Chapter 64 （ part 1 ）
Author's POV:
Aayat sat in her office with her head bowed, fingers loosely clasped on the desk, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. The screen in front of her had gone dark long ago, yet she hadn't noticed. Thoughts weighed heavy on her heart, each one louder than the other.
Across from her, on the chair, Hayaat sat silently, watching her elder sister with concern. She had been quiet for a while now-too quiet. And Hayaat knew, silence was never a good sign when it came to Aayat.
Finally, Hayaat broke the stillness.
"Api, agar aap usko itna miss kar rahi ho toh baat kyun nahi kar leti?"
Aayat slowly lifted her head and looked at Hayaat. There was exhaustion in her eyes, and something far deeper-longing.
"Main baat karna chahti hoon," she said softly.
"Par woh mujhse baat hi nahi kar raha... aur pichhle ek hafte se ghar bhi nahi aaya."
She paused, swallowing hard.
"Shadi se aane ke baad woh thoda badla-badla lag raha hai."
Hayaat leaned forward immediately.
"Toh aap badal do na sab," she said eagerly. "Usay bata dein ke aap bhi us se pyar karti hain."
Aayat's expression hardened instantly.
"Pehle hi dimaagh kharab hai mera aur mat kar," she snapped. "Aur jaa yahan se... aisa na ho mere haathon tera software update ho jaye."
Hayaat jumped up at once, eyes wide, then broke into a mischievous grin.
"Gussa naiiiko, api!" she said playfully.
Before Aayat could stop her, Hayaat moved closer and suddenly sat down near Aayat's feet, gently rubbing her arm.
"Shantiii... shantiii... "
Aayat immediately pulled her arm back.
"Hayaat!"
Hayaat stood up at once, making a pouty face, both hands raised.
"Theek hai, theek hai... jaa rahi hoon yaar."
As she walked toward the door, she muttered loudly to herself,
"Kisi ko meri qadar hi nahi hai."
She walked out of the cabin, leaving Aayat behind shaking her head at Hayaat's antics, though a faint smile tugged at her lips.
The moment Hayaat stepped outside, she nearly bumped into Arjun, who was standing there nervously.
"Aap ne baat ki ma'am se?" he asked hopefully."Unka mood kuch theek hua?"
Hayaat shook her head.
Arjun sighed.
"Yaar, pata nahi kya ho gaya hai unhein... bohot udaas ho gayi hain."
"Mujhse unki yeh udaasi dekhi nahi jaati."
Hayaat murmured under her breath,
" Kya karu mein is vaaday ka."
Arjun heard her.
"Kaunsa vaada?"
Hayaat turned toward him, fake anger flashing across her face.
"Bataun tumhein main?"
"Jao, jaa kar apna kaam karo."
She started walking away when she heard Arjun complain from behind,
"Sab apna gussa mujh bechare par hi kyun nikaalte hain?"
Hayaat smiled to herself and continued walking out of the office building. She got into her car and drove away.
~
A little while later, Hayaat's car stopped outside a tall, imposing building. She stared up at it for a moment, guilt flickering across her face.
"I'm sorry, api," she whispered. "Par mujhe yeh karna hoga."
She stepped out and hurried inside, lost in her thoughts, heading toward the lifts.
Suddenly-thud.
She collided with someone. A file slipped from the person's hands and fell to the floor.
Hayaat snapped instantly.
"Anday ho kya!"
The man bent to pick up the file, then slowly looked up at her.
"Excuse me," he said coldly."Kya kaha aap ne?"
Hayaat stared at him for a moment, momentarily stunned. He was tall, sharply dressed, handsome in a distant, dangerous way. He, too, looked at her intently.
Then he snapped his fingers in front of her face.
"Hosh mein aaiye," he said dryly."Aur main aap se nahi - aap mujh se takrai hain."
He glanced at the file on the floor.
"File utha kar de ab ap meri."
Hayaat's temper flared.
"Main?" she said, pointing at herself."Main tumhein file utha kar doon?
Hosh mein ho kya tum? Tameez nahi hai? Maloom bhi hai tumhein... main kaun hoon?"
