Chapter 29
Author's POV:
The grand ballroom of The Imperial Hotel glittered with golden chandeliers and laughter. The engagement of Mr. Malhotra's daughter was no small affair-every powerful businessman and elite family in the city was present.
At the entrance, cameras flashed. Rayyan Malik walked in with Ramsha by his side, her hand looped through his arm. He looked devastating in a blue tuxedo, his sharp jawline more rigid than usual. Ramsha glowed in emerald silk, her smile practiced, her posture regal.
But his eyes-his eyes betrayed him.
Across the hall, Aayat Khan stood in a blue dress, simple yet breathtaking, her aura commanding the space around her. She wore her cold mask flawlessly, conversing politely with investors, her smile faint but distant.
Yet, every time she turned her head, she found him.
Rayyan.
Staring at her.
Not at the chandeliers, not at the crowd, not even at Ramsha on his arm-just her.
Her fingers tightened around the juice glass she held, but her face gave nothing away. She raised a brow, nodded at the businessman beside her, and forced her lips into a polite curve.
Inside, though, her chest burned.
Why are you looking at me, Rayyan? Apni bahon m ramsha ko rakh kr, nazrein mujh pr rakhne ka kya fyda......?
Ramsha noticed it. Every single glance.
Her teeth clenched behind her smile. Main be tumhari biwi hoon, Rayyan. Aur tumhari nazrein ab bhi Aayat par hi kyu hain? She thought
The evening carried on with laughter, music, clinking glasses. Aayat excused herself after a while, slipping away towards the restroom.
On her way back, as she passed a corridor near the side hall, she froze.
Her breath caught.
Through the half-open door of a private room, she saw them.
Ramsha... and Rayyan.
Ramsha's hands cupping his face, her lips pressed against his.
Something shattered inside Aayat.
She spun on her heel, stumbling, her vision blurring with unshed tears. She rushed into the nearest restroom, bolting the door behind her.
Her back hit the cold wall. And finally, the dam broke.
She slid down to the floor, covering her mouth with trembling hands, muffling the sound of her sobs.
Her body shook violently as tears streamed down her face.
"Nahi... nahi... mujhe farq nahi padta... mujhe farq nahi padna chahiye..." she whispered to herself.
But her heart screamed otherwise.
She curled into herself, weeping silently, the sound of distant music mocking her loneliness. Her cold mask had shattered; here, hidden in the restroom, she was just Aayat-a broken woman reliving the same betrayal, the same pain, all over again.
Ramsha's POV
From the moment she entered the grand hall, her eyes had been following only one direction-Rayyan's gaze.
And what did she see?
Every time, every single time, his eyes were locked on her. On Aayat.
Her jaw tightened, nails digging into her palm. Biwi toh ban gayi main... lekin dil? Dil ab bhi Aayat ka hai. Kyun, Rayyan? Kyun woh larki ab bhi tumhari duniya ka markaz bani hui hai? Tumhari Nazar mein maine usey ek bhagi hui ladki be bana diya , phir be tumhara dil usi ka hain, why?"
Inside, fire licked through her veins.
Tumhe wapas ana hi nahi chahiye tha, Aayat.
Tumhe wapas nahi aana chahiye tha. Tumhe lagta hai mai tumhe jeetne dugy?
Peechli bar tum har k be jeet gaye lekin is nahi, not this time again.
This time, agar meine puri duniya kay samne tumhe bezat na kiya toh mera naam be ramsha malik nahi.
Tum soch bhi nahi sakti ke main tumhare saath kya karne wali hoon agay.
Her lips curled in a faint smile as she noticed Aayat slipping quietly towards the restroom.
Opportunity. Perfect.
She leaned towards Rayyan, weaving a web of excuse and gentle words, guiding him subtly towards the corridor.
His resistance was soft, almost distracted - his eyes still searching for her.
Inside the quiet room, she finally faced him, letting her expression fall into wounded softness.
