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This is your author simran

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Author's pov:

ďżź

“Not now, Vivaan.” His voice was low, lethal. “And don’t drag that girl's name in this .”

Vivaan flinched at the sharpness in his brother’s tone. The hallway seemed to still be around them. Rayyan’s jaw was clenched, his breaths uneven, the storm in him barely contained. Everyone knew—when Rayyan Sikander spoke like that, the air learned silence.

Rayyan adjusted his shirt, blood staining the fabric from his reopened stitches. He didn’t care. His eyes were already locked onto the man still slumped by the shattered window—Adrian.

He walked toward him, slow, calculated, a predator who never rushed the final blow. “Don’t you dare say her name; you won’t even be there to finish it.You will witness the beast I’ve kept chained inside me."

Adrian clenched his fists, his jaw trembling with rage—but he didn’t speak. Couldn’t.

Rayyan turned to the doctor attending to Sitara, his voice dangerously calm.“Take good care of her. I have a lot of things planned for her.”

The young doctor flinched, her voice trembling as she nodded. “O-Okay, sir…”

But behind them, Mahir stood rigid, his jaw clenched so tightly it looked like it might shatter. His eyes burned holes through Rayyan.

Rayyan smirked cruelly, turning to him.

“Oh come on, saale sahab, I know I’m handsome—no need to stare like that. Your sister might get upset seeing you drooling over her husband,” he teased with a mocking laugh.  “Excuse me now. I should leave—I have no desire to lose my dignity in front of people.”—

But just then, a thunderous voice cut through the tension.

“Enough!” Kabir Sikander,(father of rayyan and harshad, suhana, husband of bala ) roared, stepping in between them.

“What do you all think this is?! A battlefield? This is a hospital, not some street brawl arena!”

His voice thundered through the corridor, silencing everyone.

Rayyan stood unmoved, his gaze still locked through the glass at Sitara—unconscious, fragile, breathing faintly like a porcelain doll behind that window.

Without a word, like a storm that didn’t need to declare its damage, Rayyan turned and began to walk away.

Kabir  spun him around and forced him to sit on the nearest bench, gripping his shoulders with controlled fury.

“Are you completely out of your mind?” Kabir growled, his voice trembling—not with rage, but fear. “What the hell are you doing out of your hospital bed? The doctor told you clearly to rest until morning!  Don’t you even care about yourself?”

Rayyan's tone was softer now, defensive. “It was about Sitara, Dad. If I hadn’t come, she might’ve—”

“I don’t care what might have happened to her!” Kabir snapped, eyes glistening with emotion. “She’s a stranger. She’s the enemy’s daughter. But you—you’re my son, Rayyan. If anything had happened to you today, I swear I wouldn’t be able to live with it. You’ve done so much for us… now do one thing in return. Take care of yourself. Stop throwing yourself into fire every damn time! Me and your mother couldn’t bear it if something happened to you, beta”

For a moment, the air was heavy with Kabir’s grief disguised as anger. His voice cracked slightly.

Then, from behind, Vihaan muttered under his breath, unable to hold back his bitterness.

“Why are you even so concerned about her?” ,he asked sharply. “What would we have lost if she had gotten hurt?”

Kabir turned slowly to him, his face now unreadable—stone cold.

“Because,” rayyan said calmly, “if she isn’t safe, we can’t use her.”

"Why are you even soo cared about her  . What los to us if she had got hurt ", Vivaan asked in frustration

" if she is not safe , how can we use her . Until we finish our targets, she must stay alive and safe."

Kabir nodded "Okay, but nothing should go wrong . It's a sensitive matter", kabir said

Rayyan just stayed silent

"Is it happening again?", kabira asked with fatherly care.

“Yes, Papa, I’m fine,” Rayyan said.

“No, you’re not!” Kabir snapped. “I spoke to the doctor. He’s prescribed more medicine, and you will take it. If not, you're not going to the office.”

Rayyan tried to protest, but Kabir raised his palm. “It’s an order, Rayyan.”

No one disobeys Kabir Sikander.

Just then, Kabir’s phone rang. The screen litup:home.Kabir quickly answered. “Bala—”

Her voice boomed with panic from the other end. “Kabir! Where is Rayyan? Did you find him? Is he okay? The nurse said he left the hospital room all of a sudden and no one could stop him. What is going on?!” and—”

Kabir chuckled softly, trying to calm her down. “Relax, love. I’ve found your stubborn son. He’s alright. He is sitting right infront of me and happily. Alive,  annoying as always ".

Still, Bala didn’t calm down "you guys couldn't handle my masum innocent bacha ", bala scolded

"Ohooo, madam your son is not a little child anymore. If we married him off now , he Will become father of a child", kabir teased

"Hatiye aap, you always cry on my  son . Put him on the phone! I want to hear his voice. He does this every time, he doesn’t care about himself", bala said

Kabir chuckled and handed the phone to Rayyan"Here.  Say to your mother that you are fine.”