The man straightened, his expression turning icy.
"Haan, maloom hai," he said coldly.
"Koi sanki, khiski hui pagal ladki ho tum. Jisse na baat karne ki tameez hai aur na chalne ki. Pata nahi Tumhare ghar walon ne tumhein khula kyu chod rakha hain .... tumhein toh bandh kar rakhna chahiye."
He picked up the file himself and turned to leave.
Hayaat grabbed his arm, stepping in front of him.
"Tum ne mujhe pagal kaha?"
He looked down at her impassively.
"Nahi," he replied." Sanki, khiski hui Pagal ladki kaha....
Aur sorry badtameez kehna bhool gaya tha."
Hayaat clenched her fists.
"Yeh kya badtameezi hai! Haan?
Handsome ho toh kya kuch bhi bologe?
Jante nahi ho abhi mein kon hoon... Tabhi itna bol ray ho.
Agar Chahun na toh abhi tumhein is office se nikalwa sakti hoon."
He smirked.
" Attention laine ka acha tareeka hain... aur job se nikalwana chahti ho toh theek hain nikalwa do."He adjusted his glasses. "Naam Danish Rehman."
Without another glance, Danish walked away.
Hayaat stared after him, stunned.
" Vibes itni thandi a rahi hain," she muttered, "jaise insaan nahi... Dracula ho."
Shaking her head, she turned toward the lift and went up.
Stepping out of the lift, Hayaat headed straight toward Ayaan's cabin. Just as she was about to open the door, voices reached her ears-from inside.
Hayaat stopped in her tracks.
She stood frozen outside the cabin as Rayyan spoke, telling Ayaan everything.
Hayaat's heart pounded.
Yeh sab kya ho raha hai?
Just then, the cabin door opened and Rayyan stepped out. Seeing Hayaat, he smiled gently and started to walk away.
"Rayyan bhai," Hayaat called.
Rayyan turned back, raising his brows in question.
"Thanks," she said sincerely.
Rayyan smiled warmly, placed a hand on her head, and walked away.
Hayaat entered the cabin happily.
Inside, Ayaan sat on his chair, smiling to himself, unaware of her presence.
Hayaat dropped into the chair opposite him with a thud.
"Shukar hai!" she exclaimed."Main kab se soch rahi thi tumhein bataun toh bataun kaise."
Ayaan looked up sharply.
"Tum yahan?"
"Aur tumhein bhi pata tha?"
Hayaat smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry... vaaday mein bandhi thi."
Ayaan stood up and walked toward her, pulling her chair closer.
Hayaat leaned back so far it seemed she might disappear into it.
"Saari baat batao mujhe," Ayaan said sternly."Aur agar jhoot bola... yaad rakhna mujh se bura koi nahi hoga."
Hayaat groaned.
"Yaar, mujh jaisi masoom bachi ko sab kyun daraate rehte hain? Taras be nahi ata hain kisi ko mujh per."
Ayaan took a deep breath.
"Hayaat, dimaagh kharab mat karo mera. Seedhi tarah bolo."
"Theek hai, batati hoon," she sighed.
And then she told him everything-every conversation, every tear, every fear Aayat carried in her heart.
When she finished, Ayaan clenched his fists.
"Yeh kya matlab hai ke woh mere layak nahi hai?" he snapped."Dimaagh kharab hai kya uska?"
Hayaat laughed lightly.
"Woh toh dono ka hai."
Ayaan folded his arms across his chest and looked at her pointedly.
"Achha, sorry," Hayaat said quickly.
"Waise bhi ab aapko sab kuch pata chal gaya hai na. Toh jaaiye, baat kariye un se."
Ayaan smiled faintly and sat back down.
"Jab itna sabr kiya hai," he said calmly,"toh thoda aur kar leta hoon. Pyar ka izhaar usi ko karna hoga."
Hayaat's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Kya?" Ayaan replied. "Usne tumhein bata diya, Rayyan ko bata diya. Aur jo sunne ke liye marr raha hai... usay hi nahi bataya. Yeh kya baat hui?"
