Chapter 40
Author's POV:
A week had passed, but the air around the city felt heavier, almost suffocating.
Naziya Hashmi, once proud and commanding, now lived in quiet despair.
Completely bankrupt, she had shifted to her daughter Ramsha's in laws, a shadow of her former self, her health fragile and brittle.
Only a handful of people knew the truth-that the collapse of the Hashmi empire was orchestrated, meticulously, by Aayat.
And the world was yet unaware of her silent, calculated victory.
In her office, Aayat sat poised at her desk, fingers gliding over her files with precise efficiency.
The door opened softly, and she looked up. There he was: Ayaan, tall, confident, a playful smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Aslam u alaikum, kya haal hain boss..." he greeted, eyes twinkling with mischief.
Aayat's lips curved into a smile, the usual calm in her tone laced with amusement.
"Walikum assalam... aur haal toh bohot zyada acha hain."
Ayaan chuckled, leaning casually against the doorframe.
"Haan wo toh ho ga hi... tum toh jo chahti thi wo ho hi gaya akhir...."
Aayat's laughter rang in the office, light but sharp.
"Bada maza aata hain mujhe un maa-beti ki aise shakal dekh kar.
.. aur uski maa, wo toh tab se beemar hi hain.
Bechari , taras ata hain mujhe...." She leaned back in her chair, tapping her pen lightly on the desk.
"Phir bhi... jo unhone mere saath kiya, uske samne ye kuch bhi nahi hain abhi. "
Ayaan's eyes narrowed slightly, a curious mix of respect and amusement on his face.
"Haan ye toh hain... par ab aage ka kya plan hain?"
"Kuch nahi... bas wapas aa jaungi jaldi, apne ghar wapas."
Ayaan's shoulders relaxed with relief, his tone dropping into something softer, almost vulnerable.
"Ahhh... ye sun kar mujhe kitna sukoon mila hain bata b nahi sakta..."
Aayat's lips quirked in a smile, and Ayaan's gaze followed hers,
"Haan, yaad aaya... mamma aur baba bhi aa rahe hain kal."
Aayat nodded, casual, calm, hiding the flurry of thoughts behind her eyes.
"Haan... meri baat hui thi unse..."
Ayaan's smirk returned, teasingly.
"Acha... please ab ye sab jaldi khatam karo aur wapas aa jao... tumhare bagair bore ho jata hoon. Ghar suna suna lagta hain mujhe...."
Aayat raised an eyebrow, lips curling with a playful irritation.
"Hye... lagta hain akhir kar kisi ko meri kadar a hi gayi."
Ayaan tilted his head, mockingly innocent.
"Kadar?"
Then he grinned, leaning forward slightly.
"Tum toh joker ho meri... isliye kaha jaldi a jao, bore ho jata hoon."
Aayat's patience snapped, voice cold, sharp.
"Tum ne mujhe joker kaha?"
Ayaan's eyes widened, almost as if he hadn't realized the gravity of his words.
"Haaannnn... ye kya bol diya maine... Joker ko kitna bura laga hoga..."
Aayat's hand moved with precision, grabbing a file and tossing it toward him with measured force.
"Jaan le loge mein tumhari... dafa ho jao yaha se!"
Ayaan caught it mid-air, laughing.
"Pagal ho gaye ho kya?"
Aayat's eyes narrowed, her voice icily amused.
"Khud kya ho... Dracula 2.0."
Ayaan laughed, hands raised in mock surrender.
"Theek hai... ab nahi kehta kuch be, but tumhare saath rehne wale jante ho gay , khoon kon Peeta hain....."
Aayat stood, walking past him, straightening the files on her desk.
"Tum kaha ja rahe ho?"
"Malik Mansion ja rahi hoon... file bhool gaye ho ek, aur lunch bhi kar lugy, waqt ho gaya hain." saying this she left the office.
Ayaan muttered under his breath,
"File? Jaise mujhe pata nahi hain... issey bas un maa-beti ki utri shakal dekhne mein maza aata hain."
And with that, he stepped out of her cabin, leaving a trail of playful arrogance behind him.
In the corridor, Hayaat stood, her expression a mixture of anticipation and impatience.
"Tum?" she called sharply, seeing Ayaan.
"Haan, mein... chote haathi."
