Episode 2
Ibrahim was sitting in his study, signing off some files.
His phone started ringing—Khawar was calling.
"Hello, Ibrahim, did you watch the news?" Khawar asked.
Ibrahim frowned.
"Do I look that free to you? That I'd leave my office work to watch that nonsense?"
"Stop trying to dodge the topic," Khawar said sternly.
"What topic?" Ibrahim asked, clearly annoyed.
"The police found two bodies in the forest. They were mauled by some animal. The police think it was a tiger attack."
"So why are you telling me? Were they my relatives?" Ibrahim replied with a smirk.
"Ibrahim, I'm not a child or a fool who can't tell the difference between a tiger attack and a beast's assault—you know that better than anyone."
"Papa!" Natasha burst into the room.
"I'll talk to you later, Khawar. Natasha's here," Ibrahim said and ended the call.
Khawar stared at his phone and sighed deeply.
"Yes, my darling?" Ibrahim looked at Natasha affectionately.
"Papa, were you busy? Did I disturb you?"
"No, sweetheart. I was just signing a few documents."
"Papa, tomorrow is my first day at college, and I'm really scared." Natasha was still traumatized by the incident that had happened recently.
"My dear, there's nothing to be afraid of. I'm your father, aren't I? And if you stay scared like this, you'll never become brave."
"Hmm, you're right, Papa. I'll be your brave child," Natasha said with a smile.
---
The Next Day
Natasha came to the breakfast table all dressed and ready, where Ibrahim was already seated.
"There's my child! Eat quickly, the driver will drop you at college. And best of luck!"
Natasha was still nervous inside, but she didn't show it. She quickly finished her breakfast.
She got into the car, trying to calm her nerves, telling herself nothing bad would happen.
Unaware that on her very first day, she was about to get another shock.
Meanwhile, Ibrahim finished breakfast and was getting ready for work when a servant came in and announced, "Sir, Mr. Khawar is here to see you."
Ibrahim's face lit up with a strange smile. "Go and seat him. I'll be right there," he instructed the servant.
Ibrahim entered the lounge to find Khawar glued to his phone.
"Well, well… big personalities gracing my house today! What an honor!" Ibrahim joked, laughing.
"Cut the crap," Khawar replied angrily.
"What happened? Did your wife throw a shoe at you?" Ibrahim teased.
"You know very well why I'm upset," Khawar snapped.
"Why did you kill those two boys?" he asked.
Ibrahim's eyes flared with fury. "Anyone who dares look at my daughter that way will meet the same fate."
"What exactly happened?" Khawar asked.
Ibrahim explained the entire incident.
"You killed them over something so minor? And in such a brutal way?" Khawar said, frustrated.
That made Ibrahim lose it. He slammed his hand onto the glass table beside him, shattering it.
"You think that was minor?"
"Okay, calm down. I didn't mean it that way," Khawar replied, well aware of Ibrahim's temper. "But I don't want what happened 22 years ago to happen again."
Ibrahim gave a sinister smile. "For him, being alive was necessary."
"You've forgotten that night," Khawar said.
"You think I could ever forget that night?" Ibrahim replied, sorrowfully.
---
Meanwhile
When Natasha stepped into the college, all her confidence vanished.
It was the first day, so the campus was bustling. Boys and girls sat together, deep in their conversations. Senior students were busy ragging the freshmen, and Natasha feared them the most.
Nervously, she entered the college, trying to find her department. Suddenly, someone touched her shoulder from behind.
She turned around to find two girls and a boy—clearly seniors.
"Need help?" one of the girls asked.
"I'm trying to find my department," Natasha replied, scared.
"That's it? Nothing to worry about," the girl smiled. "Come, I'll show you the way. Otherwise, these mischievous students might rag you."
"Go to the last floor, and you'll find your department there," she said with a grin.
"Thank you so much!" Natasha shook her hand gratefully and left.
Behind her, the three burst out laughing, high-fiving each other. "She was so easy to fool," they said, unaware of what horror awaited them and Natasha.
When Natasha reached the top floor, she found it desolate and eerily quiet. Broken chairs lay around, and all classrooms were locked.
She immediately realized she had been ragged.
Angrily, she turned to leave—then noticed a hand behind one of the chairs.
She paused. How could someone be here? Maybe they were in trouble. Cautiously, she stepped closer.
It appeared to be a girl.
As soon as Natasha reached her, she screamed in horror—and fainted on the spot.
Her scream echoed down to the lower floors. Some students and a teacher rushed upstairs.
And then it was their turn to scream.
Because what Natasha had seen—was a headless girl's corpse.
---
Meanwhile, Ibrahim and Khawar were reminiscing about the past when Ibrahim received a call from the college. He listened, and rage overtook him.
"We need to go. Now!" he told Khawar, heading to the car.
"What happened?" Khawar asked, getting in.
Ibrahim didn't answer and drove like a madman straight to the college.
He went directly to the principal's office and grabbed him by the collar.
"I told you nothing should happen to my daughter!"
His black eyes were burning with fury.
"Sir, please, listen," the principal stammered. "Some seniors played a prank and sent Natasha to the top floor… but no one knew there'd be a headless corpse lying there!"
"The whole college is in shock. We're trying to figure out what happened and who did it."
Ibrahim and Khawar exchanged a glance.
"Where's my daughter?" Ibrahim asked, letting go of the principal.
"She's been taken to the hospital," the principal said, adjusting his collar.
As they were leaving the office, the same two girls and boy who had misled Natasha stood in front of them.
They pleaded, "Sir, please forgive us. We didn't know she was your daughter."
"What do you mean my daughter?" Ibrahim snapped. "If she were someone else's daughter, would that have made it okay?"
"N-no, that's not what we meant… we didn't know anything was up there," the boy stammered.
Ibrahim remained silent.
"You forgive us, right?" they asked hesitantly.
"Of course," Ibrahim said with a mysterious smile.
His eyes had a strange gleam—Khawar noticed it immediately, and it sent a chill down his spine.
They got into the car and drove toward the hospital.
The silence in the car was heavy.
"Ibrahim… don't do what you're thinking," Khawar said cautiously.
"Did I ask for your opinion?" Ibrahim snapped. "Keep your beak shut. I just need to get to Natasha."
---
At the hospital, they noticed the police were already there.
After checking in at reception, they found Natasha still unconscious.
Ibrahim stormed outside and asked the doctor, "Why hasn't she woken up yet?"
"There's no danger," the doctor replied. "She fainted from shock and fear. I've given her an injection—she'll wake up soon."
Ibrahim and Khawar sat down in the corridor. As the police walked by, Khawar asked, "Is the girl's body from the college also here?"
"Yes," replied the officer.
"Can I see it?"
"Why?" the officer eyed him suspiciously.
"He's just curious… he's never seen a dead body," Ibrahim said, fed up.
"Be quiet!" Khawar glared at him. "Actually, I'm a doctor. Maybe I can determine time or cause of death."
"Alright," the officer said and led them to the morgue.
"Come on, Ibrahim," Khawar said.
"Feels like you're trying to pin this on me," Ibrahim muttered.
Khawar shot him a look.
When the cloth was removed from the body, both men looked at each other in shock.
There wasn't a single drop of blood left in the corpse. It was pale white—and headless.
They walked out in silence.
"That means… they're back," Ibrahim said, looking at Khawar.
(To be continued...)!
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