chapter 44

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Izhaan's pov

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The whole night Reem held my hand, she was just so scared that she could not even sleep. Every time I opened my eyes she was staring at me.

Thank god I convinced her to not say anything to the family, otherwise she was running straight to dadi. It is becoming hard just to handle her, how would I be able to make the whole family understand.

The final hearing of my case will be in a week's time, I have to do my preparation for it. I can't just stay at home, I don't want to lose the case just because of some stupid threat

I will have to talk to Reem, she is worrying for no reason.

My assistant called and informed me about the meeting which has been delayed for no rhyme or reason, I told him that I would come.

After breakfast I returned to my room and started to get ready. I will convince her to let me go out for a few hours.

I was completely ready when Reem entered the room, she saw me her eyes widened

"Where do you think you are going?" She asked, I turned and held her shoulders

"Jaan! Please understand, I really have to go" I requested

"No Izhaan! Why do you want to go outside, when you know how dangerous it is out there"

"It isn't. Trust me"

"So you think ACP shaurya is crazy that he is warning you again and again to not step outside"

"He is over reacting"

"He is over reacting, I am being stupid that I'm stopping you, only you are the wise one here right?" She yelled at me

"I am sayin...."

"Izhaan please! I already have a headache, don't make it worse" she said and I immediately shut up.

Itna stress le rahi hai, aur soyi bhi nahi, headache to hona hi tha (she has been taking too much stress, and lack of sleep is also there, headache was meant to happen)

I can't risk her health. My meeting is not important than her, I will not go.

"Fine, I won't go"

"You promise?" She asked

I had no intention of going out now, but still something inside me was stopping me from making that promise

"You need to take medicine" I said and took off my blazer and hung it neatly into the closet

I brought her medicine box and took out the medicine, Ayesha gave me her prescription so now I was well aware of what she was taking

I gave her the medicine and told her to rest for a while. She looked hesitant. I sighed

I switched off the lights and laid on the bed with her. She scooted closer to me, and held my hand tightly, I smiled

She cares for me so much, and yet she says she has no feelings for me.

"Why are you smiling?" She asked

"You are so cute" I kissed her forehead, she frowned at me, "now close your eyes, you need to sleep"

"Tum kahin nahi jaoge na (you will not go anywhere, right?)" She asked, I sighed

"Haan meri jaan, nahi jaa raha kahin, yahin hoon tumhare paas (yes, my life. I'm not going anywhere I'm right here with you)"

She kept on staring at me with her big eyes.

"Please sleep, I don't want your health to suffer" I said

She tightened her grip so much on my hand that her long nails were digging in my skin. Finally she closed her eyes, I shook my head.

After around half an hour, she fell asleep. even in her sleep she looked so disturbed.

My phone rang, I quickly jumped down the bed to answer it, I didn't want to disturb her sleep. It was a call from my assistant

"Hello" I answered in a low tone

"Sir, when are you reaching?" He asked, I looked at sleeping Reem

"Adarsh I don't think I can come for the meeting" I said

"What? Sir please, it's very important"

Not more important than my Reem

"I can't"

"Sir" he whined, I hung up the call.

I put my phone on silent mode, so that her sleep won't be disturbed anymore. I walked towards the bed and was about to lie down with her when my phone vibrated in my hand. It was a call from my client

I refused for the meeting, but he said he had to discuss something very important, he asked me to come only for half an hour. He sounded so desperate.

Reem has fallen asleep a while ago, by the time she would wake up, I will be back. So, I agreed to go for the meeting.

I got my blazer and wore it back, I styled my hair again. I walked towards the bed, I held her hand very lightly

"I'll be back soon" I placed a feather light kiss on her fingers.

I went downstairs and without informing anyone, I left the house.

I sat in my car, and made my way to the office.

It felt bad to leave Reem like this, but I have already wasted a lot of time, court's date is approaching soon, I have to be prepared. I will be back before she could notice my absence, and if God forbid she wakes up by then, I will apologise to her

I was hardly halfway when a lot of cars came and surrounded me. Leaving no space for me to drive, one car stopped in front of me, the door opened and shaurya came out of it, I rolled my eyes

"You gotta be kidding me" I mumbled and got down of the car

"What is this shaurya?" I asked

"I should be asking you this. Didn't I tell you not to come outside?" He asked in anger

"Come on! I'm not a coward that I will hide in the house because of this baseless threat."

