Chapter 67
One month later...
I was asleep when the soft rays of the morning sun fell across my face. I stirred, then slowly sat up in bed. Stretching my arms wide, I let out a long yawn.
That's when my eyes landed on the side table.
There was a single rose... and a letter beside it.
A smile instantly curved my lips.
I got out of bed, picked up the rose, and inhaled its fragrance deeply-as if it carried his presence within it. Then I opened the letter and began to read.
Good morning, sleepyhead,
Ab agar uth gayi ho toh jaldi se tayyar ho kar neeche aa jao. Tumhara chehra toh dekh liya hai, lekin tumhari smile aur tumhari pyari pyari do aankhon ko dekhna hain .. tumhari smile ko bohot bohut miss kar raha hoon.
Haan, aur ab ye padh kar muskurati mat rehna , jaldi jaldi tyar ho jao aur neechay a jao.
Haan aur eik aur baat, I love you.
Tumhara Ayaan
By the time I finished reading, my smile had grown even wider.
I carefully placed the letter back in the drawer-along with the others.
Yes... the others.
For an entire month now, whenever I was asleep, Ayaan would quietly come into my room, leave a letter and a flower, and go back without making a sound. Including today's, there were now twenty-nine letters... and twenty-nine flowers.
I pressed the rose gently between the pages of my diary, then headed to the bathroom for a shower.
After getting fully ready, I paused in front of the mirror for a moment, took a deep breath, and then walked downstairs.
Mama, Baba, and Ayaan were already waiting for me at the breakfast table.
"Good morning," I said softly, taking the seat beside Ayaan.
I had just started breakfast when Sonia Khan spoke, her tone firm.
"Aayat aur Ayaan, tum dono, meri baat dhyaan se sun lo. Kaan khol kar. Aaj se tum dono office ka koi kaam nahi karoge. Kal tum dono ki mehndi hai, aur tum log ghar par bhi sirf kaam hi karte rehte ho. Kuch din kay liye bhool jao office kay kamo ko. Enjoy karo in dino ko."
Ayaan immediately replied, calmly,
"Theek hai mama, office ka koi kaam nahi karunga. Lekin mujhe ek zaroori kaam ke liye bahar jaana hain. Sirf ek ghanta... main jaldi aa jaunga."
Mama shot him an annoyed look.
Before she could say anything more, Sameer Khan spoke gently,
"Jaane do na, Sonia. Koi zaroori kaam hoga."
Mama was about to respond when I cleared my throat softly.
"Mujhe bhi jaana hai... ek kaam se. Kya main ja sakti hoon?"
Mama answered instantly,
"Nahi. Kal tumhari mehndi hai. Tum kahin nahi jaa sakti. Ghar mein bohot kaam hai."
The moment she said mehndi, a shy smile spread across my face.
Tomorrow was our mehndi...
And the day after tomorrow-our wedding.
I made a small, cute face and looked at Baba.
A smile appeared on his lips immediately.
Sameer Khan-my Baba.
Not related to me by blood, yet in ten years, he never once let me feel that difference. To the world, he was a strict, cold businessman. But for us... he was a soft-hearted man. And for me-my loving Baba.
Seeing my expression, he said,
"Theek hai, Sonia. Isay bhi jaane do. Kal in dono ki mehndi hai.. isliye hoga koi kam. Jaldi aa jaayenge ye log."
Mama sighed and nodded, because she knew Baba had already been convinced.
Baba looked at both of us and said,
"Jaldi aa jaoge na tum dono?"
Ayaan and I glanced at each other and nodded together.
"Haan."
We stood up and walked outside.
As soon as we stepped out, Ayaan asked,
"Tumhein kahan jaana hai madam?"
I smiled lightly and replied,
"Woh... main ap ko nahi bata sakti."
He took a long breath and said helplessly,
" Tumhara ye 'ap' meri jaan le le ga..."
Shaking his head, he got into his car and drove away.
Moments later, I got into my own car as well and drove off-
My car came to a slow stop in front of the mansion.
The same mansion that was once my home.
Malik Mansion.
I stepped out of the car and looked at the guard standing near the gate.
" Hello, kya ap Mere bhaiyon ko bahar bula sakte hain. Unhein kehna Aayat aayi hai."
The guard nodded and hurried inside.
Within minutes, he returned.
Behind him came Saad bhai and Huzaif bhai.
The moment they saw me, both of them froze.
Saad bhai walked towards me and gently held my shoulder.
"Aayat... tum yahan? Sab theek toh hai na?"
I looked at both of them-and suddenly my eyes filled with tears.
