Chapter 22: CHAPTER 20

Ha ik views 1.5k nhi the but abhi dekha to 1k something the itni mehnat ki uske liye ek chapter deri hu rvan 2 chapter deti...

Hrr baar aise nhi hoga but pdhlo aaj!!!

Dher sare vote or cmnt karna taki mnn badal kar jaldi update du!!!

__________________________________________

The voice sent a jolt down Noor’s spine. She turned toward the sound, her laughter evaporating as her wide eyes landed on the tall, broad-shouldered figure standing a few feet away.

“Aryan?” Noor breathed, her voice laced with surprise.

The man grinned, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners. “It’s been a while, Noor.”

Reyansh’s gaze flickered between Noor and the stranger, his jaw tightening.

He leaned back in his chair, his arms folding across his chest.

“A friend of yours?” he asked, his tone calm but edged with something Noor couldn’t quite place.

Noor quickly nodded, standing up to face Aryan.

“Yes, Aryan and I were… old friends from school,” she said, her voice tinged with unease.

Aryan extended a hand toward Reyansh, his smile polite but curious. “Nice to meet you. Aryan.”

Reyansh stood, his towering frame easily matching Aryan’s, and shook his hand.

“Reyansh Malhotra. Noor and I… work together,” he said, the slight pause in his words almost imperceptible.

Noor’s heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced as she realized the implications of introducing Reyansh as anything but a friend.

“Yes, Reyansh is a close… friend,” she added hastily, her voice overly chipper.

Aryan raised an eyebrow, his gaze flitting between the two.

“Friend, huh?” he asked, his tone light but teasing.

Noor forced a laugh. “Of course! What else would he be?” she replied, her voice a little too high-pitched.

Reyansh said nothing, his sharp eyes studying Aryan with a quiet intensity.

Aryan seemed unfazed as he turned his attention back to Noor. “It was good running into you. We should catch up sometime.”

Noor nodded quickly, the tension in her shoulders visible. “Definitely.”

Aryan smiled, giving Reyansh a brief nod. “Nice meeting you, Reyansh. Take care, Noor.”

As Aryan walked away, Noor sank back into her chair, her hands gripping the edge of the table.

Her usually radiant energy was replaced by a nervous stillness. She stared at the tablecloth as if it held the answers to all her problems.

Reyansh, who had been watching her closely, finally spoke. “Are you going to tell me what that was about?”

Noor looked up, forcing a smile. “Nothing. It’s nothing.”

Reyansh’s jaw clenched, his sharp features hardening.

He leaned forward, his voice dropping to a low, controlled tone. “Noor, don’t lie to me.”

Her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her dress, but she shook her head.

“It’s not a big deal, Reyansh. Aryan is just an old friend. That’s all.”

Reyansh studied her, his dark eyes searching hers for the truth.

Her forced smile and evasive tone only fueled his frustration, but he didn’t push further. Not yet.

“Fine,” he said, his voice clipped.

“If you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you. But don’t think I didn’t notice how tense you got the moment he showed up.”

Noor flinched at his words but said nothing. Instead, she picked up her glass of water, taking a sip to steady herself.

The silence between them was heavy, filled with unspoken words and growing tension.

Noor’s heart hammered in her chest, guilt and fear warring within her.

She hated keeping things from Reyansh, but she wasn’t ready to talk about Aryan—not yet.

Reyansh finally leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “Let’s finish dinner,” he said, his tone calm but distant. “We can talk about this later.”

Noor nodded, grateful for the reprieve, but her heart ached at the subtle coldness in his voice.

She knew she’d have to tell him the truth eventually. But for now, she could only hope that her chaotic heart wouldn’t drive him away.

>

Noor entered her house, the chill of the evening still clinging to her skin. Her heart was heavy, her thoughts swirling as the door closed softly behind her.

It had been a beautiful evening with Reyansh, but the encounter with Aryan had unsettled her in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

She dropped her bag on the couch and made her way to her room.

Just as she sat on her bed, her phone buzzed. A message popped up on her screen from an unknown number.

Unknown: “You didn’t even introduce me to Reyansh as your ex. Why?”

Her heart stopped. She stared at the message, her throat tightening. There was no mistaking who it was. Aryan.

Her fingers trembled as she gripped her phone. She hadn’t saved his number, but she still remembered it.

Memories flooded back, pulling her into a whirlpool of the past.

>

Flashback

It was her final year of school, 12th grade. Noor had just turned eighteen and was full of dreams, her life revolving around late-night studies, her small circle of friends, and Aryan.

