One week later:
The dining hall was filled with the familiar morning hum. Everyone had gathered for breakfast and awaited for Ayaan to join them. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway and a moment later, Ayaan appeared, his hair as always neatly set and most surprisingly, a smile that reached his eyes.
“Sorry everyone. Let’s start and what’s for breakfast today?” he asked, his voice unusually bright and almost boyish.
The table fell silent for a moment, everyone froze looking at him. That smile, that energy, it was something they hadn’t seen in years.
Vaishu quickly instructed the maids to serve the food, though her eyes lingered on her son. There was a spark, something new, something unspoken in him and it wasn’t forced.
Halfway through breakfast, Ayaan glanced at the clock and his brows shot up. “Damn, I’m running late.” He said and stood wiping his lips with a towel.
“Sorry, I’ve got a meeting at nine,” he said, already reaching for his blazer. Before anyone could respond, he leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to his mother’s cheek and walked out.
“When he came back saying he wouldn’t drown in his agony anymore, he lied, He was pretending to be fine, but I could see the pain behind those smiles. Then came the hesitation, like something was bothering him… but today, he smiled. Really smiled.” Vaishu said quietly, her gaze lingering on the doorway.
Reyansh looked at her for a moment before nodding.
Ayaan arrived at the office, and the moment Zara saw him, she rose to her feet with her usual bright smile. Things had changed between them, undeniably, beautifully. The man who was once cold and distant now carried a quiet warmth around him. He smiled more often, shared his lunch with her, even asked for her opinions at the end of meetings. And every time she brought him coffee, he would thank her, a simple word that made her heart flutter.
Zara noticed how his gaze lingered on her a little longer than before, softer now, almost thoughtful. The atmosphere between them had shifted, unspoken, yet palpable. She was over the moon watching the change in him.
She hurried to the pantry, her hands working automatically as she brewed his coffee. She walked to his room and knocked on the door, her heart beating faster than it should.
“Come in,” Ayaan’s calm voice floated through the speaker beside the door.
Zara stepped in and found him by the shelves, scanning through a stack of files. He turned slightly when she entered, his usual composure intact.
“You don’t need to ask for permission every time, Ms. Ramkumar, you have access to my office now. Just knock and come in directly.” he said, taking the cup from the tray she carried.
Zara smiled faintly, trying to hide the warmth that rushed to her cheeks.
“Thank you for the coffee, Now, tell me, what’s on my schedule for today?” Ayaan said and settled into his chair. Zara read his schedules and returned to her seat to continue her work.
Later that day Zara was in a rare, blissful mood. The day had gone better than she ever expected, and her heart felt so light that she wanted something sweet to match the feeling. She ordered a bowl of warm carrot halwa from the nearby restaurant and settled at her desk, savoring every bite.
She closed her eyes for a moment, smiling as she took another spoonful, completely unaware of the man walking toward her table.
Ayaan stopped a few steps away, his brows arching slightly as he took in the sight before him and cleared his throat gently.
Zara jerked upright, eyes wide, almost dropping her spoon. “S-Sir…I’m sorry…”, she stammered, scrambling to wipe her lips feeling embarrassed.
Ayaan’s eyes flickered between the bowl and her flustered face, and then, to her utter shock, he smiled…. a teasing smile.
“Seems like you’re having a party all by yourself, Ms. Ramkumar, Mind if I join you? ” he said in a low and amused voice. Zara froze hearing his words and her mind turned blank for a second, her cheek burned and she quickly nodded.
Before she could even reach for another spoon, Ayaan took the one she’d been using and scooped a small portion of the halwa. Zara’s eyes widened in disbelief as he tasted it, completely unbothered, and nodded in approval.
“Hmm… not bad, Now I understand why you wanted the party to yourself.” he said, leaning slightly against the desk.
Zara shook her head frantically, mortified yet unable to suppress the tiny smile tugging at her lips. “No sir, it’s not like that. I didn’t think you’d like sweets. I mean, I thought you were a fitness freak… I’m so sorry “
Ayaan chuckled softly, cutting her off. “Relax, Ms. Ramkumar. I won’t fire you for having a sweet tooth.” he said and her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his laughter.
