Chapter 16 : Wedding Card.

The rain fell gently over Kuala Lumpur, turning the city into a sparkling canvas of wet streets and buildings. The city's lights reflected on the rain-slicked roads, creating a glistening mosaic of colors. The rhythm of the falling rain was the backdrop to a tense night.

In Elara's room, the dim glow of a computer screen illuminated the faces of Farah and Elara. They sat side by side, their expressions etched with worry. It had been three days since Ava's mysterious disappearance, and their frustration and anxiety were growing with each passing moment. Elara had been on a relentless search for any trace of Rafi Ahmed, the man he believed was responsible for Ava's kidnapping. However, his efforts had yielded no details or leads. Little did he know, the story of Rafi Ahmed was a fabricated narrative woven by Ibrahim to divert Elara's focus and keep him occupied until Ava agreed to the marriage.

Farah was hunched over the keyboard, her fingers flying across the keys as she attempted to hack into Ava's social media accounts. She was determined to uncover any clues that might lead them to Ava.

Elara, sitting beside her on the bed, couldn't help but express his frustration. "Why is it taking so long?"

Farah replied, "Hacking isn't something quick, Elara. It takes time, especially when we're trying to be discreet."

As the screen displayed the results, Farah's face lit up with a triumphant smile. "Look, the results are here."

Elara leaned over the computer, eager to see what they had found. He clicked on the latest conversation but was disheartened by what he saw. "There's nothing. Ava's conversations seem normal. There's nothing to doubt."

Farah pointed out, "Look, after her disappearance, there are no new chats. It seems like she's not using social media now."

Elara's brows furrowed, "Or maybe she doesn't have access to a phone. It's not surprising; why would the kidnapper provide Ava with a phone?"

Suddenly, the doorbell rang. And Elara rose quickly and hurried to the main door. 

When he opened the door, a delivery boy stood there, holding a crisp envelope. The delivery boy was drenched by the rain outside. He extended the envelope to Elara and said, "Delivery for you, sir."

Elara took the envelope from the delivery boy's hand and thanked him before closing the door. He came back to his room and opened the envelope to find a wedding card inside.

When his eyes scanned the card, his world seemed to come crashing down around him. The card displayed the names "Ibrahim Rahman and Ava Lim" in elegant lettering, along with a date and venue. It was a wedding invitation. Elara's heart pounded in his chest.

Farah, who had been sitting at the computer, noticed the change in Elara's behaviour. She asked, "What is it, Elara?"

Elara's voice was barely a whisper as he said, "It's a wedding card." 

"Whose wedding card?" Farah asked. 

Elara handed the card to her, and she too stared at the names written on it. Her confusion mirrored Elara's as she replied, "Ibrahim Rahman and Ava? But I don't understand... Ava?"

Elara sank onto the bed, his mind racing with questions and worries. He had been tirelessly searching for his sister and now he got an invitation to her wedding. What was even happening. He couldn't seemed to understand. 

In the midst of his frustration, Farah asked, "Who's Ibrahim Rahman?"

Elara ran a hand through his hair. He was looking so tensed. "Ibrahim is a famous businessman in Kuala Lumpur. But how did they even meet? And how could Ava marry a man who's twelve or thirteen years older than her?"he asked. He had so many question in his mind. 

Farah tried to bring him back to the present. She pushed the card aside and said, "Now is not the time to ponder how they met or their connection. What's important is finding out where Ava is. The fact that they sent a wedding card means Ava is with them."

Elara looked at Farah but didn't replied. He turned his gaze towards window. The rain wasn't falling outside, there was a storm inside Elara too. 

He knew that Ibrahim Rahman was not just a simple businessman; he was involved in numerous illegal activities that had earned him immense power and influence. Elara couldn't wrap his head around the idea that his beloved sister, Ava, might be marrying a man like Ibrahim Rahman. How had Ava ended up in such a situation? He felt helpless, and his face turned red with anger, frustration, and despair.

Farah gently took Elara's face in her hands, forcing him to meet her gaze, "Elara, we need to go to their house. Maybe we can save Ava from there, and at the same time, get our answers. We can't let this go on any longer."

...

The rain had finally subsided, and the clock on the wall showed that it was already 10 at night. In the study room of Ibrahim, Ava and Elara sat face to face on a couch. And there was Ibrahim standing beside Ava.

Ava's gaze remained lowered, her heart heavy with the weight of the false story that Ibrahim had just narrated to Elara. According to the fabricated account, no one had kidnapped Ava. Instead, she had run away from home, fearing that Elara would never approve of her marriage to Ibrahim. Though the false story protected Ibrahim's true intentions, but it gnawed at Ava's conscience, making her feel like a traitor to her brother.

Clutching a pen in his hand, Elara bore a storm of emotions on his face. His brows were furrowed in a mixture of anger, frustration, and hurt as he turned his gaze toward Ava. His voice, heavy with disappointment, "Why couldn't you just talk to me, Ava?" Elara's words hung heavily in the air. "Why run away, leaving me in agony for three long days, thinking the worst? Can you even think how much I have searched for you the three days?" 

Ava's gaze remained downcast, her voice barely audible as she whispered, "I'm sorry, brother." She wasn't crying. But it seemed like her tears would burst anytime. 

Ibrahim stepped in to try and ease the mounting tension. "Elara, we never intended to hurt you. We simply believed that, due to our age difference, you might not approve of our marriage."

Elara met Ibrahim's gaze. He couldn't fathom how his sister, whom he had raised like his own daughter and shared every detail of her life with, could have doubted his support. Elara again looked at Ava. He has so many compliments. 

He continued, "Why, Ava? Have you grown so distant from me that you couldn't confide in your brother about your dreams of marriage? How could you ever think I wouldn't approve?"

Ava finally looked at Elara. Her eyes filled with regret and guilt. She told, "Elara, I didn't mean to hurt you. I thought you'd never understand and you'd think I was making a mistake."

Elara's voice softened as he reassured her, "Ava, I can forgive any mistake you make, even if it's as grave as murder. If you truly like Ibrahim, I'll support you."

Ibrahim placed a comforting hand on Ava's shoulder and said, "Thank you, Elara, for your understanding." And a single tear escaped from Ava's eyes. 

Elara rose from the couch, "I'll arrange for your wedding dress to be sent tomorrow morning."

Ibrahim's hand remained on Ava's shoulder, and he added, "We've already taken care of everything for the wedding."

When Ibrahim said that, Elara glared at him, "I may not be as wealthy as you, but I can afford a wedding dress and other needs for her marriage."

Ibrahim simply replied, "As you wish. I won't interfere this time."

Ava stood up, feeling trapped in her own emotions. She wanted to tell Elara that she didn't want to marry Ibrahim, to beg him to take her back to their apartment. But the words remained unspoken. She couldn't tell, just she couldn't tell. 

On the other hand, Ibrahim thought Ava would say everything to Elara. But he didn't let his inner tension to show on his face. He stood their in composed way. But when Ava didn't say anything, he sighed silently.

Elara cupped Ava's face in his hands and gently wiped her tears. He inquired, "Do you have any specific preferences for your dress and jewelry?"

Ava replied, "You can choose anything you like."