Chapter 12
Author's POV:
The house was eerily silent. Every corridor that once carried the echo of laughter now felt heavy with whispers of doubt and betrayal.
Upstairs, the door to Aayat's room was closed. Inside, darkness swallowed everything. Curtains were drawn, the only light was from the faint streetlamps slipping through a small gap.
Aayat sat on the floor near her bed, hugging her knees, her dupatta wet with tears. Her heart felt like it had been carved open. She pressed her palm against her chest as if to hold her breaking pieces together.
Her whisper cracked into the silence.
Aayat (broken voice):
"Tumne kaha tha Rayyan... jab bhi meri aankhon mein aansu ayenge, tum unhe saaf karoge... toh aaj kyu tum unki waja ban gaye? Tum kaise... mere hote hue doosri shaadi karne ka soch sakte ho? Kaise...?"
Her sobs grew louder. She tilted her head back against the bed, tears streaming freely.
She remembered every promise he had made, every word he had whispered during the nights when he had held her hand. "You're my dua, my everything, my Aayat." Yet today, his silence had felt like a dagger.
The click of the door handle echoed in thedark room. The sudden light from the switch burned into her tear-swollen eyes.
Rayyan stood at the threshold. His tall frame cast a shadow that fell across her. His eyes were unreadable-storm brewing inside, yet face still.
For a long moment, they simply stared at each other. Her broken soul through tear-filled eyes, and his conflicted heart through his gaze.
Rayyan (internal thought):
"Ya Allah.
.. how can the same eyes I fell in love with look broken today?
My heart screams she's innocent... but my mind, my mind keeps throwing those pictures in front of me.
Those cursed photographs. Aayat Malik...
meri Aayat. The only girl I ever prayed for.
My heart wants to run, hold her, believe her.
But my brain... my brain whispers-trust what you saw. Kya karun? Kis ki sunun?"
He broke the eye contact, his jaw tightening. Without a word, he turned towards the bathroom.
But before he could take another step, Aayat rose from the floor, stumbling, her trembling fingers catching his arm.
Aayat (pleading, voice shaking):
"Ruko, Rayyan... meri baat sun lo please... ek bar meri taraf dekho, meri ankhon mein... kya tumhe in mein jhoot nazar ata hain?"
She turned him towards her, cupping his face in her palms.
Aayat (choking):
"Rayyan... trust me.
Maine tumhe dhoka nahi diya. Main aisa soch bhi nahi sakti.
Tum meri zindagi ho, meri duniya ho. Tumne mujhe pyar ka matlab sikhaya hai.
.. ab usi pyar ko galat mat therao. Tumne kaha tha.
.. main tumhari duaa ka natija hoon. Tumhari har raat ki duaon ka jawab.
.. Tum ne yeh bhi kaha tha ke jab bhi main roun gi, tum mere aansu pochoge. .. toh aaj kyu? Kyu mooh modh rahe ho?"
Her voice cracked into a scream of desperation.
Rayyan's chest tightened. His hands twitched, wanting to hold her, to wipe her tears, to shield her from the world. But then those images flashed again-her smiling with another man, holding his arm, walking into his home. His veins burned with conflict.
Rayyan (hoarse whisper):
"Kya suno ab, Aayat? Kya? Tumne hi kaha tha ke woh tasveerain asli hain. Toh aur kya bacha hai kehne ko?"
Aayat (immediately, desperately):
"Haan, woh asli hain... lekin asli hote hue bhi asli nahi! Tum samajh kyu nahi rahe, Rayyan?"
His brows furrowed, anger flashing in his eyes.
Rayyan:
"Kya matlab hai iska? Asli hote hue bhi asli nahi? Yeh kaisi baat hai?"
Aayat (clutching his shirt, voice breaking):
"Maine sirf madad ki thi, Rayyan.
Sirf madad. Woh zakhmi tha, uski taang mein chot lagi thi.
