Rag e Jaan hai wo

Chapter 19: Rag e Jaan ti wo

The sun was bright, but for Zara, it brought no warmth.

The house was quieter than it had ever been. Her mother had stopped asking why she wasn't eating. Anaya had stopped teasing. Even Hania had paused the flirting and drama. It was as if the whole house was holding its breath — waiting for news. Any news.

But none came.

Until one phone call changed everything.

Zaryab was in the drawing room when the secure line rang. His posture stiffened immediately. Zara, walking past the hallway with a glass of water in hand, paused.

"HQ?" he said, straightening. "Yes, sir."

She turned slowly, heart pounding.

Zaryab listened silently. The words were muffled, but his eyes closed in relief for just a second — then quickly reopened with tension.

"Yes, sir. Noted. I'll prepare."

He ended the call and turned — only to find Zara standing near the doorway, pale, wide-eyed.

"Was that—"

"Yes," he nodded. "It was HQ."

Her grip tightened on the glass. "Ayaan?"

Zaryab hesitated.

Then finally: "He's alive."

The glass slipped from Zara's fingers and shattered against the floor.

But she didn't even flinch.

Alive.

That one word rang louder than her heartbeat.

"They were ambushed," Zaryab explained softly as they sat in the study. "The unit was split up. Ayaan stayed behind to protect a local village — alone."

Zara's eyes filled. "Alone?"

"He got injured. Minor, they said. But... he refused evacuation until the villagers were safe. They brought him to a field camp this morning."

She whispered, "That sounds like him..."

Zaryab gave her a small smile. "Of course it does. He's exactly that kind of mad."

There was a pause.

"He asked for you," he added quietly. "First thing, after the medics cleared him."

Zara's breath caught. "He did?"

Zaryab nodded. "Said, 'Woh theek hai na?' Just that."

Her eyes stung.

He thought of her first.

Even from that far away. Even while bleeding.

-------------------------

She went to the roof that night. Alone.

The sky was velvet-dark, stars scattered like shy witnesses to everything she was carrying.

Zara sat with her diary open, pen trembling.

"Aaj jab suna ke tum zinda ho,
Saans le paayi pehli baar...
Tumhein chhodne ka khayal hi kafi tha
Maar dene ko."

She closed the diary. Her tears had dried on her cheeks, leaving behind only salt and resolve.

She didn't care what anyone thought anymore.

The next time she saw Ayaan...

She'd say it.

Everything.