Chapter 37
Author's POV:
The hall was still heavy with Aayat's sobs when Rayyan's voice sliced through the silence.
He stood at the doorframe, broad shoulders tense, eyes blazing with suppressed fire.
Rayyan (low, furious):
" maine pucha .... Yaha kya ho raha hai?"
His words echoed against the marble walls.
Ayaan immediately straightened, fists clenched. Aayat remained on the sofa, her head bowed, unable to face either man.
Rayyan's steps echoed as he advanced, his stare fixed on them.
Ayaan moved first - stepping forward, blocking his way. His palm pressed against Rayyan's chest.
Ayaan (through clenched teeth):
"Tumhari himat be kaise hui, mere ghar mein kadam rakhne ki?"
Rayyan's jaw tightened. Without hesitation, he shoved Ayaan back with such force that he staggered.
Rayyan (warning):
"Dubara mujhe haath lagane ki himmat be mat karna."
He brushed past Ayaan, storming toward Aayat. His voice softened as he neared her.
Rayyan (gently):
" meri taraf dekho aayat."
But she didn't. Her head stayed lowered, her hands trembling in her lap.
Frustrated, Rayyan held her arm firmly and pulled her up to her feet. As her tear-stained face tilted up unwillingly, his heart sank.
Rayyan (hurt, whispering):
"Tumhe kya hua hai? Tum ro rahi thi...?"
Before Aayat could respond, Ayaan stormed forward and yanked Rayyan away.
Ayaan (snarling):
" Mere ghar se abhi niklo!"
Rayyan ignored him, his eyes still locked on Aayat. He stepped forward again. But Ayaan shoved him harder this time.
That was it. Rayyan's temper snapped. His fist collided with Ayaan's jaw. CRACK.
Ayaan stumbled but retaliated instantly, landing a punch across Rayyan's cheek.
Ayaan (furious):
"Usse taqleef dene ke baad usi se pooch rahe ho kya hua hai?"
Rayyan grabbed him by the collar, their foreheads almost colliding.
Rayyan (growling):
"Agar usse koi taqleef pohanchi hai meri wajah se... toh woh masla mera aur meri bewi ka hai. Tumhara nahi!"
They grappled, their bodies clashing violently, while Aayat's desperate voice cut through the chaos.
Aayat (shouting):
"Ruko! ....... Dono ruk jao!"
But they didn't.
Finally, she threw herself between them, shoving both men apart with all her strength.
Aayat (screaming, shaking):
"Kya kar rahe ho tum dono?! Pagal ho gaye ho kya?"
Rayyan, still panting, reached for her arm.
Rayyan (commanding):
"Chalo yahan se!"
But before he could move her, Ayaan gripped her other arm, holding her back.
Ayaan (firm, cold):
"Aayat... kahin nahi jaye gi."
The tension was electric, both men gripping her like a prize in a battlefield.
Rayyan turned sharply, eyes burning.
Rayyan (threatening):
"Main bhi dekhta hoon... tum mujhe kaise rokte ho."
With one forceful shove, he knocked Ayaan back a step.
Aayat wrenched her arm, glaring at Rayyan.
Aayat (angrily):
"Haath chhodo mera! Tumhara dimaag kharab ho gaya hai ky-"
But before she could finish, Ayaan lunged and punched Rayyan across the face. Rayyan reeled, caught off guard as his focus had been on Aayat.
Still, Rayyan straightened and tried to step toward her again.
This time, Aayat herself pressed her palm against his chest, stopping him.
Her broken eyes locked on his.
Rayyan (in disbelief, voice cracking):
"Toh tum iska saath de rahi ho...?"
But Aayat turned her head, refusing to answer. Instead, she looked at Ayaan.
Aayat (firmly):
"Mujhe kya karna hai... woh main khud decide karungi, Ayaan. Tumhe mujhe batane ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Then finally, her gaze shifted back to Rayyan. Her tone softened but carried authority.
Aayat:
"Chalo... ab."
Rayyan's chest rose and fell heavily. He looked at Ayaan one last time, his eyes promising a storm. Then he gripped Aayat's arm tightly, and without another word, dragged her out of Khan Mansion.
~
The Malik Mansion loomed silent as Rayyan stormed in, dragging Aayat by her arm. His grip was steel; her struggle useless.