Uska ghar sadak ke us paar tha, maine kaha tha, mein tumhare ghar se kisi ko bula lati hoon , par us nay kaha uske ghar mein sirf uski budhi nani hain.
.. Maine phir aas pass sab se kaha, koi usse uske ghar chhod do.
.. par sab ne mana kar diya. Mujhe us waqt uska dard dekha nahi gaya.
Toh main khud usse le gayi. Bas. Us se zyada kuch nahi. "
Her voice cracked, her body trembling as she tried to make him understand.
Rayyan clenched his fists. His mind refused to accept, yet his heart began to falter. He wanted to believe her. Every inch of his soul wanted to scream "She's innocent!" But the images... those damned pictures...
He took her hands off his face, stepping back, breathing heavily. He moved towards the door, his hand on the knob.
And then-
Her voice shattered the air.
Aayat (screaming through sobs):
"I LOVE YOU, RAYYAN! I LOVE YOU!"
Rayyan froze. His hand stiffened on the doorknob.
Her next words stabbed straight into his chest.
"Main tumse mohabbat karti hoon... bohot mohabbat karti hoon, Rayyan! Bas tumse! Tum meri zindagi ho... meri sukoon ho... mera sab kuch ho!"
Rayyan turned slowly, his throat dry, his eyes stinging.
Rayyan (internal thought):
"Ya Allah... these words... these tears... how can a liar say them with such purity? Her voice... it trembles, but it doesn't shake like deception. Could she... could she really be innocent? Am I killing her by not believing?"
Before he could think further, his legs moved on their own.He pulled her into his arms, crushing her against his chest.
The moment their bodies touched, Aayat broke completely. She sobbed uncontrollably, clinging to him as if he were her only lifeline. Her knees gave way, and she sank to the floor, still in his arms. Rayyan followed her down, holding her tight, his face buried in her hair.
Minutes blurred into eternity. Neither knew how long they sat there-just breathing each other's pain, drowning in each other's silence.
But Rayyan's mind was merciless. The pictures haunted him again. He tightened his grip around her, fear clawing at his chest.
He pulled back slightly, his hands gently wiping her tears. His thumb traced her wet cheeks.
Rayyan (softly, broken):
"Tumne khud kaha ke tasveerain asli hain... aur ab keh rahi ho mujhse mohabbat karti ho. Tum chahti kya ho, Aayat?"
Aayat (firm, through sobs):
"Chahti yeh hoon ke tum mujh par yakeen karo.
Haan, tasveerain asli hain... par woh sach ko nahi dikhati.
Rayyan, woh sab kuch nahi batati jo wahan hua.
Tumne khud dekha pictures ko sab zoom kar k lo gaye hain, koi pic full nahi hain.
Uski tang kisi picture mein nahi dikh rahi.
Main sirf uski help kar rahi thi yakeen karo. "
Aayat (holding his hands):
"Rayyan, main tumhari hoon. Sirf tumhari. Mera dil, meri rooh, mera jism, meri saans sirf tumhari hai. Mera us shaks se koi lena dena nahi. Mein toh uska nam be nahi janti. Bas meri baat pe ek dafa yakeen kar lo...please."
Rayyan's chest rose and fell heavily. He looked into her eyes, searching for cracks, for signs of a lie. But all he saw was raw, desperate love.
He took out his phone, his voice low but firm.
Rayyan:
"Uska address likh kr do yaha pr."
Aayat quickly typed the address, handing it back. His fingers moved fast, sending a message.
Then he placed the phone aside, cupping her face, his lips pressing against her forehead.
Rayyan (internal thought):
"Ya Allah... agar yeh sach keh rahi hai, toh kal sab kuch theek kar dena. Aur agar yeh jhoot hai... toh mujhe taqat dena ke main is k bina jee sakun."
He hugged her tightly once again, eyes closed, silently begging the Almighty for the truth.
The night was long, but in that embrace, time stood still.
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