Chapter 42
Author's POV:
The morning sun slipped softly through the curtains, scattering streaks of gold across the marble floor.
Aayat stirred slowly, her eyelashes fluttering open as light kissed her face. For a moment, she couldn't remember where she was. The bed was familiar-soft, comforting-but the walls weren't.
Her eyes wandered around the room - elegant, peaceful, warm.
And then realization struck.
Her breath caught.
"Mein... yahan kaise?
" she whispered under her breath.
Her chest tightened as flashes from the previous night hit her like a storm - Rayyan locking the door, her desperate cries, the suffocating silence.
..
And then - Ayaan's face. The door breaking open.
His arms around her as she collapsed.
Her trembling voice echoing - "Ayaan, mein phir se haar gayi. .."
Tears filled her eyes.
She quickly wiped them away, forcing herself to sit up.
She couldn't stay here - not when half the world thought she was broken.
Not when her own name had become a shadow in Malik Mansion.
She changed quickly - a plain white kurta, her hair tied back neatly.
The mirror reflected a woman who had cried the entire night but was trying to stand tall again.
Without saying a word to anyone, she opened her door quietly and stepped out into the corridor. The mansion was still - only the faint sound of servants moving around could be heard.
She glanced toward Ayaan's room - the door was shut.
"Shayad so raha hoga..." she murmured softly and turned away.
Within minutes, she was outside.
Her car waited.
And before anyone could stop her - she was gone.
~
The huge iron gates opened slowly, their creak echoing through the quiet morning.
A black car rolled in and stopped near the entrance.
Aayat stepped out, wearing determination like armor.
And just then, Rayyan appeared - eyes sharp, expression unreadable.
For a moment, silence.
Their eyes met.
It felt like time itself stopped.
Rayyan's voice broke the silence first - low, hoarse.
"Kahan thi tum?"
Aayat gave a faint smile, one that didn't reach her eyes.
"Kyu? Tumhe kya laga? Tum mujhe kamre mein band kar ke chale jaoge aur mein nikal nahi paungi?"
Her tone dripped with sarcasm.
She brushed past him and walked straight toward the main hall.
Inside, the Malik family sat together - Rashid, Shagufta, Shahbaz, Nafeesa, Ramsha.
The air turned heavy the moment Aayat entered.
No one greeted her.
No one looked her way.
Instead, faces turned aside, whispers began, and judgment filled the silence.
Aayat didn't stop.
She went straight upstairs - to her room - the one that had become more of a cage than comfort.
She opened her wardrobe and began pulling clothes out, throwing them onto the bed.
Her movements were sharp, restless - every fold, every zip of her bag echoing with anger.
The door burst open behind her.
Rayyan.
He watched her in disbelief for a second before striding forward, grabbing the clothes from her hands and tossing them aside.
"Kya kar rahi ho tum?"
Aayat didn't even look at him.
"Apna saman pack kar rahi hoon. Dikh nahi raha tumhe?"
"Tum kahin nahi ja sakti," he said firmly, stepping closer.
She turned, fire in her eyes.
"Tumhe sach mein lagta hai ke mein is ghar mein ek aur din bhi rahungi? Jaha tum ne kal raat mujhe qaid kiya tha ...."
Her voice broke slightly but she covered it with anger.
She shoved him back.
"Tum kal mujhe zabardasti hospital se ghar le aaye... aur phir mujhe kamre mein band kar ke chale gaye. in sab k baad b tumhe lagta hain mein yaha rahugy!"
Rayyan's jaw tightened.
He moved closer again, frustration written all over his face.
"Tumhe hospital se isliye wapas laya, kyunki agar tum wahan rehti toh sab tumhe sunate rehte! Aur darwaza isliye band kiya, kyunki main nahi chahta tha ke tum Khan Mansion jao!... Per dekho tum phir be chali gaye...."
Aayat's laugh was bitter.
"Toh bol dete na! Aayat, tumhe wahan nahi jana! Par nahi, tum toh mujhe qaid karna zyada behtar samjhte ho!"
"Toh aur kya karta?" Rayyan shouted.
"Tumhe andaza bhi hai tumne kiya kya hain? Tumhari waja se wo mar bhi sakti thi aayat!"
