Chapter 36
The dining hall glittered with chandeliers. Plates of biryani, kebabs, roasted chicken and desserts lined the long mahogany table. Both families were seated together.
Shahbaz Malik at the head of the table, Nafeesa quietly passing rotis, Saad and Huzaif cracking small jokes, Hania serving Hayaat, while Ramsha sat smug in her expensive saree. Rayyan too, his eyes occasionally flickering toward Aayat.
But Aayat sat straight, calm, regal. She wasn’t here to enjoy.
Just as Saad was narrating an old funny incident, Aayat’s phone vibrated. She glanced down, and her blood froze.
Message from Arjun:
“Junaid is here. Basement of Khan Mansion. Ayaan sir already handling.”
Her hand tightened on the spoon. Her jaw locked. A sudden storm surged inside her chest. She inhaled sharply, but the rage was uncontrollable.
She placed the spoon down — a little too hard. Clink. The sound made everyone look at her.
Shagufta;
“ Ab kya yaad aya tumhe, aayat? Kuch rehta hain kya?”
But Aayat didn’t reply. She stood, chair scraping back. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, but her face was carved with fire.
Rayyan (alarmed):
“Where are you going?”
Aayat stopped, her body trembling. She turned her head slightly, her eyes locking with Rayyan’s. Anger and pain blended in her gaze like poison.
Aayat (shaking, voice breaking):
“Mere samne… be mat aana abhi.”
The weight of her words silenced the table. Everyone stared, stunned. Even Rayyan, usually composed, felt a shiver crawl down his spine. He had seen Aayat angry before, but never like this — never with tears burning in her eyes.
And without another glance, Aayat stormed out.
The night was sharp and windy. Aayat slid into her black SUV, started the engine, and pressed the accelerator hard. The roads blurred as she drove, her hands tight on the steering wheel, her mind replaying Junaid’s name.
Aayat (whispering to herself, voice cracking):
“Junaid… aaj tumhara hisaab hoga.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she pressed harder on the gas, the city lights reflecting against her glassy eyes.
~
The basement was dark, damp, and smelled of rust and blood. Chains clinked against the cement walls. In the center, Junaid was tied to a chair, his face swollen, his lip bleeding. Ayaan stood over him, sleeves rolled up, fury written across his face.
Ayaan’s fist landed hard across Junaid’s cheek.
Ayaan (growling):
“ Apni jhooti kahaniya band kar aur sach bol.... Mere agay teri ye kahaniya nahi chale gy....”
Junaid whimpered, blood trickling from his mouth.
The basement door creaked open. Everyone froze.
Aayat stepped in.
Her heels echoed against the floor. The cold fury in her eyes made even Ayaan pause mid-swing.
Ayaan (lowering his fist, softly):
“Aayat…”
But she didn’t look at him. She walked straight to Junaid. Her hand raised and — SLAP!
The sound reverberated against the walls. Junaid’s head snapped to the side.
Aayat (screaming, voice breaking):
“Junaid… Haan… TUMNE!”
Her fingers tangled in his greasy hair. She yanked his head back, forcing him to look at her.
Aayat (tears streaming):
“Tumne meri zindagi barbaad kar di! Meri masoomiyat mujhse cheen li! Sab kuch barbaad kar diya! Aj mere pass sab kuch hain kehne ko , per phir be sab se zada gareeb mein hi hoon.”
SLAP! Another strike.
Junaid screamed, begging, but she didn’t stop. She grabbed a rusted iron rod lying nearby and swung it against his back. He howled in pain, the chair rattling under his weight.
Junaid (crying out):
“Plz… mat maro… main sab sach batata hoon!”
Aayat froze for a second, chest heaving.
Aayat (snarling):
“Bolo!”
Junaid (sobbing):
“Jab tumne meri help ki thi… tab mujhe sach mein chot lagy hui thi. Lekin jab tum mujhe ghar chhod kar wapas gaye… uske baad Ramsha aayi thi. Usne mujhe paise diye… aur kaha jab mujhse sawaal kiya jaye toh main jhoot bolun Rayyan ke samne. Har mahine 50 hazaar deti hain mujhe wo aj tak. Pichle 8 saal se! Flat ka rent bhi wahi bharti hai… main gareebi se tang a gaya tha. Main… main bik gaya. Mujhse galti hogy , please mujhe maaf kardo....”
Aayat’s body shook with rage. Her eyes burned red.
She raised the rod again and slammed it on his head. CRACK.
Junaid went limp, blood dripping down, half-conscious.
Aayat dropped the rod, collapsing to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.
Aayat (crying out):
“50 hazaar? Mere daman ko dhag dhag krne k liye sirf 50 hazar? Kya ek ladki ki izzat itni sasti hoti hain inki nazar mein?”
