Mistake

22. Mistake

Mahira's pov

I stood there, feeling overwhelmed by the bleakness of the situation. It was hard to find any silver lining, but I knew I couldn't give up. I had to take action, I couldn't let him control me like this. With a deep breath, I mustered my courage and began to approach the motionless figures. I couldn't tell if they were alive or not. "H-hello?" I called out, hoping for a response, but the silence only made me more anxious. These men were my only hope for escape, and the uncertainty made me tense up even more.

My breath caught in my throat as the silence persisted, my heart sinking with each passing moment. "Please," I whispered to myself, a desperate plea for some sign of life. I waited anxiously for what felt like an eternity, tears welling in my eyes as hope began to fade. Just as I was about to give up, a flicker of movement caught my eye. My heart skipped a beat as I watched one of the figures stir. 

Fear gripped me as I instinctively stepped back, unsure of what to expect. "J-ji aap hume sun sakte hai?"(C-can you hear me?) I stammered, my voice trembling with uncertainty as their ears were cut off. The figure paused, as if considering my words. "Hum kuch nahi karenge, hum vaada karte hai"(I promise, i mean no harm) I assured them, my voice shaky but sincere, as I cautiously approached.

"Hume aapki madat ki zarurat hai"(I need your help) I choked out the words, desperation lacing my voice. But the figure remained silent, unmoved by my plea. "Please, aap hi hume yaha se nikal sakte hai"(Please only you can help me get out of here) I pleaded, my voice trembling with urgency. "Kon ho tum?"(Who are you?) came the response, cutting through the silence like a knife. I swallowed hard, mustering the courage to answer. "Mahira," I whispered, hoping against hope that he would agree to help me. "What got you here?" he pressed, his tone sharp with suspicion. "I don't know, he mistook me as someone else," I replied, praying he would show me some mercy. 

"I need to go see my family, please help me," I begged, desperation creeping into my voice. But his next words sent a chill down my spine. "What makes you think I will be able to help you?" he asked, his voice taking on a menacing edge. "I-i there might be someone who would be able to help us three out of here, you might know someone who could help us," I stammered, my words faltering in the face of his skepticism. 

"Tum Khalid ko nahi janti ho beti"(You don't know him, mahira) he chuckled, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "Agar usne tumhe yaha rakha hai toh mai kya, bhagwaan bhi tumhari madat nahi kar sakta"(If he's the one to keep you locked in here, me nor you god can help you escape him) he continued, his laughter growing louder with each word.

"k-kya kehana chahate ho aap?"(W-what do you mean?), I stuttered, my voice trembling with fear and uncertainty. "Bachche, Khalid jaha jata hai waha maut bhi sath mai jaati hai. Voh jo chahata hai vohi hota hai. Agar tumhe lagta hai ki tum uss se bhaag jaogi toh tum galat soch rahi ho, bohut galat soch rahi ho Mahira. Voh tumhe maut ki bheekh maangwayega, aur usse farak bhi nhi padega" (Child, death follows wherever khalid goes. Where there is Khalid, there is blood. He does, what he wants. If you think you can run away from him, escape him, then you are thinking wrong, you are thinking very wrong. He will make you beg for your own death and he wouldn't even care about it) he spoke, his words hanging heavy in the air like a dark omen.

"h-hum jante hai"(i-i know),I managed to choke out, my voice trembling with both fear and determination. "Lekin please, meri madat kijiye", I pleaded, desperation seeping into every word. "Please please please", I begged, tears streaming down my cheeks as the weight of the situation threatened to overwhelm me. I knew khalid would dig out my grave, if i ever get caught but i still had to try. "Please sirf aap hi madat kar sakte ho meri"(Please only you can help me) I cried, desperation palpable in my voice. With trembling hands, he offered me a phone, his eyes unable to discern where I stood as khalid had left nothing of his eyes. Hesitantly, I reached out and accepted the blood-stained device.