Asad's POV
"Dilshad is in Mumbai?" I inquired, taken aback. "When did he arrive?"

"He's been in Mumbai all along, hiding," she remarked with a sly grin, her hand brushing against my chest.

"Hiding? Where..." I closed my eyes briefly, trying to quell my frustration as I pieced it together. "...let me guess. In this villa?! Under yours and your father's protection."

No wonder our search was in vain!

"You're more perceptive than I gave you credit for."

I gently untangled her arms from around me, retrieving my phone. "I need to leave," I stated flatly, heading for the door.

"Where do you think you're headed?"

I brushed off her question. It was the information I needed, and finally, Zayaan answered my call.

Zayaan's POV,
I wasted no time in setting out to locate Inarah. Since she left her phone behind, tracking her directly wasn't an option. Instead, I instructed Ridhwan to hack into her car's GPS system and pinpoint her whereabouts.

Where are you, Inarah?

Every passing second felt like an eternity. The thought of something happening to her consumed me. If anything were to befall her, the guilt would be unbearable, and I vowed retribution against Leela.

As if my fears weren't already intensified, a call from Asad only heightened them further. Dilshad had surfaced in Mumbai and had set his sights on my wife. Could matters possibly get any worse? Yes, if he reached her before I did. But I wouldn't allow that to happen. I shifted gears, pressing down on the accelerator on the nearly deserted midnight road, my heart pounding.

A text from Ridhwan flashed on my screen, revealing Inarah's location. Asad had already mobilized our men to converge on the site.

Inarah's POV,
I furiously wiped away the tears cascading down my cheeks, still sobbing like a little girl. My fingers clenched the steering wheel with an iron grip, knuckles turning white, as I pressed down on the accelerator with even more force. Damn, those sports cars can go like lightning, especially when you're as pissed off as I was right then.

That miserable bastard! How the hell could he? I trusted him, opened up to him... and what's worse, despite it all, I'm still drowning in this insane love for him. He keeps tearing my heart out, every damn time. It's like a twisted roller coaster, part of me wanting to kick him square in the balls, but deep down, I ache to hold him tight, bury my face in his chest, and just cry my heart out, pleading for him to stay. Ugh, why am I such a pathetic mess?

Why, Zayaan? Why the hell did you do this to me?

I drove aimlessly along the deserted road, the wind's furious howl mingling with the growl of the engine through the open window. But where was I even headed? Beats me! I just wanted an escape from this tornado of jealousy, heartbreak, and sheer pain that was tearing me apart.

Out of nowhere, two cars swooped in, one from the left and the other from the right, blocking my path. No matter how hard I tried to overtake, those bastards wouldn't let up, hemming me in. Glancing at the rearview mirror, I cursed under my breath as two more cars closed in behind me, sealing my fate. And in case you're wondering, it was a one-way road. Anxiety started to creep in. I snapped the window shut, locking myself in. Were these creeps, perverts, or just plain troublemakers?

As all the cars screeched to a halt, I slammed the brakes, the tires protesting with a high-pitched squeal. Panic surged through me, mingling with the adrenaline from my anger. The cars behind me followed suit, trapping me like a rat in a cage.

My heartbeat raced, breaths grew shallow. Claustrophobia wrapped its cold fingers around my chest, squeezing tight. I fumbled for my phone, only to remember that I'd left the damn thing at home. I let out a frustrated growl and gave a desperate honk, only to see all four cars' doors swing open. Out poured a bunch of guys who looked like they could double as goons from a B-grade gangster movie. Hugging my knees to my chest, I felt terror grip me, choking the air out of my lungs.

"Z... Zayaan... Oh God, where the hell are you?" My voice trembled, each word a plea as they closed in on me.

Shivering like a leaf in a storm, heart hammering, I squeezed my eyes shut and covered my ears, desperately gasping for air as they pounded on my car like it owed them money.

"Back the hell off!" I yelled.

The gangsters formed a circle around me, my escape route blocked from all sides. Fear wrapped its icy fingers around me, squeezing tighter with every heartbeat. I could barely breathe.