“I can get you more sweets if you want. You’ve treated me to special lunches most days, so at least let me do this much for you,” Zara said.
Ayaan shook his head with a small smile. “Not every day… maybe occasionally I’ll join your little sweet party,” he replied and placed the receiver down with measured calm, while Zara cursed herself under her breath for missing his call. He had come all the way to her desk simply because she hadn’t picked up the intercom.
“Sir, I..I’m sorry, I didn’t notice the intercom…” she blurted, fidgeting with her fingers.
Ayaan’s gaze softened just slightly. ” I need a complete report on all projects of our construction business, both completed and pending from the last six months. “
Zara nodded immediately, her fingers tightening on the pen she held. “Yes, sir. I’ll have it ready.”
As he turned and walked back to his room, Zara sank back into her chair with a quiet sigh, cursing herself under her breath.
Ayaan returned to his room, sank into the couch, and his mind drifted back to the days that felt like another lifetime.
“Zara, please, let’s have something sweet. You know I’ve got a terrible sweet tooth. I even skipped that honey cake last night”
“No, Ayaan. You’re only allowed sweets once a week, and you already had your share. Don’t even think of sneaking another bite without my permission.”
” Please baby, just a little won’t cause any damage “
” Ayaan, please lets stop this discussion. I need to focus on my work “
Ayaan shook his head and grit his teeth in frustration.
“My Zara was right, she only cared for me but everything this woman she does is to trap me… but little does she know, she’s the one caught in my web. Just a few more days until my final move. I’ll ruin her the way my life was ruined. I’ll find whoever’s behind all of this.” he said but he couldn’t deny his heart ached and betrayed him every time he thought about his plan.
Ayaan watched the feed on the CCTV, studying her every smile as she worked, blissfully unaware.
It was past midnight when Zara finally left the office while Ayaan still stayed back. The sky was dark and heavy with clouds, and rain poured down hard, beating against the glass with a loud, steady sound. Zara held her bag close and hurried to her car, as lightning flashed across the sky.
She was driving through the pouring rain when the car suddenly shuddered and came to a stop in the middle of the road. Frowning, she tried again once and twice only to be met with silence. The rain grew harsher and she groaned, pulling out her phone to book a cab. But there were none available at that hour, the city had gone still under the storm’s command.
Zara stepped out of the car, looking around for any passing vehicles to seek help, but the road was completely deserted and silent except for the sound of rain. A single car was parked a little farther away, its headlights dim through the downpour. Within moments, she was drenched to the skin, shivering as the cold rain soaked through her clothes.
Meanwhile, Ayaan’s phone buzzed, and his men informed him about Zara’s car breaking down. Ayaan immediately dialed Zara’s number. Standing in the rain, desperate for help, Zara heard her phone ring and hurried back into the car, wiping the rain from her face with trembling hands.
The moment she saw Ayaan’s name flashing on the screen, relief washed over her. She quickly answered, her voice soft and trembling from the cold.
“Sir…” she said, almost whispering.
“Have you reached home, Ms. Ramkumar? It’s raining badly, and I just called to check on you. Are you okay?” Ayaan asked, his voice carrying a softness that sounded almost genuine.
Zara closed her eyes for a second, her heart swelling at the concern in his tone. “No, sir… my car broke down, and I’m stuck. I couldn’t book a cab, and the road is completely deserted,” she replied, her voice trembling, a mix of fear and relief.
There was a pause on the other end before Ayaan’s calm, reassuring voice returned. “Hold on. Lock the doors and stay inside the car. I’ll be there soon. Call me if anything happens before I arrive. Stay safe “
Zara exhaled shakily, clutching the phone to her chest. Just hearing his words steadied her heartbeat. The rain continued to pound on the roof, but for the first time that night, she didn’t feel entirely alone. Ayaan was coming for her and that thought alone brought a fragile sense of comfort.
