32.

The night was quiet, with a faint chill in the air. The sound of the clock ticking in the dining room filled the otherwise silent space. Anam sat at the table, her hands folded tightly in her lap, waiting for Feras. She had insisted on keeping dinner ready for him, despite her sister's suggesting she go to bed early.

Her day had been a whirlwind of emotions... Rehaan's threats, the tense meeting at the café, and the constant dread that Feras might discover her secret. The guilt weighed on her like a storm cloud, especially knowing how it would hurt him if he misunderstood her actions.

The front door creaked open, and Anam's heart skipped a beat. She quickly stood up, smoothing her dupatta as Feras walked in, his presence as commanding as ever despite the long day. He removed his shoes mechanically, his face unreadable.

"Aap late ho gaye," Anam said softly, her voice betraying her nervousness. (You're late)

Feras glanced at her briefly, his dark eyes holding a storm she couldn't quite decipher. "Meeting lambi thi," he replied curtly, moving past her toward the dining table. (The meeting was long)

Anam followed him, her steps quiet, and began serving dinner. She noticed how his usual warmth was absent tonight, replaced by an icy reserve. Her fingers trembled slightly as she placed the dishes in front of him.

"Aap khana kha lijiye," she said, forcing a small smile. (Here eat something)

Feras sat down without a word, picking up his fork. He ate methodically, each bite measured, while Anam stood by, her stomach twisting with unease. She desperately wanted to ask if something was wrong, but the weight of the day held her back.

"Anam," he finally said, his deep voice breaking the silence.

Her head snapped up, her eyes meeting his. "Ji?" (Yes?)

Feras set his fork down, leaning back slightly. His expression was calm, but there was a sharpness in his gaze that made her heart race. "Tumhara din kaisa tha?" (How was your day?)

The question was casual, but his tone wasn't. It felt like a test, like he was waiting for her to falter.

"Achha tha," she said quickly, avoiding his eyes. "Classes thodi demanding thi, lekin sab theek raha." (It's was fine. The classes were a bit demanding, but everything was fine)

Feras raised an eyebrow, his gaze never leaving her. "Aur baaki sab? Koi problem? Anything different?" (And what about everything else? Any weird things? Any problems?)

Her throat felt dry. She shook her head, forcing herself to meet his gaze with what she hoped was a convincing smile. "Nahi, kuch khaas nahi." (No, nothing diffrent)

He studied her for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. Then, without another word, he resumed eating.

Anam exhaled quietly, relief washing over her. But it was short-lived. Feras's silence tonight wasn't the comfortable kind she had grown to cherish...it felt heavy.

After dinner, she cleared the plates while Feras retreated to his study, leaving her alone in the quiet of the house. She stood by the sink, washing dishes, her thoughts a tangled mess.

"Ya Allah," she whispered under her breath, her eyes closing. "Mujhe himmat de. Feras ka trust tootne na dena." (Give me strength. Don't let Feras' trust break.)

Upstairs, Feras sat at his desk, his hands clasped tightly. His mind replayed the image of Anam at the café, the stranger leaning in too close, her tension palpable. He wanted to believe her, to trust her, but the lingering doubts gnawed at him.

His phone buzzed, and he grabbed it quickly. It was a message from Rayaan.

"The sender's identity is proving tricky. I'll need more time. Will keep you updated."

Feras's jaw tightened as he set the phone down. His suspicions about the message being a trap were correct, but that didn't explain what Anam was doing at the café today.

He leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. Whatever was going on, he was determined to uncover the truth.

And when he did, someone would have to answer for it.

.....

It was well past midnight when Ayub tossed and turned in her bed, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and unease. Sleep eluded her, and after what felt like an eternity of restlessness, she decided to get up. She quietly slipped out of her room and made her way downstairs, drawn by the comforting thought of a midnight snack to calm her jittery nerves.

The house was silent, the kind of silence that only deepens the feeling of being alone. As she reached the kitchen door, a shadow caught her eye. There, in the dim glow of moonlight coming through the windows, stood a figure in the kitchen.

She froze, momentarily unsure of what to do. Her hand moved instinctively toward the light switch, but she hesitated. Something didn't feel right. Ayub could feel the hairs on the back of her neck rise as the figure didn't make a sound, only standing eerily still.

Suddenly, she sensed movement. Her heart skipped a beat as the figure stepped closer to her, and her instincts took over. Without thinking, she swiftly slapped the figure's arm, her hand connecting with a hard surface.