Guns! They brandished guns! Were they here to snuff me out? Was this it, the end? Were they going to hurt me...

"NO! LEAVE ME!!!NO PLEASE!!! HELP SOMEBODY HELP!!"
I kept on screaming, wailing like a banshee, my ears ringing from the gunshots punctuating the air. I huddled into a protective ball, my attempts at resistance futile against their overpowering might. Lack of air, confined space, and the sheer dread made my stomach churn.

Then suddenly, my eyes flew open in horror as the car door creaked open.

"Finally! Step out, gorgeous," a gruff voice commanded, a vice-like grip clamping onto my arm.

"No! Let go! Somebody, please help me!" I shrieked at the top of my lungs, my tears blurring my vision as they yanked me out of the car. I kicked, I screamed, but it was like struggling against a brick wall. My sandals slipped off, the rough road scraping against my skin as they dragged me mercilessly. My throat burned from all the screaming.

Curses filled the air as they tugged me along. In that heart-stopping moment, more cars rolled in, their headlights blinding me. Gunfire exploded, my pulse racing in my ears. What had I stumbled into? But amidst the chaos, I heard the one voice that always brought me solace.

Zayaan!

"Let her go, you damn bastards!" His roar reverberated through the night.

My heart swelled with relief at the sight of him. His crew spilled out of their vehicles, forming a united front.

"Za..." My voice caught in my throat as the guy behind me tightened his grip, the cold muzzle of a gun pressing against my temple. Panic surged through my veins.

"Back off, all of you, or I'll blow her brains out," the guy growled.

His fingers around my neck felt like a vice, sending a chill down my spine. Zayaan was right there, within arm's reach, and yet so far away. Something in his eyes seemed different, something I rarely saw. Fear!

The night wind howled around us, the lone flickering streetlight casting eerie shadows. I held Zayaan's gaze, a torrent of emotions flowing between us. He was my savior, my rock. Tears streamed down my face.

"Where's that coward, Dilshad? His beef is with me. Why the hell is he dragging an innocent girl into this mess?" Zayaan's voice echoed across the makeshift barricade of cars.

"After what you did to his son, you think the boss is gonna let your precious wife off the hook? We'll butcher her just like you did Imraan and mail you the pieces," the guy taunted. My blood ran cold at his words. Butcher? Pieces? Wait, was Imraan actually Rahil? Did Zayaan really... kill him?

My gasp was cut short as the guy's grip around my throat tightened, squeezing the life out of me.

"Inarah!" Zayaan's voice sliced through the chaos.

"Bhabhi!"

I stretched my arm towards him, my fingers aching to touch him, to feel his reassuring warmth. But he was tantalizingly out of reach.

"Let. Her. Go!" Zayaan's voice boomed, his men echoing his sentiment, guns drawn and ready.

The guy finally released his hold on my neck, and I crumpled to my knees, gasping for breath, my throat on fire.

Before I could even lift my head, the sharp cracks of gunshots shattered the air. I squeezed my eyes shut, hands clamped over my ears, curling into a ball on the unforgiving pavement. Fear gripped me...

Zayaan's POV,
Asad subtly managed to position our men behind the cars safely and take stance ready to shoot on command. I had to take down the scum who was pointing his gun at Inarah first to ensure her safety and attract the other men's attention on us. So I signalled my men moving my 2 fingers down and took the aim at his arm and shot making him lose his gun. It was dangerous and Inarah was in greater risk but I had no choice. The war began and my men covered me as I ducked through the cars and shot through to get to my Inarah who was still scrunching down terrified. The men from both sides kept popping up thier heads and guns from behind the cars to shoot at eachother at every chance. My men were taking control over the other side quite well.

My sweet angel! I couldn't even imagine what she must be going through.

Don't worry my Jaan. I'll save you. No harm will touch you.

One of the men was grabbing her arm to drag her in his car from behind hers as she screamed watching him horrified but I shot him on the knee and Asad took him down from the distance all whilst her seeing the entire scene horrified. Finally, I reached towards her. She flinched at my touched but when she saw me her tearful eyes and frightened face clenched my heart.

