As Iyaan sat in the hospital's dimly lit parking lot, his mind spinning with the whirlwind of emotions, the passenger door suddenly opened. Armaan, his younger brother, and Saif, his best friend, climbed in without a word, their expressions tense.

Iyaan didn't say anything at first, his knuckles white from gripping the steering wheel, his thoughts still on Iyaara's desperate words and the scene that had unfolded earlier.

He could feel something wasn't right, but the truth was like a heavy fog hanging over him.

Armaan, who had been watching his brother's turmoil closely, cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence.

"Bhai, ab sab kuch batane ka waqt aa gaya hai,"

(Brother, it's time to tell you everything)

Armaan said quietly, glancing at Saif for reassurance.

Iyaan's brows furrowed as he turned his head slightly.
"Kya matlab hai tumhara?"

(What do you mean?)

he asked, his voice sharp, though confusion softened the edge.

Saif leaned forward from the back seat, his voice calm but laced with urgency. "Bro, jo kuch aaj hua... it's bigger than you think. This whole engagement, this wedding... it's all a game. You've been played."

Iyaan blinked, his grip loosening just a bit as Saif's words sank in. "Played? Tum kya keh rahe ho?"

(Played? What are you saying?)

Armaan took a deep breath. "Bhai, Iyaara ne jo kiya, wo sirf apku rokne ke liye tha... Lekin asli sach yeh hai ke apke jo dulhan banne wali thi, Alina, uska kisi aur ke saath affair hai."

(Brother, what Iyaara did was only to stop you... but the real truth is that Alina, your bride-to-be, is having an affair with someone else.)

Iyaan's breath hitched. "Kya? Yeh tum log kya bakwas kar rahe ho? Yeh kaise ho sakta hai?"

(What nonsense are you two talking about? How is this even possible?)

Saif spoke softly but firmly, "Bro, Alina ka plan tha ke tumse shaadi kar ke apne lover ke saath bhaag jaaye. Uske family ne tumhe bas iss rishtey mein phasaaya taake wo apni izzat bacha sakein, aur Alina ko humesha ke liye durr kar sakein."

(Bro, Alina's plan was to marry you and then run away with her lover. Her family trapped you in this relationship just so they could protect their honor and get rid of Alina forever.)

Iyaan's pulse raced, his mind flashing back to the strange behavior Alina had been showing in recent weeks-her hesitation, her secrecy.

But this?

An affair?

And running away after the wedding?

He turned to Armaan, his face twisted in disbelief. "Aur tum dono ko yeh sab kab pata chala?"

(And when did you two find all this out?) he asked, his voice dangerously low.

Armaan sighed, looking guilty. "Kuch waqt pehle, Bhai. Iyaara ne tumhara naam lekar jo kiya, wo apni feelings ke liye tha, lekin uske peeche yeh sab drama bhi tha jo apku batane ki zarurat thi."

(Some time ago, brother. Iyaara did what she did because of her feelings for you, but behind it all was this whole drama that you needed to know about.)

Saif nodded in agreement. "Iyaara sirf tumhe bachana chahti thi. Usse pata tha ke jab tumhe baad mein yeh sab pata chalta, tumhara dil toot jaata."

(Iyaara just wanted to save you. She knew that when you eventually found out the truth, it would break your heart.)

Iyaan leaned back, overwhelmed with disbelief and frustration. He had almost walked into a trap that could've destroyed him, and all along, Iyaara had been trying to protect him in her own, desperate way.

Iyaan's voice was strained as he muttered, "Alina ke gharwaalon ko sab pata tha?"

(Did Alina's family know all of this?)

Armaan and Saif exchanged a glance before Armaan replied, "Haan Bhai, unhein sab kuch pata tha. Unhone bas apni izzat bachane ke liye apka istamaal kiya."

(Yes, brother. They knew everything. They just used you to save their honor.)

The betrayal felt like a knife twisting in Iyaan's chest. He had trusted these people, and they had planned to throw him into a sham of a marriage, only to save face.

Iyaan clenched his jaw and muttered coldly, "Kahaan hai Alina aur uska khandaan? Mujhe unse baat karni hai."

(Where is Alina and her family? I need to talk to them.)

Armaan gave a slow nod, understanding what his brother was feeling. "Woh log abhi bhi hospital ke bahar hain. Lekin sach samajh ke unhe apke baat karne ki himmat nahi ho rahi."

(They're still outside the hospital. But after understanding the truth, they don't have the courage to face you.)

Iyaan pushed open the car door and got out, his blood boiling. "Mujhe unse baat karni hai... abhi."

(I need to talk to them... now.)

♡🕊️♡

As Iyaan approached the hospital's waiting area, he spotted Alina's family huddled together, whispering among themselves.

When they saw Iyaan striding toward them, Alina's father stepped forward, putting on a forced expression of concern.

"Iyaan beta, hum samajhte hain ke sab kuch thoda galat ho gaya hai, lekin hum sab milkar isse theek kar sakte hain."

(Iyaan, son, we understand that things went a little wrong, but we can all fix this together.)

But Iyaan's face remained cold, unreadable. "Theek karne ki zarurat nahi hai. Mujhe sab kuch pata chal gaya hai. Apke ghar ki izzat bachane ke chakkar mein aap logon ne mujhe phasaaya, Alina ke affair ko chhupane ke liye."

(There's nothing to fix. I know everything. You all trapped me to save your family's honor and to hide Alina's affair.)

Alina's mother gasped, and Alina, who had been standing in the back, froze.

The guilt and fear were written all over her face.

Iyaan didn't hold back. "Apke beti ka jo affair tha, uske baare mein sab jaanta hoon. Aap log shaadi ke baad kya plan bana rahe the, mujhe uski parwah nahi hai. Yeh shaadi ab khatam hai."

(I know about your daughter's affair. I don't care what plans you had after the wedding. This marriage is over.)

Alina's father stammered, trying to salvage the situation, but Iyaan had already turned on his heel, walking away. He knew what he had to do now.

He was going to find Iyaara, the one who had truly loved him all along, and this time, he wouldn't let anything stand in the way of the truth.