Chapter 69
Author's POV:
The wedding house was finally quiet.
The laughter, music, and chaos that had filled every corner of the haveli had slowly dissolved into soft echoes.
After completing the last few rituals, Aayat, exhausted beyond words, was escorted upstairs by the women of the family.
Her steps were slow, her dupatta slightly loose on her shoulders, her heart still racing from everything that had changed in one single day.
She entered the room prepared for her, sat on the edge of the bed, and exhaled deeply.
Tonight wasn't just the end of a wedding.
It was the beginning of a lifetime.
Meanwhile, Ayaan loosened the buttons of his sherwani slightly and made his way toward his own room.
His mind was a mixture of relief, excitement, nervousness-and something far deeper he couldn't name.
But just as he turned the corner, he stopped.
Right outside his room stood Hayaat, Aaliya, Arjun, and Danish, blocking the door like self-appointed guards.
Ayaan raised an eyebrow and walked closer.
"Tum log mere kamre ke bahar kya kar rahe ho?"
His eyes then landed on Hayaat, and a teasing smirk appeared on his face.
"Aur specially tum... jahan tak mujhe yaad hai, jahez ki koi demand nahi thi. Toh tum kis ke saath yaha pohanch gaye?"
Hayaat crossed her arms dramatically and smiled.
" Pehli baat, Shayad tum bhool rahe ho. Tum mere dost bhi ho. Aur dusri baat hum ne ek rupaya bhi abhi tak nahi liya. Pehle paise do, phir hum jayenge."
Ayaan looked at her in disbelief.
"Tum paise ke liye yahan tak aa gayi ho? Sharam nahi ati , apni behan kay susral mein khadi ho kar paise mang rahi ho."
Before Hayaat could reply, Aaliya jumped in.
"Arre wo sab chhodo tum idiot. Paise nikalo pehle. 10 Hayaat ke aur 10 mere."
Ayaan burst out laughing.
"Bas 10?"
He reached into his pocket, pulled out cash, and handed ?10,000 to Hayaat and ?10,000 to Aaliya.
Both girls stared at the money... then at each other.
Ayaan tried to pass between them, but they immediately stepped back in front of him.
He sighed.
"Yaar ab kya hai?"
Hayaat tilted her head innocently.
"10 hazaar nahi... 10 lakh bola tha."
Ayaan froze.
Aaliya nodded proudly.
"Haan. Ab sabash achay bacho ki tarha Paise do aur phir jao apni bewi kay pass."
Ayaan's smile disappeared.
"Shaadi mein jootay chori karne the na, ab yaha kuch nahi milay ga. Yaha per paiso ki koi rasam nahi hoti. Bas behan ki hoti hain aur meri koi behan nahi hain."
Hayaat placed a hand on her chest dramatically.
"Main hoon na Ayaan bhai! Aapki bestest friend. Toh yeh haq bhi main hi ada karungi. Mera dil bohot bada hai. Ap fikar mat kare."
Before Ayaan could respond, Danish stepped forward,
"Bohot ho gaya tum dono ka. 10,000 lo aur side ho jao."
Aaliya gulped slightly.
Hayaat wasn't impressed.
" Hello Bhai kyun hatein hum? Yeh hamara haq hai. Aap logon ne humein jootay chori tak nahi karne diye. Ab Humein paise chahiye!"
Danish folded his arms.
"Ayaan, ek rupaya bhi mat dena. Aur Itne paise toh bilkul nahi."
Hayaat instantly put her hand on her waist.
"Oh hello, Mr. Pterodactyl... muh se agh barsana band karo ... Aur agar muh band nahi rakh sakte toh udh jao yahan se.."
For a second, silence.
Then-
Ayaan, Aaliya, and Arjun burst out laughing.
Danish frowned.
"Kya kaha tumne? Mr... kya?"
Hayaat spoke slowly, clearly.
"Pte-ro-dac-tyl."
Arjun's laughter doubled.
Danish snapped.
"Yeh kya cheez hai?"
Arjun pulled out his phone.
"Ek second mein dikhaata hoon."
He showed him the image.
Danish's eyes widened.
" What the- .... Tumhe mein Aisa dikhta hoon."
Hayaat nodded seriously.
" Tum..."
" Mein nahi tum mr... Jab dekho muh se agh barsate rehte ho."
Ayaan tried to control his laughter.
"Bhai... thoda sa toh milta hai maan lay."