The figure stumbled back slightly, surprised by her reaction. But Ayub wasn't done. She continued thrashing against the figure, pushing away with all the strength she had, her breath quickening in panic.

"Stay away!" she cried out, her voice filled with terror as her heart raced.

"Ow! Ayub, bas! Ruko!" A familiar voice protested, his tone somewhere between exasperated and amused. (Ouch, Ayub stop it!)

The words didn't register. She kept thrashing, her fists connecting with his arm, chest, and even his stomach. Finally, he caught her wrists firmly, stopping her flurry of attacks.

"Relax, it's me—Ayan!" he hissed, his grip steady but gentle.

Ayub froze, her breathing ragged as the realization sank in. The tension in her body dissipated as embarrassment replaced her panic. "Ap?" she whispered, incredulous, her wide eyes trying to make sense of the situation in the dim light. "Yahan kya kar rahe ho?" (You? What are you doing here?)

"Wohi jo tum karne ayi ho," Ayan said, his grin evident even in the dark. He released her hands, rubbing his arm theatrically. "Mai to midnight snack lene aya tha, par yeh toh wrestling match ban gaya." (The same thing you came to do. I just came for a midnight snack, but this has turned into a wrestling match.)

Her cheeks flamed with heat, a mix of anger and embarrassment. "Toh light kyun nahi on ki thi? Aur mujhe darane ki kya zarurat thi?" (Why didn't you turn on the light. It scared me so much)

"I wasn't trying to scare you!" Ayan protested, his tone playful now. "You started thrashing around without even looking who was in front of you!"

Ayub glared at him, though the darkness dulled its effect. "Apko light on karni chahiye thi, stupid." (You should have turned on the lights, stupid)

"Did you just call me Stupid?" he echoed, feigning offense. "Mene socha tumhare sath apni ice cream  share karun ga, lekin ab tumhe sirf chips milenghe, wo bhi pheeke wale." (I thought I would share my ice cream with you, but now you'll only get chips, and those too the plain ones.)

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. "Mujhe apke chips nahi chahiye." (I don't want your chips)

"Fine," he said with mock seriousness.

Despite herself, a small laugh escaped her, and Ayan chuckled in response. He reached over to turn on the light, flooding the kitchen with its warm glow. For a moment, they just stood there, the tension gone, replaced by an easy camaraderie.

She reached into the fridge, pulled out a few leftovers, and began to prepare something for herself.

.....

The house was enveloped in stillness, the only sounds the occasional rustle of fabric or the soft hum of the refrigerator. Anam sat on the edge of the bed, her mind swirling in a sea of conflicting emotions.

It was 2 a.m. when her phone buzzed on the nightstand. She picked it up hesitantly, half afraid of what might be waiting for her. Her heart sank when she saw the name on the screen: Rehaan.

Her fingers shook as she opened the message, the words burning into her mind as she read them.

"Meet me at the abandoned building behind your university. If you don't come, I'll release Umul's photos. Don't test me."

The words felt like a punch to the stomach. Panic and fear gripped her chest as she stared at the message, her breath quickening. She had no choice. If she didn't comply, Rehaan would ruin Umul's life. Anam couldn't let that happen.

With trembling hands, she typed out a quick response, agreeing to meet him. The weight of her decision was unbearable, but there was no way around it. She had to protect her friend, even if it meant putting herself in danger.

Just as she hit send.

And...

The phone buzzed. This time, it was a message from Feras's close friend, Rayaan.

"I've tracked the number. The location is confirmed. It's near Anam's university. I'll send you the address."

Feras, who had been lying awake, unable to shake the image of Anam in the café, grabbed his phone and read Rayaan's message. His pulse quickened as he absorbed the information. This was it. The answers he had been waiting for were just within reach.

He quickly typed out a reply.

"Send me the address. I'll go there in the morning."

His mind raced as he considered the possibilities. Anam had been acting strange, distant, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. The café meeting, her reluctance to share what had happened... everything pointed to a secret she wasn't telling him. He needed to know the truth.

Feras's gaze lingered on his phone as he waited for Rayaan's response. His fingers drummed anxiously against the bed. He knew this wasn't just about the number anymore... it was about trust, and whether or not it had been shattered between them.

As he stared at the screen, the buzzing of Anam's phone in the other room was the only sound that cut through the silence. He felt a sudden, sharp pang of frustration and confusion. Why couldn't she just tell him what was going on? What was she hiding?

Minutes later, Rayaan's message came through. Feras quickly opened it, studying the address. His heart dropped when he realized the location was disturbingly close to Anam's university.