Inside the main hall, she ripped her arm free, her voice echoing.
Aayat (furious):
"Chhodo mujhe!"
Rayyan glared at her, voice cold.
Rayyan (low, commanding):
"Chup karke chalo aayat."
Aayat let out a bitter laugh through her tears.
Aayat (mocking):
"Kyun? Is baar kya saza dene wale ho mujhe?"
Rayyan's tone softened unexpectedly.
Rayyan (quiet, almost pleading):
"Aayat... please upar chalo."
Before more could be said, a sharp voice interrupted.
Nafeesa (entering):
"Yahan kya ho raha hai?"
Both turned. Nafeesa's eyes darted between them - her son gripping his wife, his wife's face streaked with tears.
Rayyan quickly tried to downplay.
Rayyan (calm):
"Kuch nahi, Ammi... bas apas ki baat hai."
Aayat scoffed, stepping forward.
Aayat (bitterly):
"Apas ki baat? Apke betay ko shayad sharam aa rahi hai batane mein. Toh main batati hoon. 8 saal pehle jo hua tha... aaj bhi wahi hua hai. Same story. Bas shaks badal gaya hai."
The room went cold. Nafeesa's lips parted in shock, Rayyan's jaw clenched.
Before either could speak, another voice thundered.
"AAYAT!"
Everyone turned. Shahbaz entered, eyes blazing. Without hesitation, his hand flew across her cheek. SLAP.
The sound silenced the hall.
A single tear slid from Aayat's eye. She didn't raise her hand to her face; she just stood still, trembling.
Rayyan instantly stepped forward, pulling her behind him protectively.
Rayyan (shouting):
"Aisa kuch nahi hai abu!"
But Aayat's cracked voice interrupted.
Aayat (crying, defiant):
"Aisa hi hai! Kya tumne mujhe Ayaan ke saath nahi dekha? Pichhli baar toh tumne sirf picture dekhi thi bazu pakada tha maine, toh tum ne Ramsha se shaadi kar li thi! Ab kya karoge? Is baar toh tumne-"
Rayyan (roaring, silencing her):
"CHUP, AAYAT! Bilkul chup! Eik aur lafaz nahi...."
Her body shook, but her tears wouldn't stop.
Aayat (sobbing):
"Kyun chup rahun? ...... Batao na Is baar Kya karoge? Talak doge kya? Agar aisa hain toh wo be day do....!"
Rayyan froze. The word hit him like a dagger. His breath caught, his eyes locked on her as if the world had collapsed beneath his feet.
Nafeesa stepped forward sharply.
Nafeesa (cold):
"Jab ye khud mang rahi hai... toh de kyu nahi dete isey talak?"
Rayyan turned, his eyes flashing at his mother.
Rayyan (firm, cold):
"Yeh masla mera aur meri biwi k beech ka hai. Koi ismein nahi bolega. Ap be nahi..."
Then, facing Aayat again, his tone broke, his voice raw.
"8 saal pehle galti ki thi. Tum par yakeen nahi kiya. Uski saza 8 saal ki judai thi tumse.... Mera Allah janta hain , maine mohabbat sirf tum se ki hain... us waqat to rasta bhatak gaya tha , per ab nahi....ab main tum par dobara shak karne ka gunah nahi karunga."
His voice trembled, filled with pain.
Rayyan (softly, confessing):
"8 saal tumhare bagair guzar diye... par ab ek din bhi nahi hoga mujhse aayat."
Aayat stared at him, stunned.
Rayyan turned toward the family, his voice steel.
Rayyan:
"Aayat ke bare mein ab ek aur lafz kisi ne kaha... toh mujhse bura koi nahi hoga."
And without another glance, he grabbed Aayat's arm and pulled her upstairs, leaving the family in stunned silence.
~
The room was dim, the night heavy outside. Aayat lay asleep on the bed, her face damp with dried tears.
Rayyan sat beside her quietly, watching her fragile frame. His hand gently brushed the strands of hair from her face.
His heart ached.
Rayyan (thinking, whispering):
"Mujhse bohot badi galti hui hai, Aayat... nahi, galti nahi. Gunnah."
He bent forward, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
Rayyan (broken):
"Meri sabse badi galti thi Ramsha se nikah karna. Maine sirf tumhare saath nahi... uske saath bhi bohot galat kiya."
