Zeeshan's POV

"There you go," Di said as she handed over my neatly pressed pants.

"Thank you," I muttered, putting them into my suitcase. She patted my head before walking away.

Getting up, I looked around before picking up my phone and dialing her number.

Even though our families are aware of our relationship, it still feels awkward to talk to her in front of them.

"Hello," she said as she picked up my call.

"Did I wake you up?" I asked, even though I did not feel guilty. I was leaving for Sri Lanka and I needed to see her.

"No, I was just catching up with bhabhi," she replied.

"I want to see you." There, I said it, straight and simple.

"That's not possible, Zeeshan," she replied, sounding somewhat nervous.

"Why?" I asked, confused.

"I am with bhabhi, I told you," she said. I knew she was frowning.

"Bhabhi wouldn't mind, Aayat," I deadpanned.

"You... I know, but just understand what I am trying to say," she said. I am pretty sure she is glaring at whatever she is looking at.

"Fine lekin aapse mile bina nahi jaunga," I muttered. I have got another idea up my sleeve and I am sure it will work.
(Fine, but I will not leave without meeting you.)

"Shut up, have a safe journey and text me before your plane departs and after it lands," she instructed. I could feel a warmth in my heart, the kind that says I am loved.

"I will, meri jaan," I said. She hummed before ending the call, making me chuckle softly because I am pretty sure she was blushing like a tomato.

"Veer," I shouted, and within the next two minutes, Veer came running into my room.

"Will you help me, Veer?" I asked. He nodded, looking at me in confusion.

Ayesha's POV

"Bye bhabhi, good night," I muttered, hugging bhabhi tightly.

I always knew I needed a long chit chat session with bhabhi to feel the happiest, and sometimes you just have to keep everything aside and talk to your loved ones.

As I was climbing the stairs to reach my room, my phone buzzed with an unknown landline number.

"Hell-" I was cut off by Veer, who was crying hysterically. My heart dropped.

"Veer?" My eyes widened, and I immediately turned around, walking towards the main door.

"What happened? Why are you crying?" I asked, quickly running towards my car.

"I am scared. No one is at home," he said from the other side, sniffing.

"I am coming. Just 15 minutes, hm?" I said, driving as fast as I could.

"Okay," he sniffed. "Drive safely."

"I will. Now can you tell me your favourite movie?" I asked, hoping to distract him as I took a sharp turn.

"My favourite movie is The Jungle Book," he replied.

"Really? I love that movie too. What do you like about it?" I said, pulling into Zeeshan's neighbourhood as Veer kept telling me about his favourite movie.

"Will you open the door for me, Veer?" I asked, parking my car on the side.

"Coming," Veer said from the other side. I could hear him running.

And the next moment, the door opened, revealing Veer. I quickly crouched in front of him and asked, "Are you okay?"

He hugged me tightly and muttered, "I am sorry and I love you," before running away.

Confused, I stood up and walked towards his room. Maybe he was embarrassed.

Just as I was about to cross Zeeshan's room, I was pulled inside, and before my survival instincts could kick in, I was face to face with Zeeshan fucking Kapoor.

"Wh-" he cut me off as his hands jerked me closer to him and locked the door, all while looking at me intensely.

"Bola tha na, mile bina toh bilkul nahi jaunga."
( I told you, I will not leave without meeting you.)

"Zeeshan, Veer was-" he cut me off again.

"He is fine. I told him to call you," he said, shrugging. My eyes widened at his words.

What the fuck?

"You-" For the third time in a row, I was cut off again.

"I will miss you," he said softly as his hands engulfed mine in a gentle grip.

If I'd have to be honest, at that moment, I forgot that I was mad at him or the fact that he made Veer lie. The only thing that remained was him and me.

"I will miss you too," I admitted, whispering softly.

In response, he hugged me close to his rapidly beating heart. I hugged him back, taking a deep breath as everything around us blurred.

After a minute or two, I pulled back and muttered, "You will come back with all 206 bones intact, just the way I am sending you."

He chuckled before smiling mischievously and muttering, "What do I get in return?"

I looked at him, his soft eyes filled with nothing but love, his lips curved into an effortless smile.

