Semua Bab Insanely insane : Bab 71 - Bab 80

The bell above the little stationery shop chimed softly as Ishtiyaq Khan pushed open the glass door. He was not the kind of man who frequented such humble shops—his life usually revolved around power, influence, weapons, and deals sealed with a handshake and blood—but that morning had been different. A rare streak of sentimentality had led him here.For the past few weeks, he had been thinking about the orphanage on the outskirts of Lucknow where he occasionally sent donations. Money was never an issue; he could sign a cheque and be done with it. But today, for reasons even he could not explain, he wanted to personally choose the things the children needed. Stationery—pens, pencils, notebooks, drawing colors. Something about their simplicity reminded him of the innocence he had long lost.The air smelled of paper and fresh ink as he stepped inside. The shop wasn’t crowded, just a few customers scattered around, flipping through diaries and registers. Ishtiyaq’s eyes scanned the shelve

By the time they reached the mension, Timtim’s heart was pounding. Aariz didn’t even give her a chance to step out gracefully — his hand closed around her wrist, tight, almost bruising, dragging her through the corridors. The guards looked away, servants lowered their heads. They all knew when Aariz was like this, no one interfered.The heavy door to their room slammed shut behind them. Before she could turn, Aariz had pushed her back against it, his chest pressing hard against hers, his breath scorching her cheek.His eyes were molten, darkened with a fury that bordered on madness.“You smiled at him,” he hissed, voice low, dangerous. “You let him look at you.”He grabs Timtim’s wrist, dragging her closer. His voice is sharp:“Whose eyes were you smiling at, Timtim? His? That bastard’s?”She protests, trembling, saying “I—he just helped me, Aariz…”“Shut up.” His hand gripped her jaw, forcing her to look up at him. His lips were inches from hers, his rage dripping into every word. “I

Aariz had declared he would be working from home. That, in itself, unsettled her—because when Aariz stayed home, his eyes were always on her, possessive and consuming. But as the day slipped toward noon, a knock came at the door downstairs.Aariz answered it.Standing there was a woman, tall, polished, and carefully dressed in an elegant pencil skirt with a blouse that hinted at more than it covered. Her hair was pinned neatly, lips painted in a shade too bold for a professional visit. This was Sana Malik—Aariz’s secretary.“Aariz sir,” she smiled, her voice a little too soft, “I brought the files you asked for. And… I thought since you’re working from home, I should personally deliver them.”Her eyes lingered on him, drinking in his sharp jaw, his rolled-up sleeves, the way his presence filled even the hallway with authority. She had been his secretary long enough to know every quirk of his moods, every rare smile he let slip in the office. And for years, she had nurtured a quiet lon

Sana’s heels clicked sharply against the marble as she stormed out of the mansion, her chest heaving with unspoken frustration. The image of Aariz rushing to Timtim’s side, abandoning everyone else the moment she coughed, played again and again in her mind like a cruel reminder of where his heart truly belonged. Jealousy coiled in her stomach, burning hotter with every step she took toward the gates. Just as she reached the courtyard, a familiar shadow leaned against the black car parked under the trees. His presence was deliberate, almost as if he had been waiting. Ishtiyaq Khan. His sly smirk spread slowly across his face when he saw her. “Well, well, look who we have here. The woman who spends her days inside the mansion, yet never manages to catch Aariz’s eye.” His tone dripped with mockery, sharp enough to sting. Sana stiffened but refused to let him see her flinch. She adjusted her shawl over her shoulders, forcing a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “At least I am

The doctor’s arrival brought a hush over the mansion. Aariz paced in the hall like a storm caged within four walls, his fists clenched, jaw set tight. The echo of Timtim’s fainting still rattled in his chest like thunder.Ishtiyaq, however, had not left. He remained seated at the far end of the drawing room, restless, his eyes fixed on the staircase with a hunger he could not mask. His foot tapped against the marble floor, his chest rising and falling with an impatience that betrayed him.When the doctor came down after examining Timtim, both men moved at once. Aariz reached first, his voice sharp, “How is she?”The doctor adjusted his glasses, tone professional. “She’s running a high fever. Stress and weakness have taken a toll. She needs rest, proper food, and no disturbances.”“Rest,” Aariz repeated, nodding, his knuckles whitening as if he’d beat rest itself into the walls if that’s what it took to give her peace.But then he noticed Ishtiyaq — still standing there, still watching