Chapter 58
Author's POV:
Ayaan's hands tightened around the steering wheel the moment he stepped into his car. His jaw was clenched so tightly it hurt. But the pain inside him was louder... sharper.
Aayat's trembling voice echoed in his mind on a loop:
"Usne pehle mujhe dhakka diya tha..."
Her words stabbed him again.
Ayaan slammed both hands on the wheel, the force vibrating through the car. His breathing grew heavier. The memory of Aayat's shaken voice, her red eyes, her guilt, her fear-all of it pushed his anger further to the edge.
He swallowed hard, forehead leaning against the steering for a second.
Then he started the engine.
And this time, he didn't drive.
He tore through the road.
The tires screeched, the car shot forward, and street lights blurred into streaks. The faster he drove, the angrier he felt. The fact that someone dared to lay a hand on his Aayat.
His Aayat.
His responsibility.
His love
He hadn't felt this kind of fury in years.
The city traffic parted for him as though sensing the storm roaring inside the man behind the wheel. Within minutes, he screeched to a halt outside his office building. The engine hadn't even fully stopped before he threw the door open and stepped out.
His walk was fast. Hard. His aura was ice-cold, sharp enough to slice air.
Every staff member in the lobby froze.
They had seen their CEO angry before-during meetings, negotiations, failures. He was known for being a cold, calm, intimidating perfectionist.
But this...
This wasn't anger.
This was wrath.
People stumbled out of his path without him saying a word. Footsteps echoed. His presence overshadowed everything-like a storm entering the room.
He stormed to his floor, pushing open the glass doors.
Ana, his secretary, stood up straight. "Sir-"
"Where is Aaliya?" Ayaan asked, voice dangerously calm.
Ana opened her mouth-
But before she could speak, Danish appeared behind her, smiling casually.
"Ayaan! Finally you came to the office! mere papa tumse milne k liye aye thai, I said you weren't here... but look, you arrived on time-"
His father, Hassan Qureshi, stepped forward with a polite smile and extended his hand.
"It's good to finally meet you."
But Ayaan didn't shake his hand.
He didn't even look at him.
His eyes, cold and blazing, turned to Danish.
"Tumhari behen kahan hai?" Ayaan said, voice sharp.
Before Danish could respond, a sugary voice chimed in from behind.
"Ayaan... tum aa gaye. Tumha-"
Ayaan didn't let her finish.
He turned sharply, eyes burning, and snapped:
"Tumhari himat kaise hui usey daka denay ki? Mere office se nikalne ki....."
Aaliya froze.
Her smile collapsed.
Then slowly, she forced an innocent expression.
"Kya keh rahe ho tum? Tumne khud dekha tha zameen par main th-"
Ayaan cut her off instantly.
"Wo mat bolo jo maine dekha," he said, stepping closer, tone like a knife.
"Wo bolo jo maine nahi dekha."
His jaw tightened.
"Meri patience khatam ho rahi hai. Faltu ki bakwaas mat shuru karna."
Aaliya's expression changed-fear slipping into anger.
"Tum sab ke samne meri insult nahi kar sakte ayaan! Mein koi amm ladki nahi hoon... aaliya qureshi hoon." she snapped. "Agar wo tumhari friend hai, toh main bhi hoon....!"
Ayaan's eyes hardened.
" Wo sirf friend nahi hai meri....." he said slowly, every word deliberate.
"Wo meri 'apni' hai."
His voice lowered, threatening.
" Wo meri hain...
Us ke liye main kisi se bhi ladh sakta hoon...
kisi ko bhi chhor sakta hoon...
Toh phir tumhari dosti ki kya aukaat hain?"
Aaliya's nostrils flared. "Ayaan-"
Before she could explode, Hassan Qureshi spoke sharply.
"You cannot talk to my daughter like this!"
Ayaan turned his head slightly toward him.
His voice was steel.
"Shukar manaye, sirf baat hi kar raha hoon.
Kyu k agar iski jagah koi mard hota, toh abhi tak apne pairo per khada na hota... ladki hai isliye khud ko roka hua hai."
A gasp spread across the office.
