As Ayeda screamed, "STOP," Zarian immediately slammed the brakes.

The sudden jolt made them both jerk forward, but thankfully, the seatbelts held them in place.

Zarian turned to her, concerned. "What happened, Miss Khan? Are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine... but look, he's not!" she said, pointing ahead.

Without waiting for a response, Ayeda opened the car door and rushed out. Zarian quickly followed, only to find her kneeling beside a small white and brown kitten, gently cradling it in her arms.

The poor creature looked like it was in pain, and Ayeda was carefully examining its leg.

"There's a small cut here," she said softly. "Ohh... don't worry, little one. I'll dress it up. It's tiny, it'll heal soon." Her voice was gentle as she patted the kitten's head lovingly.

Watching her, Zarian couldn't help but smile. "Okay, Miss Khan, let's get back in the car. It's already late."

Ayeda nodded, fully focused on the kitten as she returned to the car. Zarian followed and started the engine again.

"Do you have a first aid kit in the car?" she asked.

"No," he replied.

Ayeda huffed. "You should keep one. You never know when you'll need it, Mr. Malik."

Amused, Zarian said, "I'm not a doctor like you, Miss Khan. If I ever need treatment, I go straight to a hospital."

Ayeda gave him a tight-lipped smile and looked down at the kitten. "But see... he's in pain."

Zarian nodded. "Okay, I'll take him to a vet. Don't worry."

"What do you mean by I, Mr. Malik? I'm coming with you!" she insisted.

Zarian smiled at her persistence. "I understand your concern, Miss Khan, but it's late. Your family must be worried. You should go home. I'll take care of him and bring him to you tomorrow. Promise."

Ayeda hesitated, then mumbled, "No... I can't keep him at home."

Zarian glanced at her, puzzled. "Huh?"

"I mean... I once had a cat. I loved her like my own child, but she died after four years. I cried so much I ended up with a fever. Since then, my family doesn't let me keep pets. Even if I take him home, they won't agree."

Zarian nodded slowly. "Then I'll take him to a shelter."

"What?! No! How could you even think of that?" she said, horrified.

He blinked, confused. "What do you mean?"

"Look at him, Mr. Malik. He's so tiny, so innocent, he needs extra care. A shelter won't do. He deserves a home."

Zarian raised an eyebrow. "What are you suggesting, Miss Khan?"

Ayeda gave him a hopeful look. "Can you... keep him at your place? Please, Mr. Malik?"

Zarian pulled the car over and looked at her carefully. "Miss Khan, I understand, but..."

"I know it is a big responsibility!" she cut in. "But I also know you can handle it. You're rich, you can even hire someone to take care of him if you want. Please, Mr. Malik... don't say no."

Zarian smiled, giving in to her pleading eyes. "Okay."

Ayeda's face lit up with a full-bloomed smile. "Thank you, Mr. Malik!" she said, cuddling the kitten happily.

Zarian started the car again.

"Now, let's give him a cute name," Ayeda said excitedly.

"Sorry, Miss.khan, I'm very bad at this," Zarian replied.

"Ok, then just help me by saying yes or no." Ayeda suggested, to which he nodded.

"Zoobi?" she suggested.

"No, sounds like a girl's name. He's a boy."

"He's brown and white... so how about Cupcake?"

"No."

"Cookie?"

"Miss Khan, it's an animal, not a dessert. Are you hungry by any chance?" he teased.

"No!" she replied, scowling. "Then you suggest something! You're being way too picky."

"Sorry, but I told you, I'm terrible at naming things," Zarian said with a shrug.

Ayeda huffed and began thinking again.

"Brownie!" she suddenly exclaimed. Before Zarian could object, she continued, "It's cute and final! You haven't even suggested a single name and still you're rejecting mine like I'm your employee coming for presentation approval. Aaye bade businessman!"

Zarian chuckled at her pout. "Okay, madam. Brownie it is."

A few minutes later, they were just five minutes away from the Khan mansion.

"Make sure you show him to a good doctor. And please... take good care of him," Ayeda said softly, looking at the kitten in her arms.

"I will, Miss Khan. I'll get him treated by the best vet. Relax," Zarian replied sincerely.

Ayeda hummed absentmindedly, still petting Brownie. Zarian glanced at her. She looked so gentle, so caring, her full attention on the tiny kitten.

"I don't know if I should say this or not," Zarian said hesitantly, "but... if you want, you can take my number. Just text me anytime. I'll send you his pictures now and then."

Ayeda's eyes lit up. "That's the best idea, Mr. Malik!"

Zarian smiled and gave her his number.

As the Khan mansion came into view, Ayeda gently handed Brownie over to Zarian.

While getting out of the car, she turned back to him with a soft smile and said,

"Mujhe kabhi kabhi lagta hai, Mr. Malik... Allah ne aapko meri hifazat ke liye chuna hai hai. Thank you."

(Sometimes I feel, Mr. Malik... that Allah has chosen you to protect me. Thank you.)

Saying this, she walked away and disappeared behind the gates of the Khan mansion.

Zarian watched her go, her words echoing in his mind.

And just like that, a memory stirred within him

The very first dua he had whispered after meeting Ayeda:

"Aur agar woh meri hone wali hai...

Toh meri mohabbat mein teri rehmat aur barkat daal de.

Uska saaya mere ghar par ho...

