Ayaan’s one hand moved up to her cheek and his thumb traced her soft cheek. He noticed the way she blushed under his touch. His thumb moved to her lips and brushed her lower lip.
” Thank you for coming… You made this night unforgettable. You may not realize it, but the truth is, because of you, I finally feel like myself again “, Ayaan murmured pressing his forehead against her.
He stepped back taking deep breathe and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Zara, you’re driving me crazy. I’m going insane… I can’t think of anything except you,” he said, rubbing his face as he fought against the rush of emotions.
“Fuck…” he muttered and then, gripping her nape, he pulled her in and captured her lips in a desperate, hungry kiss.
They were too lost in the kiss and the door swung open.
Zara jerked back from the kiss, her eyes widening in shock as she turned to see the great Reyansh Badrinath, Vaishnavi Rey and Ishaan Rey standing at the entrance. Her throat went dry, and she swallowed hard, her pulse thundered in her ears on seeing the people whom she had seen only in the magazine and media.
Ayaan exhaled sharply, rubbing his beard before facing them. “Dad… Mom… what are you doing here?” he asked and his voice was tight but composed.
All their gazes flicked down to where his fingers were still interlaced with Zara’s, a silent testament to their closeness.
Reyansh’s expression shifted, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “We were worried since you didn’t return our calls, but it seems we’re… interrupting. We’ll take our leave.” he said smoothly and turned to go, but Ayaan stopped them.
“Since you’re all here, I’d like to introduce Zara to you.” Ayaan said in a calm voice and instantly the tension in the room became palpable.
At the mere mention of her name, a visible ripple went through the family, but Ayaan stood his ground, his composure unwavering. He turned to Zara with a reassuring smile before continuing, “We’ve been seeing each other for a while now, and I asked her out on a date tonight. I was planning to meet you all tomorrow, to talk about us.” he said shrugging his shoulder.
Zara folded her hands politely, “Hello, sir… hello, madam. It’s a pleasure to meet you both all person,” she said, trying hard to steady her voice, though her nervousness was evident in her trembling smile.
Vaishu’s expression softened as she stepped towards Zara and placed a gentle hand on her head. “Nice to meet you too, Zara. Carry on with your date. We’ll see you both for lunch tomorrow,” she said warmly, then glanced at Ayaan for confirmation.
“Of course, Mom, I was planning on it anyway, just wanted to speak with Zara before confirming.” Ayaan replied with a quick nod.
“Alright then, carry on,” Reyansh said before walking out with Vaishu. Ishaan lingered for a moment, offering Zara a reassuring smile before following his parents. All their thoughts were spiraling over what they had just seen.
Zara exhaled deeply, an exaggerated breath of relief escaping her lips, and turned to find Ayaan smiling as if nothing had happened. She swatted his chest lightly before collapsing into his arms, seeking comfort in his embrace.
Ayaan chuckled softly and stroked her back. “Hey, calm down. My parents are cool, they’ll love you. You won’t believe it, but they’ve actually been wanting me to move on. And now, they’ll be thrilled that I’ve found you. Now… where were we before we were so rudely interrupted?” He tipped her chin up with a teasing smile.
Zara blushed, her shyness melting away as their lips met in a searing kiss. When they finally parted, breathless, Ayaan brushed his thumb over her cheek and said softly, “Let’s go out. I’ll drop you home later”
He led her outside, choosing a sleek SUV, and opened the door for her. As they drove through the quiet night, Ayaan reached for her hand, their fingers intertwining naturally.
He looked at their entwined fingers and his lips curved into a soft smile. Lifting their hands, he pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckles and a warm, unfamiliar contentment settled in his heart, the one he silently wished would stay with him forever.
“I’m sorry I didn’t give you a proper tour of the villa. You won’t believe this, but I’m nervous as hell. I’m losing my mind around you.” he said with a faint smile.
A few minutes later, the car rolled to a stop near a quiet stretch of seashore. Zara’s eyes softened as she stepped out and the cool breeze brushed against her face. They walked hand in hand along the sand and sat down, watching the moonlight paint silver streaks across the waves.
