Chapter 63
The room felt smaller than it was.
Aayat and Rayyan stood there in silence, the soft glow of the chandelier spilling shadows across the walls. The distant sounds of wedding music filtered in, muffled, as if the world outside had been deliberately shut away for this moment.
Aayat was the first to break the silence. Her voice was steady, almost emotionless.
"Bolo Rayyan... jo bolna hai."
Rayyan let out a hollow smile, one that carried more pain than warmth. He ran a hand through his hair and looked away before meeting her eyes again.
"Sach kahun toh... tumse bohot sari baatein karna chahta tha," he said softly. "Par ab jab tum samne ho, toh alfaaz zubaan tak aa hi nahi rahe."
He inhaled deeply, as if gathering courage, and took a step toward her. His hand lifted, instinctively reaching for hers.
Before his fingers could touch her, Aayat stepped back sharply.
"Yeh haq kho chuke ho tum," she said coldly. "Isliye jo kehna chahte ho wo kaho, mein sun rahi hoon."
Rayyan's jaw tightened. He nodded once, as if accepting the boundary she had drawn, yet his heart refused to listen.
"Mujhe sirf eik chance de do aayat." he whispered.
And then, despite her warning, he caught her hand again-this time gripping it tightly, desperately.
Aayat tried to pull away.
"Rayyan, mera haath chhodo."
His grip tightened for a second, then trembled. Tears slipped from his eyes, tracing down his cheeks.
"Main jaanta hoon," he said in a broken voice, "main tumhari maafi deserve nahi karta... main tumhe deserve nahi karta. Jo maine kiya, woh gunnah tha."
His voice cracked.
"Par tumse sirf ek chance chahta hoon aayat. Please... meri zindagi mein wapas aa jao. Tum jo kahogi, main karunga. Bas... hamare rishte ko ek moka de do."
Aayat listened without any reaction. Her face was calm-too calm. Slowly, firmly, she freed her hand from his grasp.
"Theek hai."
Rayyan froze. Hope flickered in his eyes, fragile and sudden.
But Aayat wasn't done.
She looked at him straight, her gaze sharp.
" Mein tumhein eik aur chance de dugy, lekin shart ye hain kay, tum mujhe ek lamha bata do meri zindagi ka," she said quietly, "jahan meri mushkil mein tum mere saath khade thay."
The color drained from Rayyan's face.
Aayat tilted her head slightly, her voice colder now.
"Kya hua? Kuch yaad nahi aa raha?"
Then, almost bitterly, "Ya phir yeh keh doon ke meri kisi mushkil mein tum mere saath thay hi nahi?"
Rayyan opened his mouth to speak, but Aayat raised her hand, stopping him.
"Sirf yeh keh dena ke tum mujhse pyar karte ho, kaafi nahi hain mere liye." she said. "Kyun ke baat agar pyar ki hain toh, wo woh Ayaan be mujse karta hain."
Rayyan stared at her, stunned.
Aayat allowed herself a small, sad smile.
" Per tumhein pata hai, tumhare pyar mein aur uske pyar mein farq kya hai?"
Rayyan swallowed hard. His chest felt tight. Somewhere deep inside, he already knew the answer.
Aayat shook her head gently, blinking away the tears gathering in her eyes.
"Nahi pata?"
Rayyan's voice came out strained.
"Aayat... please."
But she didn't stop.
"Tumhara pyar alfazo ka mohtaj hain," she said, her voice trembling now. "Aur uska pyar kisi alfaz ka mohtaj nahi hain... bina kahe hi mehsoos ho jata hai."
A tear slipped down her cheek.
She took a deep breath, memories crashing over her like waves.
"Meri zindagi ke har bure aur ache waqt mein woh mere saath tha," she continued. "Jab mere sar par chhat nahi thi, usne mujhe apne ghar mein jagah di. Jab mere andar himmat khatam ho rahi thi, usne kaha ke main uski himmat le loon."
Her voice broke.
"Jab sab mujhe galat samajh rahe thay, woh mere saath khada tha... jab ke woh mujhe jaanta bhi nahi tha."
Her tears refused to stop now.
