— ☆⋆｡𖦹°‧ Aizal's POV :

I woke up in the hospital bed to Ashan standing right in front of me. He looked disheveled, his clothes rumpled, his hair a mess.

But the moment our eyes met, he froze, his entire body stiffening as if struck by a sudden chill. He didn't move, not even a flicker of an eyelid.

He sighed, a deep, shuddering exhale that seemed to release a weight from his shoulders. Relief washed over his face, a stark contrast to the fear that had been etched there moments before. He was scared, terrified even, and it was clear that fear was for me.

It was as if he had been holding his breath, terrified that he wouldn't be able to keep his promise, that he wouldn't be able to protect me. But why? Why was he so scared for me? I was just a nobody, someone who had simply asked for his help.

I understood that he had saved me, but the intensity of his emotions was unsettling.

His face was a canvas of emotions, a mixture of relief and fear, gratitude and anxiety. It was heavenly weird, a feeling I couldn't quite place.

"I'm glad you woke up," he said, his voice a low rumble, his eyes still fixed on me.

"I was scared. I promised to protect you, and Ashan Hussain doesn't like breaking promises." He took a step towards me, his presence filling the small hospital room, his gaze intense, his expression unreadable.

He stood before me, his shadow falling across the bed, and for a moment, I felt a strange sense of vulnerability, a feeling of being watched, scrutinized.

He continued, his voice now demanding, his eyes narrowed, "You woke up just now, so you can rest for fifteen minutes. I'll be back after filling the formalities. After that, you'll have to tell me everything in detail, what happened to you and Lorenzo." His words were a command, his tone leaving no room for argument.

He turned and walked out of the hospital room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the unsettling intensity of his presence.

I scrambled to gather my scattered thoughts, knowing I needed to craft a lie within those fifteen minutes. I couldn't possibly tell him how I completed Mission 1 by killing the bodyguard he sent to protect me.

I couldn't reveal that I'd asked Rehaan for help, or how I shot Lorenzo once, but that bastard didn't die and threatened to tell Ashan about it as if Aizal Mustafa would allow that to happen.

I shot him twice more, but he wouldn't give up, he was dialing Ashan and about to tell him everything. It was the third shot that finally killed him.

But, three bullets wasted on a bodyguard? Not worth it. I would've preferred it were Ashan in Lorenzo's place, but my mission isn't just to kill Ashan, it's much more.

Then, I had to make it look like the bullet had grazed my arm. I shot myself, not exactly, but enough to convince him I was hurt too. Obviously, I had to create a whole fake ass story to go with it.

My immediate goal is to gain his trust and get into his house. I have to do this.

He walks in calmly, "The wound is deep, but it will heal. You'll be discharged now. Tell me everything in the car," he says, gesturing towards the door. The audacity of him, making me walk, he didn't even offer to help me stand.

"Ouch," I hissed, purposely emphasizing the pain as I rose, hoping he'd notice and offer assistance.

"Your hand is injured, not your leg," came his reply, curt and dismissive. Fuck you, Ashan Hussain, I thought, my anger simmering beneath the surface.

I stroll towards the car, following Ashan, and slide into the passenger seat beside him. I guess he's going to drop me home while bombarding me with all those annoying questions about what's on his list.

"Seat belt," he says, giving me a side-eye.

"You want me to strangle you with this?" I mumble angrily, not in the mood to deal with his interrogation right now.

"Did you say something?" He turns to me, and my eyes widen. I quickly turn my face away and facepalm myself. Oh, fuck, Aizal! Control yourself and don't mess this up.

What do I even say to him now? I'm sweating. Why does he have to stare at me and wait for a reply? He's so annoying! He won't turn around until I say something. Omg, I wipe the sweat off my forehead, trying to think of a response.

"You're kinda hot," I blurt out, wiping the sweat beads from my forehead and neck.

"What?!" His voice is laced with shock.

Realization hits me like a ton of bricks.

The fuck.

No way.

Ain't no way I just said that.

I bite my lip, my eyes closing. I can't even do one job at a time. This sucks. Aizal, you love messing things up, don't you?

"I mean... it's kinda hot," I say, trying to wave the air towards myself, as if explaining the weather.

He gives me a really weird look. Does he think I'm crazy now? What if he drops me off at some asylum instead of my apartment?

