Chapter 17
The night outside was still. Aayat lay curled on the bed, blanket pulled up to her chin, eyes wide open, staring into the dark ceiling.
Her tears refused to stop; they slid silently down her temples, soaking into the pillow.
Every word she had spoken to Sonia aunty replayed in her mind like a wound she had cut open herself.
" wo kehta tha mein uski mangi Hui dua hoon."
" Us ne mujhe apni mohabbat pr yakeen dilaya aur phir jab mujhe mohabbat Hui, toh us ne mera dil tod diya."
Her chest tightened. She hugged herself, as though holding her heart together before it shattered into smaller pieces.
At the same time, in the next room, Sonia paced restlessly while Sameer Khan sat on the edge of the bed, jaw tight, fists clenching and unclenching.
Sameer (gritted teeth): "Mujhe yakeen hi nahi hota... kaise koi apni beti ke saath aisa kar sakta hai. Kaise? itni pyari ladki aur us k sath aisa...."
Sonia turned, her voice trembling but firm.
"Sameer, mujhe lagta hai Allah ne Aayat ko hamare paas ek wajah se bheja hai. Main usko dobara toot'tay hue nahi dekh sakti... She's already too fragile. Agar hum ne bhi is waqt uska haath na pakda... toh shayad woh dobara kabhi uth na paye."
Sameer's eyes softened but his anger didn't fade. He stood, pulling Sonia close.
"Theek keh rahi ho. Ab se woh un Malik khandaan ki beti nahi hai. Ab woh Sameer Khan ki beti hai. Jo bhi uski taraf buri nazar se dekhay ga... me qasam khata hoon mein uski aankhein nikal luga."
Sonia exhaled slowly, tears brimming.
Sonia (whispering): "Hamari beti hain..."
---
Meanwhile, Ayaan stood in the corridor outside Aayat's room. He hadn't gone to his own room yet. He leaned against the cold wall, head tilted back, fists clenched. Her muffled sobs still rang in his ears, the story she had told his mother replaying like a dagger cutting deeper.
"She helped someone on the road... aur uski achhai ko uske khilaf saboot bana diya. Sharam ani chahiye in logo ko..."
His chest burned with rage.
Ayaan's thoughts:
" itna bura kaise kr sakta hain koi... par Aayat... tum ab akeli nahi ho. Main tumhe uthaoon ga. Main tumhe woh izzat dilaonga jo tumse cheen li gayi. Balkay us ne b zada izat mile gay tumhe, jo wo tum khud banao gy."
He closed his eyes, his breath heavy, and in that silence he made a vow to himself:
"Main tumhe protect nahi karunga Aayat... main tumhe khud ki taqat banne pe majboor karunga. Tum girogi nahi ab. Tum ladogi. Aur main tumhara saaya ban ke tumhare saath rahunga... har qadam."
~
Later that night, Aayat stepped into the garden for fresh air. She hugged herself against the cool breeze, her mind heavy with memories.
Suddenly, a voice came from behind.
"You don't have to act strong."
She turned quickly. Ayan was leaning against a wall, his arms crossed. The moonlight caught his sharp features.
"I... I'm not acting," she said softly.
He looked at her for a moment, then spoke.
"Dard chupane se kam nahi hota. Face it. Deal with it. That's the only way you'll survive."
Her throat tightened. "Aur agar himmat hi na ho toh?"
Ayan stepped closer, his voice low but steady.
"Then borrow mine. Jab tak tumhare andar himmat wapas nahi aati... use mine."
Aayat stared at him, stunned. No one had ever spoken to her like that before.
She whispered, almost broken,
"Why... why are you being so kind?"
His eyes softened slightly, though his tone remained calm.
"Because you deserve it. And... because I don't like seeing people waste their tears on those who never valued them."
For a moment, silence hung between them, filled only with the sound of rustling leaves.
Then Ayan added, almost as if making a promise,
"Yeh ghar tumhara hai. Safe. Nobody here will doubt you. Not while I'm around."
Her lips parted, her chest aching with unfamiliar relief. She nodded slightly, whispering,
"Shukriya..."
He gave a small nod in return, then walked away, leaving her standing under the moonlight.
That night, as Aayat lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind replayed the words:
"Tum meri beti ho."
"Borrow my strength."
And unknowingly, her journey toward becoming something greater - stronger, braver, unbreakable - had just begun.
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