Author’s POV

"What’s the status?” a man in his 20s asked as he lit his cigarette.

“So, I got a lead about him. That fucker is planning something against Zeeshan sir, but I am not sure when he’s going to do it,” his trusted man replied, sliding into the seat in front of him.

“Planning what?”

“An attack, of course, you dumbass,” the other guy replied, rolling his eyes.

“Alert the protection team and keep them on standby close to Zeeshan. Make sure they are armed, and increase his family’s security,” he ordered before leaving in a hurry.

Once he reached somewhere far, he immediately called Zeeshan, but the call went unanswered, worrying him even more.

After five or six failed attempts, he decided to call Vidit.

“Hel…” Vidit said from the other side.

“Drop these HIs or hellos and tell me where Zeeshan is,” the guy demanded, cutting Vidit off midway.

“Probably out consoling the love of his life. What’s the issue?” Vidit replied, calm yet alert.

“He is planning something against Zeeshan since we bombed his shipment two days ago. He will probably do this when he is unarmed and alone,” the guy explained while simultaneously checking for Zeeshan’s location.

“FUCK WHY IS HIS LOCATION NOT ON,” he added, worry lacing his voice.

“FUCK, FUCK, FUCK. He is probably on the outskirts of the city. Do one thing, send a team. I am leaving from here. And I am also sending the address to you,” Vidit said, rushing out the door. Ritika was fast asleep and he had no time to wake her up and explain the whole situation, so he quickly wrote a short note for her and ran out, driving toward the place where Zeeshan must have taken Ayesha.

“PHONE UTHA SAALEEEE,” Vidit shouted, calling Zeeshan for the fifth time while driving as fast as he could.
(PICK YOUR PHONE ASSHOLE.)

Zeeshan’s POV

“Humare ghar,” I said, taking a right turn onto a usually busy road, a shortcut to where we were headed.
(Our home.)

“Zeeshan aap pagal ho?” she asked, her eyes widening.
(Zeeshan are you mad?)

“Nahi meri jaan, hum sach mei wahi ja rahe hai,” I replied, chuckling as I glanced at her.
(No my love, we are actually going there.)

“That house belongs to someone else,” she reasoned, sitting up straight.

“Not anymore. I bought it. And it is not a house, it is a home, our home,” I said, pulling into the driveway.

“Let's go?” I asked once I had parked the car securely in front of our home. She nodded, nervousness clearly visible on her face.

Jogging to her side, I opened the door and held out my hand. She surprisingly took it, and together we walked in.

“Go in,” I said while unlocking the front door. As she stepped inside, I followed her.

“This…” she whispered, looking around.

“Like it?” I asked, a smile forming on my face at her reaction.

“This is fully furnished and i-it looks so clean,” she muttered, checking the place as I followed quietly.

“Yeah, I hired people to look after it, and whenever I visit, I clean it myself,” I explained, heat creeping up my neck at my little confession.

She nodded hesitantly. Her eyes were slightly watery, but I did not say anything this time. I knew exactly what she was feeling. I had felt when the first time I came here after a few days.

“Come on, let’s sit,” I said, gesturing towards the couch. She nodded and settled into her seat.

Kneeling in front of her, I gently held her hands and looked into her eyes. Her soft yet unsure gaze met mine, which were calm and meant only for her.

“Zee…” she began, but I gently hushed her with my index finger. “Aayat,” I said.

Her face instantly turned crimson, her eyes widening. She looked so cute I was genuinely afraid I might squish her cheeks.

“Ek baar safai dene ka mauka dengi aap mujhe, Aayat?” And that was it. There was no turning back now.
( Would you give me a  chance to explain, aayat?)

“Get up,” she said. I looked at her, confused.

“Get up and sit here,” she clarified, patting the seat beside her. I nodded and sat next to her as she turned completely towards me.

“Tell me. Iss baar sab kuch, Zeeshan,” she said, looking at me reassuringly.
(Tell me, this time everything, Zeeshan.)

Taking a deep breath, I nodded. She held my hands in her gentle grip, giving me support I did not even know I needed.

Ayesha’s pov

“I was 19 when my father cheated on my mother and brought another woman home in front of her,” he began. An involuntary gasp escaped my mouth, and his grip on my hand tightened.