Aayat's face went pale for a second - then cold again.
"Par phir bhi... wo bach gayi."
Rayyan stared at her, shocked.
"Tum kisi ke marne ki baat par aisa kaise keh sakti ho Aayat?"
His voice trembled.
"Tumhe agar mujhse problem hai toh mujhse lado. Jo karna hai karo. Par tum in sab mein Ramsha aur Naziya aunty ko kyu la rahi ho?"
Aayat's expression hardened.
She turned to the table, grabbed a file, and held it out to him.
"Sahi kaha tumne. Aur isi liye... ab mera is ghar mein kisi se koi rishta nahi. Sirf ek rishta bacha hai - wo bhi ab khatam kar rahi hoon."
Rayyan frowned, taking the file.
He opened it - and his world shattered.
'Khula k papers.'
His fingers trembled.
The paper blurred through his tears as he looked up at her, disbelief and pain warring in his eyes.
"Tumhe lagta hai ke main in papers pe sign karunga?"
Aayat's voice was steady.
"Karo ya na karo, tumhari marzi. Agar nahi kiye toh main court jaungi. Per khula toh tumse le kar hi rahugy...."
Rayyan grabbed her arms tightly.
"Tum aisa kaise keh sakti ho?"
She looked at him straight.
"Ye tumhe kal sochna chahiye tha... mujhe yahan band karne se pehle. Ek akhri dhaga tha hamare rishte ka, aur tumne wo bhi tod diya."
"Toh kya karta main?" Rayyan's voice cracked.
"Mujhe wahan jaana hi tha! Ramsha ki maa tumhari wajah se wahan thi aayat.
Maine kabhi Ramsha ke liye kuch nahi kiya, par kal.
.. use meri zarurat thi. Tumhe kya lagta hai do do biwiyan rakhne mein mujhe maza aa raha hai?
Tumhara saath du toh wo log kehte hain , mein ramsha k sath galat kar raha hoon.
.. uska du toh tum kehti ho , maine tumhe akela chod diya . ..."
He clutched his hair, tears spilling down his face.
"Main ye nahi kehta ke isme tumhara kasoor hai. Wo shaadi meri galti hain. Main manta hoon! Par main wo shaadi be kabhi nahi chahta tha yaar. Main sirf tumhare saath rehna chahta tha....."
He said painfully,
"Sirf tum taqleef mein nahi ho aayat, mein be hoon .... Mein be in sab mein phas chuka hoon... Chah kar b nikal nahi paa Raha... "
Aayat's voice came cold, distant.
"Toh phir tumhe is pareshani se azadi de rahi hoon mein. Paper tumhare haath mein hain - tumhari azadi ke."
She turned, picking up her essentials.
"Mujhe meri zaroorat ki cheezein mil gayi hain. Baki sab tum hi rakhlo ... Waise be tum packing toh karne nahi denay walay...."
And with that, she walked out of the room.
Rayyan followed, desperate.
He caught her arm near the stairs, spinning her around.
"Nahi, tum nahi ja sakti!"
Aayat struggled.
"Chhodo mujhe! Dard ho raha hai, Rayyan!"
"Nahi chhod sakta," he said, voice trembling.
"Haan, ye sach hai ke main thak chuka hoon. Par main tumhe nahi chhod sakta! Main Ramsha ko chhod sakta hoon... par tumhe nahi!"
The hall went silent.
Everyone stood frozen.
Shagufta gasped.
Nafeesa's face turned pale.
Rashid stared in disbelief.
Nafeesa was the first to step forward.
"Tumhara dimaagh kharab ho gaya hai Rayyan?!" she shouted. "Wo mere marhoom bhai ki beti hai! Main tumhe aisa karne nahi dungi!"
Rayyan didn't look away from Aayat - his gaze was fixed, hollow, broken.
Rashid stepped forward, anger surging.
"Tumhari wajah se kal jo hua wo kam tha? Pehle unki chat cheen li , aur Ab tum unki beti ka talaq karwana chahti ho, Aayat?"
Before Aayat could reply, Rayyan's voice cut through.
"Aayat ne ye nahi kaha! Aayat khud Khula le rahi hai. Ramsha ko chhodne ka faisla mera hai!"
His voice echoed in the hall.
