Inside the moving limousine —
The glass reflected passing lights, flickering across her still expression like distant thoughts she did not belong to.
Mahi watched her for a long moment, then looked away—
because there was too much to understand at once.
The house loomed ahead, familiar yet foreign.
Its marble floors glinted under the faint evening light, carved pillars catching shadows in angles that seemed sharper than memory allowed.
It was a home, and yet it felt like a cage for the one who had grown beyond it.
The gates of the Sunayna estate opened slowly, and the limousine glided inside as if the world outside had been left behind at the threshold.
The air carried the faint scent of incense Mahi had placed hours before, a soft attempt at peace.
Maya stepped out.
Her black boots touched the marble in measured precision.
The sunlight caught her hair , sliding over her shoulders and back, framing her pale, immovable face.
The dark folds of her uniform clung to her without a hint of decoration.
She walked in.
And the moment she crossed the threshold, she saw the brothers .
Seated in the grand living hall like a court that had been holding its breath for hours.
Nahi, arms folded, eyes sharp with lingering disbelief.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Then—
Fahad exhaled sharply, "…So it's true."
Fahim adjusted his glasses, looking at her carefully,
"The footage doesn't exaggerate."
Fahan leaned forward slightly, tone half analytical,
"How many of them did you actually disable?"
" Thirty. "
A pause.
Faha immediately raised a hand before anyone else could answer,
"It doesn't feel real."
Fahim glanced at him,
"It was real. That's the problem."
The room shifted slightly at that sentence.
Fahis stepped forward just a little,
"You're okay?"
"Yes."
Faha immediately leaned back again, satisfied like a man defending a lifelong theory.
"I would like to remind everyone. "
Nahi groaned, "Not again."
"You ignored me and now the entire country agrees with me."
"That is not how validation works," Fahim replied dryly.
"It is today," Faha said confidently.
"You are unbelievable."
"I know. "
Then a calm step echoed from the corridor.
Rahi entered.
Fahad's eyes narrowed immediately,
"You again."
Rahi glanced at him, mildly amused,
"I've been here all morning . Your memory is selective under stress."
Fahim looked up from his seat,
"You're surprisingly comfortable for someone who's been watching a hostage crisis live."
Rahi tilted his head slightly,
"I was also watching you panic in real time. We all have hobbies."
Nahi muttered under her breath,
"I don't like him."
"Noted. "
Ohi muttered,
"You said she'd be fine."
"I was correct."
Fahad exhaled sharply,
"That's your takeaway?"
Rahi shrugged,
"In most systems, correctness is a valuable metric."
Farhan looked between them,
"You call that a system?"
Rahi nodded once, "Everything is a system ."
That made the room quiet for a fraction of a second.
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"You talk like you weren't disturbed by what happened."
Rahi's expression didn't change,
"I was disturbed but not surprised."
Faha frowned,
"That sounds like a very dangerous way to describe a child defending herself."
"You make it sound like this is normal."
" Hmmm. "
"So… just to confirm we're all pretending this is a normal family evening after national-level chaos?"
"Mabe yes. "
Faha stretched back on the sofa ,
"So, does anyone want to admit they underestimated her?"
Nahi shot him a look,
"No one is admitting anything. Sit down."
"I am already sitting. "
"You are crazy. "
[05:20 PM]
The evening settled over the Sunayna estate.
The earlier tension had faded into conversation.
Fahad was arguing with Faha.
Nahi was threatening to throw another cushion.
Farhan was quietly listening.
Then—
A familiar set of footsteps entered.
Every voice in the room stopped.
Mahim removed his gloves and looked across the room. His gaze briefly passed over his sons, over Mahi, over Rahi—
—and finally stopped on Maya.
Making sure she was truly unharmed.
Then he spoke, "Maya."
"Yes?"
"Go to the study room for a while."
"Ok , Mr.Mahim. "
With that she turned and began walking .
Rahi immediately pushed himself away from the wall,
"Guess that's my cue too."
Fahad frowned, "Why are you going?"
Rahi looked mildly offended,
"What if I enjoy books?"
"No one believes that."
"Fair."
Without another word, Maya and Rahi left the hall together.
The door to the study room closed behind them.
Something in his expression had changed.
He loosened his collar slightly and sat down.
Mahi noticed immediately,
" What happened? You look troubled."
"I spoke with my teacher. "
"Colonel Nahim ?"
Mahim nodded, "Yes."
Now the room became attentive.
Colonel Nahim was not an ordinary instructor.
He was a respected veteran, a man whose opinions on combat and military training carried enormous weight.
"He asked me what kind of martial arts I taught my daughter."
Fahad blinked.
Fahim lowered his glasses slightly.
Farhan stopped moving entirely.
Mahi stared at him, "What did you tell him?"