Hayaat stared at him.
"Seriously... tum-"
Before she could finish, the cabin door opened again.
Aaliya walked in.
Ayaan's expression darkened instantly.
"Tum yahan kya kar rahi ho?"
Aaliya rushed toward him and suddenly fell at his feet, tears streaming down her face.
"Ayaan, mujhe maaf kar do," she sobbed.
"Main us waqt jalan mein andhi ho gayi thi.
Main woh sab karna nahi chahti thi. Per gusse mein andhi ho gaye.
Please mujhe maaf kardo... Koi mujhse baat nahi kar raha , sab naraz hain.
Mein kuch be karne ko tyar hoon, mein Aayat se bhi maafi maangne ke liye tayaar hoon.Please mujhe maaf kar do. "
Ayaan quickly helped her up, anger mixed with concern.
"Ab yeh kya Naya drama hai tumhara aaliya?"
"Drama nahi hai, Ayaan," she cried. "Bhai mujhse baat nahi kar rahay.
.. koi mujhse baat nahi kar raha."
"Aur tum jaante ho bhai ko ladkiyon se kitni nafrat hai.
Mere saath woh sahi the... par ab-"
She broke down again.
"Please mujhe maaf kar do. Main buri nahi hoon yaar.
. yakeen karo mera... bas thoda behak gayi thi.
Bhool gaye thi, mohabbat ko cheena nahi jata.
.. balkay uski khushi mein khush hua jata hain.
.. mein apni har ek baat per sharminda hoon.
.. please maaf kar do mujhe.
Tum maaf karo gay toh shayad, bhai be mujhe maaf kar de gay. "
Ayaan studied her face for a long moment.
He could see it-regret. Shame. Truth.
"Theek hai," he said finally."Maaf kiya."
Aaliya looked up, relief flooding her face.
"Thank you, Ayaan.Aur main Aayat se bhi maafi maang loon gi.. I promise."
Ayaan nodded.
"Kya main office phir se join kar sakti hoon?"
After a pause, Ayaan replied,
"Okay."
Aaliya beamed and left happily.
Ayaan turned back to Hayaat.
"Yeh kaun thi?" Hayaat asked.
"Aaliya," Ayaan replied. "London mein meri friend thi... aur iska bhai mera school friend hai."
Hayaat's eyes lit up.
"Kahin yeh wohi Aaliya toh nahi jinki api se ladai hui thi?"
"Haan," Ayaan confirmed.
Hayaat smiled to herself.
Ayaan raised an eyebrow.
"Tum kyun muskura rahi ho?"
"Main kahan muskura rahi hoon," she lied innocently.
Then she changed the topic.
"Haan, ek baat yaad aayi.
Aap ke staff ke ek bande ne aaj mujhse bohot badtameezi ki."
Ayaan frowned.
"Kaun?"
"Ek ladka tha... suit mein. Naam hmmmm"
She thought for a second." Haan ...Danish Rehman."
Ayaan stared at her.
" Hosh mein ho tum....Kya bakwaas kar rahi ho tum? Woh mera employee nahi business partner hai. Aur Aaliya ka bhai bhi."
Hayaat gasped.
"Hain? Woh Dracula tumhara business partner hai?"
Ayaan warned,
"Hayaat."Then added calmly,"Woh bura nahi hai. Bas wo ladkiyo se dur rehta hain."
" Kaisa past."
" Wo mein tumhein nahi bata sakta."
" Rukay mein gusse karti hoon, usey uski gf nay dhoka diya hain isliye." Hayaat said.
Ayaan shook his head.
Hayaat added,
" Phir uski maa nay kuch kiya hoga..."
" Apni in novels ki duniya se bahir a jao hayaat." Ayaan said sternly.
" Ye be nahi , wo be nahi ....
Ek sec.... kahi usey ladko mein t_...."
" Bas_ Ek lafz aur mat kehna.
Pagal ladki." Ayaan intrupted.
Hayaat nodded.
"Achha, theek hai. Waise be mujhe kya hain."
She stood up.
"Khair, main chalti hoon. Bye...."