Karya's pov:

Fire surrounds us. Slowly trapping us in the corner of one room. Only a few more minutes till we get burned into ashes.

It spread so fast that even the ceiling had caught ablaze, sending embers drifting down like deadly fireflies. The only way out was blocked. Trapped in a corner with nowhere to go. I could already feel the temperature rising, the air growing thinner, more suffocating. Hai Allah, why this? Of all the ways to die, why like this? I didn't even get to talk to my family today—no, not even yesterday. I had been so caught up with work, so lost in responsibilities that I forgot the simplest things. And now, I was going to die regretting it.

Aryan was looking out the window, probably trying to figure out what to do with the fact that I accidentally threw his phone out the window while trying to get a signal to call the fire service. What the heck was wrong with me?

I turned my gaze away from him, my mind racing for a way out. There had to be something. There had to be—

The curtains.

The idea struck me like lightning. "The curtains!" I blurted out, my voice half-dead from the smoke. "We can use them to climb down!"

Aryan's head snapped toward me. Realization flickered across his face, and without hesitation, he lunged forward, yanking the fabric from the rods. "Good thinking," he muttered under his breath, already starting to tie them together with focused precision. His movements were swift, his hands working the knots tightly.

Even in the middle of the chaos, I found myself staring. His brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a firm line, determination radiating off him like a force of nature. He looked... handsome. Even more now that we were surrounded by death.

'There's no need for games. I'm ready to marry you.'

His voice echoed in my head,

'Trust me Karya. I would rather kill myself than hurt you.'

Thinking of those words made my heart skip a beat.

Crack.

The sound snapped me back to reality. My breath hitched. My eyes widened as I looked up.

A section of the burning ceiling had loosened—right above Aryan.

Before I could think, I moved. Instincts, fear, something more powerful than either took control of my body. I lunged forward, my hands stretching out. I caught the small section and threw it aside in the burning flame.

"Karya! Oh my gosh!" Aryan shouts in panic when I notice my hand is on fire. Right, the wood was on fire. Why didn't I realise that?

I barely registered his frantic movements until I felt something smothering my arms. His jacket. He had ripped it off in an instant, wrapping it around my burning skin to put out the flames. I could feel his hands shaking against mine, could hear his rapid breaths as he struggled to process what had just happened.

"Quick!" He threw the tied curtain down the window.

"You go first," I rasped. My arms throbbed. But I didn't care. My body had already tasted fire; it wouldn't hurt if I became part of the ashes now. It wouldn't hurt—if it meant saving him.

"No! Go fast!" he ordered.

"I'm not going if you're not going, so now you're just wasting time." I say as the fire drew even closer to us.

His jaw clenched. "For fuck's sake!" He cursed before gripping the curtain and climbing down swiftly.

I watched him disappear below. The flames roared behind me, the heat burning into my back. The moment he reached the ground, I pulled off my half-burnt jacket and grabbed onto the curtain.

Then I jumped.

When the curtain rips and I drop down. I close my eyes in panic. Bye everyone. Duaon mai yad rakhna. (Remember me in your prayers.)

And then I wasn't falling anymore.

Strong arms caught me.

I feel my head spinning as my eyes start closing. The last thing I saw was Aryan's face, his lips moving as if calling my name, his grip tightening around me.

Then, everything went black.

--

I wake up to find myself in a completely different surrounding. I was in a hospital. Nafisa was standing beside me.

"Karya!" She gasped, "Oh gosh, are you okay?"

I blinked. My throat was dry. "Yeah... I'm fine."

I looked around, scanning the room, searching for the one person I needed to see.

Aryan.

But he wasn't there.

My heart sank.

Nafisa stood up. "Wait here. I'll call the nurse." She hurried out of the room before I could say anything

I start looking around the room when I notice something on the table beside me. 

The pen.

Lying on the table beside me.

My fingers trembled while reaching for it. A small note was folded beneath it.

"You wanted it back, right? Here it is. Sorry for keeping it for so long. I shouldn't have."

My vision blurred.

No. No. No.

Why?

Why did this hurt? Why am I crying? I should be happy.