Ayaan rushed forward, signaling his men.
Ayaan (commanding):
“Doctor! Kay pass le kar jao isse... Humein abhi yeh zinda chahiye!”
His men dragged Junaid away. Ayaan crouched down, gently lifting Aayat by her shoulders. She resisted, but he guided her upstairs.
The vast hall was silent, dimly lit. Aayat collapsed onto the sofa, covering her face with her hands, trembling. Ayaan knelt in front of her, eye-level, refusing to let her face the storm alone.
Ayaan (softly):
“Bas Aayat… bas.”
But she sobbed harder, words spilling out between gasps.
Aayat:
“Meri zindagi… meri khushiya… meri izzat… sab ki keemat laga di us ne. Itne saste mein… usne mere sir se chadar kheench li, kis liye sirf rayyan ko panay k liye. Sab kuch cheen liya usne… mera ghar, mere bhai, meri ami abu, meri behenain, mere tai abu, tai ami… sab... Aur!”
She choked on her words, voice breaking further.
Aayat (whispering, devastated):
“…Aur mera Rayyan.”
The name sliced through Ayaan’s chest like a knife. His throat tightened, but he forced himself to stay calm.
Ayaan (quietly):
“Rayyan…”
Aayat’s eyes glazed with memories.
Aayat (through tears):
“Tumhe pata hai Ayaan… bachpan se sirf main us kay kareeb thi, baki kisi say wo zada baat nahin karte thai... Aur Jab bhi mujhe chot lagti thi, ya main koi shaitani karti thi, sabse pehle wo atay thai mere pass … sab mujhe ignore kar dete thai ye keh kar kay yeh drama karti hain, lekin rayyan... Rayyan kabhi mujhe ignore nahin krte thai. Main jaan bujh kar apni choti si chot ko bada bana deti thi… sirf unka dhyan paane ke liye. Aur wo jaante the… par phir bhi aise behave karte jaise mujhe bohot chot lagi ho. Sirf main unke liye special thi… hamesha mera khayal rakhte the… sab ki daanton se bachate the. But jab mujhe sab se zada unki zaroorat thi wo khamosh rahay.... aur jab bole toh ramsha ko nikkah mein qabool kar liya...”
She sobbed harder, her body shaking.
Ayaan (gently, placing his hand over hers):
“Aayat… sambhalo apne aap ko. Bhool jao sab kuch.”
Her broken eyes lifted to him.
Aayat (whispering, shattered):
“Kaise bhool jaun, Ayaan? Kaise? Kya koi aulad apne maa baap ko bhool sakti hai? Kya koi behen apne bhaiyo ko bhool sakti hai? Kya koi biwi apne shohar ko bhool sakti hai jise usne bachpan se mohabbat ki ho? Aur us mohabbat ka ahsas mujhe us din hua, jis din maine usey kho diya....”
Her cries filled the hall.
Aayat (screaming softly):
“Bolo na… kya tum meri jagah hote, toh kya tum bhool jate? Apne maa baap ko, bhai behano ko , apne pyar ko....”
Ayaan’s eyes filled with tears. He slid closer, holding her trembling hands.
Aayat (voice breaking):
“Ayaan … main thak chuki hoon. ye soch kar roz mera dil jalta hain… ke mujhe dard dene wale mere apne hain. Ramsha ne mujhse sab kuch cheen liya… sab kuch! Us ne mujhe zakham be mere apno se pohanchaya hain.”
Her body collapsed forward, her forehead pressing against his shoulder as she wept.
Ayaan wrapped his arm gently around her, his other hand stroking her hair, tears rolling down his own face.
Ayaan (whispering, voice thick):
“I’m with you aayat.
Always. Main tumhe kabhi akela nahi chhodunga.
Main khud ko tumhari jaga rakh kar soch be nahi sakta.
Mere mama baba agar mujhse ek din be baat na kare toh mein pagal ho jata hoon.
Lekin tum… apni puri family ki nafrat ke bawajood bhi lad rahi ho.
Tum bohut strong ho... Mujhe fakhar hain tum per. ”
His words poured like balm, but she only cried harder, broken.
Suddenly—
A Voice from Behind (furious, cold):
“Ye… kya ho raha hai?”
Aayat froze.
Aayat stiffened instantly, pulling her head away from Ayaan’s shoulder, but she didn’t dare turn back. She knew that voice. Her heart stopped.
Ayaan’s eyes darkened with rage. He rose to his feet slowly, turning toward the doorway.
Rayyan stood there.
His fists clenched, his jaw tight, eyes burning as they shifted between Ayaan and Aayat.
Rayyan (repeating, deadly calm):
“Maine poocha… yahan kya ho raha hai?”