"Yes you are not coward, you are a fool that you are taking all this so lightly"

"It is not the first time someone is trying to scare me"

"This is different than the rest, he is dangerous"

"I don't th...."

"Shut up Izhaan. Let me do my job" he narrowed his eyes at me, he took the phone from my hand and switched it off

"Shau..."

"There is a GPS tracker attached to your car, we have to leave your car here only"

"GPS tracker? Who put it?" I asked in surprise

"The one who wants to kill you" he said

"But shaurya..."

"Enough Izhaan! Come with me"

He made me sit in a car with him, my car was abandoned on the street, he took my phone

I was thinking about my meeting, I had to reach there, my client would be waiting for me.

We reached at some dusty and rusty place, it smelled bad, it looked bad.

"Which place is this?" I asked

"It's a safe house. I'm positive my team will soon arrest the criminal, till then you have to stay here, so that I can concentrate on catching the culprit, instead of constantly worrying about you"

"I'm not a child"

"So stop behaving like one" He called a constable and told him to take me upstairs, "I'll be back soon. Two constables will be outside the building" he said and left.

Once I was sent in the room, I looked around, it was so disgusting, there was a bed with an old mattress like it has not been used since forever

I chuckled, if Reem would have been here she would not stop making faces, suddenly it hit me

"Oh shit! Reem" I turned around to open the door, but to my surprise it was locked from outside

"Shaurya" I shouted and banged on the door, but no one came.

"Oh god what will happen now?"

*****

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Athar's POV

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It was the second day of rejoining the office for Ayesha, we were in the car, from my peripheral vision I noticed how excited she looked.

No matter how much she denies it, I know coming back to the office has made her happy.

I parked the car in the parking lot, and together we made our way to our floor, I smiled when I recalled how childish she was behaving yesterday

We reached the floor, she exited first, I quietly followed her, she stopped outside our cabin, and smiled at Rose, she immediately stood up

"Good morning sir! Good morning ma'am" she said, Ayesha rolled her eyes and walked in the room, I stifled a smile

I also walked in the room. I knew Ayesha was not liking certain things in the office now, but she has to get used to it. She is my wife and people have to respect her in that way.

I know the first chance she will get, she will talk with Rose. Yesterday she was so busy in understanding things that she didn't get time to talk with her.

It's just her second day and already she has surrounded herself with so much work. It's so fascinating.

I sat on my chair and stared at her, she looked so focused, I looked at her in awe, her beautiful brown eyes were fixed on the screen.

She was extremely beautiful, I hope that day would come soon, when I can tell her that. Ever since she has come to my room, my days are just getting better and better.

After she falls asleep I throw the blanket on the side and pull her in my arms, thank god she is a heavy sleeper otherwise she would have caught me.

"Damn it" Ayesha's frustrated voice broke my chain of thought, I looked at her, she was vigorously clicking on the keyboard while her eyes were on the screen

"All ok Mrs Khan?" I asked

"No, there's an issue with this stupid website" she huffed, I got up and walked towards her

I stood behind her

"What's the matter?" I asked

"Every time I try to open this link, the laptop restarts, I don't know what's the matter with it"

"Let me see" I said and leaned forward, I put my hand on the mouse and checked the issue. I saw many open files on the laptop

"Oh" I said and cleared cache. With just a few click the problem resolved, "it's fine now" I said, she grinned ear to ear

"Thanks Mr Khan" she said excitedly, I froze when her lips grazed my cheek.

My face was so close to hers that when she turned to look at me her lips touched my skin, she quickly looked forward. I noticed our position now, her hand was on the mouse and mine was on hers.

She stiffened. Her sweet scent made me lose myself, I ran the tip of my nose on her neck and ear, she shuddered and stood up. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her to me.

