Chapter 24
Rayyan's POV:
The morning sunlight streamed through the sheer curtains of Malik Mansion, casting its golden glow on the polished marble floors. But inside Rayyan's room, there was no warmth - only the heavy silence of an unhealed heart.
Rayyan adjusted the cuffs of his crisp charcoal suit, tying the last button as he moved toward the dresser. His reflection stared back at him - sharp jawline, neatly combed hair, the face of a man everyone respected, feared, even envied. Yet the hollowness in his eyes betrayed the fa?ade.
When he stepped out of his room, his day already tainted by the memories that refused to die, he wasn't surprised to find Ramsha standing there - waiting.
She held his luxury watch in her hand, smiling faintly. " tumhari watch..."
Rayyan stretched his hand to take it, his tone clipped. " do mujhe."
But she stepped closer, tilting her head. "Nahi... main pehnati hoon tumhe."
He exhaled sharply through his nose, jaw tightening. Reluctantly, he held out his wrist. She slid the strap around him slowly, fingers brushing deliberately against his skin. And then, before he could pull away, she leaned in and pressed a fleeting peck on his lips.
Rayyan jerked back, fury flashing in his eyes. "Ramsha! Kitni dafa kaha hai tumhe... don't cross the line."
Her face hardened instantly, eyes flashing with anger. "Aur kyu na karun? Main tumhari biwi hoon, Rayyan! Mujhe haq hai!"
His voice dropped, cold and sharp. "I know you're my wife. I don't need a daily reminder. Lekin iska matlab ye nahi ke tum...." He broke off, fists clenched.
Her frustration spilled out. "Kyu? Kyu tum mujhe apne kareeb aane hi nahi dete? 8 saal ho chuke hain hamari shadi ko, m sirf itna chahti hoon , tumhari ankhon m apne liye mohabbat dekh saku."
He snapped, his patience gone. "Mujhe late ho raha hai. Roz roz bas yahi drama. Roz yahi sawaal. Roz yahi baatein. I am tired, Ramsha. Bohat tang aa gaya hoon main tumhari in baaton se."
Tears of rage welled in her eyes. "Tumhari problem main nahi hoon, Rayyan! Tumhari problem wo ladki hai... jise tum ab tak bhool nahi paaye. Aayat! Jo tumhe chhod kar bhag gayi thi. Jisne tumhe dhoka diya tha us mard ke saath-"
Before she could finish, Rayyan's fury burst like thunder. He shoved past her roughly, his shoulder colliding hard against hers. She stumbled back, gasping, as he stormed down the hallway without a backward glance.
~
In the car
The engine purred to life, but Rayyan didn't drive yet. His grip on the steering tightened, his breathing ragged.
Her words had ripped open the wounds that never closed.
Those pictures flashed in his mind again - Aayat's delicate hand clutching another man's arm, her lips curved in a smile, walking beside him as though Rayyan Malik had never existed.
He shut his eyes, the ache burning.
And then her broken voice echoed - "Main sirf uski help kar rahi thi, Rayyan. Aisa kuch nahi hain jaisa tum samj rahay ho."
He remembered the desperation in her eyes the night she had tried to explain. But then, louder still came the stranger's words, venomous and final:
"Tumhari shaadi se pehle se hum dono ek dusre ko chahte thay. Tumhare Abu tumhari shaadi Rayyan se karna chahte the... tumne kaha sab khatam karke mere paas aaogi."
Rayyan slammed his fist against the steering wheel, his head dropping onto it.
"Why, Aayat? Kyun... tum mujhe chod kar kaise ja sakti ho? " His voice cracked, broken in the solitude of the car.
Just as he drove forward, his eyes caught a familiar figure stepping out of the opposite gate. Hayaat.
She was older now, her aura stronger, but her face still held the shadow of grief.
Rayyan pulled the car to a stop beside her. He rolled the window down. "University ja rahi ho? Aao, main chhod deta hoon."
Hayaat turned, her lips curving into a sad smile. "Chhod toh chuke ho... meri Api ko. 8 saal pehle."
The words pierced him like knives. He pushed the door open, stepping out, anger boiling under his skin. "Nahi. Tumhari Api khud chhod kar gayi thi. Mujhe dhoka de kar. Us mard ke saath bhaag gayi."
Hayaat's eyes filled, but her voice remained steady. "Nahi, Rayyan bhai. Aayat api kisi ke saath nahi bhagi. Wo humein chhod kar gayi hain... kyunke hum sab ne un pr bharosa nahi kiya. Rishta nibhane mein hum sab fail gaye. Unki jagah ramsha api ko di. Islye wo humein chod kr chali gaye."
He shook his head violently, denial raw. "Galat. Agar wo itni achi hoti, toh bhagti nahi. Lekin dekho wo yaha nahi hain. Aur mein ne uski jagah ramsha ko nahi di, balkay usne khud Ramsha ki jagah banayi meri zindagi mein. Usne mujhe dhoka diya."