Wait, that's not a big deal, Aizal. He can't do that! It was just a compliment, he should be blushing. Wait, what the fuck!

"Did the gun by any chance graze my head instead of my arm? Because I think so," I say, my voice a shaky whisper.

"Can you turn on the AC?" I try to play it cool, but fail miserably when he replies.

"It's already on." I'm so done with myself.

"Calm down, Aizal. Are you okay? I guess you're traumatized by what happened, but as I promised, I will protect you. Don't be scared and tell me everything, now." His voice is soft, yet firm, a hint of both.

I sigh. I'm stuck. I'll have to tell him a made-up story as soon as possible.

"I was cooking dinner, and Lorenzo was in the living room when out of nowhere a man barged in. Loud noises started coming from the living room, like people fighting.

When I reached there, all I could see was Lorenzo drenched in blood. He was shot. When I went to see him and screamed, 'help!' the man shot me in my arm and told me to leave the house or it wouldn't take him long to kill me as well." I start fake crying, my hands trembling.

"I'm too scared to go home. What if he kills me when I'm asleep? I won't even be able to do anything. Not even run. He killed such a strong bodyguard, he can kill me as well anytime without effort. I don't want to die, I'm scared." I act traumatized, my hands and head shaking in terror.

"Calm down, Aizal! You're not going there for now. I'll take you to a safe place." Ashan says as I internally smirk.

"There's no safe place for me. I don't know if I'll ever be safe. They'll kill me whenever and however! Nothing can protect me now." I start crying loudly.

"You'll be right in front of my eyes, in my home. I'll take you home, and when anyone tries to harm you, I'll be there. I bet no one would dare to harm you in FBI Ashan Hussain's house. I think for now, it's your only safe place if you want to live. You don't have to worry. I'll protect you." He completes while driving.

What? Was it so easy? I thought I would try doing self-harm in front of him so that he remembers his mother's past and gets traumatized and helps me.

But he is exactly doing what's going in my plan. It's concerning, but then again, I should be grateful.

"But, I'm just a stranger why would you take me to your house, you can't risk your life, what if they try to harm you because you are protecting me in your house?" My eyes were teary, my chin wobbling.

"You don't need to worry, no one can harm me and no one would harm you if you'll be with me." He says, and I protest more so that he believes that I'm not a creep who wants to go to his house. But then I'm happy mission 2 is almost coming to an end.

We get up from the car and I follow him towards his penthouse. It's huge and appealing from the outside. It was late at night right now, but his house was awake as if there are people inside, living and breathing, loud people.

The lights were on too.

"You'll be safe here." He says at the doorstep, and I nod with a small teary sad smile.

We enter the house and my eyes greet so many people sitting here and there. Two boys are playing video games, a guy is reading a book at a corner, a girl is eating ice cream whilst texting using her phone, and two girls are watching a movie.

Why does he have so many people at this house? Is this even his place? As far as I have studied in his case, this is the place he owns and lives in. I have no clue who these people are.

"Bhai, you are back" one of the girls says, and then all the eyes turn around to look at us.

They all stop and look at each other after looking at me and Ashan. And then all of a sudden they all smirk, "oh so this was your emergency haan?" A green-eyed girl teases looking at Ashan while I don't understand what's happening here.

"Bhai so she your girlfriend hmm." Two blond twins say in sync. My heart racing rapidly as my cheeks flush pink. I would never date this wall-like grump. I roll my eyes internally.

"She looks like a university student, and she's even wearing a uniform" a red-haired girl points out. And that's when I realized I'm still in my uniform.

"Is she our soon to be bhabi?" One of them says.

They all are gone nuts or what?

Bhabi? The fuck.

Bhabi? No way.

Wait, why am I thinking about it so much, I'm not here for this.

"Guys stop. She is a guest, she will stay here for a few days. She's no bhabi, and don't annoy me, or her. Be a little respectful." Ashan says and the guys start teasing him more this time.

Where did I get myself in?

I don't think I can do my work with so many people in the house. This sucks. The destiny. Funny how easily I could come to Ashan's house and then the opportunity is in my hands yet it is too far.

"Hareem, you can show her the guest room" Ashan says to one of the girls who has bluish-grey eyes and she smiles nodding.