So this time I took a step forward by tiptoeing and kissing close to his lips, so close that one more inch and my lips would have landed on his.

He took a sharp intake of breath as my lips lingered a little longer before I pulled back, murmuring, "Finish what I have started when you come back."

His eyes stayed glued to my face as he slowly draped his hands around my waist before pulling me closer with a jerk.

But he did not say a word, he just hid his face in the crook of my neck, taking a sharp breath.

"I will, and that is my promise to you," he whispered, his lips moving against my neck, making my heart skip multiple beats.

Then he moved back. My cheeks burned, but I ignored it and asked, "Are you done with your packing?"

"Not yet," he said. I could feel his eyes on me as I folded his shirts and neatly placed them in his suitcase.

"What are you looking at? Go and get all the remaining stuff." I was proud of myself for not stuttering because his constant staring was making it hard for me to focus.

Wordlessly, he stood up, and together we packed his bags. None of us spoke. We just worked in silence. Later, we drove to the airport along with Ritika, Vidit bhai, Dev bhai, and Ishika.

"Why are you so quiet?" Ritika asked, looking at me in confusion.

"I am not," I replied.

"Is everything okay between you and Zeeshan bhai? He is also not talking," she asked. My eyes went to Zeeshan, meeting his gaze that was already on me.

"Everything is okay." I just pulled a move, and now I am promised something I cannot tell you.

"Let's go," I added, ignoring the words I so desperately wanted to share but should not.

She nodded, and the three of us walked to where Zeeshan and Vidit bhai were loading their stuff onto a trolley while Dev bhai told him about all the security protocols.

"Don't forget to text me," I muttered, giving him a final hug.

"I won't," he replied, kissing my forehead after pulling back from the hug.

Author's POV

"Has the shipment reached Sri Lanka?" Karan asked as he walked out of his room in his ancestral home.

"No, boss. It will be there by 6 pm tomorrow," one of his men replied, walking behind him.

Karan nodded in response and was about to say something but was cut off when one of his men handed him an envelope.

Confused, Karan opened it, only to freeze in his tracks after finding a show cause notice from the magistrate.

His hands trembled visibly, making the paper crumple in his grip. The notice felt like a nail in his coffin, and he knew that if he showed up, he would end up in jail. If he did not show up, he would have to hide somewhere safe, and right now nothing felt safe to him.

So he called the only person who might save him for the time being, Abhir Ahmed, who did not pick up.

But on his tenth call, the phone was answered, and a very irritated Abhir said, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Where the hell were you, you idiot?" Karan asked, ignoring Abhir's earlier question.

"Last I checked, I was not answerable to you, was I?" Abhir replied, sarcasm laced in his voice. "What do you want?"

"I got a show cause notice," Karan said with a sigh.

"Congratulations," Abhir replied, a smirk appearing on his face.

"Help me," Karan pleaded.

"No-"

"What do you mean by no?" Karan cut him off.

"The next time you interrupt me, remember that I will make sure you cannot reach me, and I hope you know the consequences of that," Abhir warned.

"I am sorry," Karan gritted out. He was the kind of person who would die but never apologise, but desperate times call for desperate actions.

"Hm. Now as I was saying, I will not say a word unless you transfer all your properties in Italy to me. I want all four of them under my name," Abhir said, leaning back in his chair.

Karan's eyes widened. He was not expecting this again. His properties in Italy were the most valuable ones he owned, and transferring them was the last thing he wanted.

"I..."

"You have two minutes. After that, I will disconnect this call, and do not expect me to sit and console you," Abhir said, cutting him off. He knew pressuring Karan was easy, and he could not afford to lose that chance.

"Fine. Now just do something," Karan pleaded. He was tired of everything that had been happening in his life recently.

"Okay. I heard Ayesha Mehra's brother is hosting a party, and Zeeshan Kapoor is attending it. Go there and end Zeeshan. We can buy some time with that," Abhir explained.

"But how do I get in?" Karan asked.

"Are you dumb?" Abhir deadpanned. "Figure it out on your own."

Before Karan could reply, the call was disconnected, leaving him stranded once again causing him to lose his consciousness due to panic.

