Important note ‼️
Before you proceed with this chp, I want to let you know that it's a fictional story. I want to make it clear that I'm not attending to promote anything wrong here.
This is not an Islamic book, and my characters are far from perfect. It's important to note that alcohol is prohibited in Islam and there's absolutely no excuse for it. It's considered haram, and I want to emphasize that I'm not here to influence anyone in that regard. So, please take this story purely as a work of fiction, completely detached from real life.
— A y e z a h ' s P O V 𖤐 :
Breathe in breathe out, breathe in breathe out.
I kept repeating the mantra in my mind. My chest tightened, constricting like a vice around my heart, as its rhythmic thumping reverberated through my entire being.
I clutched onto my chest trying to inhale and exhale.
My heart was beating with so much urgency, as if it would just burst out right now.
My back is pressed against the closed door of my room, tears were flowing down my cheeks without a break.
" What the fuck? Stop already." I muttered to myself, wiping away the tears harshly and desperately with the back of my palm.
" Ayezah please open the door for once,
please." Rahil's voice calls out from outside, pleading me to open the door, followed by Adam's voice echoing the same plea.
It's been I don't know how long since I rushed into my room and locked myself.
Rahil and Adam keep begging me to open the door, their words somewhere sounded distant and I couldn't comprehend anything.
I try to focus on my breathing but all the bad memories come rushing back, flooding my mind, making it difficult for me to breathe.
The click of a lighter going on and off,
fills the room as she plays with the lighter turning it off and on.
My mom's piercing gaze fixed on my trembling figure.
" Since my dear daughter feels really cold all the damn time. why not i provide you some heat? " I hear her say and next second lighter's raising flame is right before my eyes.
" NOOO " I yelled loudly, covering my eyes with both of my palms and fell on my knees crying hard, the memory is so vivid that it seems like it's happening right now infront of me.
I shut my eyes, my chest heaving up and down, tears streaming down effortlessly.
" Ayezah!! Ayezah open the door right now, you are scaring me." Rahil's panicked voice reverberated through the air as he pounded on the door with all his might.
In that moment, a lump formed in my throat, I gulped and hastily wiped away the tears that streamed down my face.
Clutching my delicate snowflake pendant tightly in my trembling hand, I anxiously chewed on my bottom lip, my mind racing with thoughts.
" My precious babie girl." Mom's warm smile illuminated the room as she gently placed the pendant around my neck.
" You look so cute." She whispered pecking my small nose, her voice filled with love.
" This is a very special pendant for my little princess from her mom. Never, ever take it off, okay? If you ever feel that something is wrong, and you don't feel at ease, just hold onto this pendant and take a deep breath. It will bring you comfort."
Her tender words were accompanied by sweet kisses on my cheeks and forehead. I couldn't contain my joy as she lifted my six-year-old self off the ground and twirled me around, my and her laughter filling the air.
Now, as I opened my tear-filled eyes, I clutched the pendant even tighter.
" Ayezah please! "
Rahil's vulnerable plea reached my ears, and in an instant, I sprang to my feet.
Swallowing hard, I spoke, my voice cracking and shaky.
"Rahil... I'm sorry, but can you please leave me alone? I'm too exhausted and just want to sleep, please." I completed my sentence, my voice trembling.
"Are you okay, Ayezah?" Rahil hurriedly asked, concern evident in his voice.
I nodded, tears streaming down my face, and managed to say, "Yes, yes, I'm fine."
"Please, let me in," he pleaded. The way he sounded so desperate and vulnerable tugged at my heart, causing an ache to form within me.
"Please, Rahil, I really need to be alone. I just want to sleep," I whispered, fighting back the urge to cry.
"But-" he started, only to be interrupted by my me.
"Please," I mumbled, my chin wobbling.
Silence enveloped us, lingering for a few agonizing seconds, and then I heard the sound of footsteps slowly fading away.
I think he's gone.
I slumped down, and rested my head against the closed door, shutting my eyes.
— ★
Turning off the shower, I let out a deep sigh and wrapped my freshly bathed self in white fluffy bathrobe.
The morning had arrived, but I hadn't managed to get a wink of sleep.