This is what I wanted. Or, what I thought I wanted.

The pen. It's meaningless without him now. 

It had been better with him

My phone lights up with a notification so I take it. Only to be reminded of him again. The photo of him from the back that I secretly took, set as my wallpaper.

I quickly turn off my phone and shove the note and the pen under my pillow as Nafisa walk back in, her face even more worried after she saw me. "What happened? Why are you crying?"

"I..." My voice wavered. "It's nothing."

Before she could ask any more, there was a knock on the door and a nurse stepped inside for a check-up.

My tears dry up as I start acting normal like nothing has changed.

Even though, everything had.

Aryan's pov:

She got hurt because of me. 

She got hurt. 

Because of me.

This is all my fault. 

I can't stop thinking about it, the image of her in pain. I was the one who put her in that position. I should've known better.

I shouldn't have tried to get so close to her. I never should've let myself care.

She could've died because of you Aryan! How could you?

I try to push the thoughts away, but they won't leave. This is all your fault, Aryan.

It doesn't matter anymore. I gave the pen back. Which indicates I hate her. Well, it should indicate I hate her. But I can't stop thinking about it. Even as I tell myself this, I can't escape the truth that I don't hate her.

Stop it, Aryan. This is for the best. She never cared anyway.

She is probably celebrating the fact that she doesn't have to see me anymore.

"Aryan! Oi! Kaha pari hai tu han? Kuch lead mila kya tujhe?" Azaan bhai's voice cuts through my thoughts, snapping my attention back to the present. He's standing in front of me, fingers snapping, trying to get my focus. (Aryan. Where is your mind? Did you find any lead or not?)

"Nhi." I muttered. (No)

"Kya hua tujhe? Itni chup chaap kyu hai?" (What happened to you? Why so quiet?)

I try to push the conversation in a different direction. "Kuch nhi bhai. Aap yaha kyu ho? Aapki lover Nafisa ki paas jao." (Nothing. What are you doing here? Go to your lover Nafisa.)

"Wo meri lover kaise ban gyi?" he asked while glaring at me. (How is she my love?) 

He tried to sound like he was in disbelief. But there was something else hidden in his voice. He wasn't sure anymore. Atleast me playing cupid has some results.

I shrug. "Go go. She might be waiting for you." I say.

"Areh, Did you seriously not find anything?" 

"No."

"Ahaan bhai still didn't come home. God knows where he is," he said while worrying. "He can't just disappear like this!"

I feel a pang in my chest, but it's not about Ahaan. It's about her. Always her.

--

I sit in my office, the weight of the day pressing on my shoulders, my mind still caught in a whirlwind of thoughts. The door creaks open, and I look up to see Ifran standing in the doorway.

"I heard there was a fire in his hideout. Did you manage to find anything before?" Ifran said after entering my office.

I lean back in my chair, frustration boiling up once again. "No. Nothing." My hands run through my hair, tugging slightly, as if it might somehow pull the thoughts out of my head. 

I shouldn't have taken Karya there. I shouldn't have even started talking to her. That was the mistake, the one that set everything in motion. 

If I had never started talking to her after I saw her in Aariz's wedding, all this wouldn't have happened.

Ifran steps further into the room. "Sorry. I should've gone there myself." he says in a guilty voice.

He leaves the room when I don't reply. Leaving me to my thoughts about her again.

Nafisa's pov:

I come out of the hospital. Azaan asked to meet me for some reason.

Aliyah still hasn't been found. No one knows where she is.

I go to the place he mentioned and wait for him when I notice a familiar face. 

Farhan Raihan. 

Should I follow him? If anyone could give a clue about Aliyah other than Fahad himself, it would be him.

I try and take a step towards him when I feel someone pulling my hand.

"Miss Ayaaz, what are you doing?" Azaan said as he pulled me away from Farhan, towards him. Really close to him.

"I umm... I was trying to follow him. In case I find a clue." I whisper as I notice Farhan leaving.

"And what about the fact that I called you here?"

"Well, finding Aliyah is my first priority right now. Sorry if that hurts you. But I seriously need to go now." Wow Nafisa. You're definitely getting fired soon.

