Chapter 21
Author's POV:
The days after Ayaan’s proposal to take her to New York felt like a strange dream for Aayat.
For the first time in months, she had a reason to wake up with something more than dread.
The thought of leaving — of breathing somewhere far from the shadows of her past — gave her a fragile but real kind of hope.
Morning in the Khan Mansion
Sonia entered Aayat’s room carrying a tray of breakfast. Parathas, omelet, and warm tea.
Sonia (smiling): “ Aayat mera Beta, uth jao. .”
Aayat sat up slowly, her hair loose around her shoulders. She looked at Sonia and for a moment her chest filled with gratitude.
Aayat (softly): “Mama…”
Sonia froze. That one word melted her. She placed the tray aside, cupped Aayat’s face in her hands, and kissed her forehead.
Sonia (tearfully): “ Tumhe pata hain mujhe hamesha se shok tha meri beti hoti... Pr ayaan k hone kay baad accident hua mera , us k baad.... Khair pr dekho ab Allah ne meri dua qabool kar li, mujhe itni cute si beti de di...”
Aayat’s eyes watered but she smiled. For the first time, she said it again with more confidence.
Aayat: “Mama…”
Later in the study, Sameer called the family together. Ayaan stood beside him, Sonia seated, and Aayat slightly nervous.
Sameer (firm voice): “Ek baat yaad rakhna sab, specially aayat tum..... Aayat tum ab beti ho meri, tumhara mustaqbil bhi hamari zimmedari hai. Islye kuch be chahiye ho call karna mujhe ya ayaan ko. Mein aur sonia be jalad wahi shift ho jaye gay. Theek hain beta."
"Aur Ayaan, tumhein New York mein business sambhalna hai, ye tumhara imtihan hain ab, bina meri kisi help kay tumhein waha sab khud handle karna hain... Faida ya nuksan sab tum pr hain ab...”
Ayaan: “Yes Baba. Next month tak shift ho jaunga. Aur Aayat ko bhi apne saath le jaunga.”
Aayat swallowed. Sameer turned his gaze to her.
Sameer: “Beta, tumhein apni zindagi naye se shuru karni hai. Wahaan tumhari padhai continue hogi, apna career banogi. Main tumhe bas ek baat kehna chahta hoon…”
He walked closer, placing his large, fatherly hand on her head.
Sameer (gentle, but resolute): “Ab se tum Aayat Malik nahi. Tum Aayat Khan ho. Meri beti. Mera khoon nahi sahi… lekin meri duaon ki hasil zaroor ho.”
Her lips trembled. She whispered: “Baba …”
Sameer hugged her tightly. “Beta, main hamesha tumhare saath rahuga..”
The following week turned into a blur of preparations.
Ayaan teased her relentlessly.
Ayaan (holding shopping bags): “Tumhari list itni lambi thi ke mujhe laga tum New York padhne nahi ja rahi ho balkay shopping mall kholne ja rahi ho?”
Aayat (rolling her eyes): “Tumne kaha tha jo chahiye le lo. Ab tumhi complain kar rahe ho?”
Ayaan (smirking): “Haan, main complain kar raha hoon. Mere dosto ko kya jawab dunga… ke New York mein ek shopaholic room-mate le aya hoon?”
Aayat chuckled, shaking her head.
Sometimes he pulled silly pranks just to lighten her mood. One evening, she found her suitcase half-filled with toys and comic books.
Aayat (frowning): “Ye kya hai?”
Ayaan (innocently): “Survival kit. Tumhe udaasi ho toh Spider-Man tumhe cheer up karega.”
She threw a cushion at him, laughing for the first time openly.
~
The night before departure, Sonia entered Aayat’s room with a velvet box.
Sonia: “Ye mere paas ek purana set hai. Meri shadi ka hain.. us time mein ne socha tha ye mein apni beti ko dugy...toh islye aj ye mein tumhein deti hoon.”
She opened the box — a delicate gold necklace with emerald drops. Aayat’s eyes widened.
Aayat (choked): “Mama… nahi ye toh....”
Sonia: “Chup. Tum meri beti ho. Aur betiyon ka maa k zewar pr , nahi balkay har cheez pr unka haq hota hain. Ab tum meri beti ho, Aayat.”
Aayat hugged her tightly, whispering again: “Mama you are so sweet…”
That evening, before sleep, Aayat found herself staring at the window, the city lights glowing outside. A strange ache still lived inside her. She remembered Rayyan’s face, his promises, his betrayal.
“Kya tumhe kabhi meri yaad aayegi, Rayyan? Nahi... Nahi aye gy.... Kyu kay tumhare pass toh ramsha hain... Meri uski galti ki saza jo mein nay ki hi nahi thi.”
Her chest hurt, but then she remembered Ayaan’s words: “Don’t let them define you.”
She whispered to herself: “Main ab un se itni dur chali jaugy... Kay agar kabhi un k samne be ay toh wo log mere liye anjan ho gay."
~
The morning was chaotic. Suitcases were being loaded. Sameer supervised everything like a general. Sonia fussed over Aayat’s dupatta, her hair, her passport.
Sonia: “Tumhe kuch chahiye toh turant call karna. Main roz tumhare liye dua karungi."
Sameer (firmly to Ayaan): “ Ayaan Beta, meri amanat hai ye. Har haal mein iska khayal rakhna.”
Ayaan (placing a hand on his heart): “Baba, meri jaan bhi de dunga par Aayat ko dukh nahi hone dunga.”
Aayat’s eyes blurred with tears as she hugged them both.
Aayat (whispering): “Baba… Mama… main wapas aakar aap dono ko proud feel karaungi. Ye wada hai.”
Sameer kissed her forehead. “Allah tumhe hamesha khush rakhein, meri lado.”
As they stood at the departure gate, Aayat clutched her passport tightly. Her heart raced.
Ayaan (teasing softly): “Relax, silent film. Plane blast nahi hoga, bas udaan bhare ga.”
Aayat exhaled, half-laughing, half-crying.
They walked forward. Behind them, India — the city of her brokenness. Ahead, New York — the city of her rebirth.
And as the boarding call echoed, Aayat Malik finally stepped into her new identity.
No longer broken.
No longer alone.
She was Aayat Khan.