"Ayaan!" Danish warned.
Then, shaking his head, he muttered:
" Mein aisa dikhta hoon na ... Toh phir theek hain , main jaa raha hoon yahan se , khud hi sambhal in dono ko."
He glared at Hayaat.
She stuck her tongue out slightly.
As soon as he left, all four of them burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Finally, Ayaan held his hands together.
"Yaar please... ab mujhe andar jaane do."
Hayaat stepped aside.
"Haan jaiye... par pehle paise."
Ayaan sighed, took out his card, and placed it in Hayaat's hand.
"Password tumhari behan ki DOB hai. Ab hato."
They gasped.
Ayaan walked between Hayaat and Aaliya, opened the door, and stepped inside.
From behind, Hayaat called out:
"All the best, jeeju!"
The door closed.
The room was softly lit.
As Ayaan turned around, he saw Aayat sitting in the middle of the bed, her hands folded nervously in her lap, her eyes lifting to meet his.
He smiled.
Slowly, he walked toward her and sat in front of her. Reaching for the bedside table, he picked up a small velvet box and opened it.
Inside lay a delicate diamond bracelet.
Ayaan extended his hand.
"May I?"
Aayat smiled shyly and placed her hand in his.
Ayaan kissed her hand gently before slipping the bracelet onto her wrist.
"Tumhare haathon mein iski khubsurti aur bhi zyada badh gayi hai."
Aayat lowered her gaze, cheeks flushed.
Ayaan cupped her face and kissed her forehead, lingering there as if time had stopped. A single tear escaped his eye.
He pulled back slightly and held both her hands.
"Aayat... kya hum pehle namaz padh sakte hain? Main Allah ka shukar ada karna chahta hoon."
She nodded.
Together, they stood, prayed, and bowed in gratitude.
Afterward, Ayaan lifted her gently and placed her back on the bed.
She sat on the edge of the bed, fingers clenched into the fabric of her lehenga, eyes lowered, lashes trembling.
He knelt slightly in front of her, not touching yet... giving her space, giving her control.
"Aayat..." his voice was low, warm.
"Tum theek ho?"
She nodded slowly, still not looking up.
"Haan..." she whispered.
Ayaan lifted his hand-paused midair-asking permission without words.
When Aayat finally looked at him and nodded again, something inside him loosened.
His fingers brushed her cheek, feather-light.
She inhaled sharply.
He smiled softly.
"Tumhein pata hai..." he murmured,
" tum pehli ladki ho, jisse mein ne apne dil mein jagah di hain... na tum se pehle koi thi aur na ab tumhare baad hogy ... Tum meri zindagi ki pehli aur akhri mohabbat ho."
Aayat's lips curved into a shy smile.
"Jhoot bolna achi baat nahi hoti, ayuu baby."
He chuckled quietly.
" Per aaj jhoot bolne ka din nahi hain, wifey."
His thumb traced her cheek, slow... reverent. Then his hand slid gently behind her neck, fingers tangling slightly in her hair.
Aayat's breath hitched.
Ayaan leaned in-not rushing-giving her time, letting the moment stretch.
Their foreheads touched first.
Then his nose brushed hers.
"Ayaan..." she whispered, barely audible.
That was all it took.
His lips met hers-soft, warm, unhurried.
It wasn't a hungry kiss.
It was a promise.
Aayat froze for a second, then slowly melted into it, her hands gripping his sherwani as if she was afraid the ground beneath her might disappear.
The kiss deepened-not fast, not rough-just deeper, fuller, more real.
Ayaan's hand slid to her waist, holding her gently but firmly, grounding her.
When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathless.
He rested his forehead against hers.
"Agar kisi bhi waqt..." he whispered,
"tum uncomfortable ho... bas keh dena."
Aayat looked into his eyes-really looked.
Then she did something unexpected.
She leaned forward and kissed him again.
This time, with confidence.
Ayaan's breath caught in his chest.
His arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, his thumb brushing her back in slow circles.
The world narrowed to this-
warmth, closeness, heartbeats colliding.
He kissed her cheek... her jaw... lingered near her ear.
"Meri aayat..." he whispered softly.
Aayat shivered.
" Tum bohut pyari ho."
He lifted her gently, as if she weighed nothing, placing her on the bed with care.
Hovering above her, he searched her face one last time.
"Aayat?"
She reached up, touching his face.
"Main tumhari hoon."
Something raw flashed through his eyes.
