Zara woke up and glanced at the empty space beside her. She tapped the pillow, then imagining Ayaan lying there, she slapped it lightly.
” Its just a day has passed. I want to forgive you… forget everything… but I also want to punish you at the same time. I wanted to enjoy time with our family, but I miss you. I want you beside me even for the fights.” she muttered.
Her phone suddenly began ringing and she looked down at his shirt she was wearing. She tied her hair into a loose bun and picked up the phone. Seeing Ayaan’s name on the screen, she swiped to answer.
“Hello, wifey. Good morning,” Ayaan’s sleepy voice curled into her ears and her heart skipped a beat.
“Miss you, Zara. I thought you would miss me too since I’m not there to handle your tantrums and mood swings. I even miss your tantrums… at least you talk or fight with me through them.” he said and Zara stayed silent.
“Last night, I was talking to Mithun uncle. He said silence can be powerful… and who knows that better than me? Please say something, Mrs. Ayaan. I miss you and if you don’t talk, I might actually cry.” he said. A tear slipped down her cheek and she wiped it quickly.
“When will you return?” she finally asked and Ayaan smiled the moment he heard her voice.
“I’ll try to come back tonight or at the latest by tomorrow morning. We are on our cruise, you’ll love it here. We shall visit together with our baby someday.” he said and silence fell again. Ayaan took a deep breath.
“I love you, Zara. Take care. I’ll call you later.” he said and hung up. Zara stared at the screen for a moment, then rested her hand on her abdomen.
“I’m hurting… and he’s hurting too. I’m scared we might mess up again. I can’t take any more pain… or another betrayal,” she whispered and threw the blanket aside and walked into the bathroom to get ready.
On the cruise, Mithun and Ayaan got ready and had breakfast before heading to meet Barzani, who had already been served his meal.
“So, what have you decided?” Ayaan asked, taking the seat opposite him.
Barzani leaned back with a weary breath. “Razaq was furious when your father refused the trade. Losing his largest market meant losing billions and billions in business, losses he could not recover from through any other deal. But he wasn’t foolish enough to risk all his international ties by crossing your father and uncle. So he agreed… at least on the surface. Just as he predicted, the loss crushed him. But he also knew that men like Reyansh and Mithun would never trust him again and would keep an eye on his every move. So Razaq stayed still and focused entirely on building his empire. He waited patiently for his chance.” Barzani said and took a deep breathe.
“When his son, Nafel, inherited the business, his first move was to re-enter your country. But that was impossible as long as Rey’s diamond trade existed. So he started planning to eliminate your family ” he said further and Ayaan’s expression hardened but he remained silent.
” I tried talking sense into Razaq and Nafel too, but neither of them were ready to listen. Slowly, I distanced myself from their operations and Nafel brought in his own trusted men. Ten years ago, I fell seriously ill and I used that moment to disappear. I left Saudi with my family. The only place I could safely survive was Dario’s territory. So I lived under his roof. I met him once and he had his men watch me afterward. He’s smart. He knew I might become useful someday… and that day seems to be now.” Barzani finished and began coughing harshly.
Ayaan immediately poured him water and waited patiently until his breathing steadied.
“What did they do to wipe out our family? And who were they connected to in our country?” Ayaan asked gritting his teeth, impatience simmered beneath his calm tone. He already had Suryadev ‘s name burning in his mind.
Barzani hesitated, swallowed hard. Mithun cleared his throat, drawing his attention and then silently gestured toward Ayaan, whose anger was rising by the second.
“One day… I overheard Razaq and his son speaking to someone from your country. That was the day I decided to quit working for him,” Barzani finally said and Ayaan shot to his feet as his patience snapped.
“Stop beating around the bush ” he barked, making Barzani jolt.
“They were talking to the political heads of your nation, both the ruling and the opposition leaders…Suryadev and Prathap.” Barzani blurted instantly.
Ayaan’s nostrils flared, fury twisting through him. Mithun quickly stood beside him and gripped his shoulder, grounding him as they waited for Barzani to continue.
“All of them agreed to work together. Razaq and Nafel wanted their business back in your country. Suryadev wanted the hot seat. And Prathap… he only wanted more money. Your mother was the obstacle standing between all of them and what they wanted. So they planned to kill her. That’s all I know. Later, I learned from the news that she survived the blast. After that… I know nothing else.” he said in a trembling voice.
Ayaan raked both hands through his hair, rage coursed hot through his veins.
“You’ll be sent back to Dario. He’ll protect you and your family. I will let you know, about your role at the right time” he said coldly before walking out of the room with Mithun.
“Everyone teamed up to wipe us out. I will not spare a single one of them,” Ayaan roared, fury vibrating in every word. Mithun nodded, fully understanding the storm building inside him.
“Dad won’t like it if I make any decisions on my own so let’s return home and discuss our next steps.” Ayaan said, forcing himself to breathe. Mithun agreed and immediately informed his men to prepare the yacht so they could leave the cruise.
The family was having dinner and Zara was patiently feeding Saanvi, who sat beside her. Everyone turned when footsteps echoed through the corridor as Ayaan and Mithun entered the dining room. After washing his hands, Ayaan lifted Saanvi into his arms and settled her on his lap as he took the seat next to Zara.
“Looks like you have lost weight missing me for just two days,” he teased and Zara shot him a sharp glare. Pari chuckled at their familiar banter and still, Zara quietly served dinner onto his plate.
“Is everything okay?” she asked softly and Ayaan nodded.
“Everything will be fine very soon,” he said, eating while helping Saanvi with her food.
After dinner, he headed to the study with Reyansh and Mithun and laid out everything they had learned from Barzani.
