Chapter 45
The first light of dawn crept softly through the curtains of Aayat's room, spilling across the floor like a whisper of peace after a storm. The clock on her bedside table blinked 5:30 a.m.
Aayat stirred awake. Her eyes felt heavy, yet calm - as if sleep had finally given her something she had been chasing for years: stillness.
She rose, performed wudu, and spread her prayer mat near the window. The early air was cool, scented with dew and the faint fragrance of jasmine from the garden below.
After namaz, she opened the Qur'an, her fingers brushing gently across the delicate pages. The verses shimmered faintly under the soft light.
By the time she finished, tears were slipping silently down her face.
"Shukar hai, Ya Allah..." she whispered. "Woh daagh jo mere kirdar par tha, aaj mit gaya. Mujhe nahi maloom agay kya hone wala hai... par mujhe sahi raasta dikhana, Ya rab."
Her heart ached with both relief and uncertainty. Somewhere deep inside, the shadow of Rayyan still lingered - his silence, his anger, that night when he'd thrown her words back at her.
"Kya hota agar us din tumne mujh per bharosa kar liya hota...?" she thought. " Tum se mohabbat karna meri zindagi ki sab se badi galti ban kar reh gaye hain... "
She wiped her tears and stood. The clock now showed 7:00 a.m.
~
The mansion was still quiet when she stepped into the hall. Sunlight slanted through the tall windows, touching the marble floor with gold.
" aj lagta hain sabko sukoon ki nind ay hain..." she murmured, a faint smile curving her lips.
Outside, the garden shimmered with morning dew. She walked there barefoot, her dupatta wrapped loosely around her shoulders, and sat on the stone bench near the fountain.
For a few moments, she simply breathed. Birds chirped from the trees, and the soft rustle of leaves felt like a lullaby.
But then - memories rose again. Faces. Accusations. Silence.
Those moments when no one believed her, when even her truth had sounded like a lie.
Her eyes closed. A tear escaped and fell onto her hand.
Then - a voice.
" Akele akele bethay kya soch rahi ho?"
She turned sharply. Ayaan stood a few feet away, hands folded casually, a soft smile on his face.
For a second, she blinked, surprised.
"Tum muskura kyu rahay ho aise?" she asked, arching a brow.
Ayaan walked closer and sat beside her on the bench. His gaze lingered on her face - peaceful, serene, almost glowing in the morning light.
"Bas... aj pehli dafa tumhare chehre par sukoon dekha hai aise..." he said softly.
Aayat turned her eyes toward the flowers ahead. A gentle smile crossed her lips.
"Kal jab sab mujhse nazar nahi mila paa rahay thay, sach jaane ke baad... mere dil mein ajeeb sa sukoon tha. Jaise saalon se jo bojh tha mere upar, wo utaar gaya ho.."
Ayaan watched her in silence - his heart tightening at every word. She didn't even realize how beautiful she looked when she spoke with peace instead of pain, he thought.
He wanted to tell her - that her strength moved him, that her smile felt like sunrise after endless night. But he didn't.
Aayat turned to him suddenly, catching his gaze.
"Aise kya dekh rahay ho tum?" she asked.
He blinked, startled.
"Kuch nahi," he said quickly, looking away. Then, to cover his flustered tone, he added, "Chalo andar, nashta tayar hai."
And he stood up before she could question him again.
Aayat watched him go, a small laugh escaping her lips. There was something oddly comforting about his presence - like an anchor she hadn't realized she needed.
~
Downstairs, the dining table gleamed under the soft chandelier light. The smell of parathas and chai filled the room.
Aayat sat quietly, lost in thought, when Sameer Khan spoke.
" Tumse baat karni hai aayat..."
She set her cup down and nodded.
"Ji, Baba, boliye."
Sameer looked at her with a father's mix of love and concern.