"It's ok!" I quickly said pulling her in my arms. She hid her face in my jacket trembling and as I tried to stand her up, her legs went wobbly and she sank again still in my arms.

She was crying again.

"Zayaan bhai! 3'o'clock!" Raghav yelled and I pointed my gun at my left shooting the man at his throat. Inarah whimpered at the sound.

After a few minutes, everything went quite, all those bastards were down. I threw my now empty gun and picked Inarah in my arms.

"Inarah...." I said looking at her worried.

She lifted her head up whimpering.
"Z..za..yaa..n"

"Everything's ok now!" I smiled nodding, assuring her. She moved her eyes around at the looking at the blood covered dead body and shivered. I pulled her closer.

"It's ok....no one will hurt you now " I whispered.

"You...you all....ki....ki....killed them." She whispered.

I froze.

She saw! She saw us.....me... killing them. What now? Does she hate me?

Fear crawled through me at that thought. I never wanted her to see this side of me.... I never wanted her to know about me...my life...my work....my dangerous....my monsters!

But she knows now!

I turned around and kept walking. Asad was checking the men for injuries.

I kept walking towards our car whilst Inarah kept looking at all the dead bodies horrified. Her honey orbs trembling.

Just then... I noticed a hand moving on the ground and he aimed his gun at my Inarah. I hastily turned to cover her and felt the sharp ache on my shoulder permeating throughout, and my body spasmed at the impact as the bullet pierced in. I almost dropped Inarah.

"Bhai!" My men screamed. It was the same man who was holding Inarah before and now managed to shoot while he couldn't even get up. He wasn't dead but Asad, Raghav, Uddhav and Rajiv all leaped forward and emptied thier guns in him.

Inarah's POV,

He was shot!

My Zayaan! He was hurt!

"Zayaan!" My cry tore through the air as I watched him, my horror and despair intensifying. My hand, once steady on his back, was now drenched in his crimson blood.

I couldn't bear to witness the swift retaliation of Asad and his men, exacting justice on the man who had harmed Zayaan. As the gunshots reverberated, I forced myself to shift my gaze away, unable to fathom the violence.

Despite his evident agony, Zayaan managed to offer me a faint smile. "I'm... I'm okay," he gasped, his words coming out breathlessly.

Desperate to free myself from his grasp, I attempted to pull away, but his grip tightened around me.

"Zayaan, please..." My voice quivered, and I trembled uncontrollably. Yet, he shook his head, denying my plea.

"Zayaan... bhai!" Asad hurried over, his eyes flickering anxiously between me and Zayaan. A stern glance from Zayaan silenced any questions from Asad, who then assisted Zayaan toward the waiting car. I slipped into the vehicle, my heart racing, and took a seat beside Zayaan, my hands trembling as I held onto his other shoulder, the one not marred by blood.

Tears streamed down my face, and I felt utterly powerless. Zayaan was in pain, and I could do nothing to alleviate it. As the others joined us in their respective cars, Rajiv and Asad taking their positions, my eyes remained fixed on Zayaan, his bleeding shoulder a stark reminder of the danger he had faced.

"H... hospital... please, Rajiv, take him to the hospital!" My voice quivered with urgency, pleading with Rajiv.

Zayaan's head shook slightly, his breaths heavy. "It's alright. It's not as bad as it looks. Get us back to the penthouse. Call the doctor there," he ordered, his voice strained but determined.

"Understood!" Asad and Rajiv chorused, their voices reflecting their commitment to Zayaan's directive. The engines roared to life as we embarked on the journey back.

"What?!" I cried out in disbelief, struggling to come to terms with his decision.

"Shh," Zayaan hushed me, a finger gently pressed against my lips, his gaze fixing on mine. My shock and horror were palpable, and he tried to reassure me with a feeble smile.

"I'm fine," he assured me, his voice soft.

Tears cascaded down my cheeks, my emotions overwhelming me. "It's not fine," I whispered through my tears.

"It's nothing new," he whispered back, his words meant only for me.