"Mr Khan, leave me" she said meekly, I flipped her around to face me, she held my shoulders

"Call me Athar" I said, she looked in my eyes, I could see her falling weak, I pulled her even closer

"I want you to call me by my name" I whispered to her, she closed her eyes. With one hand I was holding her waist, with other hand I held her face, "please" I said softly, she opened her eyes and looked at me

We both were lost in each other's eyes, suddenly the beautiful moment broke because of my phone's annoying ringtone, she quickly pulled away

I groaned and went to my desk to check my phone, it was a call from home, I answered the call

"Hello" I said

"Athar, beta come home right now" it was dadi's voice, she sounded panicked

"Is everything ok?" I immediately got worried

"No beta, we don't know where Izhaan is" she cried, my heart dropped to my stomach

"What do you mean, you don't know where is Izhaan?" I said getting worried, Ayesha came running to my side

Dadi informed me that Reem told her about some threat and some guy was attacking them yesterday and still Izhaan went outside and now he is unreachable

"I don't know what to do" she said

"I'm coming" I said and hung up the call.

"What happened?" Ayesha asked

"Come, I'll tell you on the way" I ran towards the elevator, she followed me

I explained the situation to her.

"Jeeju is missing?" She looked horrified, "I have to be with Reem" she mumbled

We sat in the car and made way to home, my mind was numb. I didn't know what to do, where should I search him?

Where are you, buddy?

I drove as fast as I could and reached home, Ayesha got off the car before I could even stop it completely

"Reem" she shouted and ran inside the house.

I had no idea that Izhaan had been given a threat otherwise I would have taken the precautions. He takes the threat very lightly and tells me also not to stress about it, but without informing him, I always have some security after him who follow him everywhere, I do it for my satisfaction that my buddy is safe.

I went in the house, everyone was in the living room, dada ji and papa were on phone, trying to find him

I asked Reem one more time, about the attack they have had, how can Izhaan be so stupid to ignore something like this.

She told me some guy in the black Pajero followed him everywhere.

"Athar please, please find my Izhaan" Reem could hardly talk between her sobs.

"Don't worry, we'll find him" I patted her shoulder lightly, I was giving her hope, but I was freaking out myself, it has never happened before

I left the house in search of him, I called Adarsh immediately, he answered

"Hello" he said

"Athar here, where is Izhaan?" I asked

"Oh hello! Even I don't know where sir is, he had to go for a meeting with the client, they kept on waiting but he never showed up, I have been trying to call him but his phone is switched off"

"What did he say to you when you last talked to him?"

"He said he was on his way to the meeting"

"Where was the meeting?" I asked, if he left home to go to the meeting, maybe I will find something if I follow the route

"Ok, let me know if you find anything about him" I said

"Is everything ok?"

"I'll talk to you later" I hung up

I was looking around like crazy, I knew his phone was out of reach, I was still calling him non stop.

My soul left my body when I noticed an abandoned car on the street, it was Izhaan's car, with shaky hands I opened the door and got down the car, I ran to his car, but he was not there.

I quickly scanned the car, there was no damage to it, I looked around, my eyes were crazily looking for him

"Buddy" I shouted

Suddenly my phone rang, I quickly took it out of my pocket and without looking at the caller I answered the call.

"Buddy" I said

"Mr Khan" Ayesha's voice broke the dam for me, my glossy eyes started shedding tears

"I can't find him, Ayesha . His car is abandoned on the street, but he is not here. I can't find my buddy" I said in a high tone, I heard a sob from the other side

"You will find him, I know you will." She gave me courage, "only you ca...." Her voice stopped, I removed the phone from my ear, it was off, shit! the battery ran out

I wandered the streets of Delhi for hours in search of my brother, it was late evening now, I decided that I am just wasting time, I should go to the police, so I made way to the police station

ACP shaurya was Izhaan's friend so I went to his police station to lodge a missing report.

I entered the police station and asked for ACP shaurya, I was taken to him, he was sitting on his chair while talking on phone, I was impatiently waiting for him to get done with the phone call.

It was the first time I was meeting him, so obviously he was not recognising me.

He cut his phone and brought his attention to me.

