Ayub spoke up casually –
"Time to celebrate the upcoming wedding with sweets, everyone!"
Adeeba's heart sank, palms growing sweaty –
She watched in horror as everyone reached for the gulab jamun, oblivious to the danger.
Her father, mother, Ayaan's parents, Ayaan himself – all took a bite...
Adeeba alone remained still, her hand frozen above her plate.
Siya, Ayaan's sister-in-law (Aydan's wife), noticed Adeeba's hesitation –
"Adeeba, beta, not eating sweets to celebrate your own engagement?"
Adeeba glanced desperately at Ayub –
Her eyes locking onto his, pleading silently for intervention or explanation.
Ayub's expression remained neutral, but a faint smirk played on his lips –
As if enjoying Adeeba's distress.
Adeeba's desperate thoughts screamed silently –
"Please help me, Ayub... I swear I'll ask for your forgiveness...
For everything between us, our broken friendship, all past hurts...
Just save Ayaan, save them..."
Her eyes remained locked on Ayub's, pleading –
A flicker of surprise crossed his face, then something else...
A hint of nostalgia, a spark of their former bond.
Ayub's gaze drifted to Ayaan, then back to Adeeba –
His expression softened ever so slightly, a barely perceptible nod.
Ayub continued smoothly –
"Not just engagement jitters, Siya bhabhi...
Adeeba's actually severely allergic to milk – gulab jamun's a bad idea for her."
Adeeba's eyes widened slightly –
Ayub just revealed a true secret about her, one only close friends would know...
Their former friendship had indeed been close enough for him to remember this.
Siya ji's expression turned concerned –
"Oh dear, we didn't know! No milk products for you tonight then, Adeeba beta."
The room nodded in agreement, distraction complete –
Ayaan and everyone else remained oblivious to the poison threat, thanks to Ayub's intervention.
Adeeba felt a complex mix of emotions –
Gratitude towards Ayub for saving lives, wariness of his motives, and surprise he still knew her secrets.
Ayub's mother spoke up gently –
"Ayub beta, show respect – call her Bhabhi, she's almost your brother's sister-in-law now."
Ayub smiled casually, protesting –
"Ammi, we graduated from the same school – Adeeba and I are practically old classmates...
'Bhabhi' feels too formal between us, considering our history."
Adeeba's heart skipped a beat –
Ayub highlighting their shared past again, making others curious about their "history"...
Ayaan's eyes narrowed slightly, interest piqued –
"Same school, huh? You two knew each other back then, Ayub?"
Ayub's mother intervened quickly –
"Yes, they did, beta Ayaan – but let's focus on celebration tonight, not old school days!"
Yet Ayub just glanced at Adeeba, his expression hinting –
"There's more to our story, isn't there?"
The conversation flowed lightly after that –
Ayub's mother shared engagement stories, Ayaan's father talked about wedding plans,
Adeeba's mother discussed ceremony details with Shifa ji.
Throughout the chat, Adeeba and Ayaan exchanged warm smiles –
Their eyes met a few times, sparkling with affection and relief the evening ended peacefully.
Ayub observed them subtly, expression neutral –
Adeeba sensed him watching, but he looked away whenever she glanced back.
Finally, Hasif Khan stood up –
"Time for us to head home, tonight was wonderful, Rashid ji, Nimra ji –
Ayaan's excited for the engagement next week!"
The families bid each other farewell –
Adeeba walked Ayaan out, hands touching briefly before he left with his family.
As they drove away, Adeeba exhaled deeply –
Grateful the night ended without disaster, thanks to Ayub's unexpected help.
In Khan mansion
Inside Aydan's study –
A warm glow from table lamps surrounded Ayaan, Aydan, and Ayub
Ayub set his coffee cup down –
"It's confirmed, brothers – Vikram Rao was behind the attack on you, Aydan."
Aydan's jaw clenched –
"That monster almost took everything from me, from Siya..."
Ayaan's eyes blazed –
"His destruction begins now. Every business, every asset – Rao will lose everything."
As they sipped their tea and coffee, discussing strategies –
Ayaan suddenly paused, looking at Ayub intensely –
"Wait a minute, Ayub – you knew Adeeba in school...
Why didn't you tell me about your connection to my fiancée?"