****

I paced outside the bedroom door, my anxiety refusing to abate as the doctor and nurses worked on Zayaan, tending to what he had described as a 'minor' surgery. The recent traumatic events still had their grip on me, but now, a new fear clawed at my heart-the fear of losing Zayaan.

The echoes of gunshots, the sight of blood, the sounds of screams, and the harrowing images of lifeless bodies haunted me. I was nearly abducted, Zayaan's decisive shots taking down the assailants, Asad and the others joining in. Then, the ultimate blow-Zayaan taking a bullet to shield me. His vulnerability, his pain, his fear-all played out like an agonizing movie in my mind, each scene cutting deeper than the last.

A reassuring touch on my head drew my gaze upward, and I met Asad's gaze. His expression held an uncharacteristic warmth, a soft smile playing on his lips. It was a stark departure from his usual flirty demeanor, and I furrowed my brow, puzzled by his sudden change in behavior.

"He's going to be alright. It's just a shoulder wound. Zayaan's a tough nut to crack, trust me," he said, his hand patting my head in a gesture that felt oddly comforting.

I scowled at his seemingly nonchalant attitude towards the word 'die,' even though his attempt at reassurance did ease some of the tension. He was trying to play the protective elder brother, an unfamiliar role for him.

"Why didn't we take him to the hospital then?" My frustration bubbled over into my question.

"Do you want the headlines to scream about the Qureshi Group CEO being rushed to the hospital after a gang fight in the dead of night?" His raised eyebrow held a touch of cynicism.

I sighed, reluctantly accepting the reasoning. "And don't even think about making light of the word 'dying.' If anything happens to Zayaan, I... I just can't even imagine."

"Would you go down with him?" Asad's question cut through my glare, his words stinging with truth. I glared back at him, but the reality was undeniable-I would.

"I can't even bear the thought of anything happening to him. He's... he's my husband," I murmured, my gaze fixed on the closed bedroom door.

Maybe that's the problem!
Demon child!

The voices in my head scorned at me. My heart clenched and I sank on the chair that Asad brought for me shutting my ears trying to block the voices.
"It's all my fault!" I whimpered.

"No it's not!"
Asad's voice felt like an distant echo as the voices in my head became louder and louder....

"She's a cursed child.... she'll kill her husband too like she killed her own father. I'd never let such a demon marry my son for all the money in the world...."

The door swung open, revealing the young doctor who had tended to Zayaan. My heart raced, and I hurried towards him, barely acknowledging Asad's playful comment from behind.

"Slow down, beautiful!" Asad's voice trailed after me, but I paid it no heed.

The doctor offered a reassuring smile as I approached. "We've removed the bullet. Don't worry, bhabhi, your husband is as strong as a horse. He'll be under the effects of anesthesia until morning. That stubborn guy doesn't know the first thing about taking care of himself." His words eased my worry, and I listened attentively as he continued.

"I'll prescribe some medications and antiseptics for you. With your love and care, he'll be back on his feet in no time. However, for the next few days, one of our nurses will visit daily to change his bandages. And don't fret... I'll send over the more mature nurses, not the younger ones." He winked mischievously, earning a frown from me as he chuckled.

"Those young ones, I prefer to keep them for myself," he whispered with a grin, a playful glint in his eyes. I scoffed at his audacity. Were all of Zayaan's friends like this? It seemed my Zayaan was a unique diamond in the rough... oh, hold on, maybe not. He was quite the character himself.

Asad joined in on the banter, protesting, "Hey, that's not fair!"

"Why not? Zayaan's got himself a stunning wife now."

"But I haven't!" Asad retorted, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Let me feast my eyes on some beauty."

"Then maybe you should get shot too! Hahaha..." The doctor's laughter filled the air.

I rolled my eyes at their playful exchange, a mix of exasperation and amusement. Ignoring their nonsense, I hurried into the room to finally see my husband.

I found him just as he had described, lying on his stomach, his left shoulder wrapped in a white bandage, a faint trace of crimson peeking through. I lowered myself to the floor beside the bed, resting my head and arms on the mattress as I clutched his hand tightly.