The night had been so unsettling that a throbbing pain pulsed through my head.
I change into a full-sleeved white cardigan that felt like a warm, woolen t-shirt against my skin. Pairing it with black fitted jeans, I took a moment to lazily tie my hair into a loose ponytail, allowing a few strands to frame my face.
I slipped on my black, long overcoat and dangled my white sling bag on one of my shoulder blade.
I opened the door to my room only to widen my eyes.
There, right next to the door of my room, Rahil sat down with his back pressed against the wall.
Eyes closed, head resting against the wall, One knee up, another leg spread on the ground, he seemed to have spent the entire night here?
My heart thumped hard and fast at the very thought.
Why would he do that?
Last night, I acted like a complete madwoman, and he must have been shocked by my behavior.
It's so damn embarrassing!! What should I do oh god? I cried internally.
Unable to resist, I knelt in front of his sleeping form. I couldn't help but admire his gorgeous face.
His beautiful, long lashes rested on his perfect cheek bones, his hair falling messily over his forehead, partially concealing his closed eyes.
I held back the urge to trace my fingertips along his perfect features.
I drank in every perfect feature of his face, captivated by his handsomeness.
Can someone look so damn attractive even while sleeping?
Suddenly, a memory flashed in my mind, and a smile spread across my lips as I recalled how Rahil had been jealous of Adam.
You see, Adam and I were actually trying to make Laila jealous. Adam had asked for my help in pursuing Laila, believing that she had feelings for him too.
But Laila, being Laila, would never admit it. Who knows her better than me, right? We devised a plan to make her jealous, but it became crystal clear that Rahil was also affected by it. And that realization filled me with giddiness and happiness.
— ★
I glided across the ice once again, but suddenly found myself landing on my butt with a resounding thud. A hiss escaped my lips as I felt the sting of my scraped palms against the icy floor.
I pushed aside the pain and stood up, gliding again. But with each attempt, I couldn't seem to find my balance.
It's been almost 1 hour that i have been trying to skate. I was here because I wanted to clear my mind.
with a deep breath, I rose to my feet once more, controlling the tears of frustration that threatened to escape.
"Come on, Ayezah," I whispered to myself.
I propelled myself forward, the wind caressing my face as I glided effortlessly for a few precious seconds. But alas, I found myself falling once again.
wiping away the frustrated tears that welled up in my eyes, and started rolling down my cheeks, I scolded myself. " what the fuck is wrong with me? why I'm I crying so much? Gosh I'm so sick of this."
I made my way off the ice rank and drink few sips of water. My hands trembled slightly as I reached into my overcoat pocket and retrieved my phone.
I discovered numerous missed calls and text from three people : Rahil, Laila and Adam.
I had sent Rahil a message earlier, informing him that I had some urgent work to take care of and I would be returning late.
His response, consisting of five unread messages, remained untouched for now.
I was embarrassed to face or even talk to him. What do I do with myself?
Adam had sent apologetic texts, and I reassured him, texting back a small ' it's really fine and I'm okay.'
It wasn't his mistake; he had no idea.
Just as I was about to reply to Laila's texts, her call suddenly popped up.
I answered, but before I could utter a word, her voice boomed through the phone, causing me to quickly move it away from my ear to shield myself from her yelling.
" THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? WHY DIDNT YOU BOTHER CALLING ME FOR ONCE? AND WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU RIGHT NOW? "
I remained silent as she continued, expressing her worry and frustration. Apparently, Adam had spilled the beans earlier in the morning to Laila and she had rushed to Khan Mansion to find me, only to discover my absence.
"Ayeziii, are you okay?" Laila finally asked, her tone softening as she sensed my silence.
I hummed in response, unable to form any words.
"Oh God, I really want to strangle that stupid Adam!" she exclaimed, her frustration palpable.
"No, it's not his fault. He didn't know," I interjected, shaking my head.
"Whatever." Laila sighed out.
" WAIT! you're at the ice rink, aren't you?" she asked, catching me off guard.
"Ummm, I- umm." I fumbled awkwardly, knowing that Laila wasn't a fan of me going ice skating.
