Chapter 53 part 2
Author's POV:
The lights in the penthouse were dim-golden, warm, and resting softly against the walls like they were afraid to disturb the air. Everything felt still, quiet, suspended... as if even the silence didn't dare break what was happening between them.
Aayat stood in the center of the living room, breath uneven, palms cold, heart pounding in her chest with a rhythm she couldn't control. Her bag lay on the glass table where she had dropped it moments ago. Her eyes refused to look away from the man standing only a few steps away.
The man who had too much control over her heartbeat.
The man who made her anger feel weak.
The man she told herself she shouldn't care about... yet did.
He wasn't speaking.
He wasn't moving.
He was just... watching her, like he was learning her face for the first time.
The air between them was warm.
Heavy.
Almost dangerous.
Her throat went dry. She forced a breath-sharp, shallow-and whispered,
"Mein fresh ho kar aati hoon..."
Her voice cracked.
Ayaan tilted his head slightly, a soft smile appearing-slow, amused, knowing.
And before she could embarrass herself further, she turned around and practically ran toward her room.
Ayaan let out a quiet laugh, his eyes softening in a way they never softened for anyone else.
"Pagli..."
he murmured under his breath, shaking his head.
The amusement didn't leave his face as he walked to the kitchen. The sleeves of his black shirt were rolled up; his jaw was relaxed for the first time in days. He opened the fridge, pulling out ingredients-his movements practiced, smooth, calm.
Cooking always centered him.
But cooking for her-that was something else entirely.
It felt... right.
He started preparing dinner, the soft sound of chopping echoing gently in the quiet space.
And then his phone rang.
Ayaan's hand stilled. He exhaled slowly and picked up.
"Assalamualaikum, mamma."
"Walikum salam, beta. Tum theek ho?"
"G mamma. Aur aap aur Baba?"
Her voice softened,
"Haan, beta. Hum be theek hain."
Ayaan's jaw clenched.
"Waise... I'm very upset with both of you."
A small confused pause from Sonia.
"Naraz? Kyun?"
Ayaan's voice sharpened, hurt bleeding under every word.
"Aap logon ne mujhe kyun nahi bataya Aayat aur Rayyan kay divorce kay baare mein?"
A long, guilty one.
Finally, Sonia whispered,
"Aayat ne vaada liya tha. Agar bata detay , phir tum jante ho na usey.... Hum majboor thai, beta."
Ayaan turned off the stove.
His voice lowered... darkened.
" toh aap logo ne chupa liya mujhse."
"Aisa nahi hain-"
He didn't let her finish.
"Five months, mamma."
His voice trembled with quiet anger.
"Five months tak... Mujhe laga wo theek hogy waha... Kyu k ap log hain waha."
"Beta, in 5 mahino mein bohot kuch badal gaya tha. Aayat... she was not herself. Kabhi gussa, kabhi normal, kabhi roti thi,... aur..."
Sonia hesitated, voice dropping.
"...last time toh usne apni maa ko bhi dhakka de diya."
Ayaan froze.
"What?"
His voice was soft-too soft.
"Kya keh rahi hain aap? Aayat kabhi aisa nahi karegi. Kabhi nahi. Mein janta hoon usey, wo aise nahi hain..."
Sonia's voice broke.
"Humein bhi yakeen nahi aaya. Per ye sab hamare samne hua...Aur mera haath bhi uth gaya... us par."
Ayaan's breath stopped-literally stopped.
"...kya kaha aapne?"
"Main gusse mein thi-"
"Mamma, how could you?"
His voice cracked.
"Aap us par haath...?"
"Beta, tumhe kya lagta hai mujhe acha laga? Uske baad main khud... kesi haalat mein thi-"
"Jo bhi ho, mamma... yeh galat tha."
"Ayaan-"
He cut her sharply.
"I have work. Bye."
He hung up.
Didn't give her a chance.
Didn't want to hear excuses.
For a few seconds, he just stood there, chest rising and falling unevenly, anger simmering under his skin, fists tightening.
She went through all this.
Alone.
Without him.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself back to the stove.
He had to finish dinner.
He had to breathe.
He had to hold himself together...
because she was here...
~
After some time, soft footsteps echoed from the hallway.
Aayat appeared, wearing a fresh kurti, hair tied loosely, damp strands touching her cheeks. She paused when she saw the dinner table perfectly set, the warm lights reflecting off the plates.
Ayaan looked up.
He smiled-soft, warm.
"Main bas tumhe bulane anay hi wala tha."
Aayat's eyes softened despite herself.
She stepped closer, sniffing the air.
"Khushbu bohot achi aa rahi hai..."
Ayaan smirked lightly.
"Thank you for your compliment ma'am."
She rolled her eyes, hiding her smile, and they sat down.
Dinner was quiet... but not uncomfortable.
Not awkward.
Just... gentle.
Aayat found herself watching him more than eating.
He ate slowly, calmly.
Like he was savoring the moment.
Like having dinner with her mattered.