"Got it," . He knew what he had to do. In the morning, he would find the answers he needed.

Meanwhile, Anam sat in the dark, the message from Rehaan burning in her mind. She couldn't sleep, couldn't think straight. The guilt over hiding everything from Feras pressed down on her chest, but she knew there was no turning back now.

Tears welled up in her eyes as she sat there, alone in the darkness, her heart heavy with the burden of her choices. She had no idea what would happen when she met Rehaan... whether he would really keep his word of deleting Umul's photos or something even worse would happen.

.....

The morning light filtered through the curtains, casting soft shadows across the room. Anam sat by the window, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the rising sun. She felt disconnected from everything around her, her mind constantly swirling with the weight of her decisions. She had made a promise to herself... this would end today, one way or another. But even as the sun rose, casting warmth over her, the chill in her heart only deepened.

Feras, on the other hand, was pacing in his study. He had barely slept.

He stood in front of the mirror, trying to calm his racing thoughts. The urgency of the situation made him restless.

But before he could make any move, his father, Ahmed, and Salman, entered the room. Both were dressed in business attire, their presence unmistakably formal.

"Feras," Ahmed began, his tone serious but warm, "come down. We'll have breakfast together."

Feras hesitated for a moment, the weight of his thoughts making it hard to focus. He had planned to leave early, to get answers. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, before following them downstairs. As he entered the dining room, he saw the faces of his family gathered around the table, waiting for him.

Anam, who had also just entered the room, gave him a brief but strained smile. Her eyes flickered away quickly, avoiding his gaze.

"Come sit, Feras," his father insisted again, gently nudging him toward the chair beside Anam. He sat down, his gaze lingering on her for a moment, but he quickly turned his attention to his father when he cleared his throat.

"We need to talk," Ahmed said, a little more seriously now. "Salman and I have some important news."

Ayan's chest tightened as he saw his father's serious expression.

"We're leaving for the USA for two months," Ahmed continued. "We've got some business matters to attend to, and it's time-sensitive."

Everyone at the table was taken aback. Two months was an incredibly long time. Anam blinked in surprise, as did Ayub. The shock was palpable in the room, with everyone glancing around, their minds trying to process the unexpected news.

Ayan, who had been listening intently, let out a slow breath.

But Ahmed wasn't finished. "And," he continued, his voice a little softer but still authoritative, "I've already chosen the rishta for Ayan."

The room froze.

Feras's fork paused mid-air, his eyes meeting Ayan's across the table. The shock on Ayan's face mirrored his own. The silence was deafening as Anam's eyes widened, and Ayub's hand trembled slightly as she placed her spoon down.

Ayan, who had been completely caught off-guard, was visibly shaken. His usual easy-going nature had vanished. "What...?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Anam could feel her heart thudding loudly in her chest. She glanced at Ayan, then quickly turned to look at Ayub, who had gone pale. Ayub's expression had changed completely, her face pale as she struggled to keep herself composed.

Feras didn't know what to say, and he didn't know how to feel. He'd always known his father had a particular way of arranging things, but to do it so suddenly, without even discussing it with Ayan... without warning anyone... felt wrong. The situation was already heavy with the unresolved tension between him and Anam, and now this. The air in the room felt thick, suffocating.

"Abbu," Feras said quietly, his voice betraying his confusion, "Why didn't you consult him first?"

Ahmed gave him a calm but firm look. "It's for the best, Feras. We've had this discussion many times. The family we've chosen is good for Ayan."

"But—" Ayan's voice cracked, as though the weight of the situation was too much. "I wasn't even part of the conversation! I—" he faltered, unsure of how to express the shock and hurt that flooded him.

Ayub, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "This isn't fair," she muttered under her breath, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. "You should've asked him first."

Ayan's eyes met hers, a shared moment of understanding passing between them. Ayub's heart ached for him, who clearly felt betrayed. It was like everything was being decided for them, and they had no say in it.

Feras turned to Anam, hoping for some form of support, but she was staring down at her plate, lost in her thoughts. There was something about her silence that made his unease even worse. Why was she acting like this? What was going on behind those quiet eyes?

"Why didn't you talk to me first?" Ayan repeated, his voice now filled with an edge of frustration and hurt. "Why do I have no say in this?"

Ahmed looked at him with a hard gaze. "Because this is what's best for you, Ayan."

The weight of those words hung in the air, but for Ayan, it was too much. His feelings were too raw. "I need time to process this,".

.....