"Ya Allah, what do I do with this girl! Why, Ayezah? why do you have to choose that place always whenever you are upset?" she exclaimed.
"You know I love it here! Skating helps me clear my mind-" I began, but she quickly interjected, saying, "But still, you don't have the best memories at the ice rink."
I immediately interrupted her this time, insisting, "It's not like that, okay! I have good memories too."
I could hear her let out a huge sigh.
"Anyways, I'm coming there, so stay put," she declared, and I couldn't help but yell, "NOO!"
"I mean, I just want to be alone for a while, please," I quickly added.
"Not happening. You need someone by your side, and I'm coming, that's it," she stated firmly before abruptly ending the call.
I sighed, contemplating leaving the ice rank immediately because only I knew how stubborn my best friend could be, and right now, I really needed some solitude.
Laila was definitely my person; she had always been there for me. But sometimes, I just craved being alone especially when I felt really upset and drained. I didn't want to face anyone. It's just how I'm.
— ★
— R a h i l ' s P O V 𖤐
It's already 11:00 pm and my patience is hanging by a loose thread.
Ayezah still hasn't returned home. I mean, I know she said she would be late, but at least she could send me a text to let me know where she is or reassure me that she is all safe right?
The whole day, she didn't reply to any of my texts or answer any of my calls.
when I woke up earlier outside her room, I found a blanket over me and a pillow supporting my back.
I knew it was Ayezah's doing because I could faintly smell her sweet scent in my sleep. But I was just too exhausted to open my eyes, and now I regret it so much.
I don't understand what's going on with her. I really want to talk to her, but she's avoiding me.
Just then, my phone buzzed, and I quickly answered. It was Adam, my secretary, calling.
As I held the phone, my grip tightened on it, and raw anger surged through me.
I had specifically asked Adam to track Ayezah's phone, and now he's telling me it's showing a '24/7 bar' as her location!
Her entire day of ignoring me was already making me angry, but this news just fueled my anger even more.
I rushed outside, throwing on a brown overcoat quickly.
I hopped into the car and started driving.
What on earth is wrong with her? A bar? Seriously? Don't she realise that it's too late?
How can she be so irresponsible? I know that she is more than capable of protecting herself yet it's dangerous to be out, especially at a darn bar!
The thought of something happening to her made my knuckles tighten. My heartbeat racing with each passing second.
I pressed down on the accelerator, speeding up and kept driving hastily until I reached the bar.
I quickly parked my car and dashed inside, the anticipation pulsing through my veins.
As I stepped into the bar, the overpowering scent of alcohol and smoke assaulted my nostrils, already making me feel queasy.
The dim lights cast an unsettling atmospheric glow, revealing a bustling crowd of people.
My heart raced as I scanned the room, desperately searching for her. And then, there she was, near the bar, but what I witnessed ignited a fire of fury within me.
A man, leaning in, attempting to forcefully kiss her.
Without hesitation, Ayezah retaliated with a swift and powerful punch to his face, her voice echoing through the bar as she screamed out loud. "Stay the fuck away from me bastard! "
The sudden commotion drew the attention of everyone.
I quickly rushed towards them.
The man, seething with anger, spat out,
"Bitch! How dare you hit me? I'll show you your place!"
He raised a glass bottle, causing my eyes to widen in alarm.
Instinctively, I positioned myself between them, wrapping my arms tightly around Ayezah in a shielding embrace.
The glass bottle collided with my arm breaking harshly, the shards piercing through my flesh, sending a sharp, searing pain coursing through me.
In that moment, my entire body trembled with anger.
What if I hadn't arrived in time? What if he had managed to harm Ayezah with that glass bottle, inflicting a stinging pain upon her?
My gaze turned towards the man, who appeared beyond drank as he was unsteady on his feet.
with my arms still wrapped around Ayezah's shoulder, a surge of fury consumed me as I glared at him.
" Even if a single piece of glass had pierced my wife's skin, I would have made sure to break every fucking bottle in this bar over your head," I declared, my voice dripping with anger, my pulse quickening with each passing second.
" Who the fuck are you?" the man yelled out with drowsy eyes and charged towards me, I landed a hard punch across his jaw and he knocked out on the floor instantly.
