Chapter 60
Author's POV:
The black sedan rolled to a gentle stop in front of Khan Mansion, its headlights slicing through the late-evening calm. Ayaan stepped out first, stretching slightly after the long flight from India. Aayat followed, her dupatta fluttering softly with the warm breeze.
The driver moved to the back, opened the trunk, and began lifting out their luggage.
Ayaan walked toward him and said calmly,
"Saman andar le chalay ap."
Then he turned to Aayat-only to find her staring at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Ayaan raised a brow.
"Aise kya dekh rahi ho?"
He barely finished the sentence when Aayat suddenly pushed him hard and broke into a run toward the main entrance.
"Mama aur Baba se toh pehle mein hi miloon gi!" she yelled, laughing loudly as she sprinted away.
Caught off-guard, Ayaan stumbled backward, almost losing balance, but recovered just in time.
" Acha toh aisa hain... Haan!" he shouted, chasing after her with long strides.
Both of them burst through the mansion's grand doors, laughter echoing off the marble.
Aayat ran straight into the main hall- and halted only when she reached the man standing at the center.
Without pausing even a second, she launched herself into his arms.
"Mein ne aapko bohot, bohot, bohot zyada miss kiya baba!"
Sameer laughed, placing a warm hand on her head before gently pushing her back just a little.
"Mein ne bhi apni sherni ko bohot...
nahi, nahi-bohot nahi- balkay hadd se bhi zyada, sab se zada miss kiya."
He pulled her into another tight hug, kissing the top of her hair affectionately.
Ayaan finally caught up, stopping a few steps away, watching the moment with mock sadness.
"Mujhe toh koi miss hi nahi karta..." he muttered dramatically.
From the kitchen, Sonia Khan walked out, wiping her hands.
"Maine kiya na apne betay ko miss," she said warmly, stepping toward him.
Ayaan's face brightened instantly-
until Aayat's voice cut through.
"Nahi Mama!"
Both Sonia and Ayaan turned to her.
Aayat crossed her arms like a stubborn child.
"Aapki ladli toh mein hoon na. Pehle mujhe milain."
She stretched her arms open wide, making a pouty baby face.
Sonia's heart melted instantly.
Ayaan quickly protested,
"Nahi Mama, mujhse zyada pyar karti hain aap-pehle muj-"
But before he could finish, Sonia bypassed him and hugged Aayat tightly.
Ayaan stared at the scene as if he had suffered the world's greatest betrayal.
"Aap bhi...." he whispered dramatically.
Sonia laughed and finally opened her arms for him.
" A jao tum be..."
Then she embraced Ayaan too.
After that emotional reunion, Ayaan walked over to Sameer Khan and hugged him as well. Leaning close, he whispered in Sameer's ear:
"Baba, ye aap ne acha nahi kiya..."
Sameer laughed loudly and patted his back.
"Chalo jao, jaa kar fresh ho jao dono."
Ayaan nodded, and the two headed upstairs together.
At the top of the stairs, just outside her room, Ayaan teased:
"Waise badi khush ho rahi ho."
Aayat shot him a playful look.
"Tum kyun jal rahe ho meri khushi se? Itni badi baat be toh nahi hain ye? kay Mama aur Baba dono mujhse, sab se zyada pyar karte hain..."
She opened her door, but Ayaan grabbed her arm gently, pulling her closer. Her back brushed against his chest as he leaned in, speaking softly near her ear:
"Unka beta bhi SAB SE ZYADA tumse hi pyar karta hai..."
Aayat jerked back, eyes wide, cheeks turning red.
"Ay-Ayaan t-tum...?"
She looked completely flustered, unable to form a sentence.
Ayaan stared at her with an affection so deep she couldn't hold his gaze.
" Haan bolo, Ayaan ki jaan..."
Her cheeks flushed even deeper.
She masked it quickly with fake anger.
"Flirter!"
She stormed into her room and slammed the door shut.
Ayaan winced, rubbing his ear.
"Paglate meri..." he murmured fondly, chuckling as he headed to his own room next door.
~
After changing, Ayaan came downstairs and sat beside his parents.
"Aayat nahi ayi?"
Sonia shook her head.
"Nahi. Wo pehle araam kar rahi thi. Abhi main ne uthaya hai usey."
"Acha theek..." Ayaan sighed, settling back.
He and Sameer soon slipped into a discussion about business.
A few minutes later, a servant entered.
"Sir, bahir Rayyan sir aaye hain."
Sameer's expression tightened.
"Usey kaho, Aayat abhi nahi aayi."
The guard left.
Ayaan's jaw clenched instantly.
His fists curled.
"Kis ne bataya usey ke Aayat aagayi hain? Aur wo yahan kyu aaya hai?"
Sameer and Sonia exchanged a look before Sonia answered softly:
"Jab se Aayat yahan se gayi thi, tab se wo roz aata hai... Aayat ka poochne. Hum ne kabhi nahi bataya usey ke wo kahan hai."
Ayaan's anger flared.
"Lekin uska aur Aayat ka-"
Before he could finish, a familiar voice drifted down the stairs.
"Kya baatein ho rahi hain yahan? Koi humein bhi batao."
Ayaan turned instantly.
There she was-
Aayat descending gracefully, her hair slightly tousled from sleep.
His anger dissolved like it had never existed.
"Bas yahi ke Aayat kitni zyada sust ho gayi hain," Ayaan said quickly, covering the previous topic.