He leaned back, eyes glistening, voice trembling in the silence.
Rayyan (confessing, whispering):
"Par main sirf tumse pyar karta hoon, Aayat.
Hamesha se sirf tumse. Tumhare bagair kabhi kisi aur ka khayal bhi nahi laya tha maine.
Mera Allah jaanta hai ye baat. Lekin us waqt jab tum par ilzaam lage.
.. main kuch samajh nahi paya. Ammi ne Ramsha se nikah ko kaha, aur maine 'haan' keh diya.
Mein nikkah nahi karna chahta tha. Aayat. "
Rayyan sat in his room, dressed in sherwani, staring at his reflection. His fists clenched, his breaths uneven.
Rayyan (thinking, desperate):
"Ya Allah... ye main kya kar raha hoon? Main kaise kisi aur se shadi kar sakta hoon? Meri biwi toh meri Aayat hai..."
But the pictures flashed before his eyes again - those cursed images, the accusations. Tears burned his vision.
He stormed into Ramsha's room. She sat dressed as a bride, eyes lowered.
Rayyan (broken, honest):
"Mein tumhein kuch batana chahta hoon. Main sirf Aayat se mohabbat karta hoon. Uski jagah kisi aur ko dene ka soch bhi nahi sakta."
Ramsha's lips curved bitterly.
Ramsha (cold):
"Jo usne kiya, uske bawajood? Usne poore khandan ki izzat mitti mein mila di hain rayyan."
Rayyan (desperate):
"Jo bhi hai... meri mohabbat sirf usi ki hai. Main usse kabhi nahi chhoduga yaad rakhna . Chhodna toh dur ki baat hai... usko chhodne ka khayal bhi nahi la sakta mein...."
Ramsha's voice was flat, detached.
Ramsha:
"Koi baat nahi hain.... waise be main ye shadi mohabbat mein nahi kar rahi. Sirf khandan ki izzat bachane ke liye kar rahi hoon. Tum mujhse kabhi mohabbat na karo, mujhe parwaah nahi. Mere liye sirf itna kafi hai ki mere naam ke saath tumhara naam juda hain."
Rayyan stared at her, numb.
Rayyan (cold, final):
"Tumhari marzi hai. Inkar kar sakti ho. Kyu kay Mujhse tumhe kuch nahi milega."
He left, broken.
Moments later, at the nikah, the Molvi asked for his consent. His eyes wandered to Aayat - standing in the staircase, her face pale, her eyes drowned in tears.
His chest caved.
But then Rashid Malik's voice whispered in his ear.
Rashid (firm, low):
"Rayyan... mat dekho uski taraf. Ye sab drama hain uska. Usne hum sabka sir jhukaya hain. Ramsha bohut achi ladki hain, is ne izzat bachayi hai hamare khandan ki. Us shaks ko, un tasveeron ko... main marte dam tak nahi bhool paunga. Kash aayat be ramsha jaise hoti."
The words pierced him. The images returned.
Rayyan's heart screamed Aayat's name. But his lips said -
Rayyan:
"Qabool hai."
Back in the room, Rayyan's hands trembled as he covered his face.
Rayyan (thinking, devastated):
"Main kamzor pad gaya tha us din. Aur Tumhe kho diya.
Tumhari, ... aur Ramsha ki zindagi bhi barbaad hui meri wajah se.
Shayad agar yeh sab baat us din k 1-2 din baad hoti.
.. toh main kabhi Ramsha se nikah nahi karta.
Lekin sab usi eik din mein hua... main kuch samajh nahi paya.
Aur Koi samjhane wala be nahi tha. Jo mere zakhmo pr marham rakhta.
.. Ulta sabne mere zakhmon par namak chidakka.
Aur uska natija tha... mera aur Ramsha ka nikah. Aur sab barbaad ho gaya, Aayat."
His eyes lifted to her sleeping face, fragile and broken.
Rayyan (whispering, aching):
"Par ek sach hamesha rahega... main sirf tumse pyar karta hoon. Aur is bar mein tumhe phir se nahi kho sakta... beshak tum mujhe khudgaraz keh do."
He bent forward again, pressing a trembling kiss to her forehead, his tears falling against her skin.
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