"I never taught her anything remotely like that."
Mahim folded his hands,
"He has spent decades studying combat disciplines.
But, some of what Maya demonstrated doesn't resemble any formal system he recognizes."
Farhan sat up straighter, "Seriously?"
Mahim nodded,
"He replayed the footage repeatedly."
"He said that?"
Mahim nodded, "Yes."
Fahim leaned forward immediately,
"Perhaps he means an unusual hybrid style."
"No.
He specifically said that whoever taught those techniques possessed extraordinary knowledge."
Fahan frowned,
"But nobody taught her."
"That's correct. "
Fahad rubbed his forehead,
"And when you told him there wasn't?"
A rare hint of disbelief crossed Mahim's face,
"He thought I was joking."
That earned several startled looks.
Because if there was one thing everyone knew—
Mahim Sunayna was not known for joking.
Fahim finally spoke,
"That's statistically unusual."
Faha looked at him,
"Only you would describe that as statistically unusual."
"It is."
"It is also terrifying."
"Those things are not mutually exclusive."
Nahi groaned, "You two are impossible."
A few quiet laughs appeared around the room.
After a moment, "There was something else."
Mahi looked up, "What is it?"
"Colonel Nahim said Maya's fighting skills were exceptional."
Fahad raised an eyebrow,
"Exceptional coming from him means something."
"It does," Mahim agreed.
"He told me that some of the movements visible in the footage were unlike anything he had encountered during his years of instruction."
Fahim immediately became interested,
"And?"
"He said he intends to include some of the techniques he observed in university lectures and military analysis classes."
Farhan blinked, "Wait what? "
"He wants to teach Maya's fighting techniques?"
"Yes. "
Nahi stared,
"A fifteen-year-old student accidentally created lecture material for military instructors."
Fahan rubbed his forehead,
"This family gets stranger every day."
Mahi looked genuinely surprised,
"Colonel Nahim said that?"
"Yes."
Then he paused,
"There is another matter, My friend Bahar visited me today."
Fahad immediately recognized the name,
"The journalist?"
"The broadcaster," Mahim corrected.
"What did he want?"
"He asked for permission to organize a live discussion and demonstration centered on Maya.
He said the entire country is asking questions."
The room erupted immediately, "What?"
"Absolutely not."
"Why?"
"Isn't that a terrible idea?"
"And what did you tell him?"
"I told him I would think about it."
Mahim raised a hand,
"I asked Colonel Nahim the same question."
"And what did he say?"
"He advised me to accept."
That produced an even stronger reaction.
Fahim looked surprised,
"That is not the answer I expected."
Mahim nodded, "Neither did I.
According to him, the military and security community could learn a great deal from observing Maya's methods."
"... A military colonel wants professionals to learn from her."
"Yes."
Mahi remained thoughtful,
"What exactly does Bahar intend to do?"
"A live interview."
Faha finally spoke,
"I can already imagine the audience."
"Millions," Fahad replied.
"Probably."
Mahi considered everything carefully,
"What did Colonel Nahim say after that?"
Mahim leaned back slightly,
"He said he wanted to speak with Bahar privately."
"Why?"
Fahim frowned, "About the broadcast?"
"Possibly, He didn't explain."
A thoughtful silence followed.
Colonel Nahim was not a man who wasted words. If he wanted a private meeting, there was usually a reason.
Fahan leaned back, "That's interesting."
"Very," Fahim agreed.
The discussion was still unfolding when a phone suddenly vibrated across the table.
Everyone's attention shifted.
Mahim glanced at the screen.
Colonel Nahim.
He answered immediately, "Colonel."
On the other end, Nahim's voice was calm, direct, "Mahim."
"Sir."
"I need you to come to the base."
Mahim straightened slightly, "Now?"
"Immediately."
The single word was enough to draw attention from everyone in the room.
"What happened?" Mahim asked.
Nahim replied,
"We've completed a more detailed analysis of the school footage."
"And?"
"I would rather discuss it in person."
"Is it serious?"
"Yes."
Mahim stood from his chair,
"I'll leave immediately."
"Excellent."
Then Nahim added,
"There are several people here who would like to speak with you."
"Military analysts?"
The wording caught Mahim's attention immediately, "Among others?"
"Come to the base. We'll discuss everything there."
"Ok sir. "
The call ended.
For a moment, the room remained silent.
Then Farhan spoke first,
"That sounded bad."
Mahim slipped the phone into his pocket,
"I don't know if it's bad."
Fahim folded his arms,
"But it's definitely unusual."
—
Mahim arrived at the military base less than an hour later.
The security gates opened immediately.
The military base was quieter than usual.
Most of the administrative offices had dimmed their lights for the evening, but one conference room remained brightly illuminated.
Mahim entered.
The moment he stepped inside, he noticed the people gathered around the table.
