Ayaan and Zara boarded the jet early in the morning. Just as they settled in, Ayaan received a message from his CSO that the man and his family had boarded the train, surrounded by several of their men disguised as regular passengers.
Ayaan let out a tense breath as the weight of the situation pressed down on him. Without realizing it, his fingers slipped between Zara’s, restless and fidgeting, seeking a reassurance he never voiced.
Zara glanced at him but didn’t speak. She turned back to the window as the jet sliced through layers of soft white clouds. The world below disappeared and with it, her mind drifted back to the past.
Flashback:
Zara woke up with a sharp gasp, her head spinning as she leaned against the cold wall, blinking to adjust to the harsh light filling the room. The moment her vision steadied and she saw her father tied to a chair and her breath hitched. She scrambled to her feet and rushed to him.
“Papa… who are they? Why did they kidnap us ? What do they want from you?” she cried, tugging at the restraints in a desperate attempt to free him. His wrists were cuffed behind the chair, the rope twisted tightly around the metal in a way that made it impossible for her to loosen.
“Zara, I don’t know who these men are… but listen to me. I’ve heard them talking. They won’t kill me or you…. not yet. Don’t try to save me at any cost. Just find a way to escape this place.” he whispered, his voice trembling yet trying to stay strong for her.
Zara broke down, hugging him tightly. “No, Papa… I won’t leave you. I’ll find a way for both of us to escape.”
She pulled away and frantically and searched the room, looking for anything, a tool, a shard, something strong enough to break the cuffs but there was nothing. She pushed aside the stacks of old newspapers on the wooden shelf, hoping and praying to find something useful. But there was nothing. Nothing except a single diary that slipped out and fell to the floor with a dull thud.
Zara sank to her knees, exhaustion and fear weighing heavily on her as tears streamed down her cheeks. Her father murmured soft words, urging her to stay strong and to find a way out instead of saving him but her hands trembled uncontrollably.
Her gaze drifted to the diary. Its velvet cover stood out strangely in the dust-filled room. Intrigued, she picked it up and brushed her fingers over the soft fabric before opening it.
On the very first page, she froze.
A photograph was carefully pasted there—a beautiful girl she instantly recognized, the personal assistant to the Central Minister, Vaishnavi Rey,
Below the picture, in neat handwriting, was the name Zara.
She traced the name with her thumb, her heart twisting painfully. “Even her name is Zara… and look at her, living the best life, PA to the minister… while I’m locked in a room fighting for my life.”
With a hollow smile and a heavy heart, she flipped through the pages, casually beginning to read.
“I had everything, loving parents, a life of luxury and people from the elite circle whom I could proudly call friends, especially Rey Uncle and Vaishu Aunty’s children. But happiness doesn’t come with money or privilege. All my life, I’ve known what it truly means to be a slave… even while being given the freedom to enjoy every luxury.
My parents believed our little family owed Rey Uncle’s family everything, that our entire existence was a blessing from them. I won’t blame Rey Uncle or Vaishu Aunty, they have helped lakhs of people and never once boasted about it. But my parents took loyalty to an extreme. They were ready to sacrifice anything for the Reys. It never bothered me… until the day they expected me to follow their path.”
Zara’s eyes widened in shock reading those lines. Curiosity raised and she flipped the page.
“I liked a boy in my school. He was my senior, my first crush and soon I realized I had fallen in love with him. But the day my mom found out, she cried as if I had committed a crime because Vaishu Aunty’s son, Ayaan, apparently liked me. No… he was in love with me.
I never realized he was serious. To me, he was just my best friend. His teasing and flirting felt harmless. But my parents decided I shouldn’t break their baby’s heart… so they crushed mine instead.”
Zara flipped a few pages, skipping the parts describing the girl’s forced attempts to fake happiness and stopped when a bold heading caught her eye – ‘Power.’
“It was hard to move on, but I eventually did. I assumed Ayaan’s feelings were just teenage infatuation and that he would get over me, so I waited for time to fix everything.
But during those months, I began noticing something else… the aura, the presence, the sheer command Rey Uncle and Vaishu Aunty carried. It fascinated me. I started studying them, observing everyone in the family.
Slowly, I stopped visiting as a guest and started behaving like someone who belonged there. Soon, I spent so much time in their manor that they got a room ready for me so I could stay whenever I wished. Ayaan was happy. My parents were happy. Everyone was happy and I was learning something new “
Zara’s heart twisted. She clenched her jaw, fury rising, “How could she do that to someone who loved her genuinely?” Zara thought bitterly, flipping to the next part.
“During my college days, I understood one thing. I wanted power. I wanted that aura. I wanted the ability to command, to control, to never bow to anyone the way my parents did.
I began testing my control with Ayaan first. I stopped him……….no, I restricted him from doing everything he loved.
He liked keeping his hair messy, but I never allowed it. He hated orange juice, yet I made him drink it every single morning. He adored certain colors and I made sure he never wore them.
But even that wasn’t enough. I wanted more. So I asked Vaishu Aunty if I could assist her. She is a kind woman and agreed without hesitation. Every day after college, I went to Rey Mansion, observed her, absorbed her methods, her influence… her power.