“My first failure was watching my mother so broken, so defeated, so heartbroken, and still not being able to do anything to take her away from that vile man. You know, my mumma stood there with tears streaming down her face uncontrollably, watching him welcome that woman into the house the same way his family welcomed my mumma twenty years ago. My Viru di was closest to Dad, she couldn’t believe what he did, and her body couldn’t take it. She lost consciousness.” I could feel my eyes burning as tears threatened to fall.

“It was so serious we had to rush her to the hospital, but that man refused. I begged him on my knees, but he did not agree. He just threw a 100 rupees note on my face. Somehow we got di to the hospital, but we didn’t even have money for her checkup. The doctors refused to treat her before payment. That night, mumma sold her only memory of her mother, her gold ring, to get my sister treated. My second failure was not being able to take care of my family,” he whispered, looking down. I shook my head gently, hoping he would understand he was not a failure.

“Di was admitted for a few days because she injured her head when she fell, but we had to return to the same hellhole. The place where my father disrespected my mumma and the bond they had. My mumma begged him to let us stay in the outhouse, but he did not agree and said he would not pay for di’s and my studies.” He sniffed, choking on his tears.

“For three years, every single day, I was constantly reminded of my failures. Whenever I saw that man and his wife in front of my eyes, whenever I saw how my mother and sister were treated like househelps in their own home. My third failure was not being able to save their self respect.” His grip tightened again, as if preparing himself for the worst. I gently stroked my thumb over his hand, hoping to give him even a little comfort. His phone rang for the third time now, but neither of us bothered to check it.

“Now my biggest failure. After three years, that man’s best friend came to live in our house. Every day he tried to get close to my sister, and I thought I saved her every time I could. That is what I believed,” he whispered.

I shook my head. “No…” My voice came out as a whisper.

He nodded and whispered, “He raped my sister. Not once but thrice. And when she couldn’t take it anymore, she ran away. Where? I don’t know. For two years I searched for her like a madman. I couldn’t find her. Then one day she called mumma and said she was in London, and she would come back when she was ready to face us. My biggest failure is not being able to protect my sister from her worst nightmare. I was such a failure that she did not even bother telling me. She preferred running away. She didn’t tell me that he is still behind her.”

“I am a failure jaan. I couldn’t save my mother or my sister from their worst nightmares. And I couldn’t even get their sinners punished. I am still looking for that man but I haven’t found him yet, it has been six years.” He looked at me with tears flowing from his eyes, those fierce and strong eyes now looking broken. I wanted nothing more than to hide him from every pain he carried.

“You are so pure that it kills me to even think of bringing you into my life when I am nothing but a failure. I would die if something happens to you. I just can’t put you in danger. I can’t. And for that, I am ready to do anything, even staying away from you and bearing your hatred. At least from far away, I would know you are safe.” His voice was barely audible, and it broke my heart to see him so vulnerable.

“I don’t know how I got someone so precious like you, but I can’t pull you into a life filled with thorns from my failures. I can’t,” he whispered, placing his head on my lap as he fell to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. My own tears fell.

All this time, he had been drowning in his pain alone, blaming himself for things he never did.

I wiped my tears, knelt before him, and tilted his face up. His tear-stricken face shattered something inside me.

“Shhh,” I whispered, gently wiping his face. I brushed his hair away from his forehead, kissed him softly there, and whispered, “You are not a failure in my eyes, Zeeshan.”

“Garv hai mujhe aap par. Itna sab kuch hone ke baad bhi aapne haar nahi maani. Aap failure nahi ho, aap warrior ho,” I said, caressing his face as I held his gaze.
( I'm so proud of you, even after going through this you didn't give up. You are not a failure, you are a warrior.)

“And do you think I am some weak person jo itni si baat se darr jaegi? Aap azma kar dekh lo. Mere trainer ne mujhe itni si baat se darna nahi sikhaya,” I said with a proud smile, though my tears blurred my vision. “Sab kuch seh lungi, ek baar complain nahi karungi, lekin mujhe khud se door mat kariye. Ye nahi seh paungi,” I whispered. He burst into tears again and hugged me tightly. My arms wrapped around him as my tears fell too.
(And do you think I am some weak person who's get scared from something like this? Try me, my trainer taught me better to not give up on anything, not even this.)
(I'd bear everything, without complaining about it but don't push me away, I cannot bear this distance.)