She didn't understand why that thought made her chest tighten.
~
Aayat stood up, collecting the dishes.
Ayaan moved instantly.
"Main karta hoon-"
"Nahi."
She cut him quickly.
"Tumne khana banaya, abb main sambhaal leti hoon."
He didn't argue.
He simply watched her walk away into the kitchen.
And once she began washing dishes, he followed-quiet, unnoticed at first. He leaned against the counter, arms folded, eyes fixed on her like she was the only thing in the room worth looking at.
Her movements slowed.
She could feel his gaze.
She tried ignoring it.
But Failed miserably.
Her heartbeat stuttered.
Finally she snapped softly,
"Tum... mujhe aise dekhna band karoge?"
Ayaan raised a brow.
"Kaise?"
Aayat's voice shook.
"Tum... pehle toh aise nahi thai."
Ayaan's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile.
He stepped closer-not touching her, just close enough for her breath to catch.
"Main hamesha se aisa hi tha, Aayat."
His voice dropped.
"Bas farq itna hain... tab tumne kabhi note nahi kiya."
Her hands froze in the sink.
She turned slowly, staring at him-lost, confused, breathless.
He stepped even closer.
She panicked and rushed to finish the dishes-too fast, too clumsy-placing them back in their racks.
And before she could escape-
Ayaan caught her wrist.
Firm.
Warm.
He pulled her gently toward him.
Her breath hitched-
and she stumbled straight into his chest.
Her eyes widened.
His hand cupped her face softly, thumb brushing her cheek.
She closed her eyes... not out of fear-
out of instinct.
Out of something more dangerous.
His voice lowered, rough with emotion.
"Zor se lagi thi kya?"
She opened her eyes, confused.
Ayaan's jaw was tight, eyes burning with unspoken fury.
"Mamma ne bataya," he whispered,
"ke unhone tum par haath uthaya tha."
Aayat lowered her gaze.
"Main theek hoon."
Ayaan lifted her chin gently, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"I'm sorry... main waha nahi tha."
Her breath trembled.
"Tumhe nahi lagta... tum aaj kuch zyada kareeb aa rahe ho?"
Ayaan's lips curved slowly.
"Kyun? Tumhe kuch-kuch ho raha hai kya?"
She stared at him-offended, shocked, flustered.
"Tum... London aa kar flirt ban gaye ho?"
Ayaan smirked.
"Haan. London ki hawa ras aa rahi hai."
Her jaw dropped.
He laughed softly at her expression.
"Acha theek hai... pehle tum single nahi thi na.
Lekin ab..."
He stepped closer.
Too close.
Aayat panicked, shoved him lightly, and ran out of the kitchen.
Ayaan laughed-real, amused, happy.
~
She slammed the door, locked it, leaned back against it, breathing like she had run a marathon.
Then her hand flew to her chest.
"Ye kya tha...?
Ye duffer pagal ho gaya hai kya...?"
She rushed to the mirror, placed both palms on her burning cheeks.
"Ye kya ho raha hain?"
Her heart pounded harder.
"Ya Allah...
Kahin mujhe koi dil ki bimaari toh nahi hogayi?"
And then-
From outside:
"Aasta baatein karo, awaaz bahir aa rahi hai!"
Aayat froze.
Her soul left her body.
She ran to her bed, buried her face in a pillow.
"Aayat, kya ho gaya hai tumhe... khud se baatein kyun kar rahi ho tum..."
Eventually, exhaustion dragged her into sleep.
~
Aayat woke early, hurried into her clothes, grabbed her bag.
"Mujhe Ayaan ki nazron mein aane se pehle nikalna hoga yaha se..."
She tiptoed to the door, opened it slowly like a thief.
The living room was empty.
She sighed in relief and moved toward the exit, stepping lightly, bent slightly to stay unseen.
She opened the penthouse door-
And froze.
Because Ayaan was standing right outside.
In gym clothes.
Sweat-damp hair.
Arms folded.
Eyebrow raised.
And she was bent down like a criminal caught in 4K.
He stared at her.
She stared at him.
The world went silent.
Aayat slowly straightened up, eyes wide.
Ayaan leaned closer, voice low.
"Mujhse bhaag rahi ho kya?"
Aayat, like a fool:
"Haan."
Then her brain started working.
"...nahi! Matlab... haan-nahi-nahi!"
Ayaan laughed. A deep, amused, masculine laugh.
"Kabhi haan, kabhi na... itna mushkil sawal be nahi pucha maine....."
He stepped forward.
She stepped back.
He stepped forward again.
She kept stepping back until-
Her back hit the sofa.
Ayaan stopped right in front of her-
dangerously close, dangerously calm.
Her heart went wild.
She pressed a hand to her chest desperately.
"Ye kaun si beemari hogayi mujhe..."
Ayaan raised a brow.
"Kya soch rahi ho?"
Aayat blurted,
"Kuch nahi!"
And pushed him aside-
not very successfully-
before running away again.
Ayaan watched her flee, a small smile tugging his lips.
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