Sameer and Sonia both chuckled.
Aayat made a silly face at Ayaan and walked straight toward Sonia, resting her head in her lap like a little child. She closed her eyes peacefully.
Sonia began stroking her hair lovingly.
Ayaan watched her-
the softness of her breathing...
the serenity on her face...
the innocence he never wanted to lose.
And suddenly, a deep fear struck his heart.
The fear of losing her.
His chest tightened.
What if she forgave Rayyan?
What if she went back to him?
What if that divorce... was only because she was broken?
What if-?
Ayaan shook his head slightly.
No. No, that won't happen. She left him. She won't go back. She can't...
His heart whispered a small prayer:
" Ya allah isey mere naseeb mein likh day ... Mein is k liye kisi se be ladnay ko tyar hoon...
Bas Aayat mere samne na khadi ho is ladai mein, kyun ke us ke liye main puri duniya se to ladh sakta hoon... par us se nahi."
He let out a breath-
and when he opened his eyes...
Aayat's face was right in front of his. Extremely close.
Ayaan gasped loudly.
"OYEE-!"
Aayat burst into laughter.
"Kahan pohanch gaye thai?"
Even Sameer and Sonia couldn't stop laughing at his reaction.
Ayaan pressed a hand over his racing heart.
"Aise kaun karta hai!"
He stood up with a pout.
"Mama uthay, khana lagayein. Kha kar so jaate hain. Main thaka hua hoon. Iski tarha thodi atay hi behosh ho gaya tha."
He headed toward the dining hall.
Behind him, the sound of laughter-Aayat's, Sameer's, and Sonia's-filled the entire mansion.
~
The next morning sunlight filtered softly through the curtains as Aayat stepped down the stairs, handbag in hand, ready to leave for office. Behind her, Ayaan descended as well, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he watched her walk.
In the main hall, Sameer Khan stood waiting.
He lifted a hand.
"Tum dono, baat suno meri."
Aayat and Ayaan exchanged a quick look, then replied together with playful respect:
"Ji Baba..."
Sameer folded his arms.
"Actually, Mr. Varma ki beti ki shaadi hai, kal. Toh tum dono chale jaana. Tumhari Mama ki tabiyat kuch theek nahi rehti, is liye hum nahi jaa paayegay."
Ayaan nodded.
"Ji Baba, hum chale jayenge."
Aayat also nodded obediently.
Satisfied, Sameer smiled and walked away.
The moment he disappeared around the corner, Aayat made a face and muttered under her breath:
"Ise zaroori tha... Akeli be toh ja skti thi."
Ayaan widened his eyes at her.
"Maine sun liya."
Aayat smirked.
"Sunane ke liye hi kaha tha."
She turned to leave, but just as she took her first step, Ayaan suddenly blocked her path.
Her eyebrow lifted in a silent What now?
Ayaan stepped closer. Without speaking, he reached out-and took the purse from her hand.
Aayat blinked, confused.
"Ayaan... hamesha ye karna zaroori h kya."
But he only gave her a small, smug smile, turned around, and headed outside.
Still confused, still annoyed, still flustered-Aayat followed him out.
Soon they were both in the car, heading toward their offices.
Ayaan dropped Aayat first.
As she opened the door, she leaned in slightly.
"Allah Hafiz... araam se jaana."
Ayaan smiled faintly and nodded, watching her walk toward her building before starting to drive away.
He had barely crossed the corner when he glanced at the seat beside him-
-and there it was.
Aayat's phone.
Ayaan let out a sigh and shook his head.
"Is larki ka kuch nahi ho sakta..."
He turned the car around and headed back.
As soon as he pulled up outside Aayat's office and stepped out, the sight in front of him made his entire body stiffen.
Rayyan had grabbed Aayat's arm.
Aayat was trying to pull away.
"Bazu choro mera, Rayyan-"
But Rayyan pleaded desperately,
"Bas 10 minute de do mujhe... please, Aayat..."
Before she could answer, before she could breathe-
Ayaan was there.
His hand shot out, grabbing Rayyan's collar, yanking him backward-
-and his fist connected with Rayyan's face in a brutal crack.
Rayyan fell to the ground.
Aayat gasped, frozen, shocked to see Ayaan appear out of nowhere.
Rayyan touched his lip-
his fingers came away stained with blood.
His eyes flared with rage.
He pushed himself up, fury burning.
Aayat stepped between them instinctively.
"Rayyan-Ayaan-bas karo!"
But Ayaan grabbed her arm gently, pulling her behind him.
"Side mein raho tum."
He placed her to the side, shielding her with his body.
Rayyan didn't wait.
He lunged forward and slammed a punch directly into Ayaan's face.
A sharp gasp escaped Aayat.
People inside the office paused at the windows-
the staff gathering, watching in shock as the two men squared off.
And then-
they started fighting.
Raw.
Unrestrained.
Explosive.
Aayat stood frozen for a moment-
unable to decide whom to stop first,
unable to process how fast things had escalated.
She finally ran between them, hands outstretched, breathing hard.
"Ruk jao! Dono ruk jao! Please."
Both men stopped mid-motion-
breathing heavily...
bleeding...
angry...
and both staring at her.
The air between them burned with tension.
In that moment, as Aayat stood trembling between them,
both men looked at her-
neither willing to step back.
Neither willing to lose.