Aur meri zindagi uski hifazat ke liye ho."

His heart skipped a beat.

A strange stillness passed through him.

But the very next moment, he shook his head and muttered to himself,

"No... it's just a coincidence."
.
.
.

Before entering the house, Ayeda paused at the doorstep. She muttered under her breath, "They must be so worried... What should I say? I don't want to lie. No, let me just tell them the truth. I can't lie to them."

Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.

Inside, her whole family was gathered in the living room, their faces tense with worry. The moment her mother, Aliya, saw her, she rushed forward and pulled her into a tight hug.

"Are you okay?" Aliya asked, scanning her from head to toe.

Soon, the rest of the family surrounded her, bombarding her with questions-

"What happened?"

"Why are you so late?"

"Why was your phone switched off?"

"We even called your friends. They said you left an hour ago! Then what happened?"

Ayeda raised both hands, calming them. "Relax! I'm fine. see, nothing happened. Let's sit first. I'll tell you everything."

Once they settled, she told them the whole truth-how her car broke down, how her phone battery had died, and how Mr. Malik happened to pass by and dropped her home safely.

Aliya frowned, crossing her arms. "You're so careless sometimes, Ayeda. Why didn't you charge your phone? Thank goodness that man helped you!"

But before Aliya could continue, Zoya Badi Ammi leaned forward slightly and asked curiously, "This Mr. Malik you're talking about... is it Zarian Malik?"

Ayeda's eyes widened in surprise. "Yes, Badi Ammi! That's him. How do you know him?"

Before anyone could answer, her father cleared his throat and stood up.

"That's enough talk for tonight. Go to your room, Ayeda. It's late."

Understanding the tone in his voice, Ayeda nodded. "Goodnight," she said softly, and headed to her room, her mind still lingering on Zarian... and that kitten.
.
.
.

As Zarian sat in the car, lost in Ayeda's words, he suddenly felt something wet on his hand.

Looking down, he saw Brownie licking him affectionately.

"Brownie, don't... Otherwise, I'll need treatment before you," Zarian muttered, half-amused, half-exasperated.

He started the car and drove quickly to the nearest veterinary clinic. As soon as he parked, he picked up Brownie and rushed inside.

The vet gently took the kitten from his arms, but then paused to look at Zarian.

"I think you need treatment before him," the doctor said, raising a brow. "You're sneezing, and your eyes are red."

Zarian gave a sheepish smile between sneezes. "Yes, actually... sneeze I'm allergic... sneeze to cats."

The vet chuckled. "I figured. There's an allergist here. Go to that cabin, I'll take care of him."

Zarian nodded and made his way toward the other side of the clinic.

The allergist examined him, gave him antihistamines, decongestants, and eye drops, and offered the usual advice:

"Stay away from cats."

Zarian looked at the doctor and said hesitantly, "I have to take care of one... So, what precautions should I follow?"

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "You're seriously going to keep a cat despite being allergic?"

Zarian hesitated, then mumbled under his breath,

"Unhone pehli baar mujhse kuch maanga hai... inkaar thodi kar sakta hoon."

(It's the first time she's asked me for something... how could I say no?)

The doctor tilted his head. "Did you say something?"

Zarian cleared his throat. "No... just that the cat's important."

Sighing, the doctor replied, "Alright. I'll give you the medicines and suggest you install HEPA filters in your home, they help reduce allergens. Also, try to maintain some distance."

Zarian nodded and, as soon as he walked out, sent a message to his PA:

"Install HEPA filters in the entire house. Urgent. By tomorrow."

Brownie was now bandaged and waiting, looking better already. Zarian carefully placed him on the passenger seat and drove home, sneezing a little, but smiling quietly.

As soon as Zarian stepped into the house, carefully holding a sleeping Brownie in his arms, his phone pinged with a message.

It was from an unknown number.

But the moment he read it, a small, genuine smile touched his lips.

"Assalamualaikum Mr. Malik, Ayeda this side.
Hope you reached home safely. How's Brownie now? Is he okay?"

Zarian looked down at the little furball in his arms, still curled up peacefully. He quickly clicked a couple of pictures and sent them to her.

"Walaikumassalam, Miss Khan. He's alright now and asleep."

Just then, a maid arrived. Zarian gently handed Brownie over to her. "Take care of him, okay?" he said softly.

She nodded and walked away, leaving Zarian standing there with a strange warmth blooming in his chest.

He walked to his room, and just as he entered, another message pinged.

"Thank you, Mr. Malik."

His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a second before typing back:

"Welcome, Miss Khan."

He freshened up and laid down on his bed. But after a few moments, his gaze drifted to his phone again.

Without thinking much, he clicked on her number and saved it.

Miss Khan 🤍

He stared at the white heart emoji for ten long minutes, unsure if it was too much or too soon.

In the end, he let his heart win.
And somehow, it felt right.

Again he sneezed and said, "Alhamdulillah."

Then muttered under his breath,
"Har baar jaane se pehle aap apni koi na koi cheez mere paas zaroor chhod jaati hain, Miss Khan."

(Every time before leaving, you always end up leaving something of yours with me, Miss Khan)

And then he closed his eyes.

They both smiled at their screens tonight...
Unaware that fate was already writing tomorrow's pain.
One heart will belong to someone else.

The other... will only watch.

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