Ayesha's POV

"You won't stop looking for me, Ayesha Mehra, will you? It's fine. I'm in a good mood, so I'm giving you one last warning.
Stop everything. Because this time, I won't.
K.R.”

Snatching the note from him, I read it again. My breaths grew anxious with every word.

He had easy access to my car.
In a heavily secured area, and no one saw him.

“I-I need to see the security camera footage of the parking lot, i-is it p-possible?” I asked, anxiously hoping for a positive response.

“Let’s see if we can,” he said, holding my hand in a gentle yet firm grip and guiding us to the security room.

“I am not asking you anything right now, but I want my answers as soon as you calm down,” he said in his no-nonsense tone.

As if I care, I thought, scoffing quietly at his back.

Knocking on the door, he walked in. Three guards sat inside, keeping a keen eye on the cameras.

“Yes sir, how can we help you?” one of the guards asked, standing up.

Stepping aside, he gestured at me to speak. I nodded, took a breath and said, “I need to check the security footage of the A-wing of the parking lot.”

“Why?” he asked.

“Someone broke into my car. I need to check who did this,” I replied, my impatience rising with every word.

“I am sorry ma’am. You need approval from the senior first. We cannot help you with that,” he replied, clearly annoyed in his fake professional tone.

“I am her senior, Zeeshan Kapoor. Now do what she said,” Zeeshan said, stepping next to me and glaring at the poor guy with his icy eyes.

“S-sure, give me a second,” he stuttered but thankfully returned to his computer.

Five crucial minutes passed, during which I kept glancing anxiously at Zeeshan and he kept calming me down with his eyes. Finally, the guard stopped scrolling through the tabs and said, “I checked the footage of all the cameras in A-wing. Unfortunately, two hours of footage is missing. Other than that, there was no movement in the A-wing.”

Zeeshan ordered him to replay the footage in front of us to make sure he wasn’t lying. He wasn’t. The footage between five and seven pm was missing, and it was clear that the break-in had happened during those hours.

Sighing in disappointment, I muttered a thank you before walking out, with Zeeshan quietly following me to my car.

“Thank you for helping me out. See you tomorrow, sir,” I said, unlocking my car and throwing the bouquet into a dustbin nearby.

Without waiting for his response, I walked to the driver’s seat, only to be pulled back into his arms.

“I said something earlier sweetheart, you remember?” he muttered, pulling me closer until there was no space between us.

“Aapne bohot kuch kaha hai aaj, which one are you tackling me for?” I replied, keeping my composure even though I was anything but calm inside.
(You said a lot of things today, which one are you tackling me for?)

“The note,” he said, inching closer to my face, his eyes cold like ice yet somehow soft.

“Yeah?” I said, draping my arms around his neck. “You think I’d tell you anything about my life?”

“Will you?” he asked, looking straight into my eyes.

“No. Why would I tell you anything about my life?” I said, matching his cold yet soft gaze with my fierce one.

“After knowing the fact that someone is constantly keeping an eye on you like a hawk, you think I can live peacefully?” he asked. His words made my heart rise.

“You should.” I replied. He tilted his head in confusion.

“You should live peacefully after knowing the fact that someone is waiting to kill me. You should be content,” I added, watching the confusion settle into something heavier.

“I’d die before even thinking about it,” he said, his eyes speaking more than his mouth ever could.

“Great, then let me die first.” Saying this, I stepped away from him. My eyes filled with unshed tears, a reflection of the words I had always wanted to say but never could.

Stop me, Just once.

Just once.

Please just once.

My thoughts begged for him to do something, to tell me how much it affected him, how much he wished to be with me, but he stayed quiet, jaw clenched and eyes mirroring the same pain I had been hiding in mine. He stared at me as if it was the last time he would ever see me.

“Goodbye,” I whispered, praying he heard me.

Shaking my head, I turned and walked toward my car. My tears finally fell, carrying all the pain I had been holding inside.

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I glanced at him one last time, watching him watch me give up on him, on us.

Closing the door, I choked on my tears, bursting into sobs of pain, hurt and disappointment.

“He let me go, just like that,” I whispered to myself in disbelief and heartbreak.

I wasn’t worth it after all. I was just a girl carrying the burden of a painful past. Why would he want to carry that with me?

