Chapter 64 （ part 2 ）
The house was wrapped in silence when Ayaan returned late that night. All the lights were off, and he instantly knew everyone was asleep. Without making any noise, he went straight to his room, changed his clothes, and then headed downstairs toward the kitchen.
But the moment he stepped inside, his footsteps halted.
Aayat was sitting on the kitchen stool, legs slightly swinging, an ice cream tub in one hand and the spoon in the other. She was eating slowly, absent-mindedly, as if trying to cool something burning inside her.
The second her eyes landed on him, she froze. Her spoon stopped midway.
"Tum..." she said, eyes wide in shock.
Ayaan walked toward her calmly, took the ice cream from her hand without permission, and said casually,
"Pagal ho tum... itni zyada ice cream kaun khata hai?"
Aayat kept staring at him, the spoon still between her lips. Their eyes locked. For a moment, the world seemed to pause.
And then Rayyan's words echoed in Ayaan's mind like a soft but powerful truth.
"Wo tumse pyar karti hain, Ayaan."
A faint smile curved Ayaan's lips. He took the spoon from Aayat's lips.
She immediately stood up from the stool, irritation and hurt spilling into her voice.
"Toh tumhe yaad aa hi gaya kay tumhara ek ghar bhi hai?"
Ayaan moved closer, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Ohh... mujhe aisa kyu lag raha hain, kisi nay mujhe bohut miss kiya."
Aayat instinctively stepped back, her steps shaky, until her back hit the wall. Ayaan was standing right in front of her now, close enough for her to feel his warmth.
Trying to gather courage, she stammered,
"M-mein... k-kyun t-t-tumhe m-miss karungi?"
Seeing her trembling made him smile, but he quickly masked it, his face turning serious.
"Sahi kaha tumne," he said coldly. "Tum kyun mujhe miss karogi... main thodi tumhara kuch lagta hoon, Na hi mein tumhare liye important hoon...Aur na hi tum mujhse pyar karti ho."
With that, he stepped away, turned his back to her, took food from the fridge, and placed it on the stove to warm.
Aayat watched him silently. Her back was still against the wall. Gathering all her strength, she walked toward him.
"Ayaan... kya hum pehle jaise normal nahi ho sakte?"
He turned slightly, not fully facing her.
"Don't worry," he said in a controlled tone, "mujhe bas thoda time chahiye hain. Sab normal ho jayega phir... kyunki maine soch liya hai, ab mein tumhare peeche nahi auga ... Kyu kay maine shadi karne ka faisla kar liya hain.."
The words hit her like a slap.
The color drained from Aayat's face. Pain stabbed her chest at the mere thought of him belonging to someone else.
Ayaan was watching her reflection carefully, noticing every flicker of emotion, then turned back to his food as if nothing had happened.
After a pause, she whispered,
"Kis se...? I mean... kya koi ladki hai tumhari nazar mein?"
Without looking at her, Ayaan picked up his plate and went to the dining table. Sitting down, he began eating.
"Haan hain," he said casually. " Aur bohot jaldi mama aur baba se bhi milwaunga ussey. Phir tum be har pareshani se azad ho jao gy."
He continued eating as if he hadn't just shattered her world.
Aayat stood there, unmoving, as if her mind had stopped working. Tears welled up in her eyes.
Suddenly, she spoke in a broken voice,
"Mujhe neend aa rahi hai... main sone ja rahi hoon."
And before he could say anything, she rushed upstairs.
Ayaan looked toward her room, a soft smile appearing on his face. He had heard the pain in her voice clearly.
Bas aayat kuch waqat aur... Phir sab theek ho jaye ga.. mein sab theek kar duga... I promise.
~
The next day, Aayat sat in her office, staring blankly at her desk. Ayaan's words kept replaying in her mind.
Main shadi kar raha hoon... bohot jaldi.
The door opened without a knock.
"Please koi bakwas mat karna, hayaat." Aayat said immediately."Abhi jao yahan se... pehle hi damagh bohot kharab hai."
Hayaat raised an eyebrow and sat down calmly.
"Kyun, kya ho gaya api? Sab theek toh hain na."
With a heavy heart, Aayat said,
"Ayaan shadi kar raha hai... aur bohot jaldi us ladki ko ghar laane wala hai."
Hayaat started coughing,
" What? Kaun hai wo?" she asked after taking water.
"Mujhe nahi pata," Aayat replied."Usne bas itna kaha ke wo shadi kar raha hai."
A slow smirk appeared on Hayaat's face.
"I think mujhe pata hai wo ladki kaun hai."
Aayat looked at her sharply.
"Tumhe kaise pata? Aur Kaun hai wo?"
Hayaat put on an innocent expression.
"Main pehle batana nahi chahti thi apko appi... mujhe laga normal hai ye... Lekin ab lag raha hai... wahi ladki hai."
"Kaun?" Aayat asked urgently.
Hayaat replied flatly,
"Aaliya... Aaliya Rahman."
Aayat stood up in shock.
"Ye kya bakwas hai! Ayaan ne use office se nikal diya tha."
"Aur ab wapas rakh bhi liya," Hayaat said softly.
"What?!" Aayat gasped.
Hayaat continued,
"Ab sab clear ho raha hai..hmmm... shadi ke next day hi usne join kiya office, phir Ayaan ka apse badla hua behavior... aur ab shadi."
Aayat shook her head, whispering to herself,
"Nahi... Nahi... Ayaan aisa nahi kar sakta..."
" Kyu nahi kar sakta. Apne khud hi usey kaha ap us se pyar nahi karti ... Toh thodi na ab wo ap k liye hi betha rahay ga...
Aur mujhe lagta hain aaliya achi choice hain."
" Nahi.. nahi..." Aayat whispered brokenly.
Hayaat watched her silently, thinking,
Sorry api... thoda jhoot zaroori tha.
Aur sorry Ayaan... maine kaha tha na, meri choice tum ho.
A loud sound snapped her out of her thoughts.
She looked up.
Aayat was gone.
Hayaat fell back into the chair dramatically.
"Sabash Hayaat, sabash..."
Then she sighed, making a face.
"Waise bhi yahan aur kaun hai jo tumhe sabashi de."
She smiled slowly.
~