Chapter 38
The faint sunlight crept through the curtains of the Malik Mansion's guest room.
Aayat stirred in bed, her eyelashes fluttering against her cheeks, her face pale and worn from the endless tears of last night.
Her head felt heavy, almost pounding. She pressed her temples gently, letting out a soft sigh.
For a brief second, she felt something unusual-familiar. The faint scent that lingered close, masculine, grounding, painfully comforting. She turned her head instinctively toward the side, her heart skipping... but the space beside her was empty. No one.
Still, the fragrance lingered, and her chest tightened. She sat up slowly, her blanket sliding down. Her eyes fell ahead-and froze.
Rayyan sat in the chair, a little away from the bed. His elbows pressed to his knees, his face buried in his hands. A half-filled glass of water sat on the side table, untouched. His broad shoulders looked heavier than ever, as though they bore years of regret.
Aayat's lips parted, confusion and unspoken pain rising in her throat.
Rayyan finally raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, face pale, expression worn. When his gaze met hers, something flickered-like hope struggling to breathe.
He stood slowly, his voice raw.
"Tum uth gaye... tum theek ho na, Aayat?"
Her throat was dry. She only managed a low, indifferent, "Hmmm..." before sliding out of bed.
The moment she stood, Rayyan was quick to close the distance, as if afraid she might vanish if he blinked. He gently stopped in front of her, eyes scanning her face.
"Kal jo bhi hua... jo tumne kaha... main phir bhi tumse ek baat kehna chahta hoon," he said with quiet desperation, "main phir se tum par kabhi shak nahi karunga. Kabhi bhi nahi. Tum par kabhi ungli nahi uthaaunga dubara, Aayat."
His words, soft but firm, hung in the heavy silence.
Aayat looked at him for a fraction of a second-his pleading eyes, his vulnerable posture-but then she tore her gaze away. Her chest clenched, but her voice was sharp.
"Ab bohot dair ho chuki hai rayyan..."
She turned, heading toward the bathroom.
But Rayyan wasn't ready to let go. His hand shot forward, holding her wrist. Not with force, but with a desperate tenderness.
"Aayat..." he breathed, turning her to face him, his eyes burning into hers. "Tumhare dil mein aaj bhi mere liye feelings hain... aur tum-"
Aayat cut him off, her voice trembling yet laced with steel.
"Haan, sahi kaha tumne... main tumse aaj bhi pyaar karti hoon."
Rayyan's heart jolted. His lips trembled, his eyes lit up with a fragile smile as if he had been given a lifeline.
But then her next words shattered him.
"Aur isi wajah se main khud se bhi nafrat karti hoon.
Tum mere saamne hote ho toh... kuch lamho ke liye main bhi kamzor pad jaati hoon.
Sab kuch bhool jaati hoon..." She paused, her eyes filling.
"...lekin in sab baaton mein ek sach yeh bhi hai, ke main tumhe kabhi maaf nahi karungi. "
Rayyan's fragile smile died instantly. His chest felt ripped open. His hand slowly fell from her wrist as though her words burned through his skin.
Without another glance, Aayat walked into the bathroom, leaving him behind in suffocating silence.
~
The tall glass building of AK Groups reflected the noonday sun. Employees bustled through the modern corridors, but the atmosphere in Ayaan Khan's cabin was one of brooding quiet.
Ayaan leaned back in his chair, head resting against the leather, eyes closed. His shirt sleeves were rolled, tie loosened-a man lost in thought.
The door opened without a knock. Footsteps clicked in, light but confident.
Without opening his eyes, Ayaan spoke lazily.
"Kaise aana hua tumhara aayat?"
Aayat stopped short, surprised.
"Tumhe kaise pata main aayi hoon?"
Ayaan's lips curved faintly as he finally opened his eyes, locking them on her.
"Tumhari khushboo pehchan sakta hoon."
Aayat blinked, taken aback. "Wah... kya baat hai."
Ayaan straightened slightly, waving off the remark.
"Idhar udhar ki baatein chhodo. Batao, yahan kaise aana hua?"
Aayat folded her arms, tilting her head.
"Matlab kya hai? Kya ab main yahan aa bhi nahi sakti?"
Ayaan chuckled softly.
"Tumhara jahan dil kare, wahan jaa sakti ho. Main tumhe rokne wala hota kon hoon? Tumhari zindagi hai, tum decide kar sakti ho."
His tone was casual, but his words carried weight. And it struck her-he was still hurt about last night.
Her voice softened.
