Chapter 50
Author's POV:
Morning light spilled through the tall glass windows of the Khan Mansion, soft and golden, brushing against the marble floor like liquid honey.
Everything looked calm - but nothing was calm anymore. Not in this house. Not inside Aayat.
She sat at the dining table, a half-eaten slice of toast resting on her plate, her fingers still and pale over the porcelain edge.
Sameer Khan's voice echoed across the quiet hall, trying to fill the silence she carried like a shadow.
"Toh batao, Aayat beta... is bare mein tumhara kya khayal hai?"
There was no reply.
Her eyes didn't move. They stayed fixed on the plate as if she could stare her thoughts into dust.
Sameer shifted in his chair, clearing his throat.
"Aayat?" he called again, gently this time.
No answer.
Sonia reached forward, her hand warm against Aayat's cold wrist.
"Aayat..." she whispered.
Aayat blinked - as if coming back from a place far away - and turned.
"G... mama," she replied softly.
Sameer frowned.
"Tumhara dhyaan kahaan hai, beta? Kahaan khoyi rehti ho tum har waqat?"
Aayat inhaled sharply, forcing a faint smile.
"Kuch nahi, baba... bas kaam ke baare mein soch rahi thi."
Sameer raised his brows.
"Kaam ke baare mein? Tum to aadha time staff ki galtiyaan nikalne mein nikaalti ho, aur aadha unhe nikalne mein."
He smirked faintly, trying to lighten her mood.
"Kaam mein toh tumhara dhyaan hi nahi hai."
Her lips tightened.
Aayat's voice was calm - too calm.
"Mujhe office jaana chahiye... late ho rahi hoon."
She stood up abruptly.
Sonia sighed, her tone motherly but weary.
"Breakfast toh kar lo, Aayat..."
"Bhook nahi hai," she muttered, pushing the chair back.
"Roz yahi kehti ho tum," Sonia's voice trembled, "na theek se khati ho, na hi sote ho. Sirf office, aur bas office..."
Sameer chuckled dryly.
"Aur office mein bhi kaam nahi karti ye, sirf sab par chalati rehti hai. Aur Aise khoi rehti hai jaise duniya se koi lena dena hi nahi."
Aayat's lips twitched.
"Aap log bhi tang aa gaye hain mujhse kya...." she murmured.
Sameer shot back lightly,
"Aur ye fazool ki baatein bhi karti hai..."
He resumed eating. But the lightness didn't last long.
Aayat turned to leave.
Sonia rose quickly, blocking her path.
She took her daughter's hand, her voice breaking with tenderness.
"Aayat beta... tum hamari jaan ho. Humein tumhari parwah hai, tabhi toh puchte hain. Agar koi pareshaani hai... humein batao. Hum sab theek kr day gay..."
Aayat was about to reply - but suddenly, a voice echoed behind them.
"Aayat..."
The name froze her in place.
Slowly, she turned.
At the doorway stood Rashid Malik and Shagufta Malik - her father and mother.
Behind them, Shahbaz Malik and Nafeesa Malik. The air thickened.
Her jaw tightened.
"Phir aa gaye aap log?" she said coldly.
"Kitni dafa keh chuki hoon... mujhe aap logon se nahi milna!"
Sonia's eyes widened; her pulse raced. She knew this look - this fire in Aayat's eyes - the one that even Ayaan once managed to soothe.
But now... Ayaan wasn't here.
"Aayat, tum upar jao," Sonia urged softly. "Main sambhaal lungi..."
Aayat turned to leave - but her mother, Shagufta Malik, stepped forward quickly and grabbed her arm.
"Please, humein maaf kar do, Aayat..." Shagufta's voice trembled, eyes glistening.
"Humse galti ho gayi thi us waqat... bachon se galtiya hoti hai jab, maa-baap maaf kar dete hain... toh ab jab maa baap se galti hogy hai toh unhein maaf kr do na meri jaan..."
Aayat stared at her - really stared - with the kind of emptiness that burns more than hate.
Then... she laughed.
A dry, hollow laugh that made everyone freeze.
" Per meri koi galti nahin thi, phir be mere maa baap ne mujhe maaf nahi kiya... toh ab Haatho mere aage se..." her voice cut like glass,
" Aur waise be Maa-baap toh main aapko maanti hi nahi hoon. Aur aap mujhse bade hain, iska lihaz bhi main bhool jaun? Isse pehle... hattiye mere raaste se."
Before anyone could react, Aayat shoved her mother's arm away - hard enough that Shagufta lost balance and fell to the floor.
"Shagufta!" Rashid Malik's voice thundered as he rushed to his wife.
Sonia gasped, her hand over her mouth, while Sameer froze, staring at the scene in disbelief.
Aayat stood there - unshaken, unflinching - as if nothing had happened.
Sonia walked up to her, furious and heartbroken.
"Ye kya kiya tumne, Aayat? Narazgi apni jagah hai... par ye tumhari maa hai!.. aur tum aise khadi dekh rahi ho."
Aayat's voice rose like a storm.
"Ye meri maa nahi hai! Nahi jaanti main ye log kaun hain! Dafa kar do inhe mere samne se... Abhi aur isi waqat! Is se pehle mein inhein dakay de kr yaha se nikalu..."
The next moment came like a slap - literally.
Sonia's hand struck across her face.
