Chapter 28
Author's POV:
The morning sun streamed softly through the tall glass windows of Aayat's office.
The elegant cabin was filled with the quiet hum of business outside, yet inside, silence carried a strange weight.
Aayat sat behind her mahogany desk, reviewing files with her usual calm precision, while Arjun stood at her side, flipping through today's schedule.
"Mam," Arjun said respectfully, "aaj shaam ko mr. Malhotra ki beti ki engagement party ka invitation aaya hai. Aap chaahe toh main mana kar deta hoon... main janta hoon aap parties mein jana pasand nahi karti."
Aayat lifted her eyes from the file, her tone cold yet firm.
"Arjun, ab sabko pata chal gaya hai ke main kaun hoon.
Aur India mein business ke liye pehli dafa aayi hoon.
Yahan ke businessmen se milna zaroori hai.
Hum mana nahi karenge. Main party attend karungi.
Kyu k Mr. Malhotra india k top businessmans m ek hain.
. aur unki party mein zaroor aur b business se jude log ho gay. "
Arjun nodded, making a note. He was about to mention the time when suddenly, the cabin door opened without a knock.
Both heads turned.
Rayyan Malik walked in.
His presence was commanding, his sh
arp gaze piercing straight through the air. Arjun stiffened instantly, anger flashing in his eyes.
"ap aise, bina ijazat, andar kaise aa sakte hain?" Arjun snapped, stepping forward.
But Rayyan didn't even glance at him. His eyes were locked-burning, restless, hungry-on Aayat.
Arjun's jaw tightened. "I'll call security right now-"
"Arjun." Aayat's voice was calm, her eyes still fixed on Rayyan. "Tum jao. Bahar wait karo. Main tumhe bula lungi."
Arjun froze, looking at her with concern. He wanted to argue, but her expression left no space for refusal.
"As you wish, ma'am," he said reluctantly, then left, shutting the door behind him.
The silence that followed was heavy, suffocating, charged.
Rayyan's eyes roamed over her-alive, furious, and yet achingly relieved. Eight years of torment and longing clashed in his chest.
Aayat, on the other hand, sat poised in her chair, her face expressionless as if she had expected this storm to walk through her door.
She leaned slightly forward, resting her arm on the desk. Her tone was icy.
"Toh Mr. Malik... yahan kaise aana hua? Jaha tak mujhe yaad hai... hamari meeting kal scheduled hai. Aaj nahi."
Rayyan's lips curved bitterly. His voice was raw, thick with emotions.
"8 saal... Aayat. 8 saal kay baad tum wapas aayi ho. Aur ab aise behave kar rahi ho jaise mujhe jaanti hi nahi."
Aayat's gaze didn't flicker. She leaned back in her chair, arms folding.
"Mr. Malik, agar aapko business ki koi baat karni hai toh theek hai. Warna aap jaa sakte hain. Mere paas apki tarah fuzool waqt nahi hai. Ap yaha se jaa sakte hain."
She gestured coldly towards the door.
That single dismissive motion was enough to ignite Rayyan's fury. He strode forward, reached across the desk, and in one swift move, gripped her arms and pulled her up from the chair.
"Rayyan-!" she gasped, colliding against his chest. His hold was iron, his face inches from hers.
Her palms pressed against his chest, trying to push him away.
"Chhodo mujhe! Ye kya badtameezi hai, Mr. Malik!"
Rayyan's lips twisted into a half-smile, his voice low and dangerous.
"Badtameezi? Mrs. Rayyan Malik... badtameezi abhi toh main ne shuru bhi nahi ki."
Her eyes blazed.
"Khabar-daar jo is naam se mujhe pukara! Main Aayat Khan hoon."
His grip tightened. He bent closer, whispering bitterly.
"Nahin. Tum Aayat Rayyan Malik ho. Wo ladki... jisne mera aur meri mohabbat dono ka mazak banaya. Jisne mujhe dhoka diya. Aur bhaag gayi."
Her jaw clenched, fury sparking in her eyes.
"Mrs. Rayyan Malik toh tumhare ghar par hai. Shayad tum bhool gaye... tumhari biwi Ramsha Rayyan Malik hai. Mujhse toh mera kamra, mera haq... sab kuch 8 saal pehle hi cheen liya tha tumne."
Rayyan's nostrils flared. He shoved her back, and she staggered, clutching the desk for balance.
" Mein nay tumse kuch nahi cheena ... Wo sab Tumhare dhoke ki wajah se hua!
" he thundered. "Phir bhi maine tumpe yakeen karna chaha.
Lekin jab wo aadmi khud samne aaya , mere hi ghar mein , meri hi chat k neeche khade ho kar us ne kaha ke tum dono ek doosre ko pasand karte ho.
.. tab bhi aayat , tab b , ye sab sune k bawajood main tumhe chhod nahi saka.
Kyunke mere andar tumhe chhodne ki himmat thi hi nahi! "
Aayat's laugh was bitter, broken.
"Chhodne ki himmat nahi thi? Par doosri shadi karne ki thi! Nikah kar liya tumne ramsha se. Mein janti hoon dil se, ya khushi se nahi kiya , sirf mujhe dard daine k liye tum ne wo nikah kiya. Us galti ki saza dene ke liye jo maine ki hi nahi thi!"