" Hum jaante hain aayat tum pareshaan ho. Tumhe hamare saamne aise dramay karne ki zaroorat nahi. Hum family hain. Tum humein apni pareshani apna dard bata skti ho. "
Her eyes softened.
"Baba... ye kehne ki zaroorat nahi hai aapko. Aap meri family ho... aur main aapse bohot pyar karti hoon."
She hesitated, then lowered her gaze.
"Par Baba..."
Sonia leaned forward gently.
"Par kya, beta? Aage bolo."
"Mere liye aap logon ne bohot kuch kiya hai. Mujhe ghar diya, naam diya. Jo cheezein sirf Ayaan ki thi, unmein barabar ka haq mujhe bhi diya. Aap logon ne mujhe sab kuch diya hai. Main nahi chahti meri wajah se aap log aur pareshaan ho. "
Sonia's eyes softened; she reached across the table and took Aayat's hand.
"Aisa bolne ki himmat mat karna dobara. Tum hamari beti ho, is family ki fard ho. Tumhara har dard hamara hai."
Ayaan, sitting beside her, smiled faintly.
"Mama bilkul sahi keh rahi hain. Tumne mere haq mein se kuch nahi liya, Aayat. Ye sab Baba ka hai. Baba jisko chahein, de sakte hain. Na mera hai, na tumhara. Ye sab unka banaaya hua hai - aur ab hum dono sambhaal rahe hain."
Aayat looked at him, and for a moment her heart softened. That playful Ayaan now spoke with quiet maturity. She smiled faintly.
Sameer Khan nodded.
"Bilkul sahi keh rahe ho, Ayaan. Aur ek aur baat, beta," he said, turning to Aayat.
"Tum jo bhi faisla karogi, hum hamesha tumhare saath rahenge.
Tum hamari beti ho - aur hamesha rahogi.
Tumhari family ko maaf karne ki ijazat mein tumhe kabhi nahi duga , per baki tumhari marzi hain ,tum kya karo, humein qabool hoga.
.. lekin rayyan... wo tumhara shohar hain, nikkah mein ho tum us kay.
.. us mamle mein faisle ka haq sirf tumhara hain , humara us mein bolne ka koi haq nahi hain.
.. tum jo karogy , hum tumhara saath de gay. "
" Baba Aapko kaise pata ke main ye sochu gy?" she asked softly.
Sameer chuckled.
" Beti sirf bolne k liye nahi bola... Tum meri beti ho.
. Main kal tumse naraz isliye nahi hua ke tum Rayyan ke paas gaye - balki isliye ke tumne un k samne khud ko kamzor dhikaya.
. Tum chahti toh us kamre se khud nikal sakti thi.
Par tum rone dhone mein busy thi. Bracelet tumhare bazu mein hain .
. aur tumhare bodyguard 24 gante tumhare ass pass rehte hain.
.. tum asani se nikal sakti thi kisi ki madad k bina. "
Aayat's lips trembled. She lowered her gaze.
"Sorry, Baba..."
Ayaan leaned forward, curious.
"Lekin main yeh jaanna chahta hoon... tum wahan se nikal sakti thi. Phir tum khud kyu nahi nikli..."
Aayat frowned.
"Us waqt mujhe hosh nahi tha."
Ayaan grinned, teasingly.
"Woh hota kab hai tumhe?"
She shot him a glare while Sameer chuckled. The heaviness in the room lightened.
"Khair," Sameer continued, "khula ka faisla bohot bada hota hai. Umeed hai tumne soch samajh kar liya hai. Par yaad rakhna, koi dabao nahi hai hamari taraf se."
Sonia smiled proudly.
"Bilkul. Tumhara har faisla hamara faisla hai."
Ayaan coughed deliberately, taking a sip of water.
"Exactly. Jo bhi tum karo, hum sab tumhare saath hain.... Mein tumhare saath hoon. Chahe uske liye mujhe kisi ke khilaf kyun na khada hona pade."
