Chapter 1
Aayat's POV:
The soft call of Fajr had just faded into silence when the Malik mansion slowly came alive with the rustle of dawn.
The grand house, with its tall arches and sprawling corridors, was wrapped in a serenity that only the early morning could bring.
In her room, Aayat Malik sat on her prayer mat, her head bent in devotion, lips moving gently over the verses of the Qur'an.
Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper, yet it carried a purity that touched the walls around her.
After a while, she closed the holy book carefully, kissed it, and placed it on the shelf beside her bed.
A yawn escaped her lips. "Ab bas, thoda aur so leti hoon.
.." she murmured to herself and curled back into the warmth of her blanket.
This was her routine-wake up for prayer, recite the Qur'an, and then surrender again to her beloved sleep.
(Just a little more sleep…)
By the time the sun had risen higher, the Malik household was buzzing. In the kitchen, breakfast was being prepared; the aroma of parathas, chai, and freshly cooked eggs filled the air. The voices of Aayat's siblings echoed through the mansion, each one busy in their own little worlds.
Upstairs, Aayat's eyes fluttered open lazily. "Ya Allah... main phir late uth gayi," she sighed, glancing at the clock that struck half past nine. Hastily, she jumped out of bed, tied her hair in a messy bun, and rushed to get ready.
(Ya Allah… I woke up late again.)
---
As she bounded down the staircase, her dupatta trailing behind her, the sight in the living room made her smile mischievously.
Saad, her elder brother, sat on the sofa with a newspaper, sipping his chai with an air of authority.
Huzaifa was busy scrolling through his phone, legs stretched out, and Hayaat, her younger sister, sat cross-legged on the carpet, headphones on, scribbling something in her notebook.
"Good morning everyone."
" Good morning ?Adha din guzar chuka hain behan," Saad teased without looking up.
(Half the day has already passed, sister.)
"Abhi subah hui hai, mere liye toh..." Aayat chirped, plopping down beside him and stealing a sip from his chai.
(For me, it’s only just early morning.)
"Aye! Apni chai nahi bana sakti kya?" Saad snapped the newspaper at her hand, but she only giggled.
(Hey! Can’t you even make your own tea?)
Huzaif looked up with mock irritation. "Din ka aadha hissa so kar guzarti ho... aur phir hamari chai chura lo. Wah Aayat , wah."
(Sleeping half the day and then stealing our tea—impressive, Aayat, really impressive.)
Aayat stuck her tongue out. "Bas tum dono ko meri neend se masla hai. Hayaat, tu toh meri side pe hai na?"
(You two always have an issue with my sleep. Hayaat, you’re on my side, aren’t you?)
Hayaat pulled off her headphones and smirked. "Haan, main teri side pe hoon... lekin ye bhi sach hai ke tu so kar uthti tab hai jab duniya half kam khatam kar chuki hoti hai."
(I’m with you… but let’s face it, you only get up once half the world has already finished its work.)
"Hayaat!" Aayat's jaw dropped dramatically. "Tu bhi? Teri loyalty toh main khatam samajhti hoon."
(You too? Then your loyalty is officially over.)
The room filled with laughter, but it was quickly interrupted when Shagufta Malik, their mother, walked in. Her sharp eyes instantly landed on Aayat.
"Bas, yahi reh gaya tha. Har din ka scene ek hi hai. Subah subah uth nahi sakti, kuch kaam karna nahi aata... sirf hansi mazak."
(This is all that’s left. Every day is the same scene. Can’t get up early in the morning, don’t know how to do any work… just jokes and laughter)
Aayat's smile faltered. She lowered her gaze, biting her lip nervously.
Before she could speak, her father, Rashid Malik, entered the room, adjusting his cufflinks.
"Shagufta, meri ladli ko kuch mat kaha karo.
Har baat pe tokna zaroori hai kya?"
(Shagufta, don’t say anything to my dear.
Is it really necessary to interrupt at every little thing?)
Shagufta rolled her eyes. "Aap toh hamesha iski side lete hain. Bigaad kar rakh diya hai."
(You always defend her. Look at how spoiled she’s become.)
Rashid walked over to Aayat and gently patted her head. "Meri beti ko koi kuch nahi kahega. Samajh gaye sab?"
