Chapter 41
Author's POV:
The corridor outside Aayat's room was silent, except for the faint sound of her sobs echoing through the locked door. She sat on the cold floor, her back against the wood, her knees drawn to her chest. Every breath came shorter, weaker.
Her trembling fingers traced the door handle as if willing it to open. "Rayyan... please... darwaza kholo... please..." she whispered, voice barely above a breath.
No answer. Only the deafening silence.
Her lungs burned. She tried to inhale, but the air felt heavy, sharp - her chest rising in uneven gasps. Her head fell back against the door, eyes glistening. "Rayyan... please..."
Her voice broke midway, and suddenly-she saw it.
A shadow.
A dark figure standing outside, faint under the dim corridor light, its silhouette long and still. Her eyes widened. She forced herself to her feet, stumbling, trying to focus through the blur of tears.
The shadow didn't move.
"Kaun... kaun hai? Darwaza .... kholo" she whispered shakily, voice trembling with fear.
Before she could step closer-there was a sound.
The lock turned.
Her eyes flickered in disbelief as the door slowly creaked open.
On the other side stood Ayaan, Hayaat, Saad, Hania, and Huzaif-all frozen at the sight before them.
Aayat, disheveled, pale, tears streaking her face, looked like a ghost of herself. Her eyes met Ayaan's - and in the next second, she ran straight into his arms.
"Ayaan!" she sobbed, clutching his shirt tightly, crying uncontrollably.
Ayaan's heart clenched. He wrapped his arms around her, one hand sliding to the back of her head, fingers threading through her hair, gently stroking to calm her.
"Shh... Aayat, bas... sab theek hai ab..." he murmured softly.
But she only shook her head against his chest. "Ayaan... main phir se haar gayi..." Her words broke into hiccups. " aaj bhi sab usi ki side mein hain..."
Her voice trembled; she gasped for air, unable to finish her sentence. "Main... akeli....Ayaan..."
Ayaan gently pushed her back just enough to see her face. Her tears wouldn't stop. His own throat tightened as he cupped her cheeks.
"Nahi... tum akeli nahi ho. Main hoon tumhare saath."
He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "Koi tum par bharosa kare ya na kare, koi farq nahi padta. Yaad rakhna ek baat hamesha - main tum par bharosa karta hoon."
Her sobs softened into hiccups, her lips trembling into a faint smile through tears.
Ayaan sighed, forcing a smile himself. "Ab bas be karo... tumhari naak beh rahi hai."
That pulled a small laugh from her despite her misery. She slapped his shoulder weakly. "Tum bhi na..."
And before he could tease her again, she rested her head on his chest once more. Her body relaxed slowly - too slowly.
Ayaan felt it - her breathing changing. "Aayat?" he whispered, pulling back.
Her eyes were closed. Her lips slightly parted.
"Aayat!" He tapped her cheek, panic rising. She didn't respond.
"Ayaan kya hua!" Hayaat gasped, rushing forward.
Ayaan caught Aayat's limp body before she fell, scooping her in his arms. "She's unconscious!"
Without another word, he turned toward the hallway. "Chalo Jaldi!"
Within minutes, they were gone from Malik Mansion - the place that had once destroyed her, and tonight, almost did again.
~
The lights were dim but steady. Calm. Safe.
Ayaan laid her carefully on her bed, brushing a loose strand from her forehead. Her face was pale, fragile - but her breathing, though shallow, was there.
The doctor arrived quickly, thanks to Ayaan's call from the car. Hayaat and Hania stayed inside the room, hovering close as he examined her vitals, injected a mild sedative, and checked her pulse.
Outside, Ayaan sat in the lobby with Saad and Huzaif, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped tightly. He couldn't keep still.
The doctor finally came downstairs, followed by Hayaat and Hania.
Huzaif was the first to rush forward. "Doctor, how is she? Why did she faint?"
The doctor glanced at Ayaan, who subtly shook his head - don't tell them everything.
The doctor smiled softly. "Nothing serious. She just needs rest. She's been under a lot of stress. Let her sleep peacefully for a while."
And with that, he left.
As soon as the sound of the door closing echoed, Saad turned sharply to Ayaan. "What's going on, Ayaan? Why did she faint like that?"
Ayaan didn't respond. His jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on the floor.
Huzaif stood up, frustration rising. "Ayaan, jawab do! Chup kyun ho?"
After a long pause, Ayaan finally spoke, his voice low and heavy.
"Usay pehle bhi aise hua hai... stress ki wajah se...."
The words hit them like cold wind.
Saad's eyes widened. "Kya keh rahe ho tum?"
Ayaan's voice cracked slightly. "Wo bohot buri halat mein rahi hai in 8 saalon mein.
.. usay saans lene mein problem hoti hain band jago mein.
... Wo sab ko dikhati hai ke wo mazboot hai.
.. par sirf main, baba aur mamma jaante hain ke wo kis dard se guzri hai.
Kitni raaton tak wo so nahi pati thi, isliye nind ki pills laine shuru ki us ne.