“Come on, get up,” I said softly once he calmed a little.

I helped him sit on the couch and quickly fetched water from the kitchen. Pouring him a glass, I gestured for him to drink, and he obeyed.

“I…” he began, but his phone rang again.

“Take it. It must be important,” I said, taking a sip of water.

He nodded, cleared his throat and answered.

“KAHA MAR GAYA THA SAALE,” Vidit bhai’s voice blasted so loudly even I could hear it. Zeeshan pulled the phone away from his ear.
(WHERE ARE YOU, YOU FUCKER?)

“Tujhe bataya toh tha,” he replied with a sigh.
(I told you, didn't I? )

“TOH BEHEN KE LAWDE PHONE NAALI MEI PHEK DIYA THA KYA TUNE? KITNE CALLS KARE MAINE,” Vidit bhai shouted. I chuckled quietly.
( SO WHAT MOTHERFUCKER DID YOU FLUSH YOUR PHONE DOWN THE DRAIN ? I CALLED YOU SO MANY TIMES.)

Shaking his head, Zeeshan asked calmly, “Kya hua?”
(What happened?)

“WOH HARAMZYADA TERKO YAMRAJ KE PASS POHOCHANE KA PURA SETUP KARKE BAITHA HAI AUR TUJHE AASHIQUI SE PHURSAT NAHI HAI. CHUP CHAP AYESHA KO LEKAR WAHAN SE NIKAL. MAI DURGAPURI CHAUK KE PASS WAIT KARUNGA WITH TEAM,” Vidit bhai yelled.
(THAT FUCKER IS PLANNING TO SEND YOU TO YAMRAJ AND YOU ARE OUT THERE LOVING YOUR GIRL. TAKE AYESHA AND GET AWAY FROM THERE. I'LL BE HERE WAITING FOR YOU NEAR DURGAPURI CHAUK WITH THE TEAM.)

I immediately grabbed my phone and the water bottle. Zeeshan quickly ended the call and we rushed out, locking the house behind us. No questions, just perfect coordination.

We settled in the car, and he started it, driving as fast as he could. But as we approached the next road near Durgapuri chauk, a bullet hit our front tire and the car almost collided with another.

“Sir neeche karo,” he instructed quickly, fighting to control the steering.
(Put your head down.)

I immediately called Vidit bhai. “He—”

“We are attacked. Durgapuri ke paas wala chauk. Jaldi aao.”
( We are attacked near the durgapuri chhauk, come fast.)

“Ayesha, aap peeche jaakar neeche ki side baitho. It’s dangerous here,” he said, scanning the surroundings for the shooter.
(Ayesha, go and sit in the backseat and make sure to lower your upper body. It's dangerous here.)

“Two people can fit there aaram se. You are coming behind me,” I said, climbing into the backseat. Another bullet hit the back tire just as I settled into the backseat.
(Two people can fit there easily.)

“Are you coming ya mai baal pakadkar peeche khichu Zeeshan Kapoor?” I said, glaring at him when he still looked around instead of joining me. Chuckling, he finally moved to the back.
( Are you coming or do you want me to pull you back with your hair Zeeshan Kapoor?)

Bullets continued to hit the front windows until they cracked. I hissed in frustration at the damage to the car.

“Now what?” I asked once the gunfire stopped.

“Now we wait,” he replied, shrugging.

“Actually, how about we make use of this time?” he added, mischief in his eyes.

“How?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.

“You know, you and me in this romantic atmosphere,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows and pulling me closer by my waist.

I could not believe he was the same man bawling his eyes an hour ago.

Wrapping my arms around his neck, I smiled widely and said, “I will throw you out of the car.”

“Phek do,” he whispered, pulling me in.
(Do it.)

“You will die,” I said softly.

“Mar jaane do,” he replied, staring into my eyes.
(Let me.)