Ayaan turned slightly toward her. “Alright, shoot. What’s on your mind?” he asked her in a gentle tone.
Zara’s voice trembled as she looked at him. “What happens now, Ayaan? Are you really ready to move on? You know nothing about me… what if you end up hating me someday?”
Ayaan drew in a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the rolling waves as the wind brushed through his hair. “Maybe I haven’t completely moved on, but I want to.” he said quietly and gave a small, wistful smile.
“You know, life has a strange sense of irony. The first time I fell in love, her name was Zara. And now, the first time I’ve felt something stir again…….something alive……………it’s for another Zara. I can’t erase her, she’s woven into my past. But that doesn’t mean I’d ever do you an injustice. You both are different, like two ends of a spectrum.” he said and turned to her, his gaze was steady and sincere.
“I think I already know what I want. Zara, I want you in my life.” his voice softened, threaded with emotion as he said and Zara looked at him… only at him.
“My parents have seen the worst of me when I lost her, they were shattered right along with me. They’ve spent years trying to bring my smile back, they have always walked on eggshells around me. And now, I want to give them the happiness they deserve. I don’t want them to think I’m just pretending anymore.” he said and reached for her hand, his thumb traced slow circles over her skin.
“So, Zara… would you marry me?” he asked all of a sudden and Zara was completely taken aback by his question, she stared at him in disbelief. Her throat felt dry, words refusing to form. She could only gulp hard, her wide eyes locked on his.
Ayaan’s tone softened, his gaze steady and reassuring. ” Tomorrow when I go back home, my parents would ask me, if I’m ready to take the next step, and before I answer them, I need to know where you stand. If you’re not ready, I’ll handle them…..there’s absolutely no pressure. We can take things slow, at your pace.”
He paused, a faint smile curving his lips. “But I want you to know… I’d be happy if your answer is yes. I’m not some teenager making promises in the air, Zara. I’m a man who understands the weight of his choices and more importantly, I know exactly what I want and I want you….. more than anything. You keep me sane, you are my peace “
He rose to his feet then and extended his hand to her, eyes never leaving hers.
“I swear, Zara, I never planned this part for tonight. I only did what felt right for us. Every time I prepare myself to say something but the moment I see you, it all disappears… my mind and heart take over on their own. And right now, both want the same thing and that is, you as my wife. I know you live alone, and that you grew up in an orphanage. I don’t care about your past, even if there’s more than what you’ve told me. Take your time, think about it, and tell me when you’re ready. I’ll meet my family tomorrow anyway.” Ayaan admitted, his voice steady yet sincere.
Zara took his hand and rose to her feet, her heart thudding with a mix of confusion and warmth. They walked back to the car, the cool night breeze wrapping around them in silence. The drive back to her apartment was quiet, words felt too small for the emotions between them.
When the car finally stopped, Zara gave a small nod and reached for the door handle. But then, as if moved by something deeper, she turned back, grabbed Ayaan by the collar and kissed him.
Ayaan cupped her nape, deepening the kiss until she finally pulled back, breathless. Her eyes glistened as she whispered, “I’m ready, Ayaan. I trust you.”
Before Zara could open the door, Ayaan caught her hand and pulled her back, crashing his lips against hers. The kiss was fierce, urgent, and full of longing, his eyes brimmed with tears. When they finally parted, Ayaan’s lips trailed down her jaw, then to her neck, each touch sending shivers through her.
Zara’s soft moan only fueled his desire further. His fingers dug gently into her waist while her hands tangled in his hair, turning the perfectly styled strands into a delicious mess. By the time he stopped, both were breathless, their chests rising and falling in sync.
Ayaan looked at her…….her lipstick was smudged, lips were swollen, eyes dazed and something primal flickered in his gaze. But before he could say anything, Zara spoke first, her voice low and trembling.
“You look so dangerously handsome with messy hair, I’ve always seen you perfectly put together, but this… this is different. And I really love it.” she murmured, a shy smile curving her lips.