.. panic attacks be padhte thai usse, per ab peechle eik saal se wo theek rahi hain. .."
He paused, emotion finally breaking through the calm. " mein ussey phir se is halat m nahi dekhna chahta tha ... is dard se door rakhna chahta tha... par mein usey in dardo se nahi bacha paya...."
His voice trembled; he dropped his face into his hands, shoulders shaking.
"Mujhe nahi bhejna chahiye tha usey wahan... main uska khayal nahi rakh paya."
Saad and Huzaif exchanged a look - the guilt, the regret - it hit them harder than words could.
Then, suddenly-
"Yahan kya ho raha hai?"
The deep, commanding voice made everyone turn. Ayaan froze, his hands falling away from his face.
Standing at the doorway was Sameer Khan - tall, poised, eyes dark with concern. Beside him, Sonia Khan, elegant yet worried, her gaze darting between the faces.
"Baba..." Ayaan breathed, disbelief flickering across his face before he rushed forward, throwing his arms around his father.
Sameer held him close, one arm around his shoulder. "Kya hua, Ayaan?"
Behind them, Sonia placed a hand on Ayaan's back, her voice soft yet urgent. "Kya ho raha hai beta?"
Ayaan stepped back, tears glistening in his eyes. "Mamma... Aayat... Aayat theek nahi hai."
Sonia's face drained of color. "Kya? Kya keh rahe ho tum?"
Sameer's composure shattered in an instant. "Hamari beti ko kya hua hain ayaan?"
They didn't wait for an answer. Panic took over as they hurried upstairs.
Inside the room, Aayat still lay unconscious. Sonia rushed to her side, cupping her face, pressing gentle kisses on her forehead. Sameer stood beside her, his hand trembling as it brushed her hair away.
"Meri bachi..." Sonia whispered, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
Downstairs, the silence lingered until footsteps returned. Sonia and Sameer descended slowly - their expressions had changed.
Fury burned behind Sameer's calm eyes.
Before anyone could speak, Sameer strode toward Ayaan and, with a swift motion, struck him across the face.
The sound echoed like thunder.
Everyone froze.
"Tumhe kaha tha maine, uska khayal rakhna. Tumhare hawale kiya tha maine usey. Jab wo wahan ja rahi thi, maine kaha tha-aur zyada khayal rakhna uska. Ye khayal rakha tumne meri beti ka?"
Ayaan didn't move. His eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry, Baba... main..."
Sonia placed a hand on Sameer's arm. "Sameer, bas karo..."
He exhaled deeply, his anger softening as guilt crept in. He reached out, placing a hand on Ayaan's shoulder.
"Mujhe aisa nahi karna chahiye tha..."
Ayaan shook his head, voice low. "Nahi Baba, aapne sahi kiya. Main deserve karta hoon."
Sameer sighed, then looked around at everyone. "Ab in baaton ka waqt nahi hai. Ab sab kuch wapas theek karna hoga. Aayat ab dobara wahan nahi jayegi."
Ayaan nodded firmly. "Sahi kaha aapne baba. Ab nahi."
The tension began to fade slightly. Sonia smiled weakly at Ayaan.
" Ap dono ko dekh kar Aayat bohot khush ho jaayegi..." ayaan said softly.
Sonia smiled faintly and cupped his face. "Mujhe apne bete ki be bohot yaad aayi thi... lekin entry thodi casual ho gaye- seedha thappad!"
The room burst into soft laughter, breaking the heaviness for a brief moment.
Saad stood then. "Humein chalna chahiye... Aayat ka khayal rakhna."
As they turned to leave, Sameer's voice stopped them.
"Ruko.... "
He said calmly,
"Tum log jab chaho yaha a sakte ho... Tum logon ka yahan hona ye saboot hai ke tum log uski fikar karte ho. Isliye jab chaho a sakte ho yaha.... Ise apna hi ghar samjhna."
Huzaif stepped forward, eyes filled with remorse. "Uncle... humne usey bohot taqleef di hai. Wo hume kabhi maaf nahi karegi."
He folded his hands slightly. "Please... usse kehna hume maaf kar de. Aapki baat wo zaroor manegi."
Sameer placed a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Wo kar degi maaf. Uska dil bohot soft hai, upar se sirf dikhawa karti hai sakht hone ka."
Saad gave a faint smile through his tears. "Bilkul sahi kaha aapne... shuru se aisi hai wo. Naraz bhi jaldi hoti hai aur maan bhi jaldi jaati hai."
They began to leave. But Hayaat, at the door, turned back one last time. Her eyes gleamed with warning.
"Meri Api ko us qaid mein dubara mat aane dena... wo log uske qabil nahi hain."
Her words lingered in the air long after she was gone.
Sameer watched them leave, his face darkening slowly. The humor from moments ago faded. He turned toward the window, eyes hard, thoughtful - the calm before a storm.
Ayaan watched him quietly, sensing the shift. "Baba?"
Sameer's voice was quiet... but his eyes were cold steel.
"Ab bas.... Ayaan....aur nahi..."
The room went silent again.
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