Rayyan took the phone reluctantly and rolled his eyes. “You enjoy making a joke out of my mom's worry, don’t you?”

“Rayyan beta!” Bala’s voice softened instantly but remained anxious. “Are you okay, jaan? Why are you out of bed? You didn’t eat properly last night. Did you take your medicines? Did you get cold?”

Rayyan pressed the phone to his ear. “Ma...” His voice softened immediately. “I’m fine. Promise. Just needed to someone. I’ll rest now, okay?”

On the other end, Bala’s voice trembled. “Promise?”Rayyan gave a crooked half-smile. “Pakka waala promise.”

"Okay then , take your medicine and if felt dizzy or pain , inform to your father. Nooo. Noo , tell to the doctor. Take care betu . We all are waiting for you ", bala said

Rayyan nodded "okay maa, good night take care", he ended the call , handed the phone to kabir

Sitara's Hospital Room — Late Night

Machines beeped rhythmically beside Sitara’s unconscious body.

Mahir  stood stiffly at the foot of the bed, hands clenched, jaw tight. His eyes were hard as stone, boring into her fragile form like a blade.

“ I m ashamed for bring your elder brother . You shouldn't have born on that night,” Mahir muttered under his breath, voice barely above a whisper. "First, you took Mom away from me. now, you're trying to take Ahaan Bhaiya away too.If I hadn’t promised Mom, I would’ve killed you the day she left us. Every day, you create a new issue, crying like a coward and running from problems. You’re of no use to us."God knows, when  we’ll be free of you.”

At the other side of the bed, Adrian sat quietly,  a wicked grin dancing faintly on his lips as he watched her body . There was something deeply disturbing about the way his eyes scanned her face, slowly drifting down to her collarbone, and further down her form under the hospital sheet.

His gaze darkened with desire. Twisted, possessive.

"She’s more beautiful up close than before…” He smirked darkly. “That mouth... those curves. I’ve never seen a body like this. Can’t wait to make it mine—on our first night, of course.,” he whispered to himself, leaning closer

He brushed a knuckle along the edge of the sheet, just hovering—never touching—his lips curving into something sinister.

“On our first night,” he murmured, “I’ll explore every inch of you.”

Mahir snapped toward Adrian, disgust replacing the hatred in his eyes.

Mahir turned sharply. “Adrian!”

Adrian only chuckled, unbothered, running his thumb over her bandaged wrist.

“Come on, brother-in-law. A man’s allowed to admire his soon-to-be wife, isn’t he?”

“She’s unconscious, you sick bastard.”

Adrian’s smile widened, dark and mocking. “ ohooo my brother in law, you can curse your sister but why can't I give complement on my finance beauty”

Mahir’s fists clenched, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t like Adrian—but he needed him. For power. For alliance. For revenge. And so, he turned his back to his sister and walked out.

The soft beeping of the monitor was the only sound that filled the silence.

Unnoticed by either Mahir or Adrian, a single tear slipped from the corner of Sitara's eye.

She wasn’t unconscious. Not fully.

Trapped somewhere between sleep and awareness, her mind drifted like a ship caught in a storm—half-hearing, half-feeling. But Mahir’s words… they cut through the fog like knives.

At morning:-

The morning light spilled softly across the white sheets. Her eyelids fluttered, lashes trembling as her consciousness stirred from its foggy depths. But instead of peace, chaos met her halfway.

Her breath hitched.Her fingers clutched the sheet.

And then came the voices—sharp, cutting, relentless.

"why do you even born as my daughter?!",

"learn something from naira , your cousin, you are a looser

Sitara’s chest rose in a sudden gasp.

"Arey darling you are just a time pass and distraction for me , if you want you can come to my room at the weekend.Don't start yor drama now . Neither you won't satisfy me nor you let others do ", he shouted", her ex voice echoed in her mind

Later her mind goes to another

The alley was dark, soaked in blood and rain. Gunsmoke lingered in the air like a curse. A single bullet echoed—then silence.

Sitara's breath caught in her throat as she stood frozen behind the rusted dumpster. Her trembling hand covered her mouth to keep the scream in. And then... he turned. Her wide eyes locked with his—a man with piercing green eyes, shimmering like a storm beneath shadows. He was tall, drenched, terrifyingly calm, and holding a still-smoking gun pointed at a man collapsing at his feet.

Their eyes met.

He saw her.

She saw death.

His eyes locked on hers—dark, wild, magnetic.

Not a hint of regret. Only possession.

As if he had been waiting for her to watch.

His lips curled into the faintest, wicked smirk. He stepped forward once, slow… calculated… like a predator.

“You weren’t supposed to see this, sweetheart…”

His voice was velvet and venom.

“But now that you have—how will you run from me?. Now you have to pay for this, girl”

Sitara gulped, staggering back "please, l-leave me", she stammered in fear

"Some things," he muttered darkly, eyes still where Sitara had disappeared, "can’t be unseen."

