The black car weaved gracefully along the sprawling, serpentine highway of America, cutting through the crisp winter air. Today marked the first snowfall of the year. Trees on both sides of the highway were draped in soft, white blankets, their branches bending under the weight of freshly fallen snow. Even the asphalt bore a delicate layer of frost, reflecting the pale winter sun. Tiny, white snowflakes floated lazily, merging with the windshield as the vehicle advanced steadily toward the city center.
Inside the car, a soft English melody hummed through the speakers. Arif, however, abruptly stopped the song, replaced it with a familiar Bengali tune, and raised the volume. With a deep breath, he began singing along in a low, melodic voice:
"Hey baby! My love ,when you will be mine?
Hug me? Hay! baby!"
Maya shivered slightly, closing her eyes as she sank into the warmth of the backseat. The song's melody, combined with the winter chill and the rhythmic hum of the car, made her momentarily forget the world outside. When she opened her eyes, she looked at Arif, who was observing her reflection in the rearview mirror.
"You certainly know how to dramatize," Maya said playfully, trying to hide a smile.
Arif smirked, his gaze still locked on her through the mirror. "Perhaps not as well as you," he replied with a teasing tone.
Maya let out a soft laugh, then turned her attention toward the snow outside. The flurries danced like tiny spirits in the air, reflecting the fading sunlight. She hesitated for a moment, curiosity breaking through her playful demeanor. "Since when… do you know all this?"
Arif paused, as if the question caught him slightly off guard. His eyes, however, held a glimmer of amusement. After a brief moment, he let out a wry, crooked smile. "I suppose… since your days in Bangladesh. But how long have you known that I know everything?"
"Since last night," Maya replied without hesitation.
"And how… exactly?" Arif asked, his tone teasing, yet tinged with genuine interest.
"I heard it… from your own mouth," Maya said confidently.
A soft bite grazed the back of her hand—Arif's playful mark. "Ha! So today, because of your untamed mouth, I have to suffer. I've seen so many helpless women in my life, and now… I have to face a living atomic bomb in the form of my wife. What terrible luck is mine?"
Maya arched an eyebrow and retorted lightly, "I feel sorry for you. Don't worry; you won't suffer alone. We'll share the bamboo stick together. And if you're still hungry… the whole bamboo is yours."
Arif groaned in exaggerated despair, "I see… I eat, I fall, my wife gives me the stick… fantastic!"
Maya shook her head, smiling slyly. "Haven't even spent a week eating on your money, and you're already so distraught?"
"Then… who's been feeding you all this time?" Arif asked, suspicion in his voice.
"My father and father-in-law," she said matter-of-factly.
"Ah! So that's why your in-laws are upset today. Following your husband like a detective, huh?" Arif teased, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Do you know why everyone at home is upset with you?" Maya asked, her tone serious now.
Arif's expression immediately stiffened, his grip tightening on the steering wheel. "I don't want to know," he said through clenched teeth.
Maya took a deep breath, her voice calm but unwavering. "Even if you don't want to know, I'll tell you. The reason everyone is upset with you… the day you left home, your grandfather passed away. Even after knowing this, you didn't return. You didn't reach out to anyone voluntarily. Only on your grandfather's death anniversary did you make a call. And beyond that…"
Arif slammed the brakes suddenly, the car skidding slightly on the icy road.
"I wanted to know why your family is upset with me. If you care so much about your grandfather… why not go home? Your grandfather still cries for you. I served him my whole life, and he never cried for me. Yet, for you… he cries every day without fail."
Maya's words hung heavy in the car. Arif's hands tightened on the wheel, his jaw clenched. After a long silence, he finally said, his voice barely audible:
"What I've done, why I left the country… only your grandfather knows. That's why he cries for me."
Meanwhile, back in her room, Maya settled comfortably on her balcony, cradling a steaming cup of coffee. Outside, the snow continued to fall, blanketing the maple trees in white. The golden leaves that had survived the first frost peeked through the snow like tiny jewels. Just as Maya was about to take another sip, her phone buzzed insistently. She picked it up from the bed and returned to her chair.
The call was from head office. A sigh escaped her lips—she knew this meant hours of scolding, orders, and lectures she had no desire to hear. Reluctantly, she answered.
"Hello?"
"Hello, Miss Maya," a stern, commanding voice replied. It was As4 Sir. Maya's body tensed instantly; she knew what was coming.
"What are you doing there? Do you treat this mission like a child's game? How did Arif find out everything? Why are you so careless? Nothing is progressing because of you. You must return to Bangladesh immediately. We never expected such mistakes from someone like you!"
Maya swallowed hard. She wondered how Sir had discovered that Arif knew everything. She hadn't told anyone. Yet somehow, the information had reached him. Her suspicion twisted her thoughts, but she forced herself to respond softly.
"Y-Yes, Sir."
The response from the other end was a sharp reprimand. "Yes won't fix anything. You've made a mistake beyond repair. Foolish girl. Leave this house immediately. Don't try contacting the team. You're removed from the mission."
Maya's heart sank. Her voice cracked as she pleaded, "Sir… please, give me a few more days. I can gather more information. Please… don't remove me from the team. Sir… please!"
The line went dead. Frustration boiled over. Maya yanked her hair in anger, her whole body radiating heat from the intensity of her emotions. In a fit, she hurled her phone across the maple garden. Not satisfied, she flung her coffee mug against the wall—the fragile ceramic shattered into pieces instantly.
Storming into the corridor, Maya's ears caught a loud, discordant song blasting from Rick's room. Rick, as usual, was passing time by listening to music with headphones, but his voice rose above the speakers, singing loudly along. Maya still wasn't sure of Rick's true intentions. He seemed like an ordinary, carefree young man—wandering around without purpose, free from restraint, yet something about him unsettled her.
Were Arif and Rick just best friends, or were they business partners? And if business partners, what kind of business? Could they be involved in something sinister? Terrorists? Mafia? Or just reckless adventurers? Maya couldn't decipher the truth.
She moved to the dining table, scanning the area intently. No medics were in sight. Calling them aloud, "Someone, bring me a glass of water," she commanded. Within seconds, a young medic appeared with a glass. Maya's sharp gaze swept over her. Likely no older than twenty, the girl's face still covered by a black niqab, yet Maya estimated her age accurately.
"Sit in this chair," Maya instructed.
The medic hesitated, clearly intimidated. Maya smiled softly, attempting reassurance. "Don't be afraid. Sit here."
Reluctantly, the girl obeyed. Maya then said, "Remove your niqab."
The medic's eyes widened with fear. "No need," Maya reassured gently. "It's okay."
Still silent, the girl fidgeted. Maya pressed on, "Tell me, how did you get here?"
The girl tried to leave, terrified, glancing behind her. Maya called out, "Where are you going? Answer me!"
The girl bolted toward the medic quarters, leaving Maya staring after her. Rick appeared, arms crossed, laughing quietly.
"Miss, your investigation is thorough. But sadly, it's futile. No problem, continue. If you need help, we're the best source of hidden information, aren't we?"
Rick swayed down the corridor, leaving Maya with more questions than answers. She watched him go, suspicion coiling in her chest.
The snow continued to fall outside, white and relentless, as the quiet tension inside the building mirrored the winter's chill. Maya sipped her coffee, her mind racing with plans, suspicions, and the weight of the mission ahead. She knew one thing for certain: the answers she sought were here somewhere, but finding them would require courage, cunning—and perhaps a confrontation she was not yet ready for.
The story was far from over, and every step promised more danger, more secrets, and more revelations that could change everything.
To be continued…