Why would he want to be with someone whose life was monitored twenty four seven by her parents’ killer?

Right. It was better this way. He could find someone better, someone he deserved. Or perhaps he already had.

Multiple knocks on the door interrupted my thoughts. Wiping my tears and taking a few breaths to calm myself, I rolled down the window.

“What…” I began, but he cut me off by reaching in, unlocking the door, and pulling me out along with it.

Zeeshan's pov

Her eyes begged for me to stop her, to do something for the sake of our relationship.

But what did I do?

I stayed quiet, clenching my jaw, stopping myself from pulling her into my arms. I watched her leave, filled with disappointment in myself.

Her eyes begged me to stop her, to end this misery once and for all, but I could not do it.

“Don't let her go this time Zeeshan,” Vidit said, appearing out of nowhere.

“But what about..” I began, taking a deep breath.

“FUCK HIM YAAR, TERI JAAN NIKAL RAHI H IDHR AND YOU STILL WANT TO THINK ABOUT HIM? ARRE DEKH LENGE USKO KHUD KI JAAN DAO PE LAGA DENGE INN DONO K LIYE LEKIN TU YE CHUTTIYA-GIRI BAND KAR WARNA ISS BAAR ISSI DIWAR MEI SIR MAAR DUNGA TERA SAALE.” Vidit shouted, pushing me slightly with every sentence, making Ritika flinch at his high pitched voice. I stayed quiet, staring at the floor, too ashamed of my cowardice.
(Fuck him, yaar! You’re falling apart here and you STILL want to think about him? We’ll handle him, we’ll risk our own lives for the two of you if we have to,but you stop this stupidity right now, or I swear I’ll smash your head into this wall myself, idiot.)

“Zeeshan bhaiya, ek sawal ka jawab denge aap?” she asked. I nodded, gesturing for her to continue.
(Zeeshan bhaiya, will you answer a question?)

“Pyaar karte hai aap usse?”
(Do you love her?)

“Pyaar?” I chuckled. “pyaar jaisi cheez par se vishwash uth gaya tha mera, lekin fir uss din unse milna, tabse sirf unhi k baare mei socha hai, unhi k liye tadpa hu, unhi k liye jia hu, agr isse pyaar bolte hai toh pyaar hi sahi, magar mai mar jaunga unke liye sirf ek baar bolne ki deri hai unko,” I muttered, taking a shaky breath as an involuntary smile appeared on my face.
(Love?)(I had lost all faith in something like love, but then I met her that day. Since then, I’ve thought only about her. I’ve longed only for her. I’ve lived only for her. If this is what they call love, then fine, it’s love. But I would die for her, all she has to do is say the word once.)

“Don't let her go then bhai. I know you are trying to save her but what about her? Do you know what she wants? Did you ever ask her if she's afraid to be with you because of your past? No, right? How can you make such an important decision yourself? Both of you do not deserve this pain Zeeshan bhai, please do not do this to yourself and to her.” She explained softly, as if speaking to a child. And I ran. I ran to stop her from leaving because this time I could not let myself break her fragile heart again. Vidit shouted something behind me but I was too lost to listen.

Thankfully, her car was still in the parking lot.

Knocking frantically on her door, I waited for her to roll the window down. The second she did, I opened the door and pulled her out before she could think.

“What–” she began, but my focus was on her face. No, on her tear streaked face, her wide puffy eyes and her shaky breath. Dropping multiple kisses on her forehead, I pulled her against my chest, making her gasp.

“What are you doing?” she asked softly as I pulled away.

“Stopping you,” I replied, taking a deep breath of relief.

“Stopping me from what?”

“Stopping you from leaving, from giving up on us, from giving up on me.”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes tired and her voice soft like a whisper of wind.

“Why what?” I asked, stroking her wrist gently.

“Why now? What changed?”

“Nothing changed. I just realised that I cannot take every decision on my own and that I need you to survive. I cannot stay away anymore. I have a past and it is dangerous, but I will do anything I can to protect you, lekin aapke saath. Aapko aise hurt karke nahii.” I explained softly, hoping she could see the sincerity in my eyes.
(But with you, not when I'm hurting you.)

