Chapter 9: The mystery of brown shoes
It was the day of Hadi and Fajr's wedding procession. Their Nikah had been performed on the day of their engagement. The ceremony was held at a farmhouse beautifully decorated with white and pink flowers. In the center was a stage adorned with white, pink, and orange floral arrangements.
Hadi was seated on the stage, dressed in a skin-colored and golden sherwani. His hair was neatly styled with gel, and he wore a floral garland around his neck. He looked exceptionally handsome and graceful.
Beside him sat Fajr, wearing a red and golden maxi dress with a matching embroidered dupatta draped elegantly over her head. Her face was adorned with subtle makeup, golden jewelry, and red bangles. A gentle smile remained on her face as she greeted everyone warmly.
A short distance from the stage, Zahra stood wearing a blue maxi embroidered with golden threadwork, paired with a golden dupatta. Her hands and arms were decorated with matching jewelry, while a golden hijab framed her face, falling below her ears. She wore bangles that completed her elegant appearance.
Nearby, Kashaf was dressed in a green maxi with pink embroidery on the sleeves and neckline, along with a pink dupatta carefully arranged over her shoulders. Pink earrings completed her look as she chatted with Zahra.
"Everything will be alright, In shaa Allah," Zahra said.
"In shaa Allah. Where is Inayah?" Kashaf asked.
“I don't know. She must be somewhere nearby.”
“Please find her. I'm afraid she might wander outside.”
“Alright, don't worry. You go to Wali Bhai.”
Wali Jahangir, Kashaf's husband, had come from London to attend Hadi's wedding.
Zahra searched the entire hall for Inayah but couldn't find her. Suddenly, she felt an uneasy sensation—a strange fear gripped her heart. At that very moment, she received a message from an unknown number containing Inayah's photograph and the location of a room.
Without wasting a second, Zahra ran toward that room.
Inside, she found Inayah standing alone in the middle. She rushed forward and hugged her tightly. Inayah looked like a little fairy in her beautiful peach-colored frock.
After calming herself, Zahra gently asked,
“What happened? Did someone say anything to you?”
Inayah shook her head and handed her a folded note.
Confused, Zahra unfolded it. It contained only one sentence:
“Stay alert... and keep your eyes open.”
She quietly folded the note and slipped it into her handbag. She knew she couldn't ignore this incident.
"Who gave you this letter?" she asked.
"The man wearing brown shoes," Inayah replied. “He told me to give it to you. He also gave me chocolate.”
"Do you know him, sweetheart?" Zahra asked lovingly as she seated Inayah in her lap and stroked her hair.
“No, Khala.”
“Tell me exactly what happened.”
“I was playing. Then he came, hugged me, gave me chocolate, and said he knew you. He asked me to give you this letter.”
After speaking continuously, Inayah became slightly breathless.
Zahra gently put her down and returned to the wedding, trying to appear normal.
That night she prayed to Allah, asking Him to guide her about the mysterious message. She told no one about it, but from that day onward she became much more cautious.