"Usne mujhe mere pairon par khada kiya. Mujhe us kamre se be nikala jahan tumne mujhe band kiya tha. Meri begunahi sab ke samne laayi."
She paused, breathing heavily, walking a few steps away as if the room itself was suffocating her. Then she turned back, wiping her tears.
"Aur jab main phir se toot rahi thi... jab saans lena mushkil ho raha tha, mein andheron mein gir chuki thi," she said softly, "aur tumne meri halat jaane bina hi khula ke papers par sign kar diye... aur sab ne mujhe phir se galat samja."
Rayyan closed his eyes.
"Tab bhi... mere dil ka dard sirf woh hi samajh paaya. Mujhe un andheron se bahir nikal kar laya."
Silence fell between them.
Aayat stepped closer again, her voice lower now.
" Aur tumhe pata hain Rayyan, badle mein maine usey bohot dard diya," she admitted. "Jahan woh mujhse apne pyar ka izhaar karta raha, main uske saamne kehti rahi ke main 'tumse pyar karti hoon' ' mein rayyan se pyar karti hoon'."
Her lips trembled.
"Aur ye kehte kehte ... pata nahi kab mere dil nay ye kehna shuru kar diya kay mein Ayaan se pyar karti hoon."
She looked away, ashamed.
" Uski sachi mohabbat ke saamne meri kamzor mohabbat bhi dum tod gaye" she whispered. "Usne mujhe sikhaya ke mohabbat sirf kehne se nahi hoti... usey mehsoos karna padhta hai."
She met Rayyan's eyes again.
"Mohabbat sirf kisi ki achhai se nahi hoti, Rayyan. Achhai aur burai... dono se hoti hai. Us k galat aur sahi se hoti hain... Uski burai ko be galay laganay se hoti hain.... Aur mohabbat mein kabhi kisi teesre ki jagah nahi hoti."
Her tears fell freely now.
"Aur agar jagah ban jaaye... toh woh mohabbat nahi hoti."
Rayyan stood there, shattered. Every word she spoke echoed the truth he had refused to accept.
Aayat laughed bitterly through her tears.
"Tumhein yaad hai jab us shaks ne kaha tha ke Aayat mujhse pyar karti thi... ghar walon ke dabao mein tumse shaadi ki?"
Rayyan flinched.
"Aur phir maine us par haath uthaya tha... aur kaha tha ke main tumse mohabbat karti hoon," she continued. "tumne meri baat sune baghair mujh par haath utha diya."
Her smile was full of pain.
" Per tumhe pata hain agar us jagah Ayaan hota toh wo kya karta..." she whispered, "pehle toh woh yakeen hi nahi karta."
She wiped her tears.
"Aur agar kar bhi leta... toh meri shadi us se hui hain isi per shukar ada kar deta Allah ka. Aur jab main us shaks per haath uthati aur roti, woh mujhe apne gale se laga leta. Kyu kay mere ansu usey bardasht nahi hain."
Her voice softened.
" Aur mujhe poora yakeen hai... woh aisa hi karta."
She stepped closer to Rayyan, her eyes searching his.
"Jo dard maine usey diyai hai... agar wahi dard tumhein diyai hotai, tum meri shakal bhi nahi dekhte... tumhari mohabbat dum tod chuki hoti bohut pehle hi."
Rayyan looked down.
"Par woh... mera diya hua har dard bhi muskurate hue seh leta hai," she said. "Usse farq nahi padta ke main galat hoon ya sahi. Woh kisi ki baat be nahi sunta phir... aur mere saath khada ho jata hai."
She whispered brokenly,
"Ab tum hi batao... koi usse pyar kaise na kare?"
Rayyan's tears fell silently.
"Uski mohabbat kay agay mein apna sir jukanay per majboor ho gaye rayyan," she said gently. "Aur ye be jaan gaaye kay tumhari aur meri mohabbat khokli thi, Ayaan ki mohabbat kay agay. Mujh jaise tooti hui ladki ko us ne wapas se ladna seekhiya, jeena seekhaya, mohabbat karna seekhaya,"
Rayyan took a shaky breath.
"Ayaan ko pata hai kya?"