"You're planning to follow Farhan Rashid alone? Do you have a death wish?" he says stretching out the conversation even more.

"Yeah no bye," I say and start fast walking towards Farhan but slowly at the same time so he wouldn't hear me.

He swiftly enters a dark alley. No one even notices. No one except me.

I quickly enter as he was facing the other way and look around for somewhere to hide. If I'm caught, it's all done for. 

I almost scream when I feel a hand pull me behind the dumpster. 

"Shh!" Azaan whispers as he puts his hands infront of my face. His fingers barely touched my lips. He quickly moves it away.

"What are you doing?" I whisper-shout at him.

"If you thought I'd let you near Farhan Rashid alone, then you're mistaken." 

We look back at Farhan and notice he started talking to someone on call.

"Haan bhai? No don't worry it's all done."

Silence.

"Yep, all set. Yes no one knows."

More silence.

"Apparently they're all going crazy. Specially that stupid Ahaan Raihan." he chuckled. I wish I could punch him so all those teeth came out! I saw Azaan's eye burning with fire when he took Ahaan's name like that. 

"Yes don't worry. No one knows about it. Yes not even Rahmans. Yes don't worry I took care of it. They won't be able to locate you in Australia."

"AUSTRALIA??" I gasped before I could stop myself.

"SHHH! WHAT THE HECK? Do you want him to hear you??" Azaan whispered a shout.

"Who's there?" Farhan's voice was heard. He looked around a bit but then left the alley while his mutterings were heard.

I try to get out from the back of the dumpster when Azaan pulls me back again.

"Do you have an addiction with pulling my hand?" I ask in disbelief.

"No jaan, he might still be around. Let's wait a little more." My eyes widen at his nickname as my heart also starts beating faster.

I don't know why it makes me feel all... warm. It's just a nickname, right? But why does it feel so much more? I try to focus on Farhan's conversation, but his words are getting fuzzier in my mind as I think about what just happened.

I glance at Azaan from the corner of my eye. His hand is still hovering near mine.

I clear my throat, trying to shake off the nerves. "Okay, so... now that we've barely avoided getting caught, can we please focus on why we're here in the first place?"

Azaan doesn't say anything for a moment, his eyes locked on the street ahead. I swear, he looks like he's deep in thought, but there's something in his gaze—something that makes my breath catch.

Finally, he speaks, his voice low. "You're too reckless, Nafisa."

My stomach tightens. "I'm not reckless. I'm just trying to help Aliyah. If you're worried about me, that's on you."

His lips twitch a little like he was trying to hide a smile. He almost smiled! Azaan Raihan! Smiled! "And if I'm worried about you, then what?"

I freeze. He's just standing there, so close to me, like it's nothing at all. But for me? It feels like everything.

"I—" I start to say something, but the words get stuck in my throat.

Azaan steps closer, just a little, and the air between us shifts. It's suddenly thick with something unspoken. "You don't need to do this alone, Nafisa. I'm not letting you walk into danger without me."

His words hit me harder than I expected. For a split second, I feel like I'm the only person in the world. My heart races. This isn't just about Aliyah anymore. Something between Azaan and me is changing, us.

Before I can respond, I hear Farhan's footsteps coming back.

Azaan's hand shoots out again, this time firmly gripping my wrist. He pulls me toward him, and I crash into his chest. The impact is sudden, and my breath hitches as I look up at him.

I'm about to say something, but Azaan places a finger over my lips—gently, but with an intensity that makes my pulse skip. "Shh," he whispers. "Don't make a sound."

I nod, too scared to breathe too loudly, and just like that, we're standing in the silence of the alley, waiting.

His hand remains on my wrist, and though I don't want to admit it, I like the feeling of him holding me.

When Farhan's footsteps fade away for good, Azaan releases me, but his fingers linger on my wrist for a moment longer than necessary. My heart is still beating like crazy, and I'm not sure how to process this... us.

"Are you okay?" Azaan's voice is soft, a little gentler now.

I nod, though I'm not entirely sure I am. But one thing is for sure: I'm definitely not okay when it comes to him.

--

Thank you for reading <3