Ayub shrugged casually –
"There's not only one Adeeba in this world, brother...
Plus, I never saw her photo with you – no reason to connect the dots ."
Ayaan raised an eyebrow –
"It was just today... You're saying you didn't suspect the connection until then?"
Ayub nodded calmly –
"Exactly, bhai – today at dinner was my first hint Adeeba Pathan was YOUR Adeeba."
Ayaan's curiosity deepened –
"So, now that you know... what really happened between you two in school, Ayub?"
Ayub paused, collecting thoughts –
"Honestly, bhai – Adeeba and I were close friends –
But something drove us apart senior year... We lost touch after graduation."
Aydan leaned forward slightly –
"Something drove you apart – or someone, Ayub?
Brother, what really ended your friendship with Adeeba?"
Ayaan's eyes narrowed –
"Tell us, Ayub – what happened between you and Adeeba?"
Ayub took a deep breath –
"It's complicated, bhai...
Aydan asked directly –
"Ayub, brother, did you have feelings for Adeeba?"
Ayaan's body tensed subtly, eyes fixed intensely on Ayub –
Waiting for his response.
Ayub chuckled slightly, relaxed –
"No, not like that, brothers...
Adeeba was more like a sister to me – we shared a strong bond as friends."
Ayaan's tension eased visibly –
A soft exhale escaped his lips as he leaned back in his chair, eyes never leaving Ayub's face.
Aydan nodded thoughtfully –
"A sisterly bond explains the lingering affection we sensed, Ayub.
Brother, do you think Adeeba feels the same sibling-like affection towards you?"
Ayub burst out laughing –
"What are you saying, bhai?!
Once I pranked her saying I liked her romantically...
Adeeba BEAT THE HELL OUT OF ME!"
Ayaan and Aydan ERUPTED into laughter –
Their study filled with deep belly laughs and snorts.
Aydan wiped tears from his eyes –
"Oh man, Ayub brother, that story confirms sibling zone –
Adeeba clearly didn't feel any romance towards your bruised face!"
Ayaan grinned still chuckling –
"This prank story puts my mind fully at ease, Ayub bhai...
Marriage to Adeeba is definitely proceeding without brotherly competition!"
Ayaan smiling –
"This prank story aside, Ayub bhai, what really ended your daily talks with Adeeba back then?
You said you lost touch after school – what happened senior year?"
Ayub's expression turned thoughtful again –
"Honestly, bhai... senior year Adeeba started distancing herself, then suddenly stopped hanging out with our friend group altogether."
Aydan leaned in slightly –
"She just cut ties with everyone, Ayub brother, or just with you?"
Ayub hesitated before answering –
"With me specifically at first... then gradually everyone else too – like she was hiding something, bhai."
Aydan asked, "But was it about your pride, Ayub brother, or something else when she distanced herself?"
Ayub leaned back in his chair, collecting thoughts –
"No pride involved, brother... actually, timing was weird.
You remember I had that important boards file to submit senior year?"
Ayaan nodded slightly – "Yes, the one for the entire class – what about it?"
Ayub continued, "I was heading to Shreya's house to exchange files with her...
But Adeeba showed up at Shreya's place before I could give her mine.
She asked for the file, so I handed it over – thought nothing of it."
Aydan's curiosity piqued – "And then?"
Ayub's expression turned serious –
"She never submitted it to school. I confronted her about it...
Her response still haunts me – 'You're with the wrong people.'
Then she left school the very next day, brothers."
Ayaan's eyes narrowed intensely –
"Ayub bhai, this implies Adeeba knew something about our family or friends back then...
Do you think she was warning you away from us?"
Ayub was about to respond –
But before he could speak, Siya walked into the study silently –
Her presence alone conveyed a gentle message.
Aydan immediately understood –
A soft smile crossed his face as he stood up from his chair –
"Time for us to head in, brothers – Siya's hint is always clear enough."
Ayaan chuckled knowingly –
"Yes, Siya bhabhi never needs words to summon you, Aydan bhai –
We'll continue Adeeba discussion tomorrow morning."
Ayub nodded in agreement –
"Tomorrow then, brothers – my mind's still reeling from old memories anyway."
The brothers shared nods and gentle goodnights –
Aydan walked out with Siya, arm around her waist, while Ayaan and Ayub headed to their respective rooms.