Memories of our childhood flashed before me.
Saad bhai was the elder one, always serious, always responsible-but sometimes he would tease me just to see me smile.
Huzaif bhai... we never really got along. We fought constantly. He teased me, annoyed me, and scolded me more than anyone else. His anger was always sharp.
Since childhood, whenever he raised his hand, I raised mine too-but his slap always landed on my cheek... or my back.
Except that last time.
Ten years ago.
That slap didn't land on my face.
It landed on my heart.
The memory made my tears spill over. I wiped them away immediately, removed Saad bhai's hand from my shoulder, and stepped back-putting distance between myself and both of them.
I looked at them and said, my voice shaking,
"Aap dono samajhte kya hain khud ko? Ek baar bhi mujhse baat karne ki koshish nahi ki. Mere paas nahi aaye. Kya meri yaad bhi nahi aati thi aap dono ko?"
Both of them lowered their heads.
Huzaif bhai spoke first, his voice breaking,
"Aayat..."
He shook his head, tears falling freely now.
"Nahi... hum tumhara naam lene ke bhi laayak nahi hain.
Hum dono tumhare bhai hone ka farz ada nahi kar sake.
Toh kis haq se tumse mil kar maafi maangein?
Hum tumhari maafi ke qabil nahi hain. Aur na itna jigar hain kay apne gunnah ko galati keh day. .."
He swallowed hard.
"Maine tum par haath uthaya tha... jab sab tumhare khilaaf the, main unke saath khada tha. Maine apni behan par bharosa nahi kiya. Uski aankhon mein sach nahi dekha. Usey tanha chhod diya."
His tears wouldn't stop.
" Hum tumse maafi maang kar apne dil ko sukoon nahi dena chahtay aayat. Main chahta hoon yeh aag mere dil mein mere marte dum tak jale..."
Then Saad bhai spoke, his voice heavy with regret.
"Aur main, Mein Aayat... main tumhara bada bhai tha. Apni chhoti behan, apni bachi ki hifazat nahi kar saka. Bhai toh muhafiz hote hain behan ke... aur hum?"
He laughed bitterly.
"Hum besharamon ki tarah sir jhukaye khade rahe. Jab humein apni galti ka ehsaas hua, tab tak bohot dair ho chuki thi."
He looked away.
"Hamari behan jis shaks se mohabbat karti thi, woh shadi kar chuka tha. Aur hamari behan wahan se jaa chuki thi."
He repeated softly,
"Humein dair ho gayi, Aayat... bohot dair ho gayi. Us ek din mein sab khatam ho gaya."
I listened quietly... and then I smiled.
"Toh aap logon ne mujhse saza dene ka haq bhi cheen liya."
Huzaif bhai looked up immediately.
"Nahi, Aayat... aisa nahi hai. Tumhari har saza qabool hai humein. Lekin agar hum maafi maang lein, toh shayad dil ko thoda sukoon mil jaaye-aur hum woh sukoon deserve nahi karte."
I cut him off softly.
"Par main aap dono ko maaf karti hoon."
Both of them stared at me in shock.
I knew exactly what they were thinking.
Before they could ask, I spoke.
"Tum dono ne us din koi dair nahi ki thi. Jo kuch hua, achanak hua. Sach kahoon toh us waqt mera dimaag bhi theek se kaam nahi kar raha tha. Mujhe be waqat ki zaroorat thi, wo sab jo ho raha tha usey samjne kay liye."
I took a breath.
"Mujhe Hayaat ne bataya tha-tum dono agle din aaye the. Lekin main jaa chuki thi."
They looked even more confused now.
"Tumhein lagta hai tumhein dair ho gayi, lekin aisa nahi hai. Tum log toh agle hi din aa gaye the-meri baaton par bharosa karke, jab meri begunahi sabit bhi nahi hui thi tab hi."
My voice grew firm.
"Dair un logon ne ki jo intezaar nahi kar sake. Jinhone jaldi jaldi Rayyan ki shadi karwa di. Jinhone dus saal tak mujhe ghalat samjha. Dair unho nay ki.. aur us din sab kuch jaldi jaldi be unho ne kiya ... Jis ki saza aj hum sab bacho ko mil rahi hain... "
I looked straight into their eyes.
"Isliye main aap dono ko maaf karti hoon."
I took a card out of my purse and held it out to Saad bhai.
"Meri shadi hai... Ayaan se. Main chahti hoon ke meri shadi mein mere bhai mere saath hon. Aap dono aayenge na?"
My tears finally fell.