" Yes sir, how may I help you?" He asked in a soft voice

"I'm Athar Khan, Izhaan Khan's brother, I can't find my brother" I said directly without beating around the bush

"Oh you are Athar" he grinned ear to ear and extended his hand for a handshake, I frowned, didn't he hear I just said Izhaan is missing. Before I could reply there was a voice which brought back my sanity

"Buddy?" I turned around and found Izhaan entering the room. I ran to him and hugged him, I was so relieved to see him

"Are you ok?" I asked

"Yeah! I'm absolutely fine"

****

"Give me your phone, I need to call Reem" he said while settling down on the passenger seat

His phone was lost by the ACP.

I was relieved to know that he was taken to a safe house, and when the criminal got arrested he was brought to the police station.

After completing the formalities, we were free to go home.

"It's switched off" I shrugged

"Aaahhhh Reem is going to kill me" he groaned, I glared at him

"You deserve it. Poor girl has spent the whole day while crying, be ready for the worst"

I started the car and drove us to home.

*****

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Reem's POV

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Disturbing images broke my slumber, I could feel cold sweat all over my body.

"Izhaan.. Izhaan" I called without opening my eyes, it felt like my whole body was weighed down, my head felt so heavy like someone has tied rocks from my skull.

My eyes snapped open, I turned to my side, but found the place empty. I slipped down the bed, my head spun, it felt like I was going to fall down.

I got ahold of myself and walked towards the bathroom while continuously calling Izhaan, the door was open, he was not there.

I looked into the closet, his neatly hung blazer was not there anymore, fear ran in my body.

No no he cannot go.

I ran out of the room

"Izhaan" I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Izhaan where are you?" I could not believe that he left even after I begged him not to

I came down the living room, my pale face, and the panicked state got everyone worried instantly. Maa came running to me

"Reem! What happened beta?"

"Where is Izhaan maa?" I shouted

"He must be somewhere here" her words gave me hope, he is here at home

I was running around in the house trying to find him while screaming out his name

"Bhabhi" hayat held me, "what happened to you?" She asked

"I need to find Izhaan" I tried to pull myself out of her grip, but my head spun again and I fell down

"Beta" papa came and held me, he brought me in the living room and made me sit on the sofa

"What happened?" Dada ji held my arm

"Call Izhaan"I kept on chanting, dada ji looked at all the servants who were standing at the corner and looking at the drama

"Find Izhaan" he roared and everyone disappeared in the house.

"Say something Reem" dadi put her hand on my cheek and wiped my boundlessly falling tears

"Bade sahab! Baba is not at home, his car is also not at the driveway, the gate keeper said he left around two hours ago" a maid said. The world turned too fast for me and I stayed in my position

"He left? How can he left" I cried out loudly

"Beta mera dil pareshan ho raha hai, kya ho gaya, kyu roye jaa rahi ho (My heart is sinking. What has happened? Why are you crying?)" Maa asked

"Woh chala Gaya maa (he left maa)" I shouted while crying loudly

"Kaha chala gaya (where has he gone?)" Dadi asked

"You had a fight with Izhaan?" Papa asked

"Say something" maa said

"Everybody quiet" dada ji said angrily, then he tilted towards me and put his hand on my head and asked in a soft tone, "tell me"

"He got a threat that if he will not leave the case, they will kill him" I said, maa and dadi gasped, but dada ji stayed calm.

"It's ok beta, it's nothing to worry. In his profession it's quite normal, nobody will harm him"

"You are not understanding. I heard the ACP calling him, he warned him not to step out of the house because the criminal is very dangerous. Even when I went yesterday to the university with him, we were attacked by someone and I saw that car following us everywhere we went" I said and dada ji's expression changed, he looked worried now

"What are you saying?" Maa started crying

"So much happened and you did not tell us" papa said in an accusing tone

"What were you thinking?" Maa said angrily

"I begged him not to go anywhere, he said he would not go, but still he went after putting me to sleep" I was a sobbing mess by now.

"You should have told us yesterday only" maa shouted and continued crying

"Enough! Scolding her is not important right now we have to find Izhaan. Call him" dada ji ordered to hayat, she immediately called him

"His phone is not reachable" my crying worsened after hearing that

Dada ji and papa both got up and started calling people to find out about Izhaan

I sat like a statue, the only movement on me was my falling tears. After a while, Ayesha came running to me

"Reem" she hugged me and seeing her I once again started crying with loud noise

She was giving me courage. Then athar came, he asked me some questions, with huge difficulty I answered

This is the sad reality of my life. Whenever I get attached with someone. The person leave me, it was in my fate

It felt like hours passed and there was no news. My eyes were burning with so much crying, my head was ready to explode.