Despite the unimaginable circumstances, a wave of guilt washed over me. Yes, he and his men had taken lives to save mine, but it was my mere existence that had led to this chaos. My eyes welled up with tears as I whispered in anguish, "I'm sorry..."

*****
Zayaan's POV,

I winced, the ache radiating through my shoulder as I slowly came to. Right, I had been shot. And Inarah...

Inarah!

My eyes snapped open, and relief flooded over me as I saw her, sleeping soundly on the floor by the bed, her hand tightly holding mine. A lone tear rested at the corner of her eye, and I gently wiped it away. The pain in my shoulder was nothing compared to the ache in my heart at seeing her like this-vulnerable, scared, and helpless.

I moved my fingers through her soft hair, and she stirred slightly, letting out a soft moan in her sleep.

"Inarah," I called out in a hushed voice. The room was bathed in gentle sunlight filtering through the windows. I managed to sit up, my body protesting each movement. I reached for the painkillers on the side table, swallowing them down with a sip of water. As if in response to my movement, her angelic eyes fluttered open.

Did she hate me?

Her gasp escaped her lips, and she jerked upright, her eyes wide with disbelief. My heart clenched at the sight of her-pale complexion, red and swollen eyes. She winced as she stood up, clearly stiff from having slept on the floor the entire night.

"Are you alright?" Her voice held guilt, and I couldn't fathom why.

I grabbed her wrist, pulling her gently into my lap, a small smile playing on my lips as I observed her stunned expression. What was I doing? This wasn't the time for such gestures. I'd regret this later, I was sure of it.

"Are you okay?" I brushed her hair back, my gaze locked onto her honey-colored eyes. She nodded, her emotions evident in those tearful orbs.

A fresh set of tears gathered, and she hugged me tightly, her sobs shaking both of us. "I'm so sorry, it's all my fault... everything that happened. It's because I'm cursed, a demon. I hurt everyone around me-nanu, nani, dadu, dadi... Papa... even you. It should have been me who got shot, not you. I'm the one to blame, a demon who doesn't deserve to live..."

"Shut up, Inarah!" My voice was laced with anger, but she flinched against me. I couldn't bear the thought of her being hurt, let alone getting shot. I sighed and held her close, my grip reassuring. "Never say that. None of this is your fault, and it never will be. You're not cursed or a demon. You're an angel."

My angel.

She lifted her head, tears streaming down her face. I wiped them away with my free hand and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, watching as her tears slowed.

"As my wife, you can't break down every time something happens to me. You need to be strong, inside and out. Inarah, you've seen me for who I am, what I'm capable of. Tell me." The question hung heavy in the air, my dread palpable.

"Do you hate me now? Are you afraid of me?" My voice was barely a whisper, my heart racing in anticipation.

Her widened eyes met mine, and my heart sank, expecting the worst. But she surprised me, gently cupping my face in her hands, her gaze unyielding. "I should, shouldn't I? After everything I saw and everything you did. But I can't. That's how deeply and unconditionally I love you, Zayaan. I may have always had a sense of your true self, but I still trust and respect you. I love you, and I always will." Her tone was matter-of-fact, her resolve unwavering.

A chuckle escaped me as I shook my head, bewildered by her unwavering love and acceptance. What kind of girl was she?

I pulled her head to my chest, blinking back my own tears, not wanting her to see my vulnerability. Her soft kiss against my throat sent my heart racing.

Just last night, she had seen me with another woman, had screamed curses at me, claimed to hate me, witnessed me taking lives, and now here she was, declaring her love and holding me like this. My Inarah was truly one of a kind.

"Inarah..."

"Hmm?"

I tilted my head, our eyes locking. "Start training with us from tomorrow."

"Okay." Her response was dreamy, her smile fading into a puzzled expression.

"Huh?!" Her shock was evident, and I couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction.

__________________________________

Assalamualaikum Everyone!!!

How was the chapter? Thrilling enough?

This was another one of the hardest chapters. Phew!

I know... I know... I suck at writing action sequences. It's my first time writing something like this.
Please tell me how much should I improve. 🤔
*Pouts*

If it wasn't fun then pardon me but I'll try my best in the next chapters.
In Sha Allah!

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