Aneela sat by the window in her dormitory, a book resting in her lap. The soft hum of the night filled the air as she turned the pages, lost in a world of words. The quiet was comforting, a refuge from the chaos of university life.
Her phone buzzed on the wooden desk beside her. She reached for it lazily, expecting a message from one of her friends, but the unknown number on the screen made her pause. A strange sense of unease settled in her stomach as she answered.
"Hello?"
"Is this Miss Aneela Sakda?" The voice on the other end was firm, official.
"Yes, speaking."
"This is Commander Wichai from the Royal Thai Navy. We regret to inform you that during a recent mission, your father, Captain Rahim Khan, has gone missing."
The words struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her heart pounded as she clutched the phone tighter. "What do you mean missing? When did this happen? Have you found him?"
"The details are still classified, but we assure you, we are doing everything in our power to locate him. We suggest you return home immediately."
Aneela's fingers trembled as she ended the call. Her world, once stable and predictable, had just shattered in an instant. Without a second thought, she grabbed her bag, threw in a few essentials, and rushed out of the dormitory.
The journey home felt endless. The rhythmic clatter of the train wheels did nothing to calm her racing thoughts. Her mother, her gentle, kindhearted mother - how was she handling this news?
When Aneela finally reached home, she found her mother lying in bed, looking pale and frail. The house felt empty, missing the warmth of her father's presence. She sat beside her mother, holding her cold hands.
"Mama... I'm here."
Her mother opened her eyes weakly and gave her a tired smile. "Aneela... you must be strong. Your father... he will come back. He always does."
Aneela swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. She had to believe that. She had to be strong - for her mother, for herself.
For a week, she stayed home, taking care of her mother, waiting for any news. But none came. Each day, the silence felt heavier, the uncertainty more unbearable. Her father had always been her hero, a man of discipline and honor. He wouldn't just disappear. Something was wrong.
Despite the turmoil in her heart, she knew she had to return to her studies. Her father would have wanted that. So, after ensuring her mother was stable, she packed her bag and returned to university.
But nothing felt the same.
The lectures were just words she couldn't focus on. The library, once her sanctuary, now felt suffocating. Her friends tried to comfort her, but no amount of kind words could fill the void inside her.
Deep down, she knew this wasn't the end. This was just the beginning.
She would find out what happened to her father. No matter what it took.
And so, the first step of her journey began.