Chapter 13
AUTHOR'S POV:
The next morning sunlight crept lazily into the Malik mansion.
The air was heavy, carrying the weight of yesterday's chaos like a ghost lingering in every corner.
The clinking of plates and the soft murmur of servants announced breakfast. The dining table-usually a symbol of togetherness-felt like a battlefield today.
Rayyan sat silently at the head of the table, his face pale, sleepless shadows beneath his eyes.
His heart hadn't stopped pounding since the storm of accusations, pictures, and betrayals from last night.
Every breath he took reminded him of Aayat's trembling voice, her desperate cries for trust, and the cruel look in his own eyes when he had pushed her away.
Aayat, fragile yet determined, entered quietly. She carried the invisible burden of humiliation, rejection, and an ache so deep it made her footsteps feel like walking on shards of glass. She tried to steady herself, clutching the edge of a chair to sit down.
Before she could, Nafeesa-Rayyan's mother-stood abruptly from her chair. Her voice cut through the room like a whip.
"Tum is table pe sab ke saath nahi beth sakti ab," she said coldly, her eyes sharp as daggers.
"Aur ab se tum... khud apna nashta banao gy aur apne kamre mein khaogy. Ider apni shakal mat dhikhana."
Aayat froze, her hands trembling against the chair. Her lips parted, but no words came-only tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. She looked at Rayyan instinctively, as if he were her last hope, the only anchor left in this sinking world.
Rayyan clenched his jaw, fists curling on the table. He could feel his chest tightening, a storm rising inside him.
"Bas, Ammi," he finally said, his voice deep, firm, and shaking slightly. "Aayat yahin khayegi... sab ke saath."
The room went silent. All eyes turned toward Shahbaz, Rayyan's father, who leaned back in his chair, his face grim.
"Tum bhool gaye kal kya hua tha, Rayyan," Shahbaz's voice carried authority, disappointment etched in every word.
Rayyan swallowed hard, fighting against the lump in his throat.
"Main nahi bhoola, Abbu," Rayyan answered, his voice hoarse yet unyielding.
"Aur jo banda kal tasveeron mein tha... woh aaj yahan aa raha hai.
Bas thodi der mein pohanchay ga. Aayat keh rahi thi ke usne sirf uski madad ki thi.
Toh jab tak woh banda yahan nahi aata, koi Aayat ke bare mein kuch nahi kahe ga. "
The family exchanged uneasy glances. Aleena, Rayyan's younger sister, bit her lip nervously. Nafeesa narrowed her eyes, anger bubbling beneath her calm facade.
And just then, the heavy wooden doors opened. Aayat's family walked in-her father Rashid, mother, her brothers Saad and Huzaif, and her younger sister Hayaat.
The tension grew thick, suffocating. Aayat's eyes widened when she saw her father. For a moment, her heart leapt with hope. Abbu samjhenge... Abbu yaqeen karenge...
She moved forward, wanting to run into his arms, but Rashid turned his face away, his jaw stiff, his eyes refusing to meet hers.
The rejection struck harder than any slap. Her knees wobbled, her chest tightened, and before she could break down, she rushed into the kitchen, tears streaming down her face.
She leaned against the counter, gasping for air, trying to hold herself together. But then a voice slithered into the room.
Ramsha.
Her heels clicked against the tiled floor, her smirk sharp and cruel.
"Kya baat hai, Aayat?" she mocked, tilting her head. "Chehre pe bohot sukoon lag raha hai tumhare. So confident? Kyun? Kya lagta hai tumhe... aj tum sach sabit kar logi?"
Aayat straightened, wiping her tears, forcing her voice not to tremble.
"Haan, Ramsha. Kyun ke aj tumhara sach samne aayega. Tumne jo pictures li, wo mujhe phasanay ke liye thi. Jis shaks ki main ne help ki thi, woh khud aaj yahan aa raha hai. Aur jab sabko pata chalega ke main be-gunah thi, tumhari saazish khud samne aa jaye gi."
For the first time, Ramsha's face flickered with unease.
"What?" she whispered, her confidence shaken. "Yeh kaise ho sakta hai? Rayyan... tumhari baat kaise sun sakta hai? Kal jo kuch hua uske baad bhi?"
Aayat's lips curved into a bitter smile.
"Kyunke main sachi hoon. Aur sach ko jitna daba lo, woh samne aa hi jata hai."
But Ramsha suddenly laughed-loud, cruel, mocking laughter that echoed in the kitchen.
"Tumhe lagta hai tumne help ki thi?" she leaned in closer, whispering venom into Aayat's ear.