"Tum mujhse naraz ho? ......Main ne us andaz mein nahi kaha tha ayaan. Tum aur Rayyan lad rahe the... main tum dono ko rokne ke liye keh rahi thi."
Ayaan's jaw tightened. He let out a dry laugh, stood up, and placed both palms on the table, leaning toward her.
" Nahi aayat, asli baat kya hain ye mein tumhe batata hoon.
.." His voice dropped low, cutting. "Tum aaj bhi Rayyan se mohabbat karti ho.
Tum aaj bhi un sab ki parwah karti ho. Sab kuch hone ke bawajood, tum sirf Ramsha se lad sakti ho.
.. baaki kisi se nahi. Kyu kay un logo k samne aj be tum aayat malik ho. "
Her breath caught.
Ayaan pulled back, folding his arms. His eyes bore into hers.
"Aur tumhe pata hai kyun? Kyun ke tum unse aj be mohabbat karti ho.... duniya ke liye tum AK ho... lekin rayyan k liye tum aj be aayat ho. Sirf Aayat Rayyan Malik. Jo usse mohabbat karti hai. Jo uske saamne kamzor ho jaati hai."
He stepped closer, voice sharp.
"Kal mujhe sab samajh aa gaya. Jab Rayyan ki awaaz suni... tum dar gayi thi, kanp rahi thi tum, Apni nazrein tak nahi utha paayi uske saamne. Kyun? Kyun ke tum uske saamne AK nahi ho... sirf ek kamzor Aayat ho."
The silence was deafening. Aayat's throat constricted. She wanted to argue, deny it-but her silence betrayed her.
Ayaan grabbed a file, his voice dropping to finality.
"Mujhe meeting ke liye jaana hai. Good bye" He walked out, leaving her hollow.
~
The air was heavy. Aayat sat alone in her cabin, head bent, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee cup absentmindedly. Ayaan's words echoed like a haunting melody: "Sirf ek kamzor Aayat ho..."
The door burst open.
Startled, she lifted her gaze-and froze.
He walked in without a word, shutting the door behind him. His movements were unusually slow, almost weighted. He came straight to the chair opposite her desk, sitting down, head bowed.
Aayat frowned.
"Tum? Ab kya hua tumhe?"
He lifted his face, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Socha tumhare saath coffee ho jaye. Tumhare office ki coffee bohot achhi hoti hai."
She narrowed her eyes.
"Dramay band karo aur seedhi tarah bolo. Yahan kyun aaye ho?"
He chuckled weakly, then sighed.
"I'm sorry. Mujhe wo sab nahi kehna chahiye tha. Actually... gusse mein tha, isliye."
Before he could continue, Aayat raised her hand.
"Tumhe sorry bolne ki zaroorat nahi hai. Tumne sach kaha hain. Tumne mujhe aaina dikhaya hai bas. Kay Main jitni bhi koshish kar loon... unke saamne main aaj bhi wahi kamzor Aayat hoon."
Ayaan's heart clenched. He immediately stood, moved around the desk, and crouched down in front of her chair.
"Nahi, tum kamzor nahi ho, Aayat. Mera matlab wo nahi tha."
He looked up at her, his eyes glistening.
"Tumhari jagah koi aur hota... toh shayad ek din bhi nahi nikal pata. Lekin tum... tum itna sab kuch jhel rahi ho. Tum toh bohut himat wali ho."
Her eyes softened slightly, but her voice was low.
"Sach kaha tumne aj , sab kuch. Lekin ek baat aur sach hai... kuch lamhon ke liye main kamzor pad jaati hoon. Per uske bawajood, main unhein maaf nahi kar sakti. Main mohabbat jitni bhi kar loon unse... woh baatein kabhi nahi bhool sakti."
Ayaan sighed, shifting the subject gently.
"Kya mama aur baba ko ab India aane doon? Tumhe us ghar jaana tha, isliye wo yaha rukay huye hain . Woh tumse kuch nahi kehte, lekin mera dimagh kha gaye hain."
At last, a faint smile touched Aayat's lips.
"Haan... keh do unhein, ab aa jaayein. Waise bhi main unhein bohot miss kar rahi hoon."
Ayaan exhaled with relief, finally sinking into the chair again.
"Yes... ab sukoon milega."
Suddenly, a knock echoed at the door.
"Come in," Aayat said.
The door opened-and Hayaat walked in, holding a file.
"Ye file-" she began, but froze mid-step.
Her eyes landed on Ayaan.
Ayaan stood abruptly, equally stunned.
For a long second, silence stretched. Their eyes locked. Recognition flared.
And then, simultaneously, the words escaped both their lips in disbelief.