क्यूंकि तुम ही हो
अब तुम ही हो
ज़िन्दगी अब तुम ही हो
चैन भी, मेरा दर्द भी
मेरी आशिक़ी अब तुम ही हो
As Samaira sat on her bed while her legs were pulled upto her chest, she kept thinking about how Aayansh treats her. Sometimes he's cold, keeping his guards up while sometimes he treats her as she is the most valuable thing in this world. He didn't came home today since morning and just texted her that he was busy and will be back by 11:00 pm. She saw his text and thought for a while if she should wait for him or should she sleep. It was already 10 pm and thought she will wait because in just an hour he will be back even if she knew that he sleeps in another room, she needed to give me him dinner as he won't eat alone.
She stood up from her bed and straightened her kurta. She walked into her walk-in closet and looked through the closets. She quickly found a set of white teddy bear knitted pyjamas which she found very cute and wore it.
As she stepped downstairs, she felt her footsteps echoing through the mansion. It felt so lonely, nobody their except her... a fragile and a soft girl who went through trauma and child abuse almost her whole life. But for her, she was grateful that atleast she wasn't with her father anymore but a man who was just busy and sometimes spend his time with her. She stepped inside the open-kitchen and made herself a cold coffee. While the machine stirred, she kept looking towards the main gate, hoping that Aayansh comes back soon.
She took her coffee and went to the basement library, her heaven. Softly, she pushed the door and turned on the lights. She looked around the familiar place and lightened up the candles kept on the table. She took out a book from a shelf and sat on the soft couch. Her eyes kept looking around the room then to the book she was holding. It was an urdu poetry book, she opened the book and started to read it. While she kept reading and drinking her coffee, she felt a sense of satisfaction and peace which she hasn't felt since long.
She was so focused in her reading that she didn't heard the sound of the main gate opening. Slowly, she heard footsteps coming towards her room and she got startled. She closed her book and kept it aside on a table. The door opened and she saw Aayansh peeking,
"Assalamualaikum..." He greeted as he stepped inside "aap yaha...itni raat me? Soyi nhi?" He stood in front if her, his sharp gaze fixed on her face. He looked tired. His dark jet black eyes staring at her brown ones.
She quickly stood up and shook her head,
"Walekum Assalam...ji nhi wo- wo neend nahi aarhi thi...isiliye...bas yahi aakar sochi kuch padh lu..."
Aayansh listened to her while his hands were inside his black relaxed fit trouser's pocket.
"Bore ho rhi thi?" He asked as he stepped closer to her.
"N-nahi aisi baat nhi hai wo bas-" he interrupted "ha pata hai tum bore nahi ho rhi thi...jaa kar ready ho jao me bahar leke chalta hu tumhe." He said with a slight smirk on his face as he patted her head affectionately. She flinched and took a step back. He noticed the way how she reacted which made him curious but didn't said anything.
"P-par abhi itni raat ho rhi nai...aur baarish bhi ho rhi hai...t-toh k-kaise..?
She asked in a soft voice fidgeting with her fingers. Aayansh stepped closer to her and cupped her face, taking a moment to take in her features and then replied in a gentle voice,
"Car hai na mere paas, mujhe gareeb samajh rakhi ho kya?"
His question made her chuckled and she replied, "Nahi nahi aisi baat thori hai wo bas...acha thik...m-me jaake ready ho jaati hu.."
Aayansh nodded and stepped back, giving her space while he secretly checked her out, how cute she looked in those pyjamas. As she started to walk towards the door, Aayansh called out
"Waise..." he paused as Samaira turned to him, "Ye kapde..ye...pyjamas..me bohot payaari lag rhi ho..." He said in a low voice, not meeting her gaze. His words surprised Samaira and made her feel a little embarrassed. She blushed slightly,
"A-acha...t-thank you..." She replied as she quickly got out of the room.
That moment Aayansh felt a new feeling inside him. He never felt it but when he felt it today, it made him peaceful. He smiled to himself and turned off the lights and candles and closed the library.
He sat on the couch in the living room while waiting for her. He poured himself a glass of water and drank it in one gulp. His feet were tapping on the expensive carpet beneath him in impatience. A few moments later, he heard her footsteps which were coming towards him. He stood up and turned to the stairs where he saw her changed into a pastel blue colour suit. She put on a little bit of makeup and had bangles in her hand.
For a few moment, he just kept staring at her not realising that she was now standing in front of her. He took in her appearance, how her hair fell down her shoulder, the way her lips were slightly parted and how her cheeks were pink.
"B-bohot khubsurat lag rhi ho..." he suddenly spoke up absentmindedly, making her smile softly.
"Acha...shukriya..." She thanked him and lowered her gaze.
He quickly composed himself and held her hand.
"Chalo chale..." he said as he started to walk with her to the main gate. He kept her beside him and asked the guards to keep an eye around while they are not home.
