Chapter 2: The Mask of Protection (Hifazat ka Naqab)
Agla hafta Zoya ke liye kisi imtihan se kam nahi tha. Singhania Mansion ki chaka-chondh use darti thi, lekin Aryan ka vyavhar use aur bhi uljhan mein daal raha tha. Wo sabke samne usse aise milta jaise wo uski jaan ho, lekin akele mein wo wahi purana "Ice King" ban jata.
Zoya ek sham garden mein bethi thi jab Aryan ki dadi wahan aayin. "Beta, Aryan bachpan se aisa nahi tha. Ek haadse ne use patthar bana diya. Magar jab se tum aayi ho, uski aankhon mein maine wo purani chamak dekhi hai," unhone Zoya ka hath thapthapate hue kaha.
Zoya sirf muskura saki. Use pata tha ki wo chamak sirf ek dikhava hai—ek 100 din ka contract.
Usi raat, shehar mein ek badi Business Gala event thi. Aryan ne Zoya ko ek khoobsurat emerald green gown diya aur sakht lehze mein kaha, "Taiyar ho jao. Aaj tumhe meri patni ke roop mein poore shehar ke samne aana hai. Ek bhi galti nahi honi chahiye."
Gala event mein sabki nazrein is naye jode par thi. Aryan ne poori sham Zoya ki kamar par hath rakha hua tha, jaise wo use duniya se bacha raha ho. Lekin tabhi, ek shaks unke samne aaya—Vikram Rathore, Aryan ka sabse bada dushman aur uska purana business partner.
"Wao, Aryan! Tumhari pasand toh kamaal ki hai," Vikram ne Zoya ko ghoorte hue kaha. Uski nazron mein ek gandi chamak thi. "Lekin suna hai tumne yeh phool kisi saste bazaar se uthaya hai?"
Aryan ka jabda sakht ho gaya. Usne Zoya ko apne peeche kiya aur Vikram ke kaan ke paas jhuk kar dheemi magar khatarnak awaaz mein kaha, "Agar dobara meri patni ki taraf aankh uthakar bhi dekha, toh tumhari saltanat mitti mein mila dunga. Yeh meri cheez hai, aur main apni cheezon ka batwara nahi karta."
Vikram hansne laga, lekin uski hansi mein zeher tha. "Dekhte hain yeh 'cheez' kab tak tumhare paas rehti hai."
Ghar wapasi ke waqt car mein bilkul khamoshi thi. Zoya ne Aryan ki taraf dekha. Wo gusse mein tha, uski mutthiyan bheenchi hui thi.
"Aapne wahan aisa kyun kaha?" Zoya ne dabi awaaz mein poocha. "Ki main aapki 'cheez' hoon?"
Aryan ne car zor se brake maari aur Zoya ki taraf muda. Uska chehra Zoya ke chehre ke behad kareeb tha. "Kyunki bahar ki duniya tumhari soch se zyada gandi hai, Zoya. Vikram tumhe nuksan pahunchana chahta hai sirf isliye kyunki tum mujhse judi ho. Jab tak tum is contract mein ho, meri zimmedari ho."
Zoya ne uski aankhon mein dekha. Wahan nafrat nahi, balki ek ajeeb sa darr tha—kisi ko khone ka darr.
Agli subha, Zoya ko ek anonymous courier mila. Jab usne use khola, toh uske andar uske pita ki hospital ki tasveerein thi jin par laal rang se cross bana hua tha. Uske niche likha tha: "Tumhara contract Aryan se hai, lekin tumhari zindagi mere hath mein hai."
Zoya ke paon tale zameen nikal gayi. Wo roti hui Aryan ke office pahunchi. Security ne use rokne ki koshish ki, lekin wo dhakka dekar Aryan ke cabin mein ghus gayi.
"Aryan! Mere papa..." Wo bolte-bolte phat padi aur Aryan ke seene se lag kar rone lagi.
Aryan, jo ek meeting mein tha, thithak gaya. Usne apne board members ko bahar jane ka ishara kiya. Usne pehli baar Zoya ko apne baahon mein liya aur uske sar par hath rakha. "Shh... kuch nahi hoga. Main hoon na."
Usne wo tasveerein dekhi aur uski aankhein gusse se laal ho gayin. Use pata tha yeh Vikram ki chaal hai. Aryan ne turant apne security head ko call kiya. "Zoya ke pita ki security double kar do. Aur suno, Vikram Rathore ke har project ko aaj hi band karwao. Use batana ki usne galat insaan par hath dala hai."
Zoya ne roti hui aankhon se Aryan ko dekha. "Aap itna kyun kar rahe hain? Yeh toh contract ka hissa nahi tha."
Aryan ne uske aansu ponche. Uska sparsh is baar pehle se narm tha. "Contract sirf 100 din ka hai, Zoya. Lekin meri hifazat ki koi expiry date nahi hoti."
Usi raat, jab Zoya so rahi thi, Aryan ne uske kamre ke bahar pehra diya. Use ehsas ho raha tha ki wo is ladki ko sirf apne fayde ke liye nahi, balki usse pyar karne laga hai. Lekin uska ateet (past) use rok raha tha. Aryan ke dushman ab sirf business tak mahdood nahi the, wo uske dil par hamla kar rahe the.
Dono ko nahi pata tha ki agla din unki zindagi ka sabse bada imtihan hone wala hai, jahan contract khatam hone se pehle hi rishta tootne ki kagar par hoga.
Author's Words:
"Doston, Aryan ka gussa aur uska protecitve nature ab samne aa raha hai! Lekin kya ek CEO ki taqat ek dushman ke khauf ko mita payegi? Zoya ke liye Aryan ka dil pighal toh raha hai, magar kya wo apne past ke darr se bahar nikal payega?
Final Chapter mein dekhiye—kya yeh contract ek asli shaadi mein badlega ya Vikram ki saazish sab kuch khatam kar degi? Stay tuned!"