“They have been waiting for a chance to strike at us and we’ll give them one. I’ll speak to Dario and start business with him in every country where Rey’s Diamond already operates except here. Nafel will hear of it, and he will try to contact me or try to get to me. That’s when we set the trap and show the people that the man holding the reins is unfit for power. Mom’s campaign will begin with this narrative. Until then, she won’t attend any gatherings or meetings. I’ll handle public appearances, I’ll take guest lectures, but only in government and government-aided colleges. Our enemies should believe we’re moving freely… easy to corner.” Ayaan explained and Reyansh and Mithun stared at him, stunned by the clarity and boldness of his plan.
“I’m only telling you a part of it. I don’t want either of you stressing over what I’m doing. Stay out of this and rest. You’re both old and your age demands sleep.” Ayaan added firmly and Reyansh groaned, scowling at him but Ayaan only shrugged.
“Dad, you can’t hide anything from Mom so I can’t let you involved in my plans. Just tell her Suryadev, Prathap, and Razaq were working together. I’ll handle everything else.” Ayaan said with finality.
The two older men exchanged a glance, then nodded, understanding that Ayaan had already stepped far ahead of them into the war they thought they had left behind.
Ayaan returned to the room and found Zara sitting cross-legged on the bed, flipping through the old photo albums Vaishu had given her.
“How did Mom get the idea to run so many trusts and NGOs? Helping women, children, even homeless elders… and her women-entrepreneurship program—I’ve always been fascinated by it, but I never really got to ask her.” Zara asked without looking up.
Ayaan leaned against the doorframe for a moment, then walked closer.
“Her parents passed away when she was young. She grew up in an abusive household with her aunt and uncle. One night, they threw her out in the middle of the road… and that’s when Dad found her. They met exactly the way we did, mom fell in front of Dad’s car and he saved her that night.” Ayaan said and Zara finally looked at him, listening.
“She had nothing, but she became Dad’s everything… just the way you are to me. She never wanted another woman to suffer with what she went through. So she decided she would help whoever she could. That’s how everything started. And honestly? She’s just naturally kind.” Ayaan said and Zara turned her attention back to the album.
She turned another page and paused at an old school picture of Ayaan. A soft smile curved her lips, but he didn’t miss the faint ache in her eyes, the longing, the gentleness, the love she still fought with.
“It’s late, Zara. Let’s sleep. Tomorrow we shall return home. I’ll start travelling to colleges for guest lectures, but I’ll leave in the morning and be back by night. Just once a week so I’m not leaving you alone.” Ayaan said softly and walked into the closet to change.
When he returned, Zara was already lying on the bed. He slipped in beside her and wrapped an arm around her waist from behind. His palm rested over her abdomen, caressing gently and a smile tugged at his lips.
“What do you think the baby will be? two little Zara or two little Ayaan?” he whispered.
Zara slowly turned to face him, a tiny frown puckering her forehead. “Isn’t that supposed to be the woman’s question to the man?” she asked.
Ayaan chuckled and smoothed her frown with his thumb. “Is it? Well, that just means we’re different from everyone else. We make our own rules, break them, make new ones… but we don’t let anyone else dictate our life.”
Zara clicked her tongue, “You mean like how you talked back to Ishaan bro and Papa?”
He smiled, unfazed hearing her words. “They are family and they have every right over me. But when it comes to us, that’s personal. I don’t like it when anyone tries to pull you away from me.”
“They tried only because you messed up,” Zara reminded him rolling her eyes.
“Of course I messed up and I will never deny it. I regret everything and I will earn your forgiveness. I’m not letting a single chance slip when it comes to winning you back.” he said without hesitation and flicked her nose.
” Now back to the question, answer me ” Ayaan said and Zara touched her abdomen gently with a smile.
” We could have a little Zara and a little Ayaan ” she said with a smile and Ayaan hummed in response reciprocating the smile and placed his hand over her hand that rested on her abdomen.
Zara took a long breath and closed her eyes, exhaustion and emotion weighing on her. Ayaan understood the signal. He stayed quiet, gently running his fingers through her hair until she finally drifted to sleep.
Once she was asleep, he moved to the couch with his laptop and called Dario to discuss the deal. The moment the call connected, Dario greeted him and Ayaan returned the gesture.
“I have a proposal for you. We shall collaborate in every country where I operate except my own. I’ll help you remove Razaq and Nafel from your path and in return, we end our collaboration. After this deal is done, I won’t interfere with your business anywhere. You will also take over all of Nafel’s territories.” Ayaan said in calm but firm voice.
He heard Dario let out a low laugh on the other end. “So all this is about taking down Nafel? Enemy’s enemy is a friend, is it?” Dario asked.
“I don’t do friends, Dario, I’m a businessman. I only do business. You are my next business, one where we both profit and part ways.” Ayaan replied coldly.
Dario hummed thoughtfully, the amusement in his voice fading into something sharper. “A clean business partnership, then. Temporary, profitable and with no strings once the work is done. Fine, Ayaan. I agree. Nafel has been a thorn for too long and if our goals align for now, we use it. Once he’s gone, we walk our separate ways.”
Ayaan leaned back on the couch, eyes fixed on the screen, “Good. Then we move forward. But if you go back on your word after this is over, I won’t even waste time coming after you myself. I would simply find someone hungrier, someone smarter, someone desperate enough to replace you and I would build them up until they crush you in every market you stand on.” Ayaan said, his voice was steel threading through every syllable and heavy, tense silence followed.
Dario exhaled, half a scoff, half a sigh but agreed to Ayaan’s words.
“We start tomorrow”, Ayaan said and without waiting for a response, he ended the call.
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A/N:
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