He had been her everything back then—her confidant, her laughter, her comfort during the overwhelming pressure of exams.

Their relationship had been innocent yet consuming.

They had spent hours talking about everything under the sun—books, movies, their future plans.

It wasn’t physical; it was emotional, deeper than she had expected at that age.

But then, things began to change. College applications, endless assignments, and the pressure of adulthood loomed over them.

Aryan had grown distant, consumed by his plans to move to a bigger city for his studies.

Noor, hurt but understanding, had tried to hold on. Eventually, though, they had a conversation that ended it all.

“I think we should focus on our futures,” Aryan had said over a phone call, his voice heavy with regret.

“I don’t want us to resent each other if this doesn’t work out.”

Noor had agreed reluctantly, tears streaming down her face. “We’ll stay friends, right?” she had asked, her voice breaking.

“Always,” he had promised. But “always” had lasted less than a year. After their breakup, they had drifted apart, the occasional texts dwindling into silence.

And then, one day, Noor had spotted him on campus. She had been too shocked to approach him.

Flashback ends

>

The buzz of another message pulled her out of the memory.

Unknown: “Didn’t expect you to ignore me like this, Noor.”

Her chest tightened. She typed back hesitantly.

Noor: “What do you want, Aryan?”

The response came almost instantly.

Aryan: “To talk. To catch up. Is that so wrong?”

Noor stared at the screen, her mind racing.

Did he know she was in a relationship now? Did he know how much she had changed?

And most importantly, should she even be engaging with him?

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. After a few moments, she replied.

Noor: “Why now, Aryan? It’s been years.”

There was a pause before his reply.

Aryan: “Because seeing you tonight reminded me of what we had. I didn’t think it’d affect me like this, but it did. You looked happy… different. I guess I wanted to know how you’re doing.”

Noor’s heart ached with a strange mix of emotions—nostalgia, guilt, and confusion. She wasn’t sure what to say, so she decided to be honest.

Noor: “I’m doing well. I’m in a relationship now.”

The typing indicator appeared, then disappeared, then appeared again.

Aryan: “I figured. That guy, Reyansh… he seems good for you. You looked happy with him.”

Noor: “He is. Aryan, I need to tell you something.”

Her fingers hesitated, but she forced herself to continue.

Noor: “He knows everything about me. My past relationships, my mistakes… everything. But I never told him about you. I don’t know why.”

There was a longer pause this time. When Aryan finally replied, his message was short but heavy.

Aryan: “Why didn’t you?”

Noor swallowed hard, her thoughts spiraling.

Why hadn’t she? Maybe because Aryan represented a version of herself she wasn’t sure she wanted Reyansh to see.

A version of her that had been naive, hopeful, and ultimately heartbroken.

Noor: “I guess… I didn’t want to relive it. It wasn’t about hiding you, Aryan. It was about moving on.”

She waited, her heart pounding. His reply came a moment later.

Aryan: “I understand. I just didn’t expect to feel like this after seeing you. It brought back everything. I missed you, Noor. I still do.”

Her breath caught. She stared at the message, her chest tightening.

Noor: “Aryan, please don’t say that. It’s not fair.”

Aryan: “I know it’s not. But it’s the truth.”

Noor leaned back against her headboard, her mind racing.

She hadn’t expected this, hadn’t prepared for the emotions that his presence had stirred up.

Noor: “We ended things for a reason. I’ve moved on. You should too.”

There was a long pause before his next message.

Aryan: “I don’t want to complicate your life, Noor. I just wanted you to know how I feel. I’ll back off if that’s what you want.”

She closed her eyes, exhaustion washing over her. She didn’t know what she wanted.

Noor: “I don’t know, Aryan. This is too much.”

Aryan: “I’m sorry. I just… I wish I had handled things differently back then. Maybe we would have had a chance.”

Tears pricked her eyes, but she blinked them away.

Noor: “Maybe. But it doesn’t matter now. Goodnight, Aryan.”

She set her phone down and stared at the ceiling.

The conversation had left her drained, and yet she couldn’t help but feel a lingering sadness.

She knew she had to tell Reyansh. But how?

As the hours ticked by, she lay awake, her mind replaying the evening over and over again.

What would Reyansh say when he found out? Would he understand?

One thing was clear—this wasn’t over. Not yet.

>

The days after Aryan’s unexpected message blurred into long nights of conversation.

