"Pray, Sheharzaad, my eyes won’t settle on you before the date changes," he straightened

himself, not before giving a peck on her forehead.

"Will you stand by your words?" she asked. "Will you let me go if you aren’t able to catch

me?"

"I will," he replied and took off his wristwatch before passing it to her.

"You will need it. Now start your hunt," he said and left.

...

There was this wristwatch on which she had her eyes since the moment she came into her

hiding place. Just an hour was ...