(No one is allowed to speak to my daughter like that. Clear?)
Aayat's lips curved into a wide smile, and she threw her arms around her father's waist. "Abu, aap best ho."
( You are the best dad.)
Rashid chuckled. "Haan haan, mujhe pata hai."
( Yeah. Yeah. I know...)
---
After breakfast, Aayat gathered her books in a sling bag. She adjusted her dupatta, checked her reflection in the mirror by the door, and waved to everyone. "Main college ja rahi hoon!"
( I'm going to college.)
"Taxi se ja rahi ho?" Saad asked from behind the newspaper.
(Are you taking a taxi?)
"Haan... taxi hi bulaungi, aur kya?" she replied, slipping her sandals on.
(Yes… I’m taking a taxi, what do you expect?)
She stepped outside into the bright sunlight, squinting slightly as she walked towards the main gate. The road outside was buzzing with traffic, vendors calling out, and children playing cricket in the lanes. She glanced both ways, preparing to wave down a taxi.
Just as she lifted her hand, a deep voice called out from behind:
"Kahan ja rahi ho, Aayat?"
( Where are you going aayat?"
Her steps froze. Slowly, she turned around.
There he was. Rayyan Malik.
Dressed in a crisp charcoal suit, his tall frame leaned casually against his white car. His expression, as always, was unreadable-calm, serious, yet his eyes carried a depth that unsettled her every time.
Aayat blinked. "Aap?" she managed, adjusting her dupatta nervously.
(You.)
"College ja rahi ho, right?" Rayyan's tone was smooth, low, but it carried an authority that made her heart skip a beat.
(Are you going to college?)
"Haan... taxi lene wali thi main," she said, trying to sound casual.
(Yes… I was about to take a taxi.)
"Taxi?" His brow arched slightly. "I'll drop you."
Aayat shook her head quickly. "Nahi, zaroorat nahi hai. Main... taxi se chali jaungi."
(No, don’t worry. I’ll just go by taxi.)
Rayyan's gaze hardened, though his voice remained calm. "Maine kaha, chalo. It's not safe."
(I said let's go.)
Something about the firmness in his tone made refusal impossible. Without another word, she followed him to the car, her heartbeat racing.
As he opened the passenger door for her, she muttered softly, "Aap hamesha itne serious kyun lagte hain?"
(Why do you always look so serious?)
Rayyan glanced at her briefly before starting the car. "Because someone has to be."
---
The car glided smoothly through the streets.
For a while, silence stretched between them, broken only by the hum of the engine and the occasional honk of traffic.
Aayat stole glances at him-his sharp jawline, the way his hands gripped the steering wheel, the slight furrow in his brow as though he carried the weight of the world.
"Rayyan bhai..." she began hesitantly.
"Hm?" His eyes stayed on the road.
( Yes?)
"Aapko kabhi hansi nahi aati? Matlab... kabhi toh normal insaan ki tarah relax bhi karte haain na?"
(Don’t you ever laugh? I mean… you do relax like a normal person sometimes, right?)
For the first time, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "Tumhari bakwaas sun kar... kabhi kabhi."
( I guess… sometimes, just listening to your nonsense.)
Aayat gasped. "Bakwas? Wah, main toh aapse pyaar se baat kar rahi thi."
(Nonsense? Wow, I was talking to you nicely.)
Rayyan didn't reply, but that almost-smile stayed a moment longer before disappearing.
As they reached the college gates, he finally spoke again. "Be careful, Aayat. Not everyone in this world has good intentions."
She frowned. "Itna serious dialogue kyun dete rehte ho aap?"
( Why do you always deliver such serious dialogues?)
"Because it's true," he said simply, his eyes locking with hers for the briefest moment before looking away.
Aayat stepped out, clutching her bag, her heart strangely unsettled. She had grown up around Rayyan, but there was something about him today-something in the way he looked at her, the quiet authority in his tone-that felt different.
She shook her head, trying to brush away the thought. "Pagal ho rahi hoon main," she muttered under her breath and walked inside, unaware that Rayyan's eyes followed her until she disappeared into the college gates.
(
I'm losing my mind.)