He tugged her beside him and reached his car which was a BMW in jet black colour. He opened the passenger seat door for her and let her sit inside. Then he walked to the other side and sat on the driver seat.
As the engine roared to life, he took the car out of their property and reached the streets. Samaira looked outside the window, how the rain drops were falling on the streets and the grass. She didn't even feel when Aayansh up intertwined his hand with her on her lap. He noticed that this time, he touched her and she didn't flinched or pulled back which gave him a sense of satisfaction.
During their journey, Aayansh kept stealing glances of her but tried to keep his focus of the street. The drive was silent, only the sound of rain falling on the car's windshield and window.
Aayansh drove quietly, the soft hum of the car engine blending with the rhythmic patter of rain against the windshield. Samaira sat still, her gaze fixed outside the window, yet her heart beat faster at the warmth of Aayansh's hand holding hers. It was a small gesture, but it spoke volumes in the silence between them.
Soon Aayansh stopped in front of a convenience store. He turned and looked at Samaira as he spoke in a soft voice,
"Tum yahi ruko...me aata hu.." Samaira nodded as he reluctantly removed his hand from her grip. He opened the door and left. Samaira kept sitting in the car and occasionally glancing outside at the door of the convenience store hoping for him to come back soon.
After a few minutes, he came back with a plastic bag filled with things. He sat inside and took a deep breath. He handed the bag to Samaira, there fingers brushing each other for a brief moment but she quickly pulled away,
"Ye- ye sab kya hai?" She asked as she rummaged through the bag.
"Wo...wo mujhe itna samajh nhi aaya isiliye...bas kuch chocolates aur snacks liya...aur...ek flower bouquet...store ke andar hi mil rha tha fresh isiliye..." He responded, removing his gaze from her as he felt a little shy for being so romantic kinda person
Samaira, after listening to him started to grin and quickly took out a packet of chocolate and started to eat it.
"Thank you... thank you soo much... mujhe kab se chocolates khane ka man tha... finally." She replied while grinning as she kept eating her chocolate.
Aayansh smiled at her and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear while she kept devouring her chocolate. He wiped a small stain of chocolate right next to her lips by his thumb and she stared a him for a moment in surprise as she blushed slightly.
"Kya hua... kuch galat kar diya kya?" He asked as she quickly shook her head, "Nahi nahi kuch nahi aisi hi bas..."
She replied as she finished eating her chocolate and took out the flowers bouquet he bought for her. She smelled it and smiled,
"Ye..ye to bohot acha hai... smell bhi achi hai.." She said as he smirked slightly and nodded,
"Pata hai mujhe... meri choice hmesha achi hi hoti hai..."
"Ji..bilkul.." She replied as she rolled her eyes and smiled. Aayansh chuckled and started to turn on the engine of his car.
Samaira kept the flower bouquet on her lap while he drove, she kept glancing at him and whenever she looked at him, she felt peace and also protected.
“Hum ab... kahaan ja rahe hain?” Samaira asked, breaking the stillness, her voice soft and hesitant.
Aayansh glanced at her briefly, his eyes calm yet filled with an unreadable intensity. “Kahin door, jahaan sirf tum aur main ho.” His voice carried a gentleness that felt unusual, almost as if he was carefully letting her into a part of him he hadn’t shared before.
Samaira turned her head to look at him, her brows slightly furrowed in curiosity but also uncertainty. “Lekin is waqt? Aur baarish bhi toh—”
He interrupted her softly, “Kabhi kabhi, waqt aur mausam ki parwah nahi karni chahiye. Jo zaruri hai, woh hai jis ke saath tum ho.” His thumb gently traced circles over her knuckles, grounding her in that moment.
His words made her stomach flip. It wasn’t just what he said, but the way he said it—firm yet tender, as if assuring her that she mattered.
The car came to a halt, and Samaira realized they had driven to a quiet spot overlooking the city, the lights of the streets and buildings shimmering like stars beneath the rain. The view was breathtaking, and the solitude of the moment added to its charm.
Aayansh stepped out of the car, opening the door for her. He held out his hand, waiting for her to take it. Samaira hesitated for a moment but slipped her hand into his, letting him guide her out. The rain had softened to a drizzle, and the cool breeze carried a freshness that made her close her eyes for a brief second.
Aayansh stood beside her, his presence commanding yet comforting. Without saying a word, he removed his blazer and draped it over her shoulders again, shielding her from the chill.
Samaira looked up at him, her lips parting slightly as if to say something, but the intensity in his gaze stopped her. He reached out, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering for a moment longer than necessary.
“Mujhe sirf tum chahiye, Samaira,” he said, his voice low but unwavering, each word carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken emotions.
Her breath hitched at his confession. She blinked at him, startled and overwhelmed, unsure of how to respond. Her lips quivered as a shy smile formed, her cheeks heating under his unwavering gaze.
“Main... main kya keh sakti hoon?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Bas yeh ki tum samajh gayi,” he replied, his lips curling into a faint smile.
