Ayesha pushed open the door of the cake shop and stepped inside. The moment she entered, all eyes turned toward her. Some people immediately stood up and hurried out, while others exchanged uneasy glances, their faces twisted in disdain. Ayesha held her head high, walking forward with unwavering resolve.
Just then, a short, pale man rushed toward her, blocking her path.
"Miss Ayesha, you're fired," he announced, his voice sharp.
"But Mr. Andrews... please, let me explain," she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation.
"Ayesha, there's nothing to explain. You're fired, and you need to leave right now," Mr. Andrews replied, his tone cold and final. He grabbed her arm and dragged her toward the door.
"But Mr. Andrews!" Ayesha cried out, her voice breaking.
He didn't even spare her a glance, pushing her out the door with a forceful shove and slamming it shut behind her.
Ayesha stood outside for a few moments, motionless, staring through the transparent door at the familiar surroundings of the cake shop.
No matter how meticulously one plans, some choices, desires, and circumstances inevitably lead to failure. Certain experiences cannot be undone, and the paths ahead are blocked, each wrong turn adding weight to her soul. Ayesha's thoughts swirled in quiet despair. "Is this the path that will lead me away from the peaceful life I once knew?" She looked down the narrow alley ahead of her, unsure of where it would take her, but knowing that her life would never be the same again.
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The computer screen flickered with different scenes from inside Eve Cake Shop. As Ayesha had described, Rahul Shiva visited daily to buy cakes. Finally, after the proposal scene, where smiles filled the faces of the characters, Arun paused the video.
"You can't say anything negative about that girl. If I were in her place, I'd have accepted his proposal too," Lady Officer Angelene said, reclining in her chair, her smile radiant. They were speaking in English.
"Angelene, don't let that innocent face fool you. Behind it, there's probably a trap waiting to spring," Aman remarked.
"Oh, come on, dude. I really don't think she's involved in this. How can we be sure?" Arun asked, his tone doubtful.
"Arun, we were both present during the encounter with Rahul Shiva, weren't we? And Angelene... didn't you notice something? When it was clear he was going to be caught, the first thing he aimed his gun at was Ayesha. That means whatever he's hiding, he's certain it will be exposed through her," Aman explained, his gaze intense.
"That's a valid point. But what if the girl is genuinely innocent?" Angelene questioned.
"It doesn't matter. Whether she's involved or not, finding her is their priority. And finding them is ours. So, she will remain in our crosshairs," Aman said decisively.
He zoomed in on Ayesha's smiling face on the screen. As he stared at it, a glimmer of hope flickered across his expression.
---------------
The sound of the alarm clock echoed through the room, pulling Ayesha from her slumber. Her eyes were heavy with exhaustion, but she reached out, silencing the alarm with a swift movement.
After brushing her teeth, she made herself a cup of coffee, savoring the warmth as it seeped into her. She cleaned the house, took a shower, and changed into a black full-sleeve t-shirt and blue track pants, feeling comfortable and ready to face the day.
She sat down on the sofa with a bowl of noodles she had prepared earlier. Taking a deep breath, she spoke to herself softly, almost as if to reassure herself.
"Nothing's wrong, Ayesha. You're happy, and you'll stay happy. Nothing's going to happen to you."
With a spoonful of noodles in hand, she reached for the remote control and switched on the TV. News channels were still broadcasting reports about her, and she quickly changed the channel, seeking distraction. "The Big Bang Theory" was playing, her favorite comedy show. She tossed the remote aside, settling back into the sofa with the bowl of noodles in her hands. She propped her feet up, letting go of the stress, completely immersed in the light-hearted program. Time passed unnoticed.
As the bowl of noodles eventually gave way to a packet of potato chips, the coffee table in front of her began to fill with empty food containers and half-drunk drinks, forgotten in the wake of her immersion in the show. Ayesha, oblivious to her surroundings, smiled as she watched the screen, the worries of the world slipping away.
Then, a loud crash from outside shattered the peace. Ayesha snapped out of her reverie and turned towards the window. From her vantage point, she couldn't quite make out what was happening, but she knew something was off. She placed the chips down on the table, grabbed her phone, and stood up. Walking briskly to the door, she opened it, stepping outside to investigate.
What she saw made her gasp in disbelief.
A white car had collided with her wall, the impact leaving a large dent and causing part of the wall to crumble. Her mouth dropped open.
"What have you done?" she demanded, her hand instinctively reaching for her head, her eyes fixed on the driver's seat.
The door of the car opened, and out stepped Aman, his eyes falling on the damaged wall with a guilty expression. He winced and shook his head, looking every bit the embarrassed man.
"Oops, sorry," he muttered sheepishly.
"You?" Ayesha's voice trembled in disbelief. Only then did Aman notice her standing there, his expression flickering between surprise and recognition.
"Well, well… it's you?" He chuckled, his face lighting up with an unexpected grin. Ayesha marched up to him, fury rising as she pointed an accusatory finger at his chest.
"Didn't I tell you not to follow me?" she snapped, her voice tight with anger. "Are you a stalker or something? You not only followed me, but you also crashed into my wall! What am I supposed to tell the owner of this wall? Stay right there." She paused briefly before pulling out her phone to dial a number. "I'll call the police."
Before she could press the dial button, Aman quickly snatched the phone from her hand.
"How dare you!" Ayesha's voice shook with fury, her eyes flashing.
"Calm down, Ayesha," Aman said, raising his hands in a gesture of peace.
Ayesha eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know my name?"
"Come on... in America, everyone knows you and your name," Aman replied with a teasing smile, his voice light but sincere.
Ayesha felt a pang of frustration as her thoughts drifted back to everything that had happened. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself.
"Look, Ayesha," Aman said, his tone softer now, "I'm not a stalker."
"Then what exactly are you doing here?" she demanded, her arms crossed tightly across her chest.
"Unfortunately, I'm your neighbor from now on," he explained casually, as if the revelation meant nothing.
"What?" Ayesha stared at him, her mind struggling to process the words. Aman shrugged nonchalantly, the grin never leaving his face.
"That means you're staying here," he said, gesturing to his house with a small, playful smile.
Ayesha shot him a look of disbelief, her anger still simmering but tempered by the confusion creeping in. He raised his eyebrows in amusement and gave a casual shrug.
To be continued...