Chapter 52: When the Spotlight Burns

Later, In Mumbai,

At Aryan's Apartment,

In the early afternoon:

(Hours had dragged by in a blur of accusations and half-hearted attempts to push back against the rising tide of public scrutiny.

Aryan's phone was still buzzing with messages from his manager, his PR team, and even some colleagues who had cautiously reached out to ask if the rumors were true.

He hadn't slept since last night. Neither had he eaten anything since then. Even water felt like it caught in his throat.

Every time he glanced at his phone, he saw the same horrible comments-the public condemning him, calling him a monster, a fraud.

His head pounded, and a dizziness crept over him.)

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Just then,

(Niyati entered the bedroom carrying a small bowl of poha that she prepared for him.

She was just in time to see Aryan swaying slightly on his feet, a hand on his forehead.)

Niyati: Aryan!!!

(She set the bowl aside and rushed to him as his legs seemed to buckle under him.

She barely caught him before he collapsed onto the floor, his weight heavy against her as she struggled to lower him down gently.)

Niyati: (trembling voice) Aryan!!!! Oh God, Aryan, talk to me!!!

(His eyes fluttered open for a moment, his breaths shallow, and he managed to speak.)

Aryan: Niyati... bas bahut ho gaya... I can't take it anymore.... Iss baar main, papa aur Bebe ke liye strong nahi ban paa raha hoon!!!!

(His words were a hoarse whisper, his face pale, with dark circles showing under his eyes from lack of rest.

Niyati steadied herself, pushing away her own panic as she sat beside him, propping his head on her lap.

She softly stroked his hair, whispering soothing words.)

Niyati: Aryan.... Shh... I'm right here. Main hoon tumhaare saath. Zyaada stress mat lo... it won't solve anything. You need to rest a little bit!!!!

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Just then,

(The sharp buzz of a phone cut through the silence. Niyati glanced at the screen-some random relative.

Without a second thought, she silenced the call and placed the phone aside, her focus solely on Aryan.)

(Aryan noticed. And somehow, that simple act hit harder than anything else.

A fresh wave of guilt washed over him, twisting in his chest like a slow burn. His fingers clenched, frustration simmering beneath the surface.)

Aryan: (voice tight with shame) Niyati... tumhaari family kya soch rahi hogi mere baare mein? Tumhara husband... ek aise controversy mein phas gaya hai... (feeling embarrassed) pata nahi, unko kya lagta hoga.

Niyati: (shrugs, without hesitation) Mujhe farak nahi padta ki unhe kya lagta hai. They don't know you the way I do.

(Aryan exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his already messy hair. His eyes, shadowed with exhaustion, met hers.)

Aryan: (hoarse whisper) Still... tum pe asar toh padta hoga, na? Tumhaari family... they must be wondering why you're with someone like me.

(He lets out a bitter laugh, shaking his head.)

Aryan: This is a nightmare, Niyati. Maine kuch bhi nahi kiya, phir bhi har taraf yeh news hai... log mujhe ghoor rahe hain jaise main koi criminal hoon. How did everything go so wrong?

(A lump formed in Niyati's throat as she watched him-this wasn't the Aryan the world knew.

The confident, charming, larger-than-life Aryan Khanna. No. Right now, he was just a man-exhausted, cornered, and drowning in a storm he never saw coming.)

(Aryan's voice cracked slightly, his emotions spilling over.)

Aryan: This could destroy my career, Niyati. Mera poora naam, meri pehchaan-sab kuch barbaad ho sakta hai.

(His jaw clenched, eyes shining with a mixture of anger and despair.)

Aryan: Main kya bolun? Kaise sabko samjhaun? Koi meri baat sunta hi nahi hai! Sab bas wahi believe kar rahe hain jo woh dekh rahe hain, jo news mein padh rahe hain!

(Niyati took a deep breath and closed the distance between them, reaching out to take his hand in hers.)

Niyati: (firmly) Aryan, listen to me. You are not alone in this. Tumhe lagta hai ki main tumhara saath chhod doongi? Kabhi nahi. Mujhe tum pe pura bharosa hai.

(She tightened her grip, her gaze fierce.)

Niyati: Jo log tumhe nahi samajhte, woh sirf yeh news dekhenge. But the ones who truly know you? Woh kabhi bhi is bakwaas par bharosa nahi karenge.

(Aryan blinked at her, as if trying to absorb her words.

A part of him wanted to believe her, but the weight of the world was still pressing down on him.)

Aryan: (softly) I... I don't know, Niyati... feels like everything's falling apart.

Niyati: (reassuring ghim) tum Aryan Khanna ho. (A small, teasing smile played on her lips.) THE Aryan Khanna.

(A flicker of amusement passed through his exhausted eyes.)

Niyati: Tumne zindagi mein kitni mushkilein face ki hain. Yeh sirf ek phase hai... aur tum iss se bhi nikal jaaoge. Hum sab yahan tumhare saath hain, Aryan.

(A beat of silence passed between them, the tension in the air shifting ever so slightly. Then, she squeezed his hand.)

Niyati: Chalo, thodi der ke liye bahar chalte hain. Papa aur Bebe worried hain tumhare liye.

(Aryan let out a slow breath, the first sign of relief cracking through the tension in his body.

He nodded, his lips curving into a small but grateful smile.)

Aryan: Thank you... Tum nahi hoti toh shayad main yeh sab kuch sambhal bhi nahi paata.