For the first time in a long while, Samaira felt a flicker of hope—hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to this relationship than she’d thought. As they stood there under the dim city lights, the rain falling softly around them, the barriers between them seemed to blur, if only for a moment.
Soon he led her back inside the car and started to drive back towards their home. Samaira felt grateful and happy, those feelings which she hasn't felt since ages.
"Gaana sunti ho?" Aayansh asked suddenly, breaking the silence between them.
"Ji... kabhi kabhi.." She replied as she looked at him.
Aayansh hummed and connected his car with his phone.
"Arijit Singh?" He asked as if asking her if she liked his songs and should he play it
"Favourite singer hai mere..." She responded as he looked through the song options in his phone.
He soon found a song and clicked it.
"Favourite song hai mera..." He said as the song "Tum hi ho" started to play.
Samaira raised her eyebrows and smiled, "Mujhe bhi acha lagta hai...par mujhe nahi pata tha ki aap romantic gaane sunte honge..."
"Aisa kyu lagta tha tumhe? Insaan hu me kuch bhi sun sakta hu..chaahe me mafia hu ya phir ek baker... Mere profession se to tum mere song choices ko judge to nahi kar sakti.." he asked as if he was mock-offended.
Samaira chuckled and nodded, "Acha acha thik hai... me to bas aisi hi keh rahi thi..."
Both of them got silent as the music started to play, Samaira felt comforted like this... being inside a car with Aayansh while it was raining outside and a soft music playing inside.
Everything was peaceful when suddenly Aayansh gripped her hand and started to sing,
"Ham tere bin ab reh nahi sakte, tere bina kya wajood mera.." His voice was gentle and low, Samaira realised that he is singing and turned to him in surprise.
"Tujhse juda agar ho jainge to khud se ho jainge juda...." he kept singing while Samaira smiled, she found his voice vocally perfect, she never thought that he would ever sing. He was a man, a cold and distant one, who always kept his guards high and today... he was singing a romantic song while driving with his wife.
As he reached the chorus part, he turned to Samaira and started to sing while also keeping his focus on the road,
"Kyu ki tum hi ho, ek tum hi ho... zindagi ab tum hi ho... chen bhi... dard bhi... mere aashiqui... ab tum hi ho." He sang glancing at Samaira who kept looking at him while she smiled. He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss on her knuckles and then kept his gaze on the road ahead.
Samaira couldn't help but watch him in awe as he continued singing softly, his deep voice blending beautifully with the melody playing in the background. The sight of Aayansh—serious and composed Aayansh—letting down his guard, even for a fleeting moment, felt surreal.
As the song reached its crescendo, he glanced at her, a rare, almost shy smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Kaisa laga?" he asked casually, though his tone betrayed a hint of nervousness.
Samaira blinked, unsure of how to respond. "Aap... aap gaate bhi hain?" she finally managed, her voice tinged with both admiration and surprise.
"Bas kabhi kabhi," he said with a shrug, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Tumhare saamne toh pehli baar gaya hu."
His admission made her heart skip a beat. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "Aapki awaaz... bohot acchi hai," she said softly, her gaze dropping to her lap. "Mujhe laga hi nahi tha ki aap—"
"Romantic ho sakta hoon?" he interrupted, his tone teasing but his expression calm.
Samaira looked at him, startled, and nodded hesitantly. "Haan... aap kaafi alag lagte hain aaj."
Aayansh chuckled, the sound deep and comforting. "Samaira, tumhe lagta hai mujhe har waqt sakt hi rehna chahiye? Thoda relax karne ka haq mujhe bhi hai, aur... tumhare saath toh aur bhi zyada."
His words made her cheeks flush. She lowered her gaze, biting her lip to hide her shy smile. "Mujhe accha lagta hai jab aap aise hote ho... bilkul normal."
Aayansh's grip on the steering wheel tightened slightly, and he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Aur mujhe accha lagta hai jab tum hasti ho."
The simplicity and honesty in his words left her speechless. She looked out the window, trying to calm the fluttering in her chest.
The rest of the drive passed in comfortable silence, the rain outside creating a soothing rhythm as the soft notes of the song lingered in the background. When they finally reached home, Aayansh parked the car and turned to her before stepping out.
"Samaira," he called gently, making her look at him.
"Haan?"
He reached out and lightly tapped her nose, a gesture so unexpected that it caught her off guard. "Tum bohot pyari ho... kabhi kabhi mujhe lagta hai tumhare liye duniya ka saara sukoon le aaoon."
Before she could respond, he stepped out of the car, leaving her stunned yet overwhelmed with a mix of emotions. He opened the door of her side and helped her out. He wrapped his hand around her waist as he led her inside the mansion.
For the first time, she felt that maybe, just maybe, Aayansh was not as cold as he appeared. Beneath his hard exterior lay a heart that cared, a heart that might just hold the key to the happiness she had long forgotten.
Write a comment ...