"Hosh mein ho tum, Aayat?" Sonia's eyes welled up. "Jo bhi ho, ye log tumhare maa-baap hain! Agar tum nahi bhi maanti, toh bade hain tumse - itna toh lihaz kar lo! Itni badtameezi!"
Aayat's eyes flooded instantly. She shook her head, voice trembling.
"Nahi hain lihaz mujhe kisi ka... nafrat hai mujhe inse!"
Her voice cracked.
Tears streamed down her face as she stepped closer to Sonia.
"Aur agar aapko bhi lagta hai main buri hoon... toh tod dijiye mujhse rishta! Nahi zarurat mujhe kisi ki bhi!"
Everyone went still.
The silence that followed felt like the house itself had stopped breathing.
Sameer stepped forward, his tone soft, almost pleading.
"Aayat beta... ye kya keh rahi ho tum?"
She was trembling now - sobbing, her breath unsteady.
"Sahi keh rahi hoon main! Nahi zarurat mujhe kisi ki bhi!" she cried.
Her voice echoed painfully through the hall.
Then she looked at Sonia again, her tears wild.
"Aur aapne sahi kaha... main bohot badtameez hoon... aur... aur sirf badtameez nahi, bohot buri hoon main! Itni buri hoon kay kabhi kabhi toh Mann karta hain ya unhein mar du ya phir khudko..."
Her body shook violently. Her knees almost gave way. Sameer and Sonia rushed to hold her - but she pushed them away with sudden strength.
And before anyone could stop her - she turned and ran.
The front doors flung open.
Cold wind rushed in.
Behind her, the family stood frozen - Rashid helping his wife to her feet, Shagufta still in tears. Sonia's eyes glistened with silent pain, and Sameer's hand fell helplessly to his side.
The echo of that one broken girl's scream still lingered in the hall like a ghost.
~
Later that day, in her office, Aayat sat behind her desk - her face blank, her heart heavier than ever.
One by one, she tore into her team.
"What is this, Arjun?" she snapped, throwing a file across the table. " Maine kaha na mujhe kisi ne meeting mein nahi jana .. akela chod do mujhe ... "
" per ma'am, I-" Arjun began.
" Maine kaha mere cabin se abhi k abhi niklo ... Aisa na ho kay tumhari jaan le lu... " Her tone cut him like a blade.
Arjun tried to explain again, but Aayat's glare silenced him.
"Dafa ho jao mere samne se, abhi ke abhi!"
Arjun scrambled to pick up the papers, nearly tripping as he fled.
The office fell silent again - just like her heart.
~
That evening, Sameer and Sonia sat together in the study - both restless.
"Mujhe lagta hai, humein Ayaan ko bata dena chahiye," Sameer said finally. "Aayat ke divorce ka... aur use wapas yaha bula lena chahiye."
Sonia shook her head, voice soft.
"Agar Aayat ko pata chala humne bata diya hain, toh wo chodegy nahi humein... uska gussa, uska ego - dono aasman chhoo rahe hain."
"Toh kuch toh karna hoga na!... Aayat theek nahi lag rahi mujhe .... Ayaan hi hain jis per mein aayat k mamle mein bharosa kar sakta hoon sirf..." Sameer muttered, frustration in his tone.
There was silence - then suddenly Sameer snapped his fingers.
"Idea!"
Sonia looked up instantly.
"Kya?"
"Hum Ayaan ko sach bataye bina yahan nahi laa sakte," Sameer said with a small grin.
"per hum aayat ko toh waha baij sakte hain... "
" bhool jao... Aayat nahi maanegi," Sonia replied immediately.
"Business ke naam par maan jaayegi," Sameer smiled knowingly.
"Chahe ab wo business sahi se na chala rahi ho, par dyan denay ki puri koshish karti hain ..."
He leaned closer.
"Wahan jaakar chahe wo kuch bhi kare - gussa kare , khoi rahay din bhar, ya khamosh rahay- humein konsi tension phir ... Ayaan hain na waha , wo sambhal lega use."
Sonia paused for a long moment. Then, slowly, a faint smile touched her lips.
"ap sahi keh rahay hain... ayaan aayat ka khiyal apni jaan se badh kr rakhay ga , aur ab waise b aayat ka divorce ho chuka hain toh, kya pata dono ...."
" Bas !!! Zada mat socho..." Sameer interrupted.
~
Night khan mansion
The mansion was silent again when Aayat returned home.
Sameer and Sonia were still awake in the living room.
"Aap log soye nahi abhi tak?" she asked, removing her coat.
Sameer exhaled heavily.
"Aayat... eik pareeshani a gaye hain... tumhe foran London jaana hoga.. waha company ki halat bilkul theek nahi hain...."
Aayat froze.
"London? Kya hua wahan? Aur ayaan hain na waha , usey keh dijiye .. wo dekh le ga."
Sonia exchanged a glance with Sameer.
" Ayaan apne naye project mein busy hain... usey hum pareeshan nahi kar sakte ... Aur ye company tumhari hain tumhe khud sambhalni hogy ... Aur Wahan jaake pata chal jaayega tumhe company k bare mein sab.
Aur haan Tum aur Arjun kal subah ki flight se ja rahe ho."
Aayat's eyes widened, disbelief flickering through the exhaustion in her face.
"What...? Kal subah?"