Colonel Nahim.
Bahar.
Several senior officers.
Two military analysts.
A training instructor.
And a handful of personnel he recognized from strategic assessment divisions.
He closed the door behind him.
His eyes moved around the room.
"What happened?"
Colonel Nahim gestured toward an empty chair, "Sit down."
Mahim sat.
His eyes moved between the faces in the room, "Sir?"
Colonel Nahim folded his hands,
"We've made a decision.
We are going ahead with the livestream."
Mahim nodded, "All right."
Bahar visibly relaxed, "Good."
Nahim's expression remained calm,
"But, Maya cannot know about it."
Mahim frowned, "What?"
"Maya cannot know the livestream is being organized."
"Why, sir ?"
"Because our objective won't be achieved otherwise."
Mahim's confusion deepened,
"I'm not following, sir. "
One of the military analysts spoke up,
"General Mahim ."
"Yes?"
"Do you honestly believe those fighting skills appeared without training?"
Mahim answered immediately, "No."
"Neither do we."
Another officer opened a file,
"The footage has now been analyzed ."
He slid photographs across the table.
Mahim looked down.
"Frame by frame.
Slow motion, multiple angles."
He tapped a folder resting on the table,
"The conclusion is consistent."
Mahim listened carefully.
Colonel Nahim said ,
"I've also been informed that Maya disappeared for a significant period of her childhood."
"Yes, sir."
The room became quiet.
An officer sitting near the end of the table spoke next,
"I believe she has been training for years."
Then he asked,
"Since she came to live with your family, have you ever personally seen her practicing?"
Mahim thought about it,
"No, not even once."
The officer exchanged looks with the others,
"Interesting."
"What is?"
The officer answered calmly,
"People don't maintain that level of skill without practice."
Several heads nodded.
"Those reflexes require maintenance.
Constant maintenance."
Mahim folded his arms,
"So, what are you suggesting?"
Colonel Nahim leaned back in his chair,
"My theory is that she practices when nobody is around."
Mahim looked at him,
"You think she's secretly training?"
Another officer nodded, "That would explain a lot."
"Especially if she's trying not to attract attention."
"I think it's possible."
Bahar, who had been silent until now, finally spoke, "The timing fits."
Everyone looked toward him.
"The school will be closed for several days because of the attack.
Most of the family will be occupied with work.
There will be long periods when Maya is alone."
The room fell silent as the idea settled.
Bahar continued,
"If she really maintains her skills through private practice, those days would be the perfect opportunity."
One officer added,
"If she has a routine, she may return to it."
"Exactly."
One of the officers asked,
"And if we tell her about the livestream?"
Bahar answered immediately,
"Then she may alter her routine Or stop practicing entirely."
Several people agreed.
Colonel Nahim folded his arms,
"We want to see what Maya does naturally."
Mahim sat back in his chair considering every possibility.
The officers' logic wasn't unreasonable.
After several moments, Nahim spoke again,
"General Mahim ?"
Mahim looked up, "Yes sir? "
"We will proceed only with your approval."
Finally, he exhaled, "All right."
Bahar nodded.
The officers exchanged glances.
Colonel Nahim gave a satisfied nod,
"Then we'll move forward."
The discussion continued for several more minutes as the details were finalized.
One of the technical officers opened a laptop and projected several diagrams onto the screen.
"We can integrate the livestream with the surveillance network already installed throughout the Sunayna estate."
Mahim studied the display.
The officer pointed to the layout,
"We'll simply connect selected camera feeds to a controlled broadcast."
"Alright."
Bahar leaned forward in his chair,
"Good."
He tapped a folder on the table,
"Tonight I'll publish the announcement online."
The room turned toward him,
"By morning the livestream will be public."
Mahim gave a short nod, "Fine."
Colonel Nahim folded his arms,
"Nobody in the house can behave differently.
No unusual attention, no discussions about cameras."
A officer nodded,
"People change their behavior when they know they're being watched."
Bahar added,
"And from everything we've seen, Maya is exceptionally perceptive."
That earned several agreements around the table.
One analyst flipped through his notes,
"Her situational awareness is extraordinary."
The combat instructor spoke next,
"Honestly, that's one of the things that impressed me most."
He looked directly at Mahim.
"She notices things. The kind of things most people overlook."
"Exactly, remember that."
"So be careful."
"Understood."
The colonel glanced at the clock,
"Then we begin tomorrow morning."
The room slowly relaxed.
Bahar stood first,
"I'll release the announcement within the hour."
"Fine."
Bahar pointed toward him, "Tell your family."
"Ok. "
Nahim stood, "Be careful, General."
Mahim straightened instinctively,
"Yes, sir."
"I'll see you tomorrow."
Mahim stepped back, his posture became formal.
