In the streets of PAKISTAN

Chapter -1

"Love's decisions render insanity itself bewildered."

Sherlin's Pov
*************

The hallway of my house, once filled with the laughter and presence of Arhaan, had become a haunting reminder of his absence. A month had passed since he had vanished, leaving behind no traces, no hints to follow. Devastation had taken root in my heart, and I stood at a crossroads.

Each day blurred into the next, the uncertainty of his absence gnawing at my soul. I replayed our last moments together, searching for clues, but they remained elusive, slipping through my grasp like grains of sand.

I could hear the voices of well-meaning friends and family echoing in my mind, telling me not to make a fuss, as if the duration of our relationship mattered more than the depth of our connection. But I knew that some relationships were like shooting stars, brief yet infinitely impactful,while others linger like constellations in the night sky, a source of enduring light.

I couldn't explain to them that time was irrelevant when it came to matters of the heart. Some bonds went beyond the limitations of time and space, while others crumbled despite years together.

I stopped myself from explaining these complexities, knowing that not everyone could grasp the depth of our connection. My tears flowed freely as I buried my face in my hands, trying to cope with the heartache that threatened to consume me.

Steven, my brother, approached with a glass of honey water, a futile attempt to soothe the ache in my heart. I had lost count of the drinks I had drowned my sorrows in. It was a familiar darkness, one I had battled years ago after my rebellious days.

But this time, the clear Balkan 176 vodka coursed through my thoughts like a merciless river, slashing through the last fragile threads of tears that clung to my soul. Each bitter sip was a dagger, a reminder of the anguish that had settled within me, drowning me in despair.

"I missed him ... I missed his touch ... where are you, Arhaan?" I whispered into the empty room, my voice a desperate plea echoing through the silent space.

I knew I had a choice to make – to remain a captive of my own fear and sorrow or to embark on a journey that would take me across continents, to a land I knew little about, in search of the man who had messed up both; my world and heart.

I booked a flight ticket to a part of the world I had never imagined exploring – the eastern corner of the globe. I had to find him, to unravel the mystery of his disappearance, to understand what had gone wrong between us.

Doubt crept in. Had I misjudged him? Was I that bad at reading people?

"Stop," I scolded myself. Arhaan was not like that. There had to be a reason, an explanation for his sudden departure.

As the hours passed on my long flight, I found myself alternating between tears and overthinking every moment we had shared. Opening our chat history, I read our conversations over and over, questioning if it had all been real. Had I truly fallen in love and married someone in just five months, or had I been living in a delusion?

I reclined in my seat, closing my eyes, and my mind filled with thoughts of Arhaan. He had redefined love for me, leaving a mark so profound that it rendered all my previous experiences insignificant.

"Arhaan," I called out as he continued working while on FaceTime.

"Yes, Meri Jaan, I'm all ears," he said, looking up at me.

"Never mind, I just had a short lapse," I replied, pretending to forget what I wanted to say.

"Really? You and your playful tricks. I swear, I'm going to lose my mind with your childlike antics, Babe," he said with a sigh.

But those playful moments, the late-night laughter over the silliest things, were the essence of our connection. Arhaan had a way of making me feel cherished, like I didn't always have to be strong, and he was there to pamper me.

We had endless random conversations, calls where I'd ask for permission to tell a joke, and everything flowed smoothly. So, what had gone so terribly wrong that we had ended up here, with him missing, and me searching for answers that seemed elusive?

As the plane descended towards Karachi, Pakistan, my heart seemed to beat in rhythm with the whirring engines. The weight of my decision to search for Arhaan pressed upon me like an anchor pulling me into the unknown.

"Ladies and gentlemen," the pilot's voice came through the speakers, "**** Airlines welcomes you to Karachi. The local time is 11:00 PM. For your safety and the safety of those around you, please remain seated with your seat belt fastened and keep the aisle(s) clear until we are parked at the gate."

I heard the announcement, and an odd churning sensation filled my stomach. This was it; I was stepping onto foreign soil, a land that was both fascinating and intimidating. The bustling energy of Karachi airport swirled around me as I disembarked from the plane.

My first task was to find a place to stay. I knew nothing about this city, except for Arhaan's name and the state he hailed from. The thought of explaining my mission to the hotel staff sent shivers down my spine.

At Hotel Excelsior, the receptionist looked at me expectantly, her eyebrows raised inquisitively. "How long will you be staying with us, ma'am?" she asked politely.

I stood there, momentarily lost in thought, the weight of my unanswered questions heavy on my mind. How long would it take to find Arhaan, to unravel the mystery of his disappearance? I couldn't say for sure. My silence seemed to hang in the air, unspoken but filled with the emotional turmoil I was going through.

The receptionist cleared her throat, bringing me back to the present. "Ma'am?" she repeated.

I took a deep breath, trying to find my voice. "I... I'm not sure," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. "I'll let you know when I have more information."

She nodded, understanding in her eyes, though she must have wondered why I was so vague about my plans. As I was handed the key card to my room, I felt a wave of uncertainty wash over me. I was in a foreign land, chasing after a love that had seemingly vanished into thin air. The journey had only just begun, and the emotions that gripped me were as intense as the determination that had brought me here.