đź“– Episode 16: Shadows Behind the Name
The city outside her window was lost in darkness, but Aaniya's mind was wide awake.
The name "Areeba" kept circling in her thoughts like a ghost refusing to leave.
She stared at the torn diary pages again, wishing they could speak.
But what haunted her more was the familiar sound of that name — not just from Fariha's diary… but from her own past.
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Flashback: 3 Years Ago
The scene in her memory was filled with warmth and laughter.
It was a rainy evening when Areeba had entered Aaniya's life like a monsoon breeze — unexpected, refreshing, and honest.
They met during a university workshop. Areeba was from another department, sharp-minded and quiet. But once she opened up, her words were full of life.
> "You're the only one who actually listens, Aaniya," she had said one day while sharing coffee under the campus tree.
Within weeks, their bond grew.
From long phone calls to weekend study sessions, Areeba became her silent strength — the one who understood even her unspoken pain.
> "You're like the sister I never had," Aaniya had whispered once, unaware of how this bond would later break in silence.
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The Twist in the Tale: Aaliyaan
One evening, Areeba and Aaniya had run into Aaliyaan outside a bookstore.
His charm was undeniable — always dressed well, with a smile that looked sincere.
Areeba had greeted him politely, nothing more. But Aaliyaan… he noticed her.
> "Who's your friend?" he had asked Aaniya casually, but his eyes stayed on Areeba longer than necessary.
At first, Areeba ignored him. She even warned Aaniya:
> "He's too smooth. Guys like him don't care who they hurt."
Aaniya had laughed it off — she was already married to Aaliyaan then. She didn't suspect anything.
But things changed.
Aaliyaan began texting Areeba — through common friends, then directly.
He praised her intelligence, her grace, the way she spoke — words that slowly chipped away her resistance.
> "You deserve better than what you think you do," he once messaged.
Areeba was disturbed. She confided in Aaniya, not revealing everything — just saying:
> "Your husband… he's not what he seems."
Aaniya, blindly in love, had defended Aaliyaan.
> "Please don't create misunderstandings between us."
And that was the day Areeba stepped away.
She cut contact. Disappeared. But the truth never disappeared from her heart.
---
Back to Present: Aaniya's Realization
Sitting on her bed, Aaniya's chest felt tight.
She whispered to herself, voice trembling:
> "How many lives did Aaliyaan affect while pretending to love me?"
The name Areeba, once a memory of friendship, was now layered with guilt, secrets, betrayal.
She picked up the diary again. The handwriting on the last full page seemed rushed:
> "Some truths are poison…
But hiding them burns deeper."
Beneath those words, Aaniya noticed faint pencil markings. She rubbed the page gently, revealing a barely visible note:
> "If you ever come looking for answers, I'll be where it all ended — Noor Apartments."
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Scene: Suleman's Office – Next Day
Aaniya arrived early. Her eyes were swollen from lack of sleep, but her voice was steady.
Suleman looked up, concerned.
> "You read it, didn't you?"
She nodded.
> "And I remembered everything. Areeba wasn't just Fariha's… she was my friend too. And Aaliyaan…"
Her voice broke.
> "He didn't just hurt me. He hurt her too."
Suleman came around his desk, sitting across from her.
> "You're piecing it together faster than I expected."
> "How much did you know?" Aaniya asked, her tone sharp.
> "Enough to feel ashamed of how long I stayed quiet. Fariha never told me the full story, but I saw the pain in her eyes when she mentioned Areeba."
> "And now she's gone. Areeba vanished too. Only memories remain."
Suleman hesitated.
> "Then find her. For the truth. For yourself."
---
Scene: Aaniya's Determination
That evening, Aaniya stood outside a building — faded paint, cracked walls, and a nameplate barely hanging on:
Noor Apartments, Block 4 – Gulshan
She climbed the stairs, heart pounding.
The flat number was missing in the diary. But something inside her told her she'd know when she reached the right door.
On the second floor, an old woman stood watering plants.
Aaniya approached gently.
> "Ma'am, I'm looking for someone who used to live here… a girl named Areeba. Maybe a few years ago?"
The woman looked up, thoughtful.
> "Areeba… yes, I remember. Kind girl. Quiet. But troubled. She left suddenly."
> "Do you know where she went?"
> "No one does. But… she left a note in the mailbox the day she left."
The woman disappeared inside for a moment, then returned with a folded, yellowed paper.
> "I kept it. I don't know why."
Aaniya took it with trembling hands.
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The Note – Areeba's Voice
> To whoever cares to find me someday…
Don't look for me with questions. I left behind every answer I had.
If my story still matters, know this — I never betrayed. I was just never believed.
– Areeba
Aaniya's tears fell silently.
This was no longer just a story of betrayal or lost love.
It was a story of unheard voices. Of broken friendships. Of truths buried too long.
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End Scene
As Aaniya walked away from the building, the wind whispered through the trees.
The past had finally started speaking — and it was only the beginning.
> "Areeba, wherever you are… I believe you now."
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