Her eyes glistened, but she wiped away the tears quickly.
Her voice cracked as she continued:
"Jab sab mere khilaf thai, jab sabne mujhe doshi thehraya.
.. tum mere saath khade nahi thai. Tum mere khilaf khade thai!
Tumhe andaza hai kya guzri mujhpar? Mere apnon ne mujhe paraya kar diya, aur tumne be mujhe tanha kar diya.
.. tumne mujhe maar diya, Rayyan. Aur ab tum yahan Aayat Malik ko dhoondhne aaye ho?
Wo Aayat Malik toh 8 saal pehle mar gayi thi! Jab tumne us per bharosa nahi kiya."
Her face was stone, her voice a whisper of pain.
"Jo tumhare samne hai... wo sirf Aayat Khan hai. Jo tumse sirf aur sirf nafrat karti hai. Nafrat, Rayyan Malik... suna tumne? Nafrat, I hate you rayyan."
The words sliced through him like a blade. His chest heaved, eyes burning. And before she could step back, he pinned her against the wall, his lips dangerously close to hers.
"Nafrat?" he whispered, his voice trembling with rage and need.
And then he kissed her.
The kiss was rough, punishing, desperate-eight years of agony and betrayal poured into that single moment.
Aayat struggled at first, pushing against his chest, her fists pounding in protest.
"Rayyan-chhodo-"
But his hold only tightened. His tears mingled with the kiss.
And something inside her cracked.
Her resistance melted. Her hands, once pushing, slowly slid up to his neck, clutching him as though drowning. The taste of his tears, the warmth of his mouth, the ache of his pain-it all consumed her.
The kiss deepened. Tongues tangled in a war of love and hate, bites and moans escaping between them. His hands roamed-one gripping her waist possessively, the other cupping her face, holding her as though she was his oxygen.
Her body betrayed her. Her lips kissed him back, hungry, aching, furious. It was not just a kiss-it was fire, it was grief, it was every unspoken word of the last eight years.
When finally breath escaped her, she pushed at his shoulder, gasping. Her forehead fell against his chest, eyes closed, heart pounding wildly , and she can clearly heard his heartbeat.
Rayyan rested his chin on her head, eyes shut tight, clutching her like a man who had just found life after years of death.
But the spell shattered.
Her phone rang on the desk.
The sound jolted her back to reality. Horrified at herself, she shoved him away and rushed to her desk, slamming her trembling hand on the security button.
Her voice was cold, trembling beneath the surface.
"Mr. Malik, aap jaa sakte hain. Mere paas aapke liye bilkul waqt nahi hai."
The security guards entered instantly.
" Mr. Malik ko bahir ka rasta dhika de, aur next time bina appointment k ander mt ane dijiye ga."
Rayyan smirked bitterly,
"Koi zaroorat nahi... main khud jaa sakta hoon."
He shot her one last look-a storm of pain and fury-before walking out.
The door shut behind him.
Aayat sank into her chair, burying her face in her hands, trembling.
"What... what have I done...?" she whispered to herself.
Her phone rang again. The caller ID flashed: mama
She forced her voice calm as she answered.
They asked about her well-being, her work, her life in India. She smiled faintly, reassured them she was fine. But the moment the call ended, her mask broke again.
The memory of his lips, his tears, his heartbeat-it haunted her.
Her fists clenched.
"Why... why does my body still betray me? Why am I still drawn to him...?"
~
Rayyan stormed out of the building, each step heavy with rage. He yanked the car door open and slammed it shut, gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white.
His breath came ragged.
Her words echoed in his head.
"I hate you... Mujhe nafrat hai tumse..."
His heart twisted violently.
He laughed bitterly, a hollow, broken laugh.
"Nafrat? Jo hum dono ne abhi kiya... kya wo nafrat thi, Aayat? Tum isey nafrat kehti ho...."
He slammed his fist against the wheel, his forehead dropping onto it, eyes shut.
" tears." he muttered, voice breaking. " tum kehti ho Main ne aansu diye tumhe sirf ... aur tumne phir bhi mujhe kiss back ki. Tum nafrat karti ho mujhse? apne ap se jhoot bol rahi ho, Aayat?"
His chest ached. His eyes burned.
"8 saal... aur aj bhi tum sirf meri ho. Sirf meri..." he whispered hoarsely.
But even as he said it, guilt tore at him. Ramsha's face flashed before his eyes.
Yet his heart screamed only one name: Aayat.
' Mein na aayat tumhare sath apna rishta sambhal paya , aur na hi ramsha ko uska haq de paya.
.. Mein janta hoon mein us k sath galat kar raha hoon.
.. Us ladki nay sirf hamare ghar ki izat bachane k liye mujse shadi ki .
..aur phir be mera dil usey wo mukam nhi de pa raha jis ki wo haqdar h. .."
~
Back in her office, Aayat stared at her reflection in the glass wall. Her lips still tingled, swollen from his kiss. Her body trembled with shame and longing.
She whispered to herself:
"I hate him... I hate him..."
But deep inside, she knew-her hatred was nothing but love, twisted and scarred.