Chapter 2 Now in CaptivityIn the palace, the party was cut short. The emperor sat in his throne,distraught and worried. Sanam was nowhere to be found in the palace. The guards had searched everywhere. The messenger came up to the emperor and said, "Your majesty, we have looked everywhere. Sanam is gone."
"Did you find any clues?"
"We found a rope on the balcony of her room, sir."
The emperor put his hand to his face. A tear went down his cheek. Allah, please protect Sanam...wherever she may be, the emperor begged in his mind.
On the road, Aahil continued to drive the car with Rehan sitting still and Sanam laying unconscious in the back of the car. Aahil stopped the car near a small cottage. He and Rehan got out of the car, with Rehan taking out supplies from the back and Aahil carrying Sanam inside. He took Sanam to a room and laid her on the couch that was inside. He sat her up, untying the cloth off her mouth and hands. Aahil left the room, locking it and headed to another room where he took off his black coat and put on a gray sweatshirt instead. He left the room and saw Rehan standing outside. "Make sure the place is secure," Aahil ordered."And set up something to eat in the kitchen.
Rehan nodded and headed towards the kitchen. Aahil went back to Sanam's room. He unlocked the door and went inside. Sanam laid still. But suddenly, she began to wake up. When she did, she became startled at the sight of Aahil. Aahil came closer to her and she began to stay back, frightened. Aahil then opened the closet of the room, and took out a blue salwar kameez that was on a hanger. "Here!" Aahil said as he threw the salwar to Sanam. "Go and change."
Sanam stood up, furious. "What do you think of yourself?! How dare you kidnap me?!" Sanam shouted. "Lower your voice." Aahil said, trying to stay cool.
"NO! You have no right to keep me here!"
"Do as your told...and nothing will happen to you. Change!"
With that, Aahil left the room in frustration. Sanam stood, angry and tensed at the same time. She felt hopeless. She changed into the salwar and took off the jewelry she had on. Sanam knocked on the door of her room as she was locked in. Aahil opened it and she slowly stepped out. She clunched onto the ends of her dupatta in fear. Before Aahil could say anything to her, his phone rang. "Stay put." Aahil ordered Sanam sternly. He turned around and answered the call. As he was busy talking, Sanam made sure he wasn't looking at her. Sanam slowly walked away from Aahil and then ran out of the cottage. She continued to run into the fields, until she felt her arm had been grabbed. She tried to budge her arm out of the grasp, but it was too tight. She turned around with tears in her eyes to see it was Aahil, who had a look of rage. He then grabbed her and made her walk back as she shouted, "Please leave me! Let me go!"
As they walked back, Aahil forcefully put her up against the front of the car. He had his hands on her arms so she couldn't move. "This is the first warning. Don't even bother trying to escape...its pointless," Aahil told her. "And most importantly...never mess with Aahil Raza Ibrahim."
Sanam laid still, closing her eyes in fear as Aahil began to move his face closer to hers. But then he looked her face and began to move back a little. Even though her eyes were closed, her face reflected a gleaming innocence which shined in her milky colored skin. Aahil removed his hands as she opened her eyes and got up. He then grabbed Sanam by her arm, leading her inside the cottage while she had no choice but to comply.
In the kitchen, Sanam was forced to sit at the table with Rehan and Aahil. Aahil got up from his seat. "Rehan, see to it that she eats. After which, make sure she goes to bed." Aahil ordered.
"Yes, Aahil bhai." Rehan agreed as Aahil then moved towards his room.
Rehan then handed a plate of pani puri to Sanam. Sanam didn't even look at it. "Please eat it." Rehan said. Sanam turned towards Rehan.
"I'm not some pet...that eats when only told to!" Sanam yelled. "I don't want!"
"Think what you want about us...but even if Aahil hears this, his anger will get worse."
Sanam's face changed from rage to fear in an instant. "So for your sake...just eat." Rehan said. Sanam took the pani puri and began to eat. She was very hungry anyway as she had not eaten since morning. As she gorged on the food, tears began to roll down her face.
130