The walls of the mansion felt like they were closing in on Almara. Every time she closed her eyes, that mysterious message flashed across her vision. She knew she had to go; she had to find the source of the whispers that were pulling at her soul. But how? In this house, eyes were everywhere. Her grandmother's Sharp gaze was like a blade, and her father's authority was the very foundation of the walls.
She took a deep breath and headed downstairs. In the courtyard, Daim, Shehriyar, and Rehan were mid-argument about something trivial. Almara forced a playful smile_the someone she had practiced in the mirror the night before.
" Let's go back to the fields today!" She announced, reaching them with a bounce in her step. "We didn't get to see half of it yesterday."
Shehriyar looked up, skeptical. "We just got back, Almara. Are you bored already?"
"Not bored, Shehri_I just... I loved the air out there. Please?" She widened her eyes, using the innocent look she knew they couldn't resist. Daim and Rehan shared a look and grinned. Denying Almara was a battle they had long ago stopped trying to win.
"Fine," Daim said "but we have to clear it with Grandma first."
The group found the matriarch in the sunroom. She looked at them over the rim of her glasses. "The fields again?" There was a sliver of suspicion in her voice that made Almara's heart skip. "Ask Jibran, if he says yes, I won't stop you."
Almara and Zara practically sprinted toward Jibran's study. The door was ajar. Inside, Jibran Sikandar stood like a conqueror, dressed in a sharp black suit with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was speaking firmly to a servant about land business, his face a mask of iron and focus. But the moment he saw Almara and Zara, the ice melted. He dismissed the servant and turned to them.
"Baba....can we go to the fields?"Almara asked softly.
A genuine smile touched Jibran's lips. He stepped forward, draped a heavy, protective arm around Almara's shoulders, and pulled her close. "Of course you can, my child. "Why not?" He kissed her forehead. "But remember one thing: stay within our boundaries. Do not Cross the limits. Understand?"
Almara and Zara nodded vigorously. "Okay, Baba!"
A little while later, the five of them were back among the swaying crops. The weather had shifted; the sky was a bruised purple-grey, with clouds shielding them from the harsh sun. A cool wind whipped through their hair, carrying the scent of damp earth. They settled under the sprawling shade of an ancient Banyan tree. Daim and Shehriyar were laughing about old memories, and Rehan was checking his phone, but Almara's eyes were fixed on the white haveli in the distance. It stood like a silent titan, mocking her curiosity.
"Let's go to the white haveli," Almara said suddenly.
The laughter died instantly. Shehriyar looked at her as if she'd grown a second head. "Are you crazy? You heard Baba. That area is forbidden."
"Oh, come on, Shehri!" Daim cut in, a spark of mischief in his eyes. "It's not like we're moving in. A little adventure won't kill us. We've been in Malaysia for years_we need a story to tell when we go back."
"Exactly!" Almara added. I miss Zara and Kevin so much. When I call them, I want to have something exciting to say."
Her words hit the mark. Zara was already looking energized by the idea. Finally, the group stood up. Three men and two girls, laughing and bickering, began to trek through the emerald fields toward the forbidden structure. From a distance, they looked like the perfect aesthetic_ five young people full of life, framed by nature.
But in her heart, Almara was whispering a prayer: please God, let us return as happy as we right now.
Suddenly, Daim stopped dead. The smile vanished from his face. "Look...."
They turned around, and the blood drained from their faces. A short distance away, three massive hunting dogs stood perfectly still. There eyes were a terrifying, blood-red hue, and they were staring at the group with predatory intensity. A low, guttural growl vibrated through the air.
Terrified, Almara grabbed Daim's arm. Zara lunged for his other side. Shehriyar and Rehan instinctively moved behind Daim, using him as a shield.
Daim tried to force a weak laugh to mask his fear. "Yeah, okay... these are my just childhood friends. Right doggies? You remember me, don't you?"
"Stop, joking Daim! They're going to charge!" Shehriyar's voice was trembling.
The dogs took a synchronized step forward. "Get behind me!" Daim barked. "Forget the jokes... Run!"
With a collective scream, they bolted. The sprinted through the tall crops, their lungs burning as the sound of furious barking drew closer and closer. Zara's foot slipped on the uneven soil, and she started to go down. Daim caught her in a split second, hauling her back up.
"Easy! Don't you dare fall!" Daim shouted, keeping her close as they ran.
"Hey, Ranjha! Stop the romantic doilouge and just run!" Rehan panted, glancing back in terror.
"Almara! Is this enough adventure for you?" Shehriyar yelled through his teeth. "I am never listening to you again!" Even at university, everyone laugh because of your screams."
"Oh, please! As if you're the most innocent guy in the world!" Almara shot back, her voice high with a adrenaline.
In their desperate flight, they didn't realize they had reached the high, imposing walls of the white haveli. They moment they stepped into its shadow, the dogs stopped abruptly, as if hitting an invisible barrier they dared not Cross.
The silence that followed was deafening. The haveli loomed over them_ so close they could feel the ancient chill radiating from its marble. They stood there, mesmerized and breathless.
"So... how do we get in?" Rehan whispered, his voice trembling.
"Over the wall," Shehriyar said, eyeing a low ledge.
After a few minutes of scrambling, Shehriyar and Rehan hauled themselves up and dropped onto the other side. Daim boosted Zara, then Almara, before finally leaping over himself.
As their feets touched the overgrown grass of the courtyard, a freezing shiver raced through their bodies. The silence here was different_ it was heavy, expectant, and utterly terrifying. It felt as if the haveli itself was breathing, watching them, and had been waiting eighteen years for their arrival.
Almara looked up. There, standing on the balcony, was the boy in white. His black eyes were fixed on her, and this time, he wasn't disappearing.