He kissed her again-slow, consuming-pouring every unsaid emotion into that moment.
The lights glowed softly.
Curtains swayed.
And somewhere between whispered breaths and shared warmth, the night wrapped around them, sealing a love that had finally found its home.
~
Ayaan opened his eyes at exactly seven.
For a few seconds, he didn't move.
He just lay there... breathing.
Then he felt it.
A soft, warm weight against his chest.
He looked down.
Aayat was asleep, her head resting on him as if it belonged there, her hair scattered across his arm, her face peaceful in a way that made his heart ache-in the best possible way.
A smile curved slowly on his lips.
"So this is real," he thought.
Carefully, so carefully, he slid his arm from beneath her and gently laid her head onto the pillow. She stirred slightly, her lips forming a small pout, but she didn't wake up.
Ayaan chuckled under his breath.
He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead... then her cheek... then one near her temple.
Not waking her.
Just loving her.
He slipped out of bed, pulled on a shirt, and made his way to the washroom, glancing back once more-just once-before closing the door.
Time passed quietly.
Aayat was still lost in deep sleep when something shifted.
She blinked.
Once.
Twice.
And then her eyes opened.
Her first instinct was to turn toward him.
But the space beside her was empty.
She sat up suddenly, heart skipping, and reached for her phone from near the pillow.
8:30 AM.
Her eyes widened.
"Ya Allah-" she gasped silently.
And then-
Petals began to fall.
Slowly.
Softly.
Pink and white flowers drifted down around her, landing on the bed, her hands.
She froze.
Then looked up.
The ceiling fan was moving... very slowly.
Flowers were falling from above.
Aayat's lips parted in surprise-and then curved into the widest smile.
She laughed, genuinely, like a child seeing magic for the first time.
Turning toward the door, she saw him.
Ayaan stood there, leaning casually against the frame, arms folded, eyes fixed on her-with that smile.
The one that made her heart forget how to beat properly.
He walked toward her.
She didn't wait.
The moment he was close enough, Aayat jumped off the bed and ran straight into his arms, wrapping herself around him tightly.
Ayaan caught her easily, laughing.
"Good morning, meri jaan."
She looked up at him, eyes shining.
"Good morning, Mr. Khan."
He groaned playfully.
"Haye... lagta hain tum toh meri jaan le kar hi maanogi, Love."
She laughed, hiding her face against his chest.
Without warning, he lifted her in his arms.
"Ayaan! Main chal sakti hoon!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Maine kaha kya tum nahi chal sakti?"
Carrying her into the bathroom, he gently set her down and brushed a kiss on her forehead.
"Tum tayyar ho jao," he said softly.
"Main tab tak apna thoda sa kaam dekh leta hoon apna."
Before she could reply, he was gone
.
Aayat touched her forehead where he had kissed her and smiled to herself.
After her shower, she dressed carefully.
A simple red shalwar suit.
Nothing heavy.
Nothing loud.
~
She walked downstairs, her steps still shy, her heart still adjusting to this new reality.
In the kitchen, Sonia stood arranging things.
Aayat hesitated for half a second, then smiled and walked closer.
"Mama... aaj main nashta banati hoon."
Sonia turned immediately.
"Nahi."
Aayat blinked.
Sonia pointed lightly with her spoon.
"Tum sirf gajar ka halwa banaogi. Nashta main dekh loongi."
She paused, then added firmly:
"Filhaal kuch din tak tum koi kaam nahi karogi. Yeh mera order hai tumhe."
Aayat burst into laughter.
"Okay... saasu maa."
Sonia gasped dramatically.
"Acha! Pichhle 10 saal se toh main tumhari mamma thi, aur aaj ek din mein sab badal gaya? Paraya kar diya mujhe."
Aayat stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"Aap toh meri jaan ho," she said softly.
"Aur aapka bohot bohot shukriya... apna itna pyara beta mujhe dene ke liye.
Waise Apka beta itna romantic hain, mujhe toh pata hi nahi tha."
Sonia laughed and tapped her cheek gently.
"Besharam."
Aayat laughed even harder and turned toward the stove, starting the halwa with a happy heart.
Breakfast was lively.
Everyone praised the halwa.
Compliments flew from every direction, but Ayaan didn't say a word.
He just watched her.
The way she smiled shyly.
The way she served everyone first.
The way she avoided his eyes... until she didn't.
Their eyes met.
Something silent passed between them.
A promise.
A beginning.