Ayaan arrived within thirty minutes, his car skidding slightly as it came to a halt behind hers. Without a second thought, he stepped out into the downpour, the rain drenching him instantly. His shirt clung to his body, hair dripping as he approached Zara’s car and knocked on the window.
Zara looked up, startled, and the moment she saw him standing there in the storm, something twisted in her chest. She quickly unlocked the door and stepped out.
“Sir… you’re completely drenched,” she said softly, guilt lacing her voice. Watching him stand in the middle of the deserted road, soaked from head to toe because of her, made her heart ache.
Ayaan simply brushed his wet hair back and gave her a faint smile. The streetlights flickered through the downpour, illuminating the sharp lines of his face.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone, get in my car. I’ll drive you home.” he said, his voice low yet steady against the roar of the rain.
Zara nodded silently, she picked up her things and locked her car, shivering as the rain soaked through her clothes. Ayaan hurried ahead, opening the passenger door for her before circling to the driver’s side.
Once inside, the warmth of the car’s interior felt strange against their drenched clothes. Zara glanced down, noticing the puddle forming beneath her feet.
“I’m sorry, sir, I got your branded, expensive car ruined.” she murmured, her voice trembling as she folded her arms tightly around herself.
Ayaan turned slightly toward her, his eyes softening. “Don’t be stupid, It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made you stay so late without checking the weather.” He said and paused, his voice lowering almost to a whisper. “Please forgive me.” he said gently.
The car rolled forward through sheets of rain, the wipers fighting a losing battle against the storm. Visibility was poor, and Ayaan cursed under his breath a few times when the headlights failed to cut through the blur of water. Zara sat quietly, occasionally glancing at him, noticing the tension in his jaw and the way his fingers gripped the steering wheel.
She wanted to say something but the words refused to come out. The only sounds were the rhythmic thud of the wipers and the relentless rain against the windows.
When they finally pulled up outside her apartment building, the world seemed to slow down. The silence between them was heavy, filled with things neither dared to say.
Zara turned toward him with visible hesitation. Her fingers fidgeted on her lap, and she swallowed hard, trying to calm the rush of nerves clawing at her chest. She didn’t want him to drive through that storm, she wouldn’t be able to rest knowing he was out there battling the merciless rain alone.
But the mere thought of inviting him inside felt both sensible and terrifying.
Through the windshield, the rain pounded relentlessly, blurring the world outside. Ayaan glanced at his watch and then out the window, his brows furrowed as thunder rolled in the distance.
Zara took a shaky breath, forcing her voice to steady. “Sir… I don’t think it would be safe for you to drive, would you like to stay until the rain calms down? Mine is a simple home, maybe hardly the size of your office room. You know… it would be a bad decision to drive any longer, and you’re drenched completely. You might catch a cold or fever over time.” she said nervously and bit her lips.
The silence that followed was deafening. The sound of rain hitting the roof filled the car, and Zara instantly regretted speaking. She wasn’t sure if she had overstepped. Her heart thudded violently against her ribs.
Ayaan didn’t respond right away. His gaze lingered on her profile, her wet hair clinging to her face, her trembling hands gripping her handbag like a lifeline.
For a second, Zara thought he would decline her offer. But then Ayaan turned to her with a faint, unexpected smile.
“I think you’re right, Ms. Ramkumar, but are you sure about having me at your place? I don’t want to intrude on your privacy. I can wait in the car until the rain subsides and then drive home.” he said, his tone gentle yet composed.
Zara quickly shook her head, forcing a small smile to hide her nervousness. “I don’t see a problem, sir,” she replied softly.
Ayaan then gave a small nod. “Let me join you then, guide me to your parking.” he murmured. His voice dropped lower with those words, sending an involuntary shiver down her spine
Zara nodded wordlessly, her fingers curling tighter around her handbag as she directed him toward the entrance.
“ Did I make the right decision? ” she wondered, her throat tightening.
” Too Late ” her mind screamed as he killed the engine at her parking lot.
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A/N:
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