“SAALE TERKO ABHI BHI ROMANCE SOOJ RAHA HAI,” Vidit bhai shouted, appearing out of nowhere in his car, just as I was about to speak.
(FUCKER YOU STILL WANT TO ROMANCE IN THIS SITUATION?)

I instantly pulled away from Zeeshan, my cheeks burning.

Zeeshan sighed and shouted, “Bohot mushkil se maani hai bhai. Thoda toh deserve karta hoon.”
( I had to do a lot of effort to make her agree bro. At least I deserve some of it.)

My eyes widened, and I smacked his shoulder. “Shut the fuck up,” I whisper shouted.

“Yamraj ki sabha mei seat fix nahi karwani tum logon ki. Nikal lo fatafat. Backseat ka door khol diya hai maine,” Vidit bhai yelled from inside the car. Zeeshan gave one last look around and opened the door.
( Do you want to fix your seat in yamraj's meetings? Get out fast. I've opened the backseat door.)

“Squat and run. No looking back. Just run as fast as you can,” he instructed.

I nodded. He placed a quick kiss on my forehead and helped me down, following me.

Just then a bullet was fired from somewhere and he pulled me into his arms, covering me with his body. It all happened so quickly I couldn’t even process it.

Zeeshan hissed, holding his shoulder. My eyes widened at the sight of blood. “I’m okay. Let’s run, hm?”

I nodded silently, too shocked to speak. Hand in hand, we ran as fast as we could.

We got into Vidit bhai’s car, and once Zeeshan shut the door, we finally breathed.

“Are you okay?” I asked immediately.

“Yeah, that idiot missed it,” he said casually.

How could he be so casual?

“Vidit bhai, hospital please,” I said. He nodded and drove.

“Ayesha ke ghar lekar chal pehle, Vidit. It’s not safe for her to be with us,” Zeeshan added. Vidit bhai agreed and turned towards my home.
( We will go to Ayesha's home first, Vidit.)

“You are bleeding,” I said.

“I’m fine and we are going to your home. No more discussions,” he said firmly.

When Vidit bhai pulled into my driveway, I looked at Zeeshan. He was smiling like an idiot he is.

“Vidit bhai keep me updated. And I better not see him at the office tomorrow,” I said, still looking at Zeeshan, daring him to deny. He wordlessly looked at me with his soft gaze.

Vidit bhai agreed and they drove off. He even told me I didn’t need to come to the office today, which was a relief.

After two extremely stressful hours, Vidit bhai finally called to say Zeeshan’s wound was bandaged and he was resting at home. And finally I was able to breathe in relief and go take a long shower to calm myself from everything that had happened.

Then I went straight to my brother’s room and knocked twice.

“Hey…” he began, but I immediately hugged him, needing comfort.

“What happened, Eshu?” he asked, hugging me back.

“Bas aise hi,” I said, not wanting to let go. He chuckled softly, tightening his hold.
(Just like that.)

“Thank you for keeping me alive, bhai,” I whispered as I pulled away.

“Pagal hai tu? Dobara ye mat bolna. Favour nahi kiya maine,” he said, glaring at me cutely.
(Are you mad? Don't say this again. It was not a favour.)

Chuckling, I pulled his cheeks. “So cute.”

“Bhabhi kaha hai?” I asked further, not seeing her anywhere.
(Where is bhabhi?)

“She said she is making something for us. When I offered to help she glared at me cutely and ordered saying 'don't to dare' and left ,” he said, making me laugh.

“Let’s go to the kitchen,” I said, sobering. He nodded, and we walked in to see bhabhi dusting something on a delicious looking chocolate cake.

“OMG,” bhai and I shouted together. Bhabhi flinched and sighed dramatically, her hands folded.

“Ruk nahi sakte the?” she asked.
(Couldn't you guys wait?)

Bhai walked towards her and spun her around. Their laughter echoed through the room, contagious enough to make me smile without trying.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't even notice Bhai walking towards me, when he placed a gentle kiss on my forehead was when I was pulled out of my thoughts.

“Eshu, come here,” he said, smiling. I nodded as bhabhi served a big piece of chocolate cake for me and just like that I spent the rest of the day with my family, a much needed distraction from everything happening around me.