One day, I want to be her. And she will lead me to that seat.”
Zara gasped and slammed the diary shut for a moment. Her chest tightened, ” She has been playing Ayaan and the entire family… using their love, using their kindness… all for her hunger for power.” She grit her teeth and opened the diary again, continuing to read.
“By the time I finished college, I was fully prepared to become Vaishu Aunty’s PA. Along the way, I began feeling something for Ayaan too, but power and control were my true dreams.
One afternoon, I arrived at Rey Manor as usual and Ayaan dragged me to his room and kissed me. I kissed him back. Later, we sat on his couch as he shared the conversation he had with Rey Uncle about who would take over the Rey empire.
Ayaan wanted to take over, but he was doubtful and torn. So I kissed him again and told him that I would be proud to see him lead a legacy. My words lit something in him and he finally agreed to step forward.
Ayaan would take Rey Uncle’s place, and I would take Vaishu Aunty’s. We would be the power couple.
That was the moment everything turned into a chessboard… and I began making my moves, one by one, until we could stand tall, ruling the country together.”
Zara’s hands trembled as she read the cruel truth unfolding in the diary. “I wish you could see her real face, Ayaan. The universe is so unfair… people like me, who crave nothing but true love are left alone to suffer, while a girl like her is given everything. This is too cruel. I wish I had someone like Ayaan in my life, someone who would love me like I was his whole world and I would cherish him. I would give my everything to him and never give upon him, I swear ” she thought, her eyes stinging with helpless frustration.
Before she could flip to the next page, the door slammed open and three men entered the room.
Zara gasped and instinctively tossed the diary aside, scooting back against the wall. Her heart pounded as she looked up and saw her father struggling, begging and pleading for her.
“Don’t hurt my daughter, Please… let her go,” he cried, his voice cracking in desperation.
One of the men seized Zara by her hair and yanked her to her feet, towering over her with cold menace.
“You have one chance, Ramkumar, take your brother’s place and your daughter walks out unharmed. Refuse… and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life.” the man growled.
Zara shook her head vigorously, tears spilling. “No, Papa, please don’t do anything because of me please “, her plea barely left her lips when the man’s hand swung and a sharp slap echoed across the room, snapping her head to the side as pain shot through her cheek.
One of the men stalked toward her, looming over her as his filthy gaze raked her trembling form. He grabbed her shirt and yanked, trying to tear the fabric while the other two burst into cruel laughter, enjoying her helplessness.
Zara shoved him with all the strength she had and scrambled back, but he lunged again, his hand wrapping around her throat, squeezing just enough to choke her breath. He lowered his face and began brushing his mouth along her neck, his hot breath making her skin crawl.
A wave of nausea rolled through her. Her stomach twisted in pure disgust as his body pressed hard against hers.
“Leave her. Don’t you touch my daughter” her father screamed, struggling against the ropes with desperate force.
The man only smirked and tightened his grip on her. His other hand touched the hem of her pant and her eyes darted around wildly and then she saw a bottle lying just an arm’s reach away.
With every ounce of courage screaming inside her, she grabbed it and smashed it against his head. The bottle shattered and blood streamed instantly down his temple as he staggered back, stunned.
The other two froze for a second, shocked at the sight of their injured companion.
Zara didn’t waste a moment she bolted towards her father but he frantically shook his head pleading her to run. Zara’s heartbeat thundered in her ears as ran for the door. Behind her, the men recovered and roared in fury.
Their voices echoed down the corridor as Zara sprinted into the darkness, running for her life.
Flashback Ends:
Zara, who had been leaning against the window with her eyes closed, suddenly began to hyperventilate. Her breaths turned shallow and rapid, her fingers trembled as the memories clawed their way back. She couldn’t force her eyes open, her mind was trapped in the shadows of her past and her body started shaking uncontrollably.
Ayaan reacted instantly and pulled her firmly into his chest, cupping her face with one hand and patting her cheek gently.
“Zara… hey, look at me. What happened? Open your eyes. You’re fine. You’re safe,” he said, his voice low but laced with urgency.
Zara’s lashes fluttered and she finally opened her eyes, gasping as if she had been dragged out of drowning waters.
“What happened?” Ayaan asked again, searching her face.
She shook her head quickly, brushing it off. “Nothing.”
Ayaan didn’t push. Instead, he reached for a bottle, brought it to her lips and made sure she drank. His hand stroked her back in slow, steady motions while his other arm wrapped securely around her, anchoring her trembling body to him.
“Calm down… everything is fine,” he murmured, his steady heartbeat grounding her more than his words.
But Zara’s mind wasn’t calm. Her thoughts spiraled and dread twisting inside her.
What if Ayaan finds the diary?
What will happen when he learns the truth about that woman
He’ll be shattered… he’ll never recover from knowing he was betrayed so deeply.
He cannot find it. He must never know.
She closed her eyes again, trying to calm her racing mind. And without realizing it, her fingers curled into the fabric of his shirt, clutching it tightly over his heart as if holding on to him might quiet the storm inside her.
“What’s troubling her? She never had a nightmare or a panic attack ever since I started holding her in my sleep… so what triggered it now?” Ayaan wondered, concern tightening his chest.
***********************
A/N:
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