Noor had told herself she was merely catching up with an old friend, but there was something about Aryan's presence in her life again that felt strangely familiar, even comforting.

Late into the nights, their chats ranged from casual banter to deep dives into their past.

Aryan brought up old memories with a lightness that made Noor laugh.

Aryan: “Do you remember the time you tried to bake a cake for my birthday and nearly set your kitchen on fire?”

Noor: “It wasn’t that bad! You’re exaggerating.”

Aryan: “Oh, come on. Your mom almost banned you from the kitchen for life. I can still taste the ‘burnt surprise.’”

Noor: “Okay, fine. Maybe it was bad. But you ate it anyway!”

Aryan: “Of course I did. It was made with love… and a whole lot of ash.”

Noor found herself smiling at her phone more often than she’d like to admit.

Aryan’s sense of humor was sharp, his compliments subtle yet disarming.

Aryan: “You’ve changed, Noor, but in the best way. You’re even more beautiful now.”

Noor: “Stop it. Flattery doesn’t work on me anymore.”

Aryan: “Who said it’s flattery? Just telling the truth.”

His words lingered longer than they should have. Noor told herself it was harmless, that it was all in good fun.

But deep down, she knew she was treading a fine line.

>

In the haze of these late-night conversations, Noor didn’t notice how much she had started to drift away from Reyansh.

The usual good morning texts she sent him were delayed or forgotten. Their evening calls grew shorter, her responses distracted.

In college corridor they met.

“Are you okay?” Reyansh asked one evening, concern evident in his voice. “You seem… distant.”

“I’m fine,” Noor replied quickly, brushing it off. “Just a lot on my mind with work and everything.”

Reyansh wanted to believe her, but something didn’t feel right. He noticed how she was glued to her phone more often than usual, smiling at messages she didn’t share with him.

>

Days turned into a week, and the distance between them only grew.

Reyansh felt like a stranger in his own relationship, his attempts to bridge the gap met with vague excuses and half-hearted reassurances.

>

Frustrated and suspicious, Reyansh did something he had never thought he’d do.

One night, while Noor was asleep, he used his skills and hacked her phone.

It wasn’t difficult—he had set up her device once and knew the passwords she hadn’t bothered to change.

His heart raced as he opened her chat history.

There it was: a conversation with Aryan that made his stomach drop.

The messages were full of laughter, inside jokes, and memories that Reyansh wasn’t a part of.

Aryan was openly flirting with her, and what hurt the most was that Noor wasn’t stopping him.

Aryan: “You’ve always had the prettiest smile. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone else light up a room the way you do.”

Noor: “You’re so cheesy. How do you come up with these lines?”

Aryan: “What can I say? You inspire me.”

Noor: “Haha, stop it.”

The casual tone, the playful banter—it all felt too intimate, too familiar. Reyansh’s heart clenched as he read on.

Aryan: “You know, sometimes I think about how different things would’ve been if we had stayed together.”

Noor: “Aryan…”

Aryan: “I’m not saying this to make things weird. Just… you’ve always been special to me, Noor.”

Noor: “You’re special to me too.”

Reyansh slammed the phone down, his chest heaving.

His mind was a whirlwind of anger, betrayal, and hurt.

How could she do this? How could she let someone else—her ex, no less—talk to her like this?

He paced the room, his fists clenching and unclenching.

He wanted to confront her, to demand answers, but the thought of her denying it or brushing it off made his blood boil even more.

As the night stretched on, Reyansh sat in the darkness, replaying every moment they had spent together.

Had it all been a lie? Was she still in love with Aryan?

One thing was clear: he needed to confront Noor. But not now. Not while his emotions were still raw.

>

The next morning, Noor woke up oblivious to the storm brewing.

She stretched lazily, picking up her phone to check for messages. There was one from Aryan waiting for her.

Aryan: “Morning, sunshine. Dreamt about me again?”

Noor: “Lol, as if. Good morning!”

She laughed to herself, unaware of the damage these chats had already caused.

On the other side, Reyansh wasn’t sure how much longer he could keep this to himself.

Something had to give—and soon.

>

Noor hadn’t planned on meeting Aryan that day, but when he suggested catching up over coffee, she found herself agreeing.

They met at a quiet café on the edge of the city, a place Aryan had fondly mentioned was his favorite spot.

Noor walked in, feeling a strange mixture of apprehension and guilt.

Aryan was already there, seated at a corner table, waving at her with a familiar, boyish grin.

For a moment, she felt a flicker of the old days, but she quickly shook it off.