Aaliya stepped forward, eyes burning.
" Uss pagal ladki ke liye tum mujhse lad rahe ho?"
Ayaan snapped.
"Pagal nahi hai wo!"
And before anyone could blink-
Ayaan reached behind his waist.
And pulled out a gun.
Cold metal.
Loaded.
He shoved it straight to Aaliya's forehead.
Staff screamed.
Ana covered her mouth.
Aaliya froze-fear flickering in her eyes.
Then Ayaan whispered, "Pagal wo nahi... pagal mein hoon, us ke liye."
Ayaan's grip tightened.
"Koi usey zara si karoch be day," he growled, voice deadly calm,
"toh mann karta hai us insan ki jaan le loon."
That was the moment Danish rushed forward, heart pounding.
He grabbed the gun from Ayaan's hand.
"Ayaan! Kya ho gaya tumhe?!"
His chest heaved.
Ayaan didn't look at him.
"Apni behen se pucho," he said coldly.
"Is ne Aayat ke saath kya kiya."
His voice rose.
"Is ne usse mere office se dhakka de kar nikala!"
Aaliya's eyes widened. "Ye jhoot hai!"
But before she could continue-
an employee stepped forward.
Shaking. Nervous. But brave.
"Sir... ye sach hai," he said softly.
"Hum sab ne dekha. Aaliya ma'am ne Aayat ma'am ko dhakka diya. Wo kya baat kar rahay thai hum nahi jante... par glass wall se sab clearly dekha."
Aaliya spun toward him.
"TUM CHUP RAHO!" she screamed and took a step toward him.
Before she could reach-
Ayaan shoved her back.
Hard.
So hard she stumbled and fell onto the floor.
Everyone froze.
No one had ever seen their CEO lose control like this.
Ayaan pointed a finger at her, voice low and lethal.
"Mere employees ki taraf dekhna bhi mat...."
Aaliya stood shakily, tears of rage burning down her face.
"Haan!" she screamed. "Haan diya dhakka maine! Kyun ke mujhe nafrat hai us se!"
Silence.
Pure, electric silence.
"Wo tumhare aur mere darmiyan aa gayi hai. Bachpan se chahti thi tumhe. Aur ab jaa kar tum mujhe mile ho, hamari dosti hui... aur wo beech mein aa gayi!"
She took a step toward him, eyes wild.
"Mann karta hai uski jaan le loon!"
A sharp, echoing SLAP cracked through the office.
Aaliya's head whipped to the side.
She looked up.
Danish stood there.
Breathing hard.
Eyes filled with tears.
"Aj tumne mera sir jhuka diya," he whispered.
"Mere dost ke samne... logo kay samne..."
He turned to Ayaan, folding his hands.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry on behalf of my sister."
Then he turned back to Aaliya with pure disappointment.
He inhaled and looked at Ayaan again.
"I know... now you'll say we should end this partnership. And you should.
Agar koi mere apno ke saath aisa karta... toh main us insan ki shakal bhi nahi dekhta."
Danish turned to leave.
But Ayaan spoke firmly:
"Tumhein jaane ki zaroorat nahi hai."
Danish froze.
Ayaan stepped closer, calmer now.
"Mujhe pata hai tum ek ache insan ho.
Isliye main ye partnership khatam nahi karunga."
Danish's eyes widened.
"But..." Ayaan continued, voice hardening.
"Tumhari behen mujhe nazar nahi ani chahiye.... Aur Aayat ke aas paas toh bilkul nahi.
Kyu kay next time sirf gun sir per rakhuga nahi , chala be duga...."
And without waiting for reactions, Ayaan walked out.
~
Ayaan's hands weren't shaking anymore. The rage had burned itself out, leaving behind one focus:
Aayat.
He pushed open the door to her room.
She was sitting on the bed-awake. Her knees drawn up, fingers tangled together. Her eyes lifted when she heard him.
Ayaan sighed and walked in, softening instantly.
"Ye kya? Tum soyi nahi? Maine tumhe aram karne ko kaha tha."
Aayat looked away slightly.
"Neend nahi aaye..."