She leaned in, pressed a soft kiss to his cheek, and slipped out of the car, her heart still racing.
Ayaan felt as though a knife had pierced straight through his chest. His trembling hand reached for the rear-view mirror, and when he looked, he froze.
True to Zara’s words, his hair was a disheveled mess, just the way he’d secretly wanted to keep it so many times before, but never dared to. His ex girl friend, had always preferred him perfectly neat, perfectly controlled and he would never do something she never liked.
All the excitement, warmth he felt disappeared in an instant.
“No… no… no…” he muttered under his breath, panic lacing his tone as he ran his fingers through his hair, desperately trying to set it back into place. But his hands shook, his reflection blurred by the tears that slipped down his cheeks……a silent war between his past and the battle of his present.
Ayaan stormed into his villa, fury and anguish twisting inside him like a storm. In one swift motion, he swept his arm across the table, shattering glasses and tearing apart the carefully set decorations that only hours ago had framed their perfect evening.
He grabbed a bottle from the counter and drank until the burn in his throat matched the fire in his chest. But no matter how much he drank, he couldn’t drown the image of the woman he had proposed to marry and kissed an hour ago as if his life depended on her.
“I’m doomed…….. I m fucking doomed” he muttered, his voice hoarse as he collapsed onto the bed, the bottle slipping from his grasp. Tears streamed down his face until exhaustion pulled him into a restless slumber.
Zara sat on her bed, tears of happiness still glistening in her eyes but that joy slowly gave way to fear, and reality crashed down on her like a wave.
“What if he finds out the truth about me? What if he hates me… thinks I betrayed him? Or worse, what if he believes I’m the reason he lost his first love?” she whispered, clutching her head.
Her heart pounded as the weight of the past pressed against her chest. “Should I tell him that we’ve met before? That night when he saved me… would he even believe me about the blast ?”, the thousand questions swirled in her mind but she had no answers in sight. She picked up his photograph, her thumb tracing his face as silent tears fell.
Ayaan arrived at the manor the next morning and the warmth in his smile was genuine, the family had missed seeing for far too long. He hugged his parents tightly before glancing around at the faces of his family, who were watching him with thinly veiled suspicion.
“Alright, I’m here to answer all your questions.” he said with a knowing grin, taking a seat beside Ishaan, who patted his shoulder in silent support.
Vaishu leaned forward, “Ayaan, I won’t ask how this all happened. But I need a genuine answer. Are you truly in love with her, or is it because she shares the same name?” she asked in a gentle but firm tone.
Ayaan chuckled softly, shaking his head. “I kind of expected that question, Mom. But believe me, I never planned to fall for anyone. And when I started feeling something for her, I didn’t even realize she had the same name. I fought it, I really did… but that stubborn woman broke through my defenses.”
He paused, his eyes softening. “Last night, I asked her to marry me and she said yes. I hope that answers everything. Also I’m sure dad and Ishaan bro had already ran a background check on her last night. But still, let me make it clear……………….. she has no one else but me. So, I hope my family will open their hearts to her and love her the way she deserves.” he said.
For a long moment, the room fell silent, everyone still processing his words, their shock slowly giving way to the quiet realization that Ayaan was, at last, truly moving forward.
His mother broke into happy sobs and rushed forward to hug him followed by his father.
“I’m so happy, Ayaan, my prayers have finally been answered but I would still talk to her ” Vaishu said through her tears, cupping his face with trembling hands.
Reyansh stepped closer, ruffling Ayaan’s hair affectionately and for the first time ever, everyone was stunned to see that Ayaan didn’t protest or try to fix it. He simply smiled, a rare warmth lighting his face.
“I have so much to do to welcome my daughter-in-law,” Vaishu said, her excitement bubbling over as she began calling for the home manager and the chef, firing off a stream of orders while the rest of the family exchanged amused glances, watching the manor come alive with joy, ready to welcome the new member of the family who would soon rule their hearts and their legacy.
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A/N:
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