“Run,” he whispered—so low, so sinful it slithered down her spine like heat "Before I change my mind."

Sitara didn’t wait. She ran—heart pounding, lungs screaming. She ran until her legs buckled until her screams drowned in the roar of an oncoming truck—

SCREECH. CRASH.

Silence.

But back in the alley, the man stood still, unshaken, wiping the blood from his fingers.

Not out loud—but inside her mind. A scream that shook her soul.

Her body jolted up in the hospital bed, soaked in sweat. Her heart raced like a trapped bird, her chest rising and falling with panic.

“NO!” Sitara screamed, her whole body jolting.

The nurse rushed in. “Ma’am! Ma’am, it’s okay! You’re safe now—”

But Sitara couldn't hear her.She was still trapped in those voices.  That murder.

Tears poured from her eyes as she clutched her head, shaking it violently.“Get out of my head!”She screamed at nothing.

She was shaking uncontrollably, hands gripping the bedsheets like she was drowning. she cried. “ I didn't see that murder, I won't say it to police , please leave me!”

Nurses rushed in, trying to hold her, but Sitara pushed them back with surprising strength. “Don’t touch me!”

She cried louder, hysterical, eyes searching every corner of the room like a lost child in a nightmare.

But Adrian, seated just a few feet away, had earbuds stuffed in his ears, lost in a flirtatious video call with his girlfriend, chuckling under his breath.

He didn't even glance at her.

“Stop making that noise!” he finally barked when her cries got louder. “Can’t you stay quiet for a moment?”

Sitara flinched as if someone had slapped her.

Her breath hitched. She stared at Adrian in disbelief.That broke her even more.

The door slammed open.

Mahir entered, on a call with his PA. “Yeah, yeah—just manage the reporters. I’ll bring her down in ten—no more than that.”

He entered the room, eyes scanning Sitara’s broken figure without a shred of concern.He was munching lazily on a sandwich.Unbothered

“What the hell is this screaming now?” he growled. “Stop this nonsense, Sitara. You’ve embarrassed us enough. The media is waiting outside—get ready in five minutes. We’ll make it look like you’re grateful to be alive, okay?””

The nurse stood protectively near Sitara, “Sir, she’s having a panic attack. She is soo weak—she’s in no state—”

“She’s putting on a drama,” Mahir cut in coldly. “Discharge her now. We don’t have time. The press is already outside. She needs to get ready in five minutes.”

“But sir—”

“I SAID NOW.”

The heart monitor beeped faster. Sitara shook like a leaf. Her chest heaved, eyes darting like a trapped animal.

And then the nurse remembered.

Without another word, the nurse rushed to the drawer and pulled out music player, given by someone, specially for sitara

She slid the headphones gently over Sitara’s earsA soft melody began to play.

Sitara’s breathing began to slow.Her fingers relaxed. Her shoulders eased.

Mahir scoffed and turned away.

Little Later

She pulled the headphones down and looked at the nurse.“…What happened to me?” she asked softly, voice hoarse.

The nurse smiled sadly. “You were in a coma… for almost two months.”

Sitara blinked.

Then let out a low, bitter laugh. “Three months? Hmm. I’m surprised my father and brothers haven’t screamed at me for staying alive this long.”

The nurse looked down, unable to lie. “…They weren’t exactly worried.”Sitara smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.“thank you for your sweet ,” she whispered.

The nurse helped her stand. “ Your clothes are on the table.”

Sitara nodded quietly and moved slowly to the changing room

After some time:-

Sitara sat quietly in the backseat of the car, her head resting against the window. Her stomach ached, but she hadn’t eaten a single bite since morning. Mahir drove in silence, his sunglasses masking the indifference in his eyes.

“Why did you create a scene at the hospital yesterday—and again this morning? Reporters saw it, and now they’re writing negatively about us. You know the elections are near, and yet you did what you born do—ruin everything.

Your soul won’t rest until you've caused trouble for us. Why did you even come back from London? Why return to our lives, huh?

Well, Papa's found a solution to get rid of you. You’ve got a wedding to prepare for. Five days from now, you’re going to be Adrian’s wife.”

Sitara’s eyes filled with tears. She quietly looked away, her heart sinking deeper into a pit of loneliness.

"No one wants me.I shouldn't have woken up, i shouldn't have born", she thought in her mind

She slowly rolled down the window, letting the wind hit her tear-streaked face. Just then—

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Firecrackers lit up the sky ahead. Sparks glittered like stars, and amidst the crackles, glowing letters formed:

“Welcome Back, Lavender.”

Sitara blinked in awe, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Whoever this Lavender girl is… she’s lucky,” she whispered, unaware it was meant for her.

Little did she know, she was Lavender.

And the man behind the mysterious fireworks, watching from afar with unreadable eyes and a slow-burning smirk…

was Rayyan sikander

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