He saluted.
The colonel returned the salute.
The meeting was over.
Yet as Mahim walked toward the door, a strange feeling lingered in the room.
He returned to the estate late in the evening.
The house felt that shift the moment he stepped inside.
Conversation paused mid-breath.
Mahi looked up first, "You're back."
Fahad straightened slightly,
"What happened?"
Mahim removed his coat slowly, as if weighing every word before speaking,
"There will be a livestream."
Silence.
Not confusion at first—just processing.
Fahim adjusted his glasses,
"…A livestream of what?"
Mahim looked around the room,
"Of Maya."
Fahan leaned forward immediately,
"Explain."
"It's been arranged through coordination with Bahar and Colonel Nahim's team."
A beat of silence followed.
"How ?"
"Through controlled surveillance integrated with livestream broadcast systems within the estate."
A pause.
Faha slowly raised a hand,
" …the conclusion is 'let's set up cameras in the house'?"
Fahad immediately cut in,
"That is not what he said.
Technically, he said surveillance integration."
"That sounds even worse," Nahi muttered.
Farhan leaned back slowly,
"This is getting more complicated than the hostage situation."
Mahim spoke again, "There is one condition."
Everyone looked at him.
"Colonel Nahim insisted Maya must not be aware of the livestream."
Fahad frowned, "Why hide it?"
Mahim answered simply,
"Because if she knows, her behavior changes."
"That is likely accurate."
Nahi crossed her arms,
"She notices everything, doesn't she?"
"Yes."
A pause.
"And that is the problem."
Then Farhan spoke softly,
"So tomorrow… everyone is going to be watching her?"
"Yes."
Faha raised an eyebrow, "And Rahi?"
Mahi answered first, her voice calm but firm,
"He doesn't need to know."
Faha blinked, "That sounded very intentional."
Fahad frowned slightly,
"He is already involved in too many things around Maya."
Mahim exhaled,
"This is not something he needs to be pulled into."
Fahim adjusted his glasses,"Agreed."
Farhan nodded quietly.
At that moment, faint footsteps were heard from the corridor.
Rahi.
He appeared near the doorway, as usual without announcement,
"Something I am not to know?"
Faha reacted instantly, "No."
Rahi tilted his head slightly,
"That was suspiciously immediate."
Fahim spoke more evenly,
"It's administrative."
Rahi's eyes moved between them,
"Administrative things don't usually involve everyone suddenly becoming bad liars."
Nahi crossed her arms,"You're imagining things."
"I rarely imagine. "
Mahim stepped forward slightly, controlling the tone,
"Rahi, it's about tomorrow's coordination schedule."
Rahi studied him for a moment longer than comfortable, "Understood."
He turned slightly as if to leave,
"Try not to overcomplicate whatever you are doing."
His tone was light again, then he walked away.
His footsteps faded down the corridor.
Only when they were gone did Fahim exhale,
"That was close."
Faha leaned back, "He almost sensed it."
"Yes. "
The room remained silent for several long seconds after Rahi's footsteps disappeared into the distance.
It was Fahim who finally broke the silence.
"...He didn't believe a single word we said."
Mahim gave a slow nod.
"No."
Farhan glanced toward the corridor.
"He let it go too easily."
Faha sighed dramatically,
"I hate intelligent people."
Nahi looked at him.
"You are surrounded by them."
"I know. It's exhausting."
Even that failed to lighten the atmosphere.
Mahim's expression remained thoughtful.
"Rahi notices inconsistencies."
Fahim adjusted his glasses.
"And we gave him several. He asked one question, 'Something I am not to know?'
He wasn't guessing.He was confirming."
The realization settled heavily across the room.
Mahi spoke for the first time ,
"He'll probably start observing on his own."
Fahad frowned, "Can he interfere?"
Mahim answered after a brief pause.
"I don't know."
Farhan looked uneasy.
"If he discovers the livestream before tomorrow..."
Bahar's warning echoed in everyone's minds.
Maya is exceptionally perceptive.
If either of them notices... the entire plan could collapse.
Nahi rubbed her forehead,
"This is becoming ridiculous."
Faha nodded immediately.
"We're secretly watching Maya...while secretly trying to stop Rahi from discovering that we're secretly watching Maya."
He looked around the room,
"This sounds like the beginning of a very bad spy novel."
Fahan couldn't help letting out a quiet laugh,
"...You're not wrong."
Mahim raised a hand, restoring order.
"Enough."
The room fell quiet again.
"No one changes their routine. No one follows Maya. No one behaves differently.
If she notices even the slightest inconsistency..."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"...everything ends before it begins."
One by one, they nodded.
Tomorrow would reveal whether Colonel Nahim's theory was correct—
or whether they had all completely misunderstood the quiet sixteen-year-old girl living under their roof.