"Bholi Aayat... sab drama tha. Us bande ko koi chot nahi lagi thi.
Uski pant pe sirf thoda sa khoon laga tha.
.. fake. Taake tumhe lage ke usse injury hui hai.
Aur phir tum usse sahara do... aur bas. Baaki main kar lungi.
Tum dusro ki madad karne k liye hamesha andhi ho jati ho aur isi kamzori ka maine faida uthaya "
Aayat's face went pale. Her heart skipped. "Y-yeh... kya keh rahi ho tum?"
Ramsha's eyes glittered with victory.
"Main keh rahi hoon... that man was never injured.
He was my pawn. Aur woh yahan tumhari begunahi sabit karne nahi aa raha, bholi aayat.
Rayyan k doubt ko yaqeen mein badalne a raha hain.
Rayyan abhi tak doubt pr tha, is liye wo mujhse kabhi shadi nahi karta.
.. Pr ab tumhare liye uska gussa hi meri manzil asan karega. "
The ground slipped beneath Aayat's feet. Her breath hitched, panic rising.
"Nahin... tum jhoot bol rahi ho. Ye sab jhoot hai..."
Ramsha smirked, brushing past her.
"Bholi Aayat... dekho khud ko... tum khud ko apne hi haathon se barbaad kar chuki ho."
And with that, she left.
Aayat's world tilted. Her vision blurred as she stumbled out of the kitchen, desperate to reach Rayyan, desperate to stop what was about to unfold.
As she rushed toward Rayyan, her voice cracked.
"Rayyan... mujhe tumse zaroori baat karni hai. Please, abhi ke abhi."
Rayyan turned, his face still tense, conflicted. He saw the fear in her eyes but his own heart was too broken to trust blindly.
"Bolo," he said curtly.
"Yahan nahi... akelay mein," she pleaded.
Rayyan hesitated, then nodded. "Chalo."
But before they could move, the servant announced the arrival of the man from the pictures.
The room grew heavy with silence.
Rayyan stepped forward, his jaw tight. Aayat grabbed his arm desperately.
"Rayyan, please, meri baat pehle sun lo-"
He pulled his arm free, his expression unreadable. "Baad mein."
He faced the man, Aleena handing him the envelope of pictures. Rayyan's voice was like steel.
"Batao... yeh tasveerain kya hain?"
The man's face turned pale, his hands trembling. He looked at everyone, then lowered his gaze.
"Tum logon ko... sach pata chal gaya?" he muttered.
Rayyan narrowed his eyes. "Kya sach?"
The man swallowed. "Mere aur Aayat ke rishte ka sach."
The words sliced through the room. Gasps echoed. Aayat staggered back as if stabbed.
Rayyan felt the world collapse under his feet. His vision turned red. He lunged forward, punching the man hard across the face.
"Jhoot bol raha hai tu!" he roared, hitting him again and again until his knuckles bled.
But Nafeesa pulled him back. "Bas karo, Rayyan. Iski galti nahi hain... galti tumhari Aayat ki hai."
Aayat's tears blurred her vision. She screamed, her voice breaking.
"Jhoot! Ye sab jhoot hai!"
But the man continued, spitting venom.
"Tumhari shaadi se pehle se... hum dono ek dosray ko chahte thay. Tumhare Abu tumhari shadi Rayyan se karna chahte the... tumne kaha tha jald sab khatam karke mere paas aaogi-"
THAPPAAD!
Aayat's hand collided with his cheek. Her entire body shook as she screamed:
"Main ne tumhari madad ki thi... aur tum yahan khade ho kar jhoot bol rahe ho?!"
Another slap. Then another. Her voice was raw.
"Mujhe aaj samajh aya kisi ke liye acha sochna bhi gunaah hai!"
She raised her hand for a fourth slap but Rayyan caught her wrist, his grip bruising. His eyes blazed with fury and heartbreak.
"Apna yeh drama band karo, Aayat!" he shouted, pushing her back. She stumbled, crashing to the ground.
"Phir se... phir se tumne mera bharosa tod diya. Is liye mujhse akele baat karna chahti thi na? Ek nayi kahani sunani thi mujhe?"
Aayat looked up at him through tears. "Rayyan... yeh sab Ramsha kar rahi hai... main-"
Rayyan laughed bitterly, his voice breaking.
"Ramsha jhooti... tasveerain jhooti... yeh banda jhoota... sab jhoote hain na? Toh sachi kaun hai, Aayat? Tum?!"
His tears fell freely now. "Tumhara sach dekhne ke baad mujhe ab sach se be dar lagne laga hain....."
And he stormed out, leaving her broken.