.
"I'm not drinking this," he muttered, beginning to get upset.
Nawaf nudged him forward. "Come with me. I'll make you some tea you won't forget. Call it a friendship test."
He took Hakim with him and left the house.
But after they left, Mehr felt even more anxious. Only one thought echoed in her mind—the enemy. Even though she was home, she felt she was wasting time.
It was noon when someone knocked at the door. Mehr flinched. Yusuf stood there, smiling.
"I made lunch," he offered.
But Mehr declined. "I'm not hungry yet."
Once he left, Mehr's eyes welled with tears. She placed a hand on her chest.
What do I do now? she thought. I used to call them my family.
That night, she couldn't sleep at all.
Meanwhile, Hakim and Nawaf had informed the entire company:
"Sultan Sahib's daughter—the new owner—will be visiting the company tomorrow."
Mehr woke up at 8 a.m. She chose black clothes, tied her hair neatly, and left for the office.
Yusuf offered her breakfast, but she refused. "I'll eat there."
At 9 a.m., Hakim and Nawaf were already at the company. Everyone was surprised to see Mehr. Nobody remembered what Mehr Sultan looked like, and now she stood before them as a strong, composed woman.
She wore a black pinafore dress over a crisp white shirt, black sunglasses, and her neatly combed hair tied back. She didn't speak to anyone and went straight to her father's office.
As she entered, she removed her sunglasses. Her eyes were swollen.
Hakim and Nawaf were inside.
"Wow Sultana," Hakim smirked. "Turns out you're smarter than I thought."
"Keep your mouth shut, Hakim," she replied coldly.
Nawaf chuckled at her response.
Hakim slumped onto the table and muttered, "What do we do now?"
"First, you eat breakfast," Hakim continued. "I never understood your father, but every time he skipped breakfast, he'd get restless. He once told me his daughter had the same habit. And today, I saw it."
He pointed to the files in front of her. "Have breakfast. Then get to these."
Mehr flushed slightly. Nawaf quickly stepped in. "Don't worry, I'll help you."
Her heart eased a little at his words.
The first day was tough. Meeting after meeting, she worked non-stop until nightfall.
Later, she entered the office room and collapsed on the sofa.
There was a knock at the door. She sat up.
"Come in," she said.
It was Nawaf and Hakim. She slumped back onto the sofa, her head resting against the back, eyes on them.
Hakim laughed at her state. "You look terrible, Sultana."
In that moment, Mehr thought he was the most horrible man in the world.
"Did you eat anything?" Nawaf asked gently.
She shook her head. "No time. Too much work."
"I hate her attitude," Hakim said under his breath.
Mehr's eyes flashed with hatred. She stood and looked directly at him.
"You're not powerful, Hakim."
Then she turned to Nawaf. "Treat his arrogance. And take that money from me."
She picked up her purse and left.
She hadn't eaten, so she grabbed something on the way. It was past midnight when she returned home.
Mehr hoped everyone had gone to sleep. But as she entered, Yusuf stood waiting.
"You haven't slept yet?" she asked.
He shook his head. "If I slept, who would feed my daughter?"
Mehr smiled. "Go rest. I'll eat and join you later."
She continued up the stairs. Halfway up, she paused and whispered to herself,
I wish you weren't one of them. I wish your worry had been real.
She went to her room, completely exhausted. As she drifted into sleep, she began to dream. But suddenly, she felt something.
A hand.
Her eyes flew open. Two men stood at her head and feet.
She opened her mouth to scream, but one man clamped it shut. The other looped a thin rope around her neck and yanked her down by her hair.
The more she struggled, the tighter the rope became.
She couldn't breathe.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. This is it. This is my last day.
Images of her parents filled her mind.
Suddenly, the man let go.
She gasped for breath, but no sound came.
One of the men grabbed her by the throat and slapped her so hard that blood burst from her lip.
She collapsed to the ground.
One man sat casually on her bed while the other sat at her feet.
"Sultanam," he laughed cruelly. "You're weak. So weak."
Then, he stood up and kicked her hard in the stomach.
"You're all alone."
He pulled out a knife.
Mehr didn't move. She was barely conscious.
Just then, the door burst open—gunshots echoed through the room.
Bullets flew, forcing the attackers to scramble.
Mehr clutched her ears, pressing herself against the wall. Her eyes found Hakim—he was the one firing. Behind him stood Nawaf.
The noise awakened the rest of the household.
Yusuf sprinted toward Mehr's room.
The scene was burned into Mehr's memory. The men she thought would kill her now lay lifeless on the floor.
Hakim and Nawaf rushed to her side. Nawaf gently took her arm.
"Mehr. Mehr, you're safe now."
But she couldn't speak.
Yusuf burst into the room.
"My daughter! Are you okay?"
Mehr looked up at him, eyes full of tears. She threw her arms around him.
Hakim and Nawaf called a doctor.
Yusuf carried Mehr to another room.
The doctor arrived shortly after. Hakim and Nawaf entered to check on her. Yusuf was still by her side.
"Are you okay now?" Nawaf asked, his voice soft.
Mehr whispered, "Yes."
Hakim's eyes darkened in anger. "How can you sleep so deeply that you didn't know someone came into your room?"
Mehr touched her bruised neck. "There were people in the house. I don't know how this happened."
She couldn't say more.
"It's okay now," Nawaf said soothingly. "We're here. Don't worry." He led Hakim out.
Outside the room, Nawaf asked, "Whose doing is this?"
"How would I know?" Hakim replied, agitated. They sat in the lounge, waiting.
Meanwhile, Yusuf brought tea.
Hakim snapped, "Anyone can just walk in here! The guard was asleep. This is how protected your people are?"
Yusuf hung his head in shame.
Nawaf interjected gently, "Don't be upset with him. Can't you see Hakim is already worried enough?"
Hakim sat with his head in his hands.
Then Nawaf offered, "Should we call our boys?"
Hakim took a deep breath. "Will they come?"
"They will. Sultan Sahib helped them once. They won't forget that."
Hakim got up and made a call.
"Can you help me?" he asked.
"Yes? Okay, I'm sending the address."
He hung up.
He gave Mehr's address.
Nawaf came out as well. "What happened?"
Hakim took tea from Maan's hand and began drinking it silently.