Today, she needed to make things clear—to draw a firm line.

They started with small talk—work, life updates, shared memories of school.

Aryan’s easygoing nature made her laugh, and for a while, she forgot the storm brewing in her personal life.

What Noor didn’t know was that Reyansh had been nearby.

He was passing by the café when he spotted her through the window.

His eyes immediately narrowed when he recognized Aryan sitting across from her.

From where Reyansh stood, it looked too casual—too intimate.

Noor was laughing, her face lit up in a way that Reyansh hadn’t seen in weeks.

He wanted to march in and confront her, demand answers, but something held him back.

Instead, he stood frozen, watching through the glass as jealousy and anger bubbled inside him.

>

Inside the café, the conversation took a sudden turn. Aryan leaned forward, his expression serious.

“Noor, I’ve been thinking about us.”

Her smile faltered. “Us?”

Aryan nodded. “I know this might sound crazy, but I’ve realized how much I still care about you. Noor, I made a mistake letting you go back then. I want us to try again. I want to be with you.”

Noor’s heart dropped. Her hands trembled slightly as she set her coffee cup down.

“Aryan, no. We can’t… we can’t do this.”

“Why not?” Aryan pressed, his voice soft but insistent. “We were happy together. I still believe we could be.”

“Aryan, it’s not that simple.” Noor’s voice cracked as panic began to creep in. “I’m in a relationship. I love Reyansh.”

Aryan sighed, leaning back in his chair. “Noor, I’m not trying to ruin your life. But don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it—about us. I can see it in the way you talk to me, the way you look at me.”

Noor shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes. “You don’t understand. I’ve already messed things up with Reyansh. I can’t—this isn’t right.”

Aryan reached across the table, his hand brushing against hers. “Hey, calm down. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

But Noor couldn’t calm down. The walls felt like they were closing in, and her breathing grew shallow.

“I… I need some air,” she whispered, standing up abruptly.

Aryan followed her outside, concern etched across his face. “Noor, wait.”

Reyansh had been about to leave, disgusted by the sight of them together, when he noticed Noor walk out of the café, followed closely by Aryan.

He watched as Aryan reached out to steady her, his hands on her shoulders.

From where Reyansh stood, it looked like they were locked in an embrace.

His chest tightened, and his jaw clenched. He turned away, fury burning in his veins. This was it. He had seen enough.

Outside the café, Noor leaned against a wall, trying to catch her breath.

Her hands were trembling, and her thoughts were a jumbled mess.

Aryan stood beside her, keeping a respectful distance but clearly worried.

“Noor, it’s okay. Breathe,” he said softly, his voice soothing. “I didn’t mean to push you.”

She shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “You don’t understand, Aryan. I’ve already hurt Reyansh so much. And now this—this is only going to make things worse.”

Aryan hesitated before stepping closer, his tone gentle. “You’re allowed to feel conflicted, Noor. But you need to decide what you want, for yourself. I’ll back off if that’s what you need, but I had to tell you how I feel.”

Noor wiped her tears, nodding weakly. “I appreciate that, but Aryan… I can’t give you what you’re asking for. I’m sorry.”

Aryan offered her a sad smile. “It’s okay. I just want you to be happy, Noor. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

>

Reyansh stormed into his room, slamming the door behind him.

His mind replayed the image of Noor and Aryan together, her in his arms.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered, pacing back and forth. “After everything, this is what she does?”

He grabbed his phone, his fingers itching to confront her. But he stopped himself, throwing the device onto the couch.

No, he wasn’t going to let his emotions control him. Not yet.

Instead, he sat down, his hands clenched into fists. He needed to figure out what to do next because one thing was clear—things couldn’t go on like this.

>

As Noor made her way home, a sense of dread settled over her. She had a sinking feeling that Reyansh had seen her with Aryan.

She knew she had to talk to him, to explain everything, but she also knew that the damage might already be done.

For the first time, Noor felt the weight of her actions fully crash down on her.

She had been so caught up in the past that she hadn’t realized how much it was costing her present.

Now, all she could do was hope that it wasn’t too late to make things right.

Reyansh’s message was cold and direct: “Meet me at the park at 7. We need to talk.”

Noor’s heart sank as she read the text. She knew this wasn’t going to be just a conversation; it felt heavier, like the weight of her mistakes was finally catching up with her.

By the time she reached the park, the sky had turned gray, and a light drizzle threatened to turn into a storm.

Reyansh was already there, leaning against a bench with his arms crossed.

