Chapter 56
Author's POV:
Morning light slipped through the tall windows of the penthouse like a reluctant guest, soft and pale, touching the marble floors without warmth.
Ayaan woke earlier than usual, his body tired but his mind painfully awake.
Sleep had never really come-not when Aayat had cried herself into a trembling silence last night, not when he stood outside her door for almost an hour, listening to her uneven breaths.
He had forced her to rest.
He had forced himself not to fall apart.
After breakfast, when he heard nothing from upstairs, he knew she was still sleeping-finally, peacefully. That alone had become a strange kind of victory for him.
He stepped into his room, closed the door quietly, and pulled out the number Doctor Anjali had sent last night.
Dr. Eleanor Hartwell - Psychiatrist, London.
His thumb hovered over the call button for a second.
He tapped it.
The call rang once.
Twice.
A third time.
Then, a calm female voice answered, crisp and composed.
"Hello?"
Ayaan straightened unconsciously.
"Good morning. This is Ayaan Khan speaking, CEO of AK Group's. I received your number from Dr. Anjali."
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"Yes," Dr. Eleanor said. "Anjali called me last night. She told me about her."
Her tone was warm but professional.
"I can come today, around 4 p.m. I prefer meeting the patient personally. Please send me your address."
Relief loosened something in Ayaan's chest.
"Thank you... really, thank you so much. And-one more thing."
He exhaled.
"I don't want Aayat to know you're a doctor. If she finds out... she might not respond well."
"I understand," Eleanor replied gently. "Anjali briefed me about her history. I'm coming in person because she shouldn't suspect anything. If she does, it might overwhelm her. Be gentle with her... as much as you can."
"I will," Ayaan whispered. "I'll wait for you. Bye."
" bye."
The call ended, leaving a strange quiet behind.
A quiet that felt heavy.
And temporary.
~
By the time the clock neared four, the penthouse felt unnervingly still. Aayat had barely spoken since waking up-soft, short answers, her voice hoarse, her eyes carrying more weight than her words. She moved like someone who was physically present but emotionally far away.
Ayaan didn't let her go to the office.
He didn't go either.
Not today.
When the intercom buzzed, he already knew who it was.
Dr. Eleanor stood by the door-a woman in her late fifties, dignified, elegant, with kind grey eyes and a soft British accent. She carried her years with grace, her posture straight, her voice steady.
Ayaan welcomed her inside.
"Thank you for coming," he said.
She smiled kindly. "Before we begin, I'm curious-how do you know Dr. Anjali in the first place?"
Ayaan blinked. "Actually she is my school friend ... and how do you know her?"
A small laugh escaped Eleanor.
"Through my daughter. Anjali was her friend in university. We've stayed in touch since then."
Ayaan nodded.
"Well..." Eleanor clasped her hands lightly. "Shall we meet Aayat?"
"I'll bring her," he said. "Please wait here."
~
Ayaan went upstairs, knocking softly on her door.
"Aayat?"
She looked up from where she sat on the edge of her bed-hair loosely tied, wearing a pale sweater that made her look even more fragile, like someone wrapped in quiet sadness.
"Yes?"
"Come downstairs. Mama's friend came to visit."
She didn't question it.
She didn't argue.
She simply nodded and followed him.
Ayaan guided her into the living room.
"Aayat, this is mama's friend."
He looked at Eleanor. "This is Aayat."
Eleanor approached her with a warm smile.
"Hello, dear. It's wonderful to finally meet you."
Aayat returned a soft, polite greeting, unaware of the truth behind that gentle smile.
Ayaan whispered, "I'll be in the kitchen," and slipped away, giving them space.
~
Eleanor sat beside Aayat on the couch.
"I'm a friend of Sonia," she said. "I've heard a lot about you."
Aayat's expression softened, but faint suspicion lingered in her eyes.
"You're very strong," Eleanor continued. "Very resilient. I admire that."
Aayat looked down.
"I don't know about strong... but I'm fine."
"Are you?" Eleanor asked quietly. "Truly?"
