In the hushed confines of the dimly lit radio studio, a palpable tension wafted through the airwaves.
"This is nothing but Sumbuka" declared the radio guest, their words weaving a thread of uncertainty.
"The djinn Sumbuka?" questioned the presenter, a hint of disbelief tainting his tone.
"Yes, her…" replied the guest, a pause pregnant with unspoken tales.
"That same one that children sing about?" pressed the presenter, skepticism morphing into curiosity.
"Yes, her. She doesn't only kill, you know… but she kidnaps too" revealed the guest, his voice hinting at a story.
...
In a room veiled in shadows, Detective Malik's eyes, wearied by countless investigations, methodically swept across the surroundings. The feeble glow of a table lamp cast fleeting revelations, exposing fragments of a life tethered to the pursuit of elusive truths. A MISSING PERSONS POSTER, its edges curling with time, silently testified to the burden that etched deeper with each passing day.
The tranquility was abruptly shattered by the insistent ring of a phone. With a groggy acceptance, the detective grasped the device, its glow illuminating his worn features.
"Hello" he mumbled, a familiar weariness in his voice, grappling with the intrusion into his solemn realm.
"Where are you then?" he questioned, a sudden alertness cutting through the fatigue.
"I am on my way" he assured
The call ended, and the phone found its place on a side drawer, the room returning to its quietude. Detective Malik rose, moving with deliberate steps toward the bathroom as he prepared for the challenges that awaited him.
...
As the clock ticked toward the program's conclusion, the radio presenter's voice resonated through the fading moments.
"Well, we have come to the end of this program" he announced, a subtle gravity underlying his words. "Please, let us keep an eye out for this girl. If there is any information about this girl, ZARA, please contact any of the authorities you could reach. Thank you and stay safe."
With those final words, the radio presenter bid farewell, leaving a lingering sense of responsibility in the hearts of the listeners, as the program dissolved into the hushed hum of static.
...
In the hushed expanse of the hospital corridor, Detective Malik's determined strides led him to a familiar face—his junior officer. A subtle nod from the officer directed Malik towards a room. The attending doctor who noticed the detective's arrival shared a knowing look with him.
"Uh huh…" the doctor inquired, seeking clarification.
"I am the one in charge of this case" the detective affirmed, presenting his ID.
The doctor's gaze shifted to the junior officer, a silent query etched in the exchange. "Didn't you tell him?"
"Tell me what?"
"It's not Zara" the doctor revealed.
Within the confines of the room, a young lady stirred on the hospital bed, her eyes reflecting a myriad of emotions.
"She was found outside by the roadside" the doctor explained.
Yet, it was her palpable reaction to the name 'Zara' that stirred something within Detective Malik.
"Then who is this girl?" the detective questioned.