His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those eyes that had once looked at her with warmth—were now dark and distant.

Noor approached cautiously, her palms clammy. “Reyansh, I—”

“I have something to ask you,” he interrupted, his voice calm but laced with something dangerous.

“Why didn’t you ever tell me Aryan was your boyfriend?”

Noor froze, her breath hitching. Her eyes widened in shock, and her pulse quickened. “How… how do you know that?”

Reyansh chuckled bitterly and pulled out his phone. “Let me show you.”

He unlocked the screen, opened a folder, and shoved it in her direction. Noor stared in disbelief as she saw screenshots of her chats with Aryan.

The playful conversations, the laughter, Aryan’s flirtatious remarks—it was all there.

Her voice shook as she looked up at him. “Did you… did you hack my phone?”

Reyansh’s jaw tightened. “I had to. You gave me no choice, Noor. You’ve been ignoring me for days, laughing with him, talking to him like I don’t even exist.”

Noor’s fury erupted, and she slapped him across the face. “How dare you invade my privacy like this?”

Reyansh’s head turned slightly from the force of the slap, but he didn’t flinch. Instead, he let out a hollow laugh, his eyes meeting hers with unrestrained anger.

“How dare I? How dare you? I trusted you, Noor! But then I saw you with him—laughing, looking so comfortable. And today, in his arms…”

Noor’s breath caught in her throat.

“Reyansh, it wasn’t what you think. Aryan was just trying to calm me down. I—I was panicking—”

“Stop lying!” Reyansh’s voice thundered, cutting her off.

“You couldn’t even tell me he was your ex! I told you about my past, Noor. I told you everything. But you… you hid him. You hid everything!”

Noor’s eyes brimmed with tears, her voice trembling.

“I wanted to tell you, Reyansh. I tried, but I was scared. I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” he scoffed. “You did hurt me, Noor. And now, it’s clear as day—you still love him.”

“No!” Noor cried, stepping closer to him. “It’s not true. I don’t love him, Reyansh. I love you.”

But Reyansh’s expression didn’t soften.

“You expect me to believe that? After everything I’ve seen? I hate you for this, Noor. I hate you for making me feel this way.”

His words hit her like a dagger, and she felt her knees weaken.

“Reyansh, please don’t say that,” she pleaded, tears streaming down her face.

The rain began to fall harder now, drenching them both, but neither of them moved. Noor grabbed his arm, desperation evident in her voice.

“Please, Reyansh. I know I’ve made mistakes, but I love you. Ek baar keh do—bass ek baar keh do... mohabbat karte ho mujhse.”

(Say it once—just say it once that you love me.)

Reyansh remained silent, his gaze piercing through her.

“Why aren’t you saying anything?” Noor shouted, her voice breaking.

“Why are you silent, Reyansh? Do you love me or not?”

He finally spoke, his tone colder than she had ever heard.

“I told you, Ms. Sharma. I hate you. I hate everything about you right now.”

Noor stumbled back, her chest heaving as sobs racked her body. “You don’t mean that,” she whispered.

But Reyansh didn’t respond. He pushed her hand off his arm and took a step back.

“We’re done, Noor. I can’t do this anymore.”

“No! Please!” Noor screamed, grabbing his arm again.

“Don’t leave me, Reyansh. Please, don’t do this.”

He pried her fingers off him, his movements rough but controlled.

“It’s over,” he said, his voice devoid of emotion. And then, without another word, he turned and walked away.

>

Noor fell to the wet ground, her knees sinking into the muddy grass. She sobbed uncontrollably, calling out his name again and again. “

Reyansh! Please come back! Please don’t leave me like this!”

The rain poured harder, soaking her completely, but she didn’t care.

All she could feel was the emptiness swallowing her whole.

Her cries echoed into the stormy night, but Reyansh didn’t turn back.

He kept walking, his heart heavy with pain and betrayal, determined to leave her behind.

Noor stayed there for what felt like hours, broken and alone, the weight of her actions crushing her.

__________________________________________

Chapter long h ab sare kyuki story ka the end hone wala h!!!

Jaldi kardia h kafi chize miss krke ik jyda interesting nhi hoga but your guys gonna love EPILOGUE tbh😭

Mujhe khudse interesting jyda kuch nhi lga h but I hope so tumhe lge!!!

6:40am pe abhi insta khol Lena dod ka hi spoiler aayega!!!!

Stay blessed and healthy🌷

Bye bye lovies!!!🍭