Aayat smiled sadly.
"Nahi, Main itni majboor hoon," she replied, "ke chah kar bhi usey yeh nahi bata sakti ke main usse kitna pyar karti hoon."
Her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Yeh bhi nahi bata sakti ke mohabbat kya hoti hai... ye maine uski mohabbat ko janay kay baad seekha."
She hugged her arms around herself.
" Tumhein pata hain rayyan, Tumhare baghair jab mere paas kuch nahi tha, tab bhi main jeena chahti thi," she said.
"Par jab Ayaan gaya, tab mere paas sab kuch tha.
.. mera nam , paisa , family, sab kuch .
.. Per us k bagair wo sab hote huye be mujhe laga mere pass kuch nahi bacha, jeenay ki umeed hi khatam ho gaye. "
She looked up, tears shining.
"Woh meri rooh mein bas chuka hai."
Taking a deep breath, Aayat straightened herself.
"Main tumhein maaf karti hoon, Rayyan," she said firmly.
" Kyu kay agar wo sab nahi hota toh mein kabhi Ayaan se nahi milti.
. mohabbat ka ahsaas kaisa hota hain ye nahi jan pati.
.. jab koi apki sachay dil se parwah karta hain , bina kisi maqsad kay , wo ahsas kya hota hain. .. mein kabhi nahi jan pati."
She paused.
"Aur mujhe umeed hai... tum mere is faisle ki izzat karoge. Aur phir se mere rastay mein nahi ao gay"
Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of the room.
~
Outside, the wedding hall was alive.
Aayat stopped beside Ayaan.
He was watching the rituals quietly, his face unreadable. Aayat looked at him-really looked at him.
When Ayaan felt her gaze, he turned slightly. Their eyes met for a second.
Aayat immediately looked away.
So did he.
After the wedding ended, they left for home together.
The drive was silent.
Aayat kept glancing at him, but Ayaan focused only on the road, his hands tight on the steering wheel.
The distance hurt.
~
At home, Ayaan got out of the car and walked toward the door without looking back.
Aayat stayed seated, staring at her hands as tears slipped down.
For the first time... he hadn't opened the door for her.
Ayaan paused at the door, realizing she hadn't followed. He turned.
She was still there.
He hesitated, then sighed, walked back, and opened the car door-without a word.
Aayat looked up, tears falling faster and she came out,
"A-Ayaan..."
But He shut the door sharply and walked inside.
She followed silently.
And They both went to their respective rooms.
But somewhere between the walls of that house, unspoken love waited-quiet, patient, and real.
~
A week had passed since the day Ayaan saw Aayat walking into that room with Rayyan.
Seven days.
Seven long, suffocating days.
Since then, Ayaan had barely come home. And whenever he did, the house felt unfamiliar-cold, distant, hollow. Aayat didn't talk to him. She didn't ask where he had been, didn't complain, didn't even look at him the way she used to. She simply ignored him, as if his presence no longer mattered.
And that silence... it hurt more than anger ever could.
Every night, when Ayaan tried to rest, the same image returned to haunt him-Aayat and Rayyan disappearing into that room together. The door closing. The uncertainty. The ache in his chest grew heavier with each passing day.
So he stayed away.
Work became his escape.
That afternoon, Ayaan sat in his office, head bowed, elbows resting on the desk. His eyes were closed, but his mind was restless.
What happened to her?
What did Rayyan say to her that day?
Why did she change so suddenly?
A sharp thought pierced his heart.
What if... she still loves Rayyan?
What if she wants to go back to him but can't say it out loud?
Ayaan leaned back in his chair, exhaling deeply. He closed his eyes again, pressing his head against the backrest.
At that moment, the cabin door opened.
Still lost in his thoughts, Ayaan spoke without looking up.
"Baad mein baat karein gay danish... is time jaa yaar."
But then a voice replied-firm, unexpected.
"Par mujhe tumse abhi baat karni hai."
Ayaan's eyes snapped open.
He stood up so abruptly that his chair slid back.
His gaze locked on the man standing in front of his desk.
"Tum..." Ayaan said sharply, anger flaring in his eyes.
