Ayat's last day at university had finally arrived. She was so happy — after all, her wedding was just around the corner, happening this very month.
Everyone congratulated her warmly. Sitting with her best friends, Ayat felt a wave of joy.
> "Ayat, don't forget us after you get married," Nimra teased, munching on chips.
"Yes, please, don't get so busy with Zohaib bhai that you forget your old friends," Sehar added with a playful smile.
"No, you two are my life," Ayat hugged them both, smiling softly.
"How could I ever forget you?"
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"Sir, we've tracked down Hashim's daughter. Here's her photo," Faraz placed the picture on the table.
> "Her name is Ayat. Today is her last day at university. And in a week… she's getting married," Faraz reported, standing with his hands respectfully folded.
Ashar, who had been reading a file, lifted his gaze. Slowly, he set the file down and leaned back in his chair, his expression turning cold.
> "Kidnap that girl," Ashar ordered, a cruel smirk twisting across his lips.
"Yes, sir," Faraz replied.
"You may go now." Ashar dismissed him, and Faraz quietly left.
Ashar's eyes darkened as he looked at Ayat's picture.
> "No, Hashim… I won't let a single moment of joy enter your life. For your sins, your daughter will pay — drop by drop, with her own blood. In Hashim Villa, there will never be songs of happiness again… only mourning," he whispered venomously.
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When Ayat finally regained consciousness, she struggled to sit up, fear clouding her thoughts.
> "Where… where am I?" she whispered shakily.
Trying to remember, she suddenly recalled:
She had been walking home from university when someone pressed a cloth over her face — then everything went black.
Looking around, she realized she was locked in a dark basement. There was only a small window where faint moonlight streamed in.
She stumbled toward the door, leaning on the wall for support, and began banging on it with all her strength.
> "Let me out! Why have you locked me in here?!"
But there was no answer. Exhausted, Ayat sank to the cold floor.
> "Baba… please, save your Ayat," she sobbed helplessly.
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Meanwhile, Hashim Baig had been waiting in his car outside the university for over an hour.
> "Sir, Miss Ayat left over an hour ago," the driver informed him worriedly.
Panic spread across Hashim's face. He quickly called home.
> "Hello, Arshi? Has Ayat reached home yet?" he asked his wife.
> "No, Hashim… she still hasn't come," Arshi replied, her voice trembling with worry.
> "What do we do now…? Maybe she went to visit a friend?" Hashim tried to reason.
> "Let me call around and check," Arshi said, her heart pounding.
She quickly dialed Ayat's number. After several attempts, she called Hashim back.
> "Hashim… she left the university, but she's not answering her phone. Her number is now switched off. I'm so scared… what if something happened to her?" Arshi's voice shook with fear.
> "Don't worry, I'm coming home," Hashim reassured her before ending the call.
He immediately dialed his friend, Inspector Yawar Abbas.
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The basement door opened with a harsh creak. Ayat, who had been sitting with her head buried in her knees, quickly looked up.
In the darkness, she saw a figure stepping closer, his eyes burning like embers.
Ashar.
His poisonous smile froze her with fear. Ayat backed away until her back hit the wall.
Ashar planted both hands on the wall beside her, blocking any escape.
She could feel his hot breath on her face. Trembling, Ayat forced herself to speak.
> "Why have you kidnapped me? What have I done? What is my sin?" she whispered.
Ashar grabbed her face roughly.
> "All of this… is your fault," he hissed.
"You are the daughter of that filthy man. That alone is your sin."
Hearing him insult her father, Ayat's fear briefly turned into anger.
> "Watch your tongue! My father isn't like you! Why have you done this? My wedding is in a week. You don't know my baba — if he finds out, he won't spare you!"
Ashar stepped back, laughing darkly.
> "That's exactly what I want… for your father to know what it feels like when his own daughter's honor is at stake," he snarled.
Ayat's heart filled with terror.