She let out a soft, broken chuckle. Tears slipped down her cheeks and each one shattered my heart. “You know they often say life moulds you into either a corpse or a warrior. Aapne toh mujhe warrior bana kar bhi corpse bankar jeene par majboor kardiaa.”
(You turned me into a warrior, yet forced me to live like a corpse.)

Gripping her wrist, I pulled her closer and whispered, “seene par goli maar dena agli baar, lekin ye shabd dobara mat dohrana, aapko safe rakhne k liye khud ko dur kia tha lekin aapne toh mujrim hi bana dia mujhe.”
(Next time, shoot me in the chest, but don’t repeat those words again. I distanced myself to keep you safe, but you ended up making me your criminal.)

“Aur aapne kya kia? Aapko kya lagta hai aap suddenly realise karoge ki aapne mere saath galat kia aur mai aapne pairo mei gir jaungi?” she said, a bitter chuckle escaping her lips.
(And what did you do? What do you think,that you’ll suddenly realise you were wrong to me, and I’ll fall at your feet?)

“No–”

“No. You listen, Mr Zeeshan Kapoor. YOU are a mistake I would never repeat even if it kills me or breaks me. Ab nahi, ab mai thak chuki hu, khudse, aapse, humse. Ab..ab nahi.” she whispered, slow and soft but loud enough to shatter everything inside me.
(Not again. I'm tired now, from myself, from you, from us. Not…not again.)

I knew I deserved it. For hurting her, for pushing her away, for breaking her again and again. And I did not stop her from expressing her pain.

With a soft jerk, she pulled her wrist free and walked away, taking everything in me with her.

My legs gave up as I watched her leave. Tears fell freely, tears of helplessness and regret, tears born from the pain I had inflicted on her in the name of protecting her.

“Zeeshan,” Vidit muttered, crouching beside me.

Turning slowly, I whispered, “chali gayi.” The tears in my eyes blurred everything.
(She left.)

“Chali gayi woh. Thak haar kar chali gayi.” I hoped he heard me because speaking felt harder than anything I had ever done.
(She left, tired and defeated, she left)

“sahi bol rahi thi woh, unko safe rakhne k chakkar mei maine unko todh hi dia. Aur maze ki baat? Unke saath khud ko bhi choor choor kardia.” I muttered, leaning against Vidit’s shoulder.
(She was right, in trying to keep her safe, I ended up breaking her instead. And the irony? I shattered myself along with her.)

“lekin mai iss dil ka kya karunga vidit? Ye toh unke liye hi dhadakta hai na. Unhe smjha de na, unhe bol na ki ek baar meko chance dede. I..I promise I'll do anything, khud ki jaan bhi lelunga bas e..ek baar.” I choked, bursting into tears of regret and pain. The same pain she must have felt each time I rejected her.
(But what do I do with this heart, Vidit? It beats only for her, doesn’t it? Please make her understand, tell her to give me just one chance. I... I promise I’ll do anything, even take my own life, just once... please.)

“Zeeshan, idhar dekh,” he said, wiping my tears.
(Zeeshan, look here.)

“Chali gayi, chali gayi woh mujhe chodh kar. Mai haar gaya. Haar gaya mai.” I whispered, accepting a truth that crushed me.
(She left, she left me. I lost it, I lost everything.)

“Zeeshan–” he began, his voice breaking. I shook my head.

“Ek baar bula de na unko. Bas ek. M-mai j-aan dedu apni? T-tab a-aa j-jaengi na woh?” I whispered, holding his hands, looking at him hopefully even though my tears blurred everything.
(Just call her here once. Just once. S-should I k-kill myself? S-she w-will c-come then, right?)

“Idhar dekh pehle,” he said softly, making me look at him.
(Look at me.)

“Rona band kar. Give her some time to think this through, hmm?” he explained. I nodded and took a few deep breaths.
(Stop crying.)

“She needs some space. You have said enough and she has heard enough, but right now she needs time. To clear her thoughts and to heal. You cannot force your decisions on her. It is her choice to accept your apology and to decide whether she wants to give you another chance.” He added. I nodded again, unable to speak.

“Now let’s go. You are not going home looking like this. We will go to my place.” He said, standing up and offering his hand.

Grabbing his hand, I stood and muttered, “I’ll go myself, don’t bother. Take care of yourself and Riti.”