Aayat smiled.
"Thanks..." she whispered.
"Aur ek aur baat," Sameer added. "Aaj tum dono office nahi jaa rahe. Ghar par raho, thoda waqt saath bitao."
Ayaan saluted playfully.
"Ji, Baba!"
Sonia laughed, shaking her head as both Ayaan and Aayat grinned like children.
~
Upstairs, they each made a few work calls - postponing meetings, instructing assistants.
Later, in the main hall, Aayat sat with her phone, sipping tea, when Ayaan appeared dramatically.
"Chalo ek game ho jaye." he said.
"Mera mood nahi hai," she muttered, eyes still on her screen.
Ayaan folded his arms, pretending to think - then yelled,
"Babaaaaa! Dekhiye Aayat phone chala rahi hai! Rest nahi kar rahi!"
Aayat glared.
"Tumhara masla kya hai ayaan?"
"Mera masla tum ho," he grinned.
"Toh dafa ho jao yahan se. Kyu khade ho mere samne .."
She picked her phone again.
Ayaan studied her for a second, then said with mock seriousness,
" Tumhe dekhta hoon toh sirf eik baat zehan mein ati hain..."
"Kya?" she asked, irritated.
"Normally jab log rote hain toh unke aansu nikalte hain. Par jab tum roti ho , toh aansuon se zyada tumhari naak behti hai."
Her mouth fell open.
"Muh band karo apna!"
"Sach keh raha hoon!" he laughed. "Us din maine mazaak mein joker kaha tha tumhein, par sach mein jab tum roti ho na, toh tumhari naak lal ho jati hain... joker ki tarha, aur ansu tumhari naak se nikalte hain... lagta hai tumhar ansu ki tumhari ankhon se nahi banti, Isliye wo.........."
Before he could finish, Aayat snatched a cushion and threw it. He dodged and grabbed another one.
The next few minutes turned into a soft-hearted chaos - cushions flying, laughter echoing through the hall.
"Mama! Mujhe bachaiye is chudail se!" Ayaan yelped, running behind Sonia.
"Aaj main tujhe zinda nahi chhodungi, Ayaan khan!"
"Zinda nahi chhodungi..." he mocked in her voice, making faces. "Khawab mein!"
Sonia finally shouted,
"Bas karo! Bacho ki tarha ladna band karo! Kya ho gaya hai?"
Ayaan pointed dramatically.
"Mama, jab yeh roti hai toh iska naak joker jaisa ho jaata hai aur ansu be naak se behte hain- ismein galat kya hai?
Sonia burst out laughing, trying to hide it.
"Ayaan! Tumhe sharam nahi aati?"
"Mujhe aap dono se baat nahi karni," Aayat huffed. She turned to Sonia. "Likh lijiye mama, jo is ki harkatein hain, isey koi nahi Milne wali.... yeh zindagi bhar single hi rahega!"
And before either could respond, she gave Ayaan a push and stormed upstairs.
"Nahi rahunga! Koi toh mil hi jaayegi!" he shouted after her, still laughing.
~
Evening descended with a quiet glow.
Upstairs in her study, Aayat was on a call with Arjun, discussing project deadlines. Her voice had turned professional again, her focus sharp - yet her heart still carried that strange peace from the morning.
Downstairs, Sameer, Sonia, and Ayaan sat together in the hall, sipping tea.
Then - the main doors opened.
The butler stepped aside.
Four familiar figures entered.
Rashid Malik. Shagufta Malik. Shahbaz Malik. Nafeesa malik.
The air in the room froze.
Sonia rose immediately, her tone guarded.
"Aap log yahan kya kar rahe hain?"
Sameer and Ayaan turned toward the doorway - both taken aback by the sight of Aayat's family standing there.
Ayaan's hand clenched slowly around his teacup. Upstairs, the faint sound of Aayat's laughter drifted from her study - unaware of the storm that had just stepped inside the house.