"Bhabhi eat something" hayat brought a plate in front of me, I looked at her in surprise, how can she think I will eat something now. I threw away the plate

"I don't want to eat" I shouted and left from there.

I came to my room. My whole body was shivering in fear

"How could you do it with me? Hleft me, he is no better than anyone else. He deceived me." I shouted and started throwing things like a maniac

I fell down on my knees and cried.

If I lose Izhaan, I will die. I can't live without him.

No Allah no. Don't take him away from me. How will I live my life without him?

After a while I got up and went back downstairs again

"Just don't let Reem find out" maa was telling hayat

"Find out what?" I panicked, she startled finding me there

"Nothing beta, come sit"

"Tell me please" I begged, maa looked at Ayesha. She came to me

"Reem! Jeeju's car has been found on the streets, but he is not there, Mr Khan is tryi..." I couldn't hear what else she said because I blacked out.

I heard many voices, I felt many hands on me, but nothing was registering.

When I woke up I was lying down on the sofa, a doctor was sitting next to me.

Everyone was asking me questions, but I was just sitting quietly, tears stopped, it was evening now and he was still not here I was just waiting for a news now, good or bad, I don't know, I was feeling dead from inside.

Hours passed by and everyone was still helpless, suddenly there was a loud honk. And in five minutes, I saw Athar walking in and behind him was Izhaan.

He was looking at me.

My life bloomed again, everything turned green again, I wanted to get up and hug him, I wanted to ask him if he was ok, but I couldn't even move.

Everyone gathered around him, his eyes were at me. He narrated incidence happened the whole day, suddenly I felt immense anger and hatred towards him, he left. He knew my condition still he left.

"Let me meet my wife" he said and was now walking towards me, I got up and marched in the room, ignoring his calls

I came in the room and looked around the mess, I was feeling empty from inside, subconsciously I started picking up things from the floor.

The door opened and he entered, I didn't look at him

"Reem! Are you ok?" He asked, I didn't look at him

"I'm so sorry. I should have listened to you" his words were making no difference to me, he left and thats all that mattered

"I didn't know things would become so ugly, I'm sorry I bothered you" he stood next to me

"Reem please, listen to me" he held my hand, I stood like a statue in front of him. I was screaming in my head but words won't come out

"Jaan please forgive me" he said softly and that had me undone, I looked at him with anger in my eyes

"Don't, don't you dare call me that, I'm not your jaan." I shouted, he looked down

I held his collar and shook him

"How dare you? I begged you not to go, but you didn't listen to me, it made no difference to you that I was dying from inside with the thought of you going out in danger"

"You say you love me, is this what you call love? You didn't think about me at all"

"That's not true, I was stuck, and I was thinking about you all day" he justified

"But why did you go? I don't matter to you" I left him and turned around

"It's my bad luck, I don't matter to anyone, people think that Reem has no heart we can leave her and she won't be affected, no body cares for me. You don't care for me. And such a fool I am, I still care for everyone" I turned around and faced him

"I care about you" I pushed him, "I cried for you all day" another push, "I felt like I was gonna die" another push. He held my hands and put them behind his back, making me collide with him

"You only say that you have no feelings for me, then why you care?" He shouted

"Because I love you, I didn't know it then, but I know now, I love you so much, more than you deserve" I broke into tears again, he pulled me in a hug

I was pushing him with all my strength but he kept making his grip stronger.

"I love you so much Jaan" he whispered, it was not the first time he said it, but the way he said, butterfly erupted in my stomach, I stopped fighting and hugged him back.

He had me in a bone crushing hug.

"I can't breathe" I said, he pulled back and cupped my face

"I'm sorry for getting you so worried, but now it feels it was all worth it" he said, I opened my mouth to speak, but couldn't because he captured my lips between his

It felt so good, he felt so good, I held the back of his head and kissed him back, my fingers were lost in his hair.

Anddddddd....

One thing led to the other...

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