The abandoned building stood eerily silent, its dilapidated walls echoing every creak and groan of its fragile structure. The faint light from the broken windows cast long shadows across the dusty floor as Anam walked in cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest. Every step felt heavier than the last, her resolve faltering with each passing second. She clutched her bag tightly, silently praying for strength.

At the far end of the room, she saw him... Rehan, leaning against a rusted metal pillar, his expression smug and full of triumph. Her stomach churned at the sight of him, but she straightened her posture, determined not to show her fear.

"Finally," he said, his voice dripping with mockery. "I was beginning to think you'd back out."

"Cut the nonsense, Rehan," Anam snapped, her voice trembling slightly despite her best efforts to sound confident. "End this now. Delete Umul's photos and leave her alone!"

Rehan chuckled darkly, shaking his head. "You think this is about her? You're so naïve, Anam."

She froze, her blood running cold. "What do you mean?"

He took a step closer, his eyes gleaming with something sinister. "This isn't about Umul. It was never about her. This... this is about you."

Her breath caught in her throat as she stumbled back a step. "Me?" she whispered, disbelief and dread lacing her voice.

"Do you have any idea how long I've wanted you, Anam?" Rehan's tone turned unsettlingly soft, like a predator trying to lull its prey. "You, with your perfect little act of innocence, always so out of reach. It drove me insane. But now..." He gestured around the empty building. "Now you're here. Alone. With me."

Anam's hands trembled as she clenched them into fists. "You're disgusting," she spat, her voice stronger now, laced with fury.

But before she could move away, Rehan closed the distance between them in a heartbeat and grabbed her wrist. "Don't act so high and mighty," he hissed, his grip tightening. "You're here because you care, because you're scared of what I can do. Admit it!"

"Let go of me!" Anam shouted, struggling against his hold.

And then, before she could react, Rehan wrapped his arms around her in a grotesque imitation of a hug.

The sound of footsteps and a loud curse tore through the suffocating tension.

"What the f***?"

Anam froze, her blood turning to ice. She didn't need to look to know who the voice belonged to.

Feras stood in the doorway, his towering frame silhouetted by the light streaming in from behind him. His dark eyes were blazing with a mixture of fury, betrayal, and disbelief. The scene before him was like a physical blow... Rehan holding Anam, her figure tense but in his arms.

It was a moment that seemed to stretch on forever, each second driving the knife deeper into Feras's heart. His mind raced, the betrayal of his past relationships flashing before his eyes, merging with the image of Anam... the woman he had trusted, respected, and admired... standing here with another man.

"Anam," he said, his voice low and venomous, the hurt evident even through his anger. "What the hell is going on here?"

She shoved Rehan away with all her strength, stepping back as far as she could. "Feras! It's not what it looks like!"

But her words barely registered. The scene had already seared itself into his mind, and the pain was unbearable.

Rehan, however, smirked, clearly reveling in the chaos. "Ah, Feras," he drawled, feigning innocence. "I didn't expect to see you here. But, well, I guess it saves me the trouble of explaining."

Feras advanced toward him, his hands clenched into fists, the air around him practically crackling with rage. "You have no idea who you've messed with," he growled.

"Feras, stop!" Anam pleaded, stepping between them. "Please, just listen to me!"

But he ignored her, his focus entirely on Rehan. "You thought you could do this and get away with it?" he demanded, his voice rising. "You don't know who you're standing in front of"

Rehan's smirk faltered slightly, but he held his ground. "You don't know the full story, Feras," he taunted. "Maybe your perfect wife isn't as innocent as you think."

That was the breaking point. Feras lunged at Rehan, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the pillar. "Say one more word," he warned, his voice low and dangerous, "and I swear I'll make you regret ever stepping foot near her."

Anam watched in horror, her heart shattering as she saw the raw pain in Feras's eyes. She wanted to explain, to make him understand, but the words wouldn't come.

The trust they had built, the fragile bond between them, felt like it was crumbling with every second.

Anam stepped closer to him, her hands trembling. "Feras, please... Listen to me, let me explain what happened."

But Feras didn't look at her. His focus was entirely on Rehan, whose smugness was quickly replaced with fear. Finally, he spoke, his voice low and cold.

"Go home, Anam."

Her heart sank at the distance in his tone. "Feras—"

Rehan coughed, trying to speak. "I—she—"

Feras slammed him against the wall again, cutting him off.

"I SAID GO HOME," he repeated, cutting her off and sending chills down her.

Anam hesitated, but she knew there was nothing more she could say to him right now. With a heavy heart, she turned and left the building, tears streaming down her face.