“Saale haalat dekhi h tune? You look like a 5 year old jisko agar toffee nahi di toh phail kar ro jaega and you want me to leave you alone? Aur rahi baat Riti ki toh she is with Ayesha. Chal ab,” he replied, narrowing his eyes at me.
(Have you even seen your condition? You look like a five-year-old who’ll throw a tantrum and cry if he doesn’t get a toffee, and you want me to leave you alone? And as for Riti, she’s with Ayesha. Now come on.)

“I am fine, really. I need some time alone. Please.” I said, sighing at this dramatic idiot.

“Fine but don’t drive like a dil tuta aashiq singing Dil mei mere hai dard-e-disco.” He said mischievously. I let out a hoarse chuckle, making him sigh in relief.
(Don't drive like a heart broken love singing Dil mei mere hai dard-e-disco.)

“Thanks man,” I said, giving him a proper man to man hug for the first time.

“Chal ab senty mat ho, acha ni lagta. Aur jayada thanks wgrh bolkar dosti k naam par kalank mat ban. Nikal apni rotdu si shakal lekar.” he said, pulling away with a genuine smile.
(Come on, don’t get all emotional now, it doesn’t suit you. And don't disgrace our friendship by saying thank you and all that. Now go, take your crybaby face with you.)

Chuckling softly, I walked to my car, settled into the driver’s seat and drove to my personal haven.

To the same home where Ayesha and I spent our first night together.

Ayesha's POV

“No. You listen, Mr Zeeshan Kapoor. YOU are a mistake I would never repeat, even if it kills me or breaks me. ab nahi, ab mai thak chuki hu, khudse, aapse, humse. ab..ab nahi.” Saying those words, I freed myself from his hold and walked away without turning back because I could not watch him break down.
(Not again, I'm tired now, from myself, from you, from us..not..not again.)

When I reached my car, I saw Ritika standing there, waiting for me. Her eyes held nothing but concern.

“Hey, are you okay?” she asked softly as I stood in front of her.

Choking on a sob, I whispered, “No.”

“How can I be okay when I know he must be blaming himself for everything?” She held my hands gently, encouraging me to continue.

“You know he told me he is pushing himself because he wants to protect me.” I let out a soft, broken chuckle as tears slipped down my face. “Stupid, unko lagta hai ye karne se mai khush rahungi. Who is going to tell him that his decision is piercing my heart piece by piece. Hmm?”
(Stupid, he thinks that him doing this would make me happy.)

“It's not my place to share this Eshu but Zeeshan bhai’s past is what is actually stopping him,” she said softly, wiping my tears with her fingers. Her touch only made a few more tears escape as I sobbed harder.

“You know Eshu? Love makes you childish. Bohot hi faltu k decisions lene lagte hai hum pyaar mei. Zeeshan bhai’s insecurities and his past made him like this. Bohot pyaar karte hai woh tum se, I saw it in his eyes.” she explained gently, offering me a soft smile.
(Love makes you childish. We make useless decisions when we are in love. Zeeshan bhai’s insecurities and his past made him like this. He loves you a lot, I saw it in his eyes.)

Scoffing lightly, I whispered, “Riti, pyaar nahi hai woh unka, sirf illusion hai. pyaar hota toh mujhe paraya nahi karte woh.”
(Riti, it's not love, it's his illusion. If he'd loved me he shouldn't have made me feel like an outsider.)

“Okay, let's not talk about this. Let's go. You are not going home looking like this, mere saath chalo.” she said in her usual soft tone.

“No, you take care. I need some time for myself. Don't worry, I won't show up like a clown at my home.” I said. She tried to protest, but my pleading eyes made her sigh and nod.

As soon as Vidit bhai arrived, he gave me a small hug and said, “You are not wrong Ayesha, Zeeshan is dumb for doing this. Don't forgive him easily, give him a hard time.”

Chuckling softly, I nodded and drove home.

Thankfully, bhai and bhabhi were still out on their date, otherwise it would have been a problem for me.

I went straight to my room, took a much needed shower and lay down on my bed.

Not before sending a text:

“Come back to India. We need to make a plan for a certain someone.”

After receiving an affirmative response, I finally forced myself to get a few hours of much needed sleep.