Because I had missed them... so much.
Both my brothers pulled me into a tight hug. I was squeezed between them like a sandwich.
Crying, I said,
"Aap dono mujhe saans band karke maarna chahte hain kya?"
They stepped back slightly.
I grabbed Huzaif bhai's ear and twisted it hard-just like I used to in childhood.
"Tumne mujhe thappad mara tha. Tab toh kaan nahi mod paaye, ab modugy!"
Huzaif bhai shouted,
"Bhai! Bachao! Phir mujhe mat kehna, kay tu isse ladta kyu hain!"
Saad bhai, like always, turned his face away as if he saw nothing.
Huzaif bhai looked at me with wide eyes-and I burst out laughing.
The moment I laughed, tears filled his eyes again.
I released his ear immediately.
"I'm sorry... lag gayi kya?"
He pulled me into a hug again.
"I'm sorry... maaf kar de mujhe. Main bohot bura bhai hoon."
I pushed him away gently.
"Kal meri shadi hai, yaar? Rukhsati ke liye bhi thode aansu bacha lo."
Saad bhai hugged me from the side.
" Sahi keh rahi hain huzaif ye... humein kal rona be hain Ayaan ke liye."
I looked at them-and all three of us laughed through our tears.
That's when a voice came from behind.
"Aayat..."
We turned.
Ami, Abu, Taya jaan, and Taii ami were standing there.
They walked towards me.
I immediately looked at my brothers.
"Main kal dulhan ban kar aap logon ka intezaar karungi. Ab mujhe jaana hai."
I turned to leave when Abu grabbed my arm.
"Aayat... tum shadi kar rahi ho?"
"Haan."
"Kis se?" Ami asked.
"Ayaan se."
I turned again, but Taii ami stopped me.
"Aayat, yeh mat karo. Mere bete ko itni badi takleef mat do."
Something inside me snapped.
I turned back slowly.
"Main takleef de rahi hoon? Seriously?"
I laughed-bitterly.
"Aap log abhi bhi nahi samjhe... ya samajhna hi nahi chahte."
" Maloom hain asal mein sach kya hain."
I looked at them all.
"Sach yeh hai ke aaj aap logon ke saare bachche takleef mein hain-aur uski wajah aap log khud hain. Aapke ghalat faisle hain."
My voice was calm but sharp.
" 10 saal pehle ho kuch hua , hum sab kuch nahi paa rahay thai, hum sab ko waqat chahiye tha , rayyan ko waqt chahiye tha.
.. Galat aur sahi mein farak karne ka , mere bhaiyo ko waqt chahiye tha, samjhne ka un sab baaton ko .
.. Mujhe waqt chahiye tha apni begunnahi sabit karne ka .
.. Aur ap bado ne hum se wo waqat cheen liya .
.. Ap bado ne hum sab kay dard mein hone ka fyda uthaya . ..
My eyes burned.
"Rayyan ke dard ka faida uthaya.
Uski shadi karwa di-jab usey sabse zyada kisi apne ki zaroorat thi.
Usey us time koi aisa chahiye tha jo usey kahay kay, koi baat nahi beta hum tumhare saath hain , tum jo faisla karo gay.
Aur usey time detay faisle ka ... Balkay ap logo ne kya kiya , jab wo khud kuch samj nahi paa raha tha ap logo ne us ki shadi karne ka faisla kar diya aur is mein mere apne maa baap be shamil thai. "
I took a deep breath.
"Main pehle Rayyan ko kasoorwaar samajhti thi... lekin asli kasoorwaar aap log hain, hum sab kay..."
I looked straight at them.
"Rayyan, Aleena, Hayaat, Saad bhai, Huzaif bhai-main in sab ko dil se maaf kar chuki hoon."
Then, firmly,
" Lekin Aap chaar... mere gunehgaar hain. Aur mein nahi janti mein ap logo ko kabhi maaf kar be paugy ya nahi... ap logo nay hum sab kay dard ka fyda uthaya hain... hum sab ko jab ap logo ki zaroorat thi .. ap log hum mein se kisi kay pass nahi thai ...
Pehle mujhe lagta tha ... Ap logo ne sirf mujhe akela choda hain .
.. Lekin ap logo ne toh rayyan, saad bhai , huzaif bhai , hayaat , aur aleena , in sab ko be akela choda hain .
... Ap logo ne hum mein se kisi bachay ki takleef ko nahi samja .
.. Apni jhooti izZat ko bachanay kay liye .
.. Ap logo ne apne hi bacho ki khushiya qurban kar di. .."