Hayaat's voice trembled, but the conviction in it shook him. "Api ne aapko dhoka nahi diya... Samjhe ap. Api ko hum sab ne dhoka diya tha. Aur ab unki jagah Ramsha ne le li hai... kyunke aapne usey laine di.... Aayat api maloom nahi kaha hain. Lekin inshallah Allah unki hifazat kare ga."
Rayyan's throat tightened, but he couldn't let her words sink in. His jaw locked as he turned away, sliding back into the driver's seat. Without another glance, he slammed the door and sped off.
~
The skyscraper stood tall, Malik Enterprises glowing with glass and steel. Inside, the boardroom was buzzing, but Rayyan ignored them all, striding into his cabin.
The silence here was his only shield. He sank into the leather chair, hands rubbing his temples.
But peace didn't come. Instead, memories clawed back -
Flashback ( aayat age 9 rayyan age 15 )
Rayyan stood quietly in the balcony of his house, leaning against the railing. His eyes were fixed on the little girl playing in the garden below. Aayat was running around with Aleena, Hayaat, and Huzaif, her laughter echoing like chimes in the afternoon air.
Suddenly, her tiny foot twisted , and with a small cry, she tumbled to the ground.
"Ahhh...! Ammiiiii...!" She began to cry loudly, clutching her knee as though she had been gravely hurt.
Shagufta, her mother, rushed forward at once.
"Aayat! tum aram se nahi khail sakti kya, jab dekho idhar udhar bhagti rehti ho."
But Aayat's sobs only grew louder, her tears streaming down her small face. From the balcony, Rayyan's heart jumped. He didn't waste a second; he dashed downstairs, rushing straight to her side.
He bent on his knees beside her, his face pale with worry.
"Kya hua Aayat... bohot dard ho raha hai kya?"
Shagufta checked her leg and sighed.
"Itni si kharoch hai, bas. Naak mein dam kar rakha hai. Kuch nahi hua tumhe, Aayat."
But the little drama queen continued sobbing loudly.
"Nahi... bohot dard ho raha hai! Khoon nikal jaye ga... Rayyan bhai, mujhe doctor ke paas le chalo!"
Everyone around her rolled their eyes; they knew Aayat's antics well. She always wanted attention. So, one by one, they began to walk away, shaking their heads.
But not Rayyan. His gaze stayed fixed on her scraped knee. He bent closer and blew gently on the small wound.
"Ab theek hain... dard kam hua kya?"
Aayat paused mid-cry, blinking at him. A small smile tugged at her lips.
"Haan... ab thoda thik lag raha hai."
Shagufta folded her arms, clearly unimpressed.
"Rayyan beta, tum isey aur bigaad rahe ho. Ye ladki kal ko tumhe apni ungliyon pe nachaye gi dekhna."
Rayyan didn't move his eyes from Aayat, his voice firm and innocent at the same time.
"Nahi aunty, isey sach mein dard tha. Main mehsoos kar sakta hoon."
Shagufta shook her head, muttering under her breath, and walked away, leaving the two children behind.
Rayyan stretched out his hand towards her.
"Chalo, haath do apna mujhe."
Aayat slipped her tiny hand into his, letting him pull her up. But the moment she stood, she suddenly pushed him back with all her strength and darted off with a mischievous giggle.
She stopped a few feet away, turned around, pulled a face, and stuck her tongue out at him.
Aayat (laughing): "Ab pakad ke dikhao, Rayyan bhai!"
Rayyan couldn't help it-his lips curved into a smile. His heart, even at twelve, knew there was something special about the girl who had just turned his worry into laughter.
Flashback ends.
A sharp knock broke his spiral.
His PA, Junaid, stepped in, files in hand. "Sir, ek important update ay hain."
Rayyan looked up, eyes narrowing. "Kya hai?"
Junaid hesitated. "India ke upcoming Global CEO Excellence Awards mein ek bohot bada announcement hai... The mysterious businesswoman AK is finally coming in person. And sir... iss bar unka full naam aur face dono reveal hoga."
Rayyan leaned back slowly, the words settling in. His eyes darkened.
"So... AK khud aa rahi hai."
Junaid nodded. "Ji sir. Sab ko intezar hai. Sab dekhnay k liye betab h akhir ye hain kon jis ne achanak se apna nam bana liya."
A slow, dangerous smile tugged at Rayyan's lips. "Interesting. Bohat saalon se ye AK humari raahon mein aati rahi... hamesha deal reject karti rahi. Lekin ab..."
He leaned forward, fingers steepling under his chin. His voice dropped, rich with challenge.
"Ab wo hamare samne ay gy. Dekhte hain... ye AK asal mein hai kon. Aur kaise mere saamne tikti hai."
His eyes flickered with an emotion he couldn't name - curiosity, anger, and somewhere buried deep, the ghost of hope.
Because for reasons he couldn't explain... the name AK made his pulse quicken.