Rayyan stepped forward, stopping in front of the desk.
"Haan... main," he said calmly, a faint smirk on his lips.
Ayaan clenched his jaw.
"Is se pehle ke main security ko bulaun, khud yahan se chale jao," he warned.
Saying that, he sat back down and deliberately opened a file, pretending Rayyan didn't exist.
Rayyan didn't move.
He stood there, watching Ayaan silently.
Ayaan glanced up again, irritation clear on his face.
"Samajh nahi aa rahi tumhe? Yahan se-"
Rayyan cut him off.
"Mujhe Aayat ke baare mein baat karni hai."
Ayaan froze.
For a moment, everything inside him went still.
Then he looked back down at the file, his voice controlled, hiding the storm raging within.
"Main mama aur baba se baat kar lunga, tum logo ki" he said evenly.
" Unhein koi problem nahi hogi."
Rayyan laughed softly.
"Aur tumhein? Tumhein be koi problem nahi hogi?"
Ayaan didn't look up.
"Nahi," he replied quietly.
"Jab tak Aayat khush hai... mujhe koi problem nahi hai."
Rayyan's smile faded, replaced by something deeper-respect, perhaps.
"Ab samajh aaya mujhe," Rayyan said slowly, "usne tumhein kyun chuna."
Ayaan looked up sharply.
"Kya bakwaas kar rahe ho?"
Rayyan shook his head with a bitter smile.
"Sach keh raha hoon."
Ayaan pressed a button on his desk.
Within seconds, a security guard entered the cabin.
Ayaan and Rayyan stared at each other, eyes locked.
"Isay bahar ka rasta dikha do, aur dubara andar mat anay dena..." Ayaan said coldly, already turning back to the file.
Just as the guard stepped forward, Rayyan spoke again.
"Woh tumse pyar karti hai, Ayaan."
Ayaan's hand stilled.
He slowly looked up.
Then he stood, walking toward Rayyan, disbelief and anger mixing in his voice.
"Yeh kya bol rahe ho tum? Hosh mein ho?
Woh tumse pyar karti hai-jaanta hoon main.
Maine tum dono ko us kamre mein jaate dekha tha."
Rayyan's eyes filled with pain.
"Haan," he admitted quietly. "Woh mujhse mili thi."
Ayaan's heart clenched.
"Par sirf yeh batane ke liye," Rayyan continued, "ke woh tumse pyar karti hai."
"Aur ke woh mere saath koi rishta nahi rakhna chahti."
The security guard stepped out, sensing the weight of the moment.
Rayyan then told Ayaan everything.
Every word Aayat had spoken.
Every tear she had shed.
Every truth she had confessed.
Ayaan listened in stunned silence.
When Rayyan finished, Ayaan whispered,
"Toh phir... woh mujhse door kyun reh rahi hai?"
Rayyan shook his head slowly.
"Yeh toh mujhe bhi nahi pata."
Ayaan frowned.
"Ho sakta hai na, tumse door jaane ke liye usne yeh sab kaha ho."
Rayyan smiled sadly.
"Mohabbat mein fail hua hoon," he said softly.
"Par bachpan se usey jaanta hoon."
He met Ayaan's eyes.
"Uski aankhon mein aansu thay... aur tumhare liye pyar.
Jo mein kabhi apne liye dekhna chahta tha.
.. wo pyar aj uski ankhon mein hain , but mere liye nahi .
.. Tumhare liye hain.
Woh tumse bohot pyar karti hai, Ayaan.
Itna kay tum soch be nahi sakte.
Meri wajah se us ne bohut dard saha hain , isliye ab mein chahta hoon wo khush rahay. Chahay jaha be rahay."
With that, Rayyan turned around and walked out of the cabin.
Ayaan stood there, motionless.
Then slowly, he walked back to his chair and sat down.
Rayyan's words echoed in his ears.
"Woh tumse pyar karti hai, Ayaan."
A soft smile spread across Ayaan's face-gentle, emotional, full of hope.
For the first time in days, his heart felt lighter.
And this time... he knew.
She wasn't distant because she didn't love him.
She was distant because she loved him too much.