"Rahil?" she called out, her voice slightly slurred.
I turned to look at her, and my heart sank as I saw her half-open eyes and flushed cheeks. It was evident that she was drunk.
"How did you..." she began, her brow furrowing in confusion.
Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and gently guided her outside the noisy bar.
" Let gooooo of meeee!!! I don't wanna talk to youuuu" she slurred, trying to free her hand from my grip. Her words fell on deaf ears as I held onto her palm firmly.
Once we were outside, I released my grip, she immediately stumbled to go inside and I instinctively grasped her wrist, leading her a little further away from the bar.
"What's wrong with you? Leave me!" she yelled in frustration as I continued to drag her away. I stopped, feeling my patience reaching its limits, and turned to face her.
"Seriously, what's wrong with me? What the hell is wrong with you, Ayezah? I never thought you drink?" I exclaimed.
She appeared somewhat sober now, realization dawning upon her as she blinked.
"Leave me alone," she said, her voice filled with a mix of tiredness and vulnerability.
I gave her a look of disbelief.
"You seriously want me to leave you in this condition?" I asked.
"I'm fine..." she replied, but suddenly she stumbled backward, and I instinctively caught her by the waist.
"Oh, surely you are," I taunted feeling furious.
She held her head, wincing slightly still in my arms and my gaze softened.
Guiding her to sit on a nearby bench, I knelt in front of her.
She looked into my eyes, and I returned her gaze, we locked our eyes for few precious seconds.
Suddenly, tears welled up in her eyes, and she burst into loud sobs making my eyes widened.
"Hey, hey, what happened?" I asked, my voice filled with panic, as she cried even louder, burying her face in her palms.
"Please, tell me what's wrong. Why are you crying?" I pleaded, gently trying to remove her palms from her face.
"I was hiding from you," she sniffed, her voice choked with crying.
"I felt so embarrassed, and now I'm even more embarrassed that I can't help but cry." She cried even louder this time, her tears continued to flow, and I looked at her blinking and next second a chuckle escaped my mouth on its own.
She glared at me with her tears filled eyes,
" What's so funny, huh? Here I am, feeling so embarrassed, and you're laughing," her fists now pounding against my chest as she started hitting me continuously.
I held her fists firmly in my grip, looking into her eyes deeply.
She looked so adorable ryt now that i couldn't help myself. I softly kiss her clenched hands one by one and she froze on her spot instantly.
Perhaps she was still slightly under the influence of alcohol, as Ayezah Shah behaving like this seemed unlikely to me.
A sweet smile played on my lips as I spoke softly, "You're such a babie." I chuckled, shaking my head.
" sweetheart, I'm your husband, and you never have to feel embarrassed around me, okay?" I muttered and noticed her cheeks flush an even deeper shade of pink, and I resisted the urge to kiss them.
Her eyes slightly grew wider making her look more cute.
Pinkish cheeks, reddish nose, her inviting and irresistible smooth lips. Oh god!
I swallowed hard, looking away.
"Why are you such a green flag?" she winced suddenly, catching my attention and amusing me.
"And why are you behaving so adorable?" I blurted out, causing her to blink rapidly.
We exchanged awkward glances, and I decided to break the tension.
"Ummm..Anyway, tell me what happened to you yesterday?" I asked.
"I can't tell you," she sighed, her reply filled with a hint of sadness.
"Why? Don't you trust me enough?" I cupped her cheeks gently, leaning closer to her face, not minding the blood that had stained her one cheek slightly from my injured hand.
She locked her gaze with mine, her delicate palms reached out to my cheeks caressing them, bringing a sense of relief within me.
Our foreheads and noses touched, and she grazed her nose against mine, causing my breath to hitch and my heartbeat raced.
In the next moment, her smooth lips pressed against mine in a quick peck, catching me by surprise.
"I trust you with all my being, Rahil," she mumbled against my lips.
"Then, tell me," I exhaled, my breathing charged and heavy because of the close proximity.
"It's just that I don't want you to pity me more than you already do." Her words caught me off guard, and I blinked in confusion.
Pity her? When did that even happen?
________________________________
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