Ayaan sat beside her, voice gentle.
"Kyun? Kya hua? Koi baat hai kya...?"
Aayat gave a small smile.
"Ab aise treat mat karo jaise main bohot zyada beemar hoon..."
Ayaan smirked.
"Beemar? Beemar kaun hai? Main toh bas apne number badha raha hoon.
Tumhein apni aadat dal raha hoon, taake tum mere bina ek pal bhi na reh pao. Jahan jau mein, tum mere peeche peeche a jao..."
Aayat blinked in surprise.
"Wo kyu?"
"Kyu??" Ayaan repeated dramatically, narrowing his eyes and pretending to think.
Aayat leaned forward with curiosity. "Kyu...?"
Ayaan leaned closer.
"Kyu kay -"
A lock of hair fell on her cheek.
He gently tucked it behind her ear and whispered:
"Kyun ke tum mera-"
Then he suddenly stood up straight.
"Muft ka entertainment ho. Joker kahi ki."
He burst out laughing and ran.
Aayat's mouth fell open.
"AYAAAAN!" she shouted and jumped up, chasing him.
Ayaan ran around the sofa, grinning like a child.
Aayat grabbed a cushion and smacked him with it.
"Main tumhari jaan le lungi!"
Ayaan ducked, taunting,
"Sweetheart, wo toh already tum le chuki ho!"
"YE MAT BULAYA KARO MUJHE!" she yelled.
Ayaan acted innocent.
"Okay baby..."
Aayat stopped dead.
"M-main baby nahi hoon!"
"tum ho, baby." he teased.
"Toh phir theek hain .. tum bhi aj se phir... umm..."
She tapped her temple dramatically.
"Ayuuu babyyyy."
Ayaan froze.
"What?? MERI PERSONALITY dekh pehle!"
Aayat smirked. "Bachon wali."
Ayaan gasped.
"Naak tumhari behti hai meri nahi... toh tum-"
Before he could complete-
Splash!
A jug of cold water hit his face.
"AAYATTTT-!!"
Aayat burst into laughter and ran.
Ayaan chased her down the hallway.
She darted into her room, slammed the door shut, and locked it-laughing uncontrollably.
Outside, Ayaan stood dripping.
"I swear, tumhe choduga nahi mein, Aayat ki bachi," he shouted,
"Hitler! Silent film! Dragon Queen! Queen of Antarctica! SAB tum ho!"
From behind the door she yelled,
"OKAY AYUUUU BABYYYY!"
"MY FOOT!" Ayaan yelled back.
And then...
despite the chaos...
a smile crept over his face.
Because this-
this laughter, this energy-
was exactly what he wanted back.
---
Later -
Ayaan changed clothes and walked into the kitchen.
He stopped.
Aayat was already cooking.
"Tum kyun aayi? Main kar leta," he said.
Aayat stirred the pot.
"Itna kar sakti hoon. Itni buri cooking nahi karti."
Ayaan mumbled, "Haan... bas thoda sa jalati ho kabhi kabar..."
"Kya kaha?"
"Yahi keh raha tha," he instantly grinned,
"ke tum bohot acha khana banati ho. Main fan hoon tumhara."
Aayat smiled softly.
Ayaan's chest warmed.
"Aayat..." he said quietly.
She turned.
He hesitated for a moment.
Then said:
"Dr. Eleanor wants to meet you again. Hospital bulaaya hai. Tum chalo gi na?"
Aayat stared at him for a long moment.
Then she nodded slowly.
"Okay."
And smiled.
Ayaan stepped closer.
"Thank you, Aayat. Eik bar phir Bharosa karne ke liye."
Aayat turned her head.
Softly said,
" Bas isey todna mat."
Ayaan gently took her hand.
"Promise... nahi toduga."
They looked at each other-
silent, warm, connected.
She smiled.
But as Ayaan watched her smile soften, something fierce settled in his chest-
This time, he wouldn't let her go. Not for anyone. Not even for Rayaan.
He exhaled slowly, fingers tightening around her hand.
"No matter who I have to stand against... I'll fight for her. I'll fight for us."