"Rayyan... tum sirf usay hi kyun dekhte ho? Main be yahan hoon... tumhari biwi. Aur tumhari nazar hamesha Aayat par kyun hoti hai?"
Her voice trembled, deliberately fragile. The picture of a hurt wife.
But inside? Inside she laughed. Main tumhe ab chahti hi nahi hoon rayyan.
Pehle chahti thi but ab nahi. Tumhe toh main pehle hi chhod deti.
.. agar Aayat wapas na aati. Tumhari bar bar k reject karne ki aadat se main thak chuki thi.
Lekin ab? Ab maza tab aayega jab main usse jalte dekhungi. Usse toot tay dekhungi.
She stepped closer, eyes glistening with carefully summoned tears.
"Main toh tumse shadi karna hi nahi chahti thi, Rayyan. Main kabhi tumhare aur Aayat ke beech nahi aana chahti thi. Lekin ghar ki izzat... bas iss liye maine haan ki thi."
A tear slid down, perfectly timed.
He froze, guilt flickering in his eyes. Just as she wanted.
She pressed further, letting her voice choke.
"Rayyan... in 8 saalon mein maine tumse kabhi kuch nahi manga. Kabhi nahi. Lekin jab tum bahar Aayat ko dekh rahe the... mera dil jal raha tha. Mujhe laga main bikhar jaungi."
She reached for him then, slowly laying her head against his chest, feeling his body stiffen. He tried to push her back, but she clung tighter, whispering with trembling lips:
"Please, Rayyan... bas ek dafa. Mujhe apne kareeb rehne do. Mujhe aise tod kar mat chhodo. Meri kya galti h in sb mein."
Her voice cracked with perfect precision. "Kya main is layak be nahi ke tum mujhe ek nazar dekh lo?"
Rayyan's jaw tightened. Guilt crept in like poison. His chest burned with conflict. He opened his mouth to speak, to deny, but she silenced him by stepping closer, her hand trembling as it rose to his cheek.
"Bas ek baar... sirf ek baar mujhe woh nazar de do jo usse dete ho..."
And before he could react, she leaned forward, pressing her lips against his.
His hand rose instinctively-to push her away. His heart screamed no.
But her broken whisper stopped him.
"Please, Rayyan... sirf is dafa."
His hand fell limply to his side. His eyes shut tight. His heart splintered.
She kissed him, pouring all her poison into it.
Rayyan's POV
The moment her lips touched his, Rayyan's soul recoiled.
His body stood frozen, his fists clenched, his eyes burning behind closed lids. His heart screamed only one name: Aayat.
And then-her image flashed before him. Her cold mask. Her trembling lips. Her broken voice whispering "I hate you, Rayyan Malik."
Guilt tore through him like fire.
In a violent burst, he shoved Ramsha back, breaking the kiss. His breath came ragged, his eyes bloodshot.
Ramsha stumbled, feigning shock and hurt, but he barely saw her. His chest heaved as if the walls were closing in.
And then, it came.
A tear.
One single tear slid down his cheek.
Followed by another.
He covered his face with both hands, shaking his head violently. "Nahi... nahi... yeh kya kar diya maine..."
He staggered towards the door, his voice breaking.
"Aayat... maine tumhe dhoka de diya..."
Ramsha called after him, but he didn't stop. He shoved the door open, storming out, his vision blurred by tears.
Out in the corridor, he clutched his chest, gasping for air as if drowning. His knees weakened, his back hitting the wall.
The world spun.
He had kissed another woman-his wife, yes, but not his love. Not his soul, not his aayat. And Aayat... somewhere inside this same building, she existed. Breathing. Hurting.
His hands trembled. His body shook. He slid down against the wall, burying his face in his hands, sobbing silently.
He was trapped.
Between a wife he never wanted... and a love he couldn't let go.
Between duty... and desire.
Between guilt... and truth.
And for the first time in years, Rayyan Malik broke down completely-destroyed by the very choices he once thought he had control over.