(Niyati smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.)

Niyati: (softly) You matter a lot to me, Aryan. And I will never leave you alone.

(She stood up and extended her hand. Aryan hesitated for just a second before placing his hand in hers, allowing her to pull him up.)

Niyati: Ab chalo... Papa aur Bebe ke saath naashta kar lo.

Aryan: (exhales, nodding) Haan... chalo.

(As they stepped out of the room together, Aryan felt the weight on his shoulders ease-just a little.)

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Cut to:

In the dining room:

(Aryan sat hunched over the dining table, his elbows resting on the polished wood, his head buried in his hands.

His untouched breakfast lay before him-parathas gone cold, a cup of chai losing its warmth.

His parents and Niyati sat around him, their expressions mirroring the heavy silence in the room.

Every now and then, his mother would glance at him, worry etched deep into her face.)

Lady: Puttar... kuch toh kha le. Subah se ek niwala tak nahi khaya toone...

(Aryan didn't respond. His fingers tightened in his hair, frustration seeping from every pore.

The room was suffocating, the weight of the outside world pressing in on him.)

(Before anyone could say more, the sharp creak of the main door opening echoed through the house.

Aryan barely lifted his head as his manager stepped inside, his stance hesitant, as if bracing for an explosion.)

Manager: Sir, the watchman has come up. He says there's someone here to meet you.

(Aryan's jaw clenched, his patience snapping like a thread.

He shot up so suddenly that his chair screeched against the floor, the sound grating in the heavy air.)

Aryan: (annoyed) Didn't I make myself clear??? Main kaha tha, ki main kisi se nahi milna chahta!!! Yeh baat samajhna itna mushkil hai kya? Kitni baar repeat karna padega?!

(The manager visibly flinched but held his ground, his voice cautious.)

Manager: Sir, maine aapke instructions follow kiye. Security ne unhe rokne ki koshish ki thi. Par...

Aryan: (gritting his teeth) Par KYA?

Manager: (nervously) Woh log sunne ko taiyaar nahi hain, sir. Bohot zyada adamant hain. Maine samjhane ki koshish ki, par woh jaane ko ready nahi hain.... unhone aapko phone bhi kiya hoga, but aapne shayad answer nahi kiya!!!!

(Aryan exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose as he fought to keep his temper in check.

His hands curled into fists, tension radiating from his rigid stance.)

Then,

(A soft touch on his arm made him pause. He turned his head slightly to see Niyati looking up at him, her eyes full of concern.)

Niyati: (gently) Aryan, please... gussa mat karo. Yeh manager ki galti nahi hai.

(Aryan's muscles relaxed just a fraction. His father, who had been watching silently, finally spoke, his tone carrying both wisdom and patience.)

Father: Beta, ho sakta hai koi zaroori ho. Har koi sirf pareshaan karne nahi aata.

Mother: (nodding) Mainu pata hai, tu gusse mein hai... par ena rude na ban, puttar.

(The subtle reprimand hit Aryan harder than any outburst would have.

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face, and turned back to the manager.)

Aryan: I am so sorry for that!!! Main toh bas....

Manager: koi nahi, sir!! I can understand

Aryan: (reluctantly) waise.... Kaun hai neeche? Kaun aaye hain?

(The manager quickly checked the notepad in his hand, scanning the names.)

Manager: Sir... there are 2 people... Mr. Purab Goswami aur Miss Naina Desai.

(The air in the room shifted. Aryan's breath hitched slightly, his eyes widening in surprise.

For a moment, he just stood there, processing the names.)

(Purab. Naina.)

(His frustration melted away, in an insstant and was replaced by a sense of relief.

His voice, laced with urgency now, was nothing like the sharp-edged tone from before.)

Aryan: Unhe seedha upar bhejo. Sirf un dono ko.

(The manager nodded quickly and exited the room.)

(Aryan remained standing, his heartbeat slightly erratic.

His father, observing his son's sudden change in demeanor, raised an eyebrow.)

Man: Purab aur Naina aaye hain, beta?

Aryan: (nods) Haan, papa. Purab aur Nunu aaue hain.

(A warmth spread through the room. Niyati exchanged a knowing glance with Aryan's mother, who smiled softly.)

Lady: Woh dono... Aryan ke sahi maayne mein dost hain. Hamesha uska bhala hi chahte hain.

Niyati: (smiling) Haan, Bebe... dekho naa, Aryan ka chehra kaise chamak raha hai.

(Aryan huffed at her teasing tone, rolling his eyes, but a ghost of a smile flickered across his face.)

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Author's Note ❤️

Hey, amazing readers! 👋

Wow, what a rollercoaster of emotions, right? Aryan is drowning in chaos, but Niyati is his anchor.

And now... Purab and Naina are here! 👀 What do you think will happen next? Will they help Aryan, or is more drama on the way? 😱

I'd LOVE to hear your thoughts! 💬 Drop a comment below and tell me:

✨ What was your favorite moment in this chapter?

✨ How do you feel about Aryan's breakdown?

✨ Do you think Niyati is handling things the right way?

And hey, don't forget to VOTE ⭐ if you enjoyed this chapter! Your votes & comments keep me motivated to write more! 💕

Also, hit that FOLLOW button so you never miss an update! 📢 More twists, emotions, and surprises are coming your way!

See you in the next chapter! 😍🔥