"Maine uske liye kabhi kuch nahi kiya. Wo sirf meri zimmedari thi - usse zyada kuch nahi. Uski zindagi bhi barbaad ho rahi hai mere saath."
Aayat's tone stayed calm.
"Tumhe usse rakhna hai ya chhodna, isse mujhe koi farq nahi padta. Per Mujhe khula chahiye tumse."
Gasps filled the hall.
Rayyan's eyes welled with tears.
He slowly let go of her arm.
Rashid shook his head.
"Itne saalon baad jab pata chala ke tum AK ho, mujhe laga tum samajhdar ho gaye hoge. Par main galat tha... tum aaj bhi waisi hi ho jaise pehle thi."
Saad stepped forward, anger in his eyes.
"Bas karein abu! Agar Aayat Rayyan ke saath nahi rehna chahti, toh wo nahi rahegi!"
"Saad, tumhe pata hai tum kya keh rahe ho?" Shagufta's voice trembled.
Huzaif added firmly,
"Bhai sahi keh rahe hain. Ye shaks hamari behan ko deserve nahi karta."He looked at everyone. "Nahi... sirf ye shaks nahi... Hum sab deserve nahi krte isse... Hum sab ne isse bohut dard diya hain. Ab hum maafi maangne ka bhi haq kho chuke hain."
Rashid's face burned with humiliation.
He turned to Aayat again.
"Dekha tumne? Ye sab tumhara saath de rahe hain. Par kya tum inka saath deserve karti ho?"
He paused, voice thick with emotion.
"Nahi karti. Tumne hamara nahi, inka bhi sir jhukaya hai."
Silence.
Then - a voice broke through, calm yet thunderous:
" Pareshan mat ho....Apka sir nahi jhukay ga."
Every head turned toward the entrance.
Aayat froze.
She knew that voice.
Her lips parted in disbelief.
"Baba..."
Sameer Khan walked in - regal, furious, commanding - flanked by Ayaan and Sonia Khan.
His presence alone silenced the entire hall.
He walked straight to Aayat, stopping between her and Rashid.
"Aayat apka sir nahi jhuka sakti," he said coldly.
"Kyunke ab wo aapki nahi... hamari beti hai. Agar wo koi galti karegi, toh Sameer Khan ka sir jhukega - aapka nahi."
Aayat's eyes filled with tears.
"Baba..." she whispered and stepped into his arms.
He held her tightly, hand caressing her head.
"Aayat, tumne inka nahi, mera sir jhukaya hai...." he said quietly.
Aayat stepped back, lowering her gaze in shame.
"Sir uthao apna aayat...." Sameer commanded.
She obeyed, meeting his eyes again.
"Jab tum inke saamne kamzor padi thi, us waqt tumne mujhe jhuka diya, Aayat. Maine apni beti ko sherni banaya tha - aur meri beti aise kamzor nahi ho sakti..."
Aayat blinked, unsure whether to cry or smile through the ache.
Sameer's tone softened.
"Par Tumhara khula lene ka faisla... sabse behtareen faisla hai."
He turned to ayaan.
"Le kar jao aayat ko yaha se...."
Aayat took a deep breath, ready to move -
but Rayyan grabbed her arm again.
"Nahi, Aayat! Kahin nahi jaye gi!"
Before Sameer could react, Ramsha's voice sliced through the chaos.
"Le hi jao apni beti ko yahase! Isne hamesha meri khushiyan mujhse cheeni hain! Pehle mera business, phir meri ammi ko cheene ki koshish ki ... aur ab Rayyan ko bhi!"
The hall froze.
And before anyone could speak -
Sonia Khan - standing in front of Ramsha - had slapped her.
The sound echoed in the marble hall.
Ramsha looked stunned, holding her cheek.
Before she could retaliate, Sonia grabbed her by the hair and pushed her back violently - Ramsha fell to the ground.
Everyone rushed forward.
Nafeesa shouted,
"Aapki himmat kaise hui?!"
Sonia didn't even flinch.
Her voice rang cold and sharp.
Every head turned toward the massive doors of Malik Mansion.
The sound of footsteps echoed.
Aayat's heartbeat quickened.
Rayyan's eyes widened.
Ramsha went pale.
The doors began to open slowly.