Shree trembled uncontrollably in the biting cold, the icy wind cutting deep into her skin like a thousand knives. The voices around her were distant but clear, echoing ominously in her ears:

"Take her to the cell." Before she could process what was happening, a towering woman, easily six feet tall, grasped Shree's hair and dragged her across the floor. Shree's body scraped against the ground as the woman hurled her into a cold, dark cell.

Collapsing onto the hard floor, Shree curled herself into a ball, desperate for any semblance of warmth in the frigid space. The chill seemed to seep into her bones, and she shivered violently, her breath visible in the icy air.

"Please leave me please. " Her voice was dry and due to the coldness... She was shivering badly.

She hid her face, peeking through a small gap between her fingers, and saw a muscular man standing on the other side of the cell, his eyes fixed intently on her.

She wanted to plead with him to leave her alone, but fear silenced her. Fear for her dignity, fear for her life – it all held her back, trapping her in a desperate, helpless state.

The man's gaze lingered for what felt like an eternity before he finally turned and walked away. As soon as he disappeared from view, Shree's composure broke.

She slumped against the wall, her body trembling with sobs. Closing her eyes, she let the tears fall, streaming down her cheeks as she succumbed to the overwhelming fear and helplessness that gripped her.

The sound of the metal gate creaking open made Shree's heart skip a beat. She saw the same man standing before her, his eyes still piercing but his demeanor different this time. As he took a step forward, Shree instinctively wrapped her arms around herself, bracing for the worst. But instead of harm, he gently placed a blanket on her lap.

"It's too cold," he said softly.

"Take my blanket, but just for today, okay?" He waited for her response, but Shree was beyond words, her body shaking uncontrollably, consumed by either the chill or fear. Without another word, he turned and left, the cell door clanging shut behind him, leaving Shree wrapped in a fragile sense of confusion and gratitude.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she wrapped the blanket tightly around herself. For the first time since being thrown into this darkness, someone had shown her a glimmer of kindness.

The man's gentle words and gesture felt like a lifeline, a small beacon of hope in a place that seemed devoid of humanity. As she drifted off to sleep, Shree clung to the warmth of the blanket and the faint possibility that tomorrow, or perhaps someday, things might get better.

.

.

.

.

.

Shree's eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in Haider's home. Before she could even swing her legs over the side of the bed, Haider's voice came from outside the room.

"I brought some clothes for you. Wear them and throw away the old ones – they're too dirty."

Shree's gaze drifted to the table, where several bags from local brands were piled high. She headed to the bathroom to freshen up and slipped into the new outfit – a maroon suit with full sleeves, paired with a matching dupatta. The simplicity of the outfit suited her, and she felt a sense of comfort in the soft fabric.

After letting her hair down, she combed through the braids and let her locks cascade freely down her back, feeling a renewed sense of herself as she gazed at her reflection in the mirror.

Shree caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and for the first time in a while, she felt a spark of freedom.

Her hair cascaded down her back, and a faint, weak smile played on her lips – a hopeful sign of brighter days ahead. As she stepped out of the bedroom, she searched for Haider and found him engrossed in the newspaper.

"Haider ji?" she whispered, her voice barely audible. His gaze shifted from the paper to her, and his breath caught in his throat. "Beautiful," he murmured, his eyes wide with admiration. Shree's cheeks flushed a deep shade of pink as she smiled shyly.

"Thank you," she managed to say before hurrying into the kitchen, trying to compose herself. Haider followed, attempting to make excuses about looking for a spoon, fork, or water – anything to explain his presence. Shree raised an eyebrow, amused by his flustered state.

"What are you looking for?" she asked, filling a glass of water for him. "Water... it is," he replied sheepishly, taking the glass from her.

The moment was shattered by a sudden knock on the door. Haider instinctively went to his room to grab his gun, ready to defend himself. As he moved towards the door, Shree quickly stopped him, her hand reaching out to grab his arm.

"Please don't go," she pleaded, her eyes brimming with tears. Haider's expression softened as he saw the fear in her eyes.

"Don't worry about me," he said gently. "If something happens, run from the window, okay?" But Shree shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "No."

He went towards the door without another word, he was scared not for him but for her.

As Haider opened the door, Shree pressed close to him, peeking over his shoulder. What they saw sent a chill down their spines: a crowd of people surrounded the house.

Haider told shree's hand, and squeeze it little ensuring her that she is safe till he is with her

To be continued..............................

How is the chapter readers, tell me in comments........