Aayat hesitated.
Then nodded.
"And what do you do, aayat?"
"I'm the CEO of Khan's Group," Aayat answered. "I took over years ago."
"That's impressive," Eleanor said with genuine admiration. "I've heard your journey wasn't an easy one."
Aayat swallowed.
Her fingers tightened together.
Eleanor watched her carefully-not pushing, just gently guiding.
"You've survived things people don't come back from easily."
Aayat breathed sharply, almost like the words had hit a bruise.
She didn't speak.
So Eleanor continued carefully.
"Life has thrown more at you than it should have... and yet you're sitting here, still trying."
The silence cracked.
Aayat let out a faint laugh-bitter, tired.
"I learned something in this world," she whispered. "You should never depend on anyone. Because the people you depend on... they're the ones who let you fall the hardest."
Her voice tightened-not with anger, but with heartbreak.
"Rayyan. My family. Mama. Baba. Even Ayaan."
Eleanor's brows lifted. "Even him? But he care about you."
Aayat gave a small, broken laugh.
"Care? He doesn't care. If he cared, he wouldn't have left me alone five months ago in India. He came here without me. I thought he... I thought he was the one person who wouldn't leave."
Tears gathered in her eyes.
"But he did. Everyone did."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She didn't wipe it.
"They lied to me," she continued, voice trembling. "Mama and Baba- Told me they love me. But they were tired of taking care of me. They lied and sent me away. And now, Ayaan... he brought you here too."
Eleanor froze.
Aayat's gaze met hers-sharp, knowing.
"You're not a friend," Aayat whispered. "You're a doctor."
The shock on Eleanor's face was immediate.
"How did you-?"
Aayat laughed softly.
"Because... yesterday Ayaan kept looking at me like I was made of glass. Like one wrong step and I'd shatter. His friend called me insane..... and I thought he would defend me, because he cares about me. But no."
She shook her head as tears fell.
"Even he thinks something is wrong with me. Even he brought you because he doesn't trust me. No one does."
She stood up.
"And that's fine. I don't expect anyone to stay. Not anymore."
Before Eleanor could speak, Aayat turned away and walked to her room, shutting the door quietly-not with anger, but with a heartbreaking kind of surrender.
~
Ayaan walked back into the living room, expecting to see Aayat still sitting there-quiet, soft, distant as always.
But she wasn't.
His heart dropped.
"Where's Aayat?"
Eleanor looked at him slowly.
"She went to her room."
"What happened?" His voice cracked with worry.
Eleanor motioned for him to sit.
"She knew," she said. "She knew I was a psychiatrist."
Ayaan's eyes widened. "How? I didn't tell her-"
"She connected the dots, Ayaan," Eleanor said gently. "And... she said many things."
Ayaan leaned forward, chest tight. "What did she say?"
Eleanor took a deep, slow breath.
"That she feels abandoned. By her family. By her past. By you."
Ayaan closed his eyes as guilt flooded him.
"She believes everyone she trusted has betrayed her. She is building walls around herself-heavy, painful walls-and she thinks the whole world stands against her. She's losing trust in everyone, including herself."
Ayaan swallowed hard.
"That's not true. We all care about her so much."
"I know," Eleanor nodded. "But she doesn't believe it. Not right now."
"What do I do?" Ayaan asked, his voice almost breaking.
"Be patient," Eleanor said softly. "Be gentle. When she pushes you away, stay. When she gets angry, don't respond with anger. And above everything-make her feel safe. Make her believe she can trust you again."
Ayaan nodded slowly.
"I will. Whatever it takes... I'll do it."
Eleanor stood.
"I need to meet her again before I give a full assessment," she said. "Bring her to the hospital if possible. But not forcefully. She must come willingly."
Ayaan nodded again, resolved.
"I'll bring her,"
Eleanor placed a hand on his shoulder briefly, then left.
The door closed behind her.
The penthouse was silent.
But upstairs...
Behind a closed door...
Someone was trying very hard not to break again.