I was with the girl named Hareem to wherever she was taking me. "I'm Hareem, Ashan's sister out of them all" she says sweetly.

No way I would take that, that bastard is such a rude speaker while his sister she's like honey from her voice to her appearance.

"I'm Aizal, Ashan sir is helping me." I say not trying to let her know more info tho she didn't even bother asking.

"Did you get hurt?" She asks looking my bandaged hand.

"Oh yes, but I'm fine now. Perfectly" I smile hesitantly. It's been a while I talked to anyone. I don't usually talk to anyone except people in my bubble. So it's strange.

We didn't talk again and then she showed me the guest room and made me sit on the bed saying I should rest because of my injury and sat beside me, gazing at me while smiling.

There was a silence between us, but then she decided to break it.

"I don't think bhai would let us know, but you tell me are you his girlfriend?" I shook my head as no instantly.

The effing fuck.

"Bhai acche lagte hai tumhe?" She asks out of nowhere startling me with her question.

"Acche? Ekdum zeher lagte hai" I mumble controlling the urge to roll my eyes while Hareem started laughing so hard startling me.

"oh my goodness you are so cute. I wonder how that grumpy grandpa pulled a chill and fun girl like you" her laugh filling the air.

I was too confused to react.

I'm neither chill nor fun and,

He didn't pull me what the fuck.

I don't know why they all would think I'm Ashan's girlfriend, I know my life sucks, but not at this extent that I would date the mighty Ashan Hussain for god's sake.

I would rather die than imagine a life with him.

"I'll go, if you need anything you can call me." She says and walks out of the room leaving me alone. Finally.

The first thing I do is, take off the microphone from my body and text those people about where I have reached in my goal.

And call Miraal and tell her sorry that I couldn't come to the castle and couldn't meet her but I'll make sure I'll do it soon.

I was about to sleep when I heard a knock on my door. I walk towards the door and open it only to find the wall-like man standing in front of me. "I think it's better you change than sleep so uncomfortably in your uniform," he stood near the door coldly.

"Thanks, but why would you do the honor and bring it here, Hareem would." I bit my tongue as the words slip from my mouth.

Why is it so hard to control my mouth?

Me speaking without a filter will be the reason for my downfall. Calm down, Aizal.

"Nice question, but I don't think you should question an FBI, especially me." He smirks.

Ayoo what!

Why would this jerk smirk at me?

Not his thing. Or is he bipolar when he's at home? Not my business. I need to sleep.

"I want to sleep, I'm so tired and ouch," I say while touching my arm as he looks at me and my dramatic acts very carefully.

"Bye" I close the door on him but then I realize I'm not being in "the Aizal Ashan should see" role but my real face.

"Wait," I open the door and ask the about-to-go Ashan to stop, and so he does.

"Thank you for saving me and bringing me here. I can't be more grateful to you. Thank you, Ashan," I say, making my voice soft and vulnerable and purposely shedding tears.

"Hmmm," he hums and walks away, angering me more. When I want him to speak or react, he doesn't, and when I don't even care, he starts doing things out of the box.

Weird as fuck. Such an asshole.

I take the clothes and take a shower, wearing that set of satin pajamas, he gave me. I roll onto the bed, really happily. I'm so closer to my goal. The last person, Ashan.

And then I'll be free. I started imagining my life as a free bird with my miraal. Living a normal, fun life. I was excited. I was happier today after so long. But it all crumbles when I get a text on my phone from those people.

Rosalyn Moon, I think Ashan Hussain has got to know your identity. Kill him before he kills you. We will find the information later.

My heart stopped beating. I can't breathe. A wave of panic washes over me, a suffocating tide threatening to drown me. My life, everywhere, is going to end. Either by those people, or by Ashan if he knows who I am.

The air thickens, each breath a struggle. My mind races, trying to find a solution, a way out of this suffocating trap.

But there's nothing.

Every path leads to the same bleak outcome: my death.

The weight of fear presses down on me, crushing me, leaving me gasping for air in a world that suddenly feels too small, too suffocating. I'm trapped, caught in a web of my own making, with no escape in sight.

"Gunah thi tumhari Saza kyun hamara Khata thi tumhari Jaan ka karza kyun hamara"