> "Please… let me go. My baba will die from shame. I'm innocent. My wedding… please…" she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
But Ashar only turned silently, slammed the door shut, and left.
Ayat collapsed to the floor, weeping.
> "Please… open the door. I'm innocent… my baba must be waiting for me… please, for Allah's sake…"
She kept banging on the door, but Ashar's heart was deaf to her cries — the same Ashar who once flinched at the smallest pain was now punishing a delicate girl for her father's sins.
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Hashim Baig was a well-known businessman with three children: his eldest daughter Ayat; younger daughter Aram, still in college; and youngest son Asad, a student in ninth grade.
Police searched everywhere for Ayat, but four hours had already passed. The news had reached Ayat's in-laws, who had come to Hashim Villa.
> "Hashim sahib, if your daughter didn't want this marriage, you could've told us earlier," Rubina, Ayat's soon-to-be mother-in-law, snapped coldly.
Hashim clenched his fists but controlled himself.
> "No, Rubina… our Ayat was very happy about this wedding," Arshi quickly interjected.
> "I think someone has kidnapped our Ayat," Amma Bi said worriedly.
> "Kidnapped?" Zohaib, Ayat's fiancé, repeated, standing up in shock.
"Did the kidnappers call you?" asked Waheed Arshad, ignoring his son.
> "No… no call yet," Amma Bi replied.
> "Then how can you be so sure she was kidnapped? Maybe she ran away with someone," Rubina spat out venomously.
> "What nonsense are you saying?!" Hashim finally roared, his patience breaking.
> "Uncle, please don't be angry… Mama didn't mean it like that," Zohaib tried to calm things.
Ignoring Zohaib, Hashim spoke firmly.
> "Waheed Arshad, it would be better if you all leave now. I trust my daughter completely. She would never do anything to disgrace me."
> "Come on, let's go, enough of this insult," Waheed Arshad snapped, glaring.
They all left, faces tight with anger. Zohaib lingered, wanting to stay, but had to follow his parents.
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Ayat looked around her prison cell. The window wouldn't open; it was sealed tight. There was no other way out.
Suddenly, the door opened and a servant silently entered, placing a tray of food on the floor before leaving.
Ayat's heart burned with helpless rage.
> "I don't want your food! Tell your master I want to go home!" she shouted.
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After seeing Ayat, Ashar returned to his room. A large photo of Hashim hung on the wall, with an arrow stabbed through it.
Ashar stared at it.
> "You took everything from me. Now I will take everything from you. Your every happiness will turn into grief. Your daughter… so innocent. But I was innocent too. And no one cared. What was my sin? I had none… yet I paid the price for your crimes. You will cry tears of blood, Hashim Baig," Ashar hissed, his voice coiling like a snake.
Suddenly, Ashar's phone rang. He answered, and his tone softened completely.
> "Hello… yes, dear sister, I'm fine. And how is our little girl?"
The ruthless Ashar disappeared, replaced by a gentle brother.
A knock at the door interrupted him.
> "Alright, I'll talk to you later," he said to his sister and hung up.
> "Come in," Ashar called.
> "Sir… the girl refused to eat," the servant stammered nervously.
> "Fine. Leave it to me," Ashar said coldly.
After the servant left, Ashar's eyes hardened.
> "Why are you testing my patience…" he muttered darkly, then headed to the basement.
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Ayat was crying, praying to Allah to free her.
Suddenly, the door burst open. Ashar entered, his face twisted in fury.
Ayat froze in fear.
Ashar grabbed her arm roughly, pulling her close.
> "Do you really think refusing food will make me feel sorry for you? That I'll let you go? Never. Eat the food — understand?" he barked.
With a shove, he released her. Ayat stumbled back onto the bed.
> "Sakeena!" Ashar called out sharply.
A maid hurried in, frightened.
> "Y-yes, sir?"
> "Make sure she eats. If she refuses, tell me — I'll have food forced into her through tubes if I must," Ashar ordered coldly, glancing once at Ayat before leaving.