On the other hand, Zeeshan and Vidit, who had landed in Sri Lanka a few hours ago, sat in the attached balcony of their suite.

Between them was a small firepit that crackled softly, emphasizing the silence. Both of them were lost in their thoughts, and neither attempted to break it.

Zeeshan's eyes were fixed on his and Ayesha's first picture, the one they had clicked on their first date. He could not think about anything else after Ayesha's kiss. At that moment, being hundreds of kilometres away from her was the last thing he wanted, but duty called.

"Zeeshan," Vidit called.

"Hm?" Zeeshan responded.

"Why do you call her Aayat?" Vidit asked. Zeeshan glanced at him, his lips curving into a soft smile, his tired eyes lighting up with love.

"Saale rulaega mujhe tu," Zeeshan said, chuckling softly. Vidit chuckled too but stayed quiet.
(Asshole, Do you plan on making me cry?)

Zeeshan leaned forward, his eyes still on the picture, the smile never leaving his face, and finally said, "Aayat in Arabic means a miracle or a sign. The day I met her was the last time I prayed. Do you know what I asked for?" Vidit shook his head in response.

"A reason not to end my life," Zeeshan continued. "And that night, I got improperly married to her. That innocent, naive girl waiting for me in Delhi does not know it, but that night she came into my life as a sign to keep breathing. I was numb at first, but gradually the only thing that consumed me was thoughts of her. She felt like a blessing I had prayed for."

"You love her," Vidit stated.

"I breathe for her," Zeeshan said softly.

Smiling in understanding, Vidit gently patted his shoulder before leaving him alone, knowing he needed it.

Zeeshan leaned back against the headrest and closed his eyes, a content smile on his face as sleep consumed him like a soft hug.

And Ayesha? A few hours ago, back in India, Ayesha was not in her senses either.

"So?" Ritika asked. Both of them were having a sleepover at Ayesha's home.

"So?" Ayesha replied, confused.

"Do you love Zeeshan bhai?" Ritika asked excitedly, making Ayesha sigh because hiding this from Ritika would be useless, she can easily see through her.

"Don't you deny it." Ritika warned, making Ayesha chuckle softly and reply, "To me, he is the start and the end of that four letter word," her eyes drifting to the promise band on her ring finger.

"OMG," Ritika squealed. "Are you going to confess?"

"No," Ayesha replied, pulling the quilt over herself.

"Why?"

"Because I want us to be surrounded by positivity when I confess my love to him," she said softly. "And I am sure we will be done with Karan Reddy before this month ends."

"But what if it does not?" Ritika asked quietly.

"I will make sure it does," Ayesha said firmly. "Now let's go to sleep."

Both of them knew they would not be able to sleep, not until their men confirmed they had landed safely.

They stayed quiet, lost in their thoughts, only falling asleep when their phones buzzed with the message they had been desperately waiting for.

"I have safely landed, and my promise still prevails."

Zeeshan's message caused a quiet storm in Ayesha's heart from miles away.

"Take care," she replied instantly. The next moment, her phone buzzed with Zeeshan's call. Silencing it quickly, she ran to the balcony, glancing at Ritika, who was blushing while texting.

"Why are you still awake?" Zeeshan asked as soon as she answered.

"I was waiting for you to land," she replied softly, almost shy.

"I was hoping you were," he said, a shy smile forming on both their faces.

This distance felt different to them this time. It carried anticipation and excitement.

"Go and rest," Ayesha mumbled after a moment of silence.

"Bye Aayat, I love y... I mean I love the view. Wait, let me send the picture," Zeeshan fumbled.

Ayesha felt her cheeks heat up, her heart beating loudly just like his.

After sending the picture, Zeeshan quickly ended the call, saying goodbye as he tried to steady himself, smacking himself for almost saying it out loud.

Chuckling to herself, Ayesha finally went to bed, a content smile lingering on her flushed face.

So, there we have it, the answer to your following questions-
"Aakhir Aayat ka matlab kya hai bhai??" "Why does he call her Aayat?"
"What is the meaning behind Aayat?"

PS- Next update - Thursday, 30th April.