I turned one last time to look at my brothers-then lifted my head high and walked away.
For the first time in ten years...
My heart felt free.
Ayaan's POV:
My car came to a halt in front of a tall corporate building. I stepped out and walked straight inside.
Before I could go any further, a man stopped me and asked sharply,
"Aap yahan kya kar rahe hain?"
I looked at him calmly and replied,
"Mujhe tumhare boss, Rayyan Malik se milna hai."
He studied me for a second, then nodded.
"Aaiye, mere saath. Main unka PA, Junaid hoon."
He walked ahead, and I followed him. Moments later, we reached Rayyan's cabin.
The moment Rayyan saw me, he stood up from his chair, shock evident on his face.
"Tum yahan...?"
I signaled towards his PA with my eyes. He understood and quietly left the room.
I took a wedding card out of my coat pocket, placed it on Rayyan's desk, and said,
"Yeh meri aur Aayat ki shadi ka card hai. Agar ho sake, toh attend karna."
Rayyan closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, the pain in his eyes was impossible to miss.
"Mubarak ho, Ayaan Tumhein... lekin main nahi aa sakta."
Saying that, he sat back down.
I pulled out the chair opposite him and sat calmly.
"Par main chahta hoon tum aao. Taake tumhein us dard ka ehsaas ho, jis dard se woh guzri thi."
He looked up at me. His eyes had turned red.
I smiled faintly and said,
"Samajh lo main tum par ehsaan kar raha hoon-tumhein bata kar ke jis se tum pyaar karte the, tumne usey kitna dard diya hain."
I leaned forward slightly.
"Nahi... utna dard nahi hoga tumhein... Us kay dard ka adhar hoga....
Kyu kay Aayat ko bina kisi ghalti ke woh sab sehna pada. Begunah hotay huay bhi."
I took a deep breath, stood up, placed my hands on the table, and said firmly,
" Isliye uske dard ka andaaza bhi lagana mushkil hai.
Lekin jo aaj tum jhel rahe ho-yeh tumhari apni ghalti ki saza hai.
Toh dekha jaye toh bina galti kay saza aur galti kar kay saza mein farak hota hain. ..
Intzar karuga tumhara."
I walked towards the door, then stopped and turned back.
Rayyan's tears were falling silently.
I said softly,
"Main jaanta hoon, Rayyan... tum bure insaan nahi ho. Lekin aankhein band karke apne bado ki baat maanna tumhari ghalti thi."
I continued,
"Bado ki izzat zaroor karo, un kay faislo ko be ahmiyat do... lekin har faisla sahi ho unka-yeh zaroori nahi. Tumhare ghar walon ne tumhare dard ka faida uthaya... aur tumne unhein uthanay diya."
My voice remained steady.
"Isliye mujhe tum par taras aata hai. Tumhari ghalti hai, lekin asli gunehgaar tumhare bade hain."
I took a step closer.
"Khud ko galat samajh kar apni zindagi barbaad mat karna. Dil se tauba karo aur zindagi ko ek mauka aur do."
Then I added,
" lekin iss baar faisle sirf dimaagh se mat karna. Business ke faislon kay liye dimaagh istemal karte hain-lekin rishton ke liye dil se faisle kiya karte hain."
I paused.
"Aayat ke maamle mein tumhara dil jaanta tha ke woh begunah hai.
.. main jaanta hoon. Lekin tumne dimaagh ki suni-aur tumhare dimaagh ne wo faisla kiya .
... Jo tumhare damagh bharne wale chahte thai.
Jinho nay tumhare damagh mein ye dala aayat galat hain aur ramsha ghar ki izzat bacha rahi hain.
Islye tumhare damagh k faisle ne aj tumhe yaha pohancha diya hai .
.. Aur Agr us waqat tum ne apne dil ki sun li hoti aj yaha nahi hote . ..."
I sighed.
"Zindagi imtihaan leti hai, Rayyan. Sabr se kaam lena chahiye. Sabr ka daaman chhor dene se insaan wahan aa jata hai jahan aaj tum khade ho."
I picked up the card again and placed it closer to him.
"Isliye tumhein mauka de raha hoon-us dard ko mehsoos karne ka. Ho sake toh nikaah mein aa jana."
With that, I walked out of the cabin.
As I stepped outside, a small smile appeared on my face.
Because now... I just wanted to go home.
I wanted to see my Aayat.
To hold her close.
To tell her-again and again-that she is a very strong woman.
And I would keep telling her this... until she finally believed it herself.
With that smile, I walked away-
towards the new journey of my life.