Hayaat rolled her eyes, pushing past him.
"Hato mere aage se... mujhe api se baat karni hain..."
Ayaan smirked, stepping slightly aside but teasing.
"Late ho gaye ho... wo toh ghar chale gaye."
Hayaat's lips curved into a sly smile.
"Ap bhi jaldi karo warna ap bhi late ho jaoge meri tarha.."
Ayaan raised an eyebrow, shaking his head.
"Apna kaam karo... zada baatein na karo."
But Hayaat, persistent, snapped:
"Please, Ayaan... koshish toh karo."
Ayaan paused, then a slow, deliberate smile spread across his face. He reached out, taking Hayaat's hand and guiding her gently toward her cabin.
"Koshish karu?" he asked, voice low, almost reverent.
He stood before her, inhaling deeply, voice dropping further.
"Agar Aayat ko pata chal gaya ye sab.
.. toh sach kuch kharab ho jayega. Ek wahid dost bhi kho bethay gy woh.
.. Woh mujhe apna sab se behtreen dost manti hain, aur sirf mein hoon jis se wo apna dard share karti hain.
... mein khudgaraz ban kr us se uska wo wahid dost b nahi cheen skta.
.. aur jab kay main ye b janta hoon wo Rayyan se mohabbat karti hai, mujhse nahi. "
Hayaat's eyes softened, a flicker of concern crossing her face.
"wo rayyan bhai se aj bi mohabbat karti hain... ye apko api ne khud kaha hain?"
Ayaan nodded, somber.
"Haan... kaha hain .... Usne mujhe khud bataya... wo Rayyan se bachpan se mohabbat karti thi... aur is baat ka andaza usey dair se hua."
Hayaat frowned, stepping closer.
"Bachpan se mohabbat karti thi ayaan, 'thi'... 'hain' nahi... jab tak wo 'thi' bol rahi hain... 'thi' mein hi rakho na... present mein kyu la rahe ho."
Her voice dropped, gentle but firm, a shadow of sadness coating her words.
"Dekho, mein apni api ko aise shaks ke sath dekhna chahti hoon jo unki izzat karta ho.
.. jo unki izzat ki hifazat kar sake. Agar puri duniya bhi meri api ke khilaf ho.
.. phir bhi wo shaks unke saath khada rahe.
... Wo hamesha chahti thi aisa shaks jo unse bohut pyar karta ho.
.. aur wo tum ho Ayaan. Tum koshish kiye bagair kaise haar man sakte ho? "
Ayaan's jaw tightened. Before he could respond, his phone buzzed with a notification. He checked quickly, the smile fading instantly.
Hayaat noticed, concern rising.
"Kya hua?"
Ayaan's voice dropped, tense.
"Ramsha ko pata chal gaya hain... sab aayat ne kiya hain."
Hayaat's eyes widened, disbelief evident.
"What?!"
She added immediately, urgency in her tone.
"Humein chalna hoga ayaan... Naziya aunty ki tabiyat kharab hone ka ilzaam api par aa jaega."
Ayaan nodded, grabbing her hand, and they moved swiftly down the corridor, their pace urgent, determined.
~
Meanwhile, at malik Mansion, the atmosphere was lighter, almost deceptively so. Lunch had been served, and everyone was seated around the grand dining table. Aayat entered, calm and poised, sliding into her chair.
Ramsha, standing abruptly, her voice sharp and accusatory:
"Ye sab tum ne kiya hain?"
Aayat looked up casually, tilting her head, as if surprised to hear the words.
" kya bole jaa rahi ho...."
Rayyan's hand hovered slightly over his cutlery, frowning, eyes flicking between the two.
"Kya keh rahi ho tum? Aayat ne kuch nahi kiya."
Ramsha's eyes narrowed, disbelief burning.
"Aur kon karega... isko mujhse kitni nafrat hain... sab jante hain yaha. Mera yaqeen karo... isi ka haath hain in sab mein."
Aayat's gaze lifted, calm, collected, almost icy.
"Mera haath nahi hain."
Rayyan turned to Ramsha, serious and firm.
"Suna tumne..."
Aayat stood slowly, voice cutting like a blade, cold and deliberate:
"Balkay puri ki puri mein hoon..."
The room fell silent, every eye fixed on her. Shock, disbelief, and curiosity danced across their faces, a quiet storm brewing over the table.
Slowly, with a fluid movement that demanded attention, Aayat walked from behind her chair, her heels echoing faintly on the marble floor. She stopped directly in front of Ramsha, smiling faintly, a dangerous curve of her lips that carried both charm and menace.
"Tumhe kya laga, mein kuch nahi karungi... jo tumne mere sath kiya tha, uska badla nahi loongi" Her voice was soft, almost sweet, but the underlying steel made it impossible to ignore.
Ramsha's eyes blazed, tears glimmering at the corners. She struggled to stand her ground, fists clenched, trembling with rage.
"Tum... tum ye sab kyu kar rahi ho, Aayat?" she choked out, voice breaking, as she tried to contain the flood of emotions.
Before Ramsha could react further, Rayyan stepped forward, his presence commanding, yet calm. With a gentle but firm motion, he caught Aayat by the arm and turned her slightly towards him.
"Aayat... tumne aisa kiya hain? Ye galat hain... tum janti ho..." His voice was low, almost pleading, filled with a restrained anger that only heightened the tension in the room.
Aayat's gaze lifted to meet his, and a cold smirk played across her lips.
Her voice, silk over steel, cut through the thick air.
"Maine aisa isliye kiya... kyun ke mujhe maza aata hain isey taqleef mein dekh kar.
.. aur haan... kya kaha tumne, ye galat hain?
Toh is ghar mein sahi kon karta hain mr. Rayyan malik? "
The room fell silent, every eye darting between Aayat and Rayyan. Even Shahbaz, usually stoic, could not mask his shock. His voice broke the silence, bitter and sharp:
"Mujhe jab bhi lagta hain tum is se zyada bura aur nahi kar sakti, tum mujhe galat sabit kar deti ho..."
Naziya Hashmi stepped forward, her frail hands trembling. She reached for Aayat's arm, twisting it with sudden force, a sharp slap of fury on her face.
"Mere shohar ki company thi wo... tum aisa kaise kar sakti ho!" she yelled, her voice cracking with the weight of loss and betrayal. Pain laced every syllable. "Kyu... Ay ho tum hamari zindagi mein wapas? Kyu?"
Aayat's cold hand pushed her back, forcing her to stumble slightly. Her voice, smooth yet icy, resonated across the room:
"Abhi sirf shuruaat hain aunty ji... aur aap abhi se rone dhone lag gaye... abhi toh ek akhri baazi rehti hain meri..."
And with that, she leaned closer, her words so quiet that only Naziya could hear, a whisper like venom:
"Junaid mere pass hain... jab use sab ke samne laoge, tab is ghar ki chhat bhi cheen jaayegi apke sir se... Kaha jaoge phir ap?"
Nazia's face turned pale upon hearing this.
Ramsha stepped forward instinctively, pulling Aayat back.
"Kya kaha tumne meri ammi ko?" she demanded, voice trembling, fury radiating from her every pore.
Aayat's laugh was soft, chilling, a melody of danger and delight.
"Wo tum apni ammi se pooch lena... filhal toh..."
But fate intervened cruelly. As she spoke, Naziya Hashmi gasped sharply, clutching her chest. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the marble floor. Time seemed to stop.
Screams erupted. Everyone rushed forward-Ramsha, Shahbaz, and the others-while Ayaan and Hayaat arrived, panting, worry etched on their faces.
Ayaan moved swiftly to Aayat's side, placing a firm hand on her shoulder.
"Aayat... tum theek ho..."
Hayaat dashed to Naziya's side. Panic and fear rippled through the room.
Amidst the chaos, Aayat stood frozen, a rare flicker of concern crossing her features.
"amii ko hospital le kr jana ho ga... Abhi..."
~
The ambulance ride was tense, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken emotions. In the emergency room, doctors moved quickly, their precise urgency a stark contrast to the emotional storm outside. Everyone waited, their anxiety mirrored in every twitching hand and restless step.
Finally, the doctor emerged, relief washing over his expression.
"patient ab stable hain... Bas unka dyan rakhna kay wo zada tension na lay...."
The tension released in a collective exhale, though guilt and anger simmered beneath the surface.
Ramsha spun to Aayat, her eyes blazing, tears streaked and raw.
"Tumhari wajah se hua ye sab... agar meri ammi ko kuch hota, mein tumhari jaan le leti..."
Before Aayat could respond, Nafeesa stepped forward, voice sharp and unforgiving:
"Ye sab tumhari wajah se ho raha hain... yaha se chali jao tum, abhi aur isi waqt."
Aayat's face fell, worry and shock flickering in her eyes. Ayaan, stepping forward, tried to calm the storm:
" Bas... Aayat ne kuch nahi kiya... Aayat toh..."
But before he could finish, Aayat's hand gripped his arm tightly, pulling him close. Her eyes, steady and resolute, met his.
"Abhi nahi, Ayaan..."
Rayyan, watching the exchange, moved with lightning precision. His hand gripped Aayat's arm, guiding her firmly away from the chaos. Outside, in the cool night air, Ayaan called after them:
"Uska bazu chodo!"
Rayyan's voice cut through sharply, controlled but fierce:
"Hamari family problems mein tumhe bolne ka koi haq nahi. Apni limits mein raho..."
Ayaan opened his mouth to protest, but Rayyan had already guided Aayat to the car. He slid her inside, the car doors closing behind them. Ayaan remained outside, his gaze following the vehicle, a mix of frustration and worry etched into his face.
~
When the car reached Malik Mansion, Rayyan lifted Aayat from the car, his grip firm but not cruel. He carried her directly inside, up the staircase, and into his room. Without a word, he pushed her onto the bed.
Aayat blinked, shocked, trying to understand the sudden intensity of his actions. Before she could speak, Rayyan's voice, low and commanding, silenced her:
"Chup... bilkul chup... eik lafaz nahi."
He moved through the room, hands brushing over objects with controlled agitation, pacing, the tension thick in the confined space. Then he stopped, turning to face her fully.
"Janti ho... tumne kya kiya hain?... tumhari wajah se, marte marte bachi hain aunty..."
Aayat's eyes widened, a rare flicker of fear breaking through her composure.
Rayyan approached her swiftly, gripping her arms with unyielding strength.
"Agar unhe kuch hota... toh janti ho kya hota? Koi aur toh chodo... tum bhi khud ko kabhi maaf nahi kar pati."
He released her, letting her fall back onto the bed, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper:
"Ramsha ke abu already mar chuke hain... ab sirf uski ami hain uske pass... agar unhe kuch hota... toh wo kaise rehti? Kabhi socha hain tumne?"
Aayat's breath caught. Her eyes lifted to meet Rayyan's, a single tear trailing down her cheek.
"Bada dard jag raha hain Ramsha ke liye.
.. par mere liye... toh kabhi ye dard mehsoos nahi kiya kisi ne.
.. mujhse mera sab kuch cheen liya gaya.
.. mere ammi, abu, bhai, behan aur tum..
. tab toh tum khamosh bethay rahay.... "
She leaned forward suddenly, grabbing rayaan in her desperation.
"Tab toh kisi ko dard nahi hua... meri izzat pe dhag laga... sab khamosh rahe... sab ko Ramsha ka dard dikhta hain... sab ko uska jhoot bhi sach dikhta hain... par mera kya?
Kyu mere sach pe koi yaqeen nahi karta?"
Rayyan's voice cut through, firm and unwavering.
"Hum baat kare gay is bare mein... par filhal hospital mein meri zaroorat hain, ramsha is time akeli hain. Main ja raha hoon..."
He turned sharply, leaving Aayat alone in the room.
" Wo akeli nahi hain sab hain us kay pass..."
She rushed to the door, trying to follow, but the sound of it locking behind him left her trembling.
She pounded on the door, calling:
"Rayyan... darwaza kholo!"
But he was gone, leaving only silence and the echo of his warning.
Aayat slowly slid down against the door, her back pressing the cold wood as tears streamed down her face. Her chest heaved with every breath, the silence of the room echoing her pain. She buried her face in her hands, whispering in a trembling voice,
"Akeli wo nahin... akeli mein hoon..."
Her voice cracked as she looked up, eyes filled with anguish.
"Mera har apna uska hai... sabko uska dard dikhta hai, par mera kyu nahi?"
The room fell silent again